Rakshasa
Monster Manual (2025) p. 253
- Size
- Medium
- Type
- fiend
- Alignment
- lawful evil
- AC
- 17
- Initiative
- 8
- Hit Points
- 221 (26d8+104)
- Speed
- walk 40 ft.
- Skills
- Insight +8, Deception +10, Perception +8
- Condition Immunities
- charmed, frightened
- Senses
- truesight 60 ft.
- Passive Perception
- 18
- Languages
- Common, Infernal
- Challenge
- 13
- Environment
- planar (nine hells), urban
Traits
Proficiency Bonus
+5
Treasure
Relics: The monster's treasure hoard features magic items with the noted theme. The Dungeon Master's Guide details treasure hoards appropriate for each theme.
Greater Magic Resistance
The rakshasa automatically succeeds on saving throws against spells and other magical effects, and the attack rolls of spells automatically miss it. Without the rakshasa's permission, no spell can observe the rakshasa remotely or detect its thoughts, creature type, or alignment.
Fiendish Restoration
If the rakshasa dies outside the Nine Hells, its body turns to ichor, and it gains a new body instantly, reviving with all its Hit Points somewhere in the Nine Hells.
Actions
Multiattack
The rakshasa makes three Cursed Touch attacks.
Cursed Touch
Melee Attack Roll: +10, reach 5 ft. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) Slashing damage plus 19 (3d12) Necrotic damage. If the target is a creature, it is cursed. While cursed, the target gains no benefit from finishing a Short or Long Rest.
Baleful Command (Recharge 5-6)
Wisdom Saving Throw: DC 18, each enemy in a 30-foot Emanation originating from the rakshasa. Failure: 28 (8d6) Psychic damage, and the target has the Frightened and Incapacitated conditions until the start of the rakshasa's next turn.
recharge
D5
Spellcasting
The rakshasa casts one of the following spells, requiring no Material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 18):
- At will: Detect Magic, Detect Thoughts, Disguise Self, Mage Hand, Minor Illusion
- 1/day each: Fly, Invisibility, Major Image, Plane Shift
Spells
Detect Magic [5.5e], Detect Thoughts [5.5e], Disguise Self [5.5e], Mage Hand [5.5e], Minor Illusion [5.5e], Fly [5.5e], Invisibility [5.5e], Major Image [5.5e], Plane Shift [5.5e]
Other data
description
Masters of manipulation, rakshasas infiltrate communities to claim positions of power. While disguising their true natures, they kidnap victims and indulge their insatiable hunger for flesh. Rakshasas can withstand some degree of magic, but legends tell of blessed warriors felling them with crossbow bolts, arrows, or similar weapons. Rakshasas' appearances combine humanlike bodies with the features of animals and monsters. All rakshasas have a physical oddity that remains when they adopt magical disguises, such as palms where the backs of the hands would be on humans.