The villain of your campaign deserves a stat block of its own. Build it as a homebrew monster, and it works in fights, in generators and in Reference, just like the creatures in the book.
Start a new monster
On your Build page, press Homebrew, choose the Monsters tab, and press New monster.
They appear in your NPC and combat pickers and in Reference. Only you can see them, unless you tick Players can pick: then your players can choose one as a companion or Wild Shape form.
New monster
Ash Hound
CR 0 · Medium beast · My own work
EditDelete
Retired
Not offered in the pickers or the generators. NPCs and fights already using them keep them.
Cinder Drake
CR 3 · Medium dragon
Bring back
Homebrew, on the Monsters tab
Fill in the stat block
Fill in the stat block, the way it's printed in the book. Its name can't be an official monster's. Then its size, type and alignment, its Armour Class, hit points and speed, its ability scores, and its challenge rating. Critsmith works out its XP from that.
The monster
NameAshveil Matriarch
Not the name of an official monster.
Size
Large▾
Creature type
Fiend▾
Tag (optional)goblinoid
Alignment (optional)Chaotic Evil
Challenge rating
CR 8▾
Its XP is worked out from this.
The monster: its name, size, type, alignment and challenge rating
Armour, hit points and speed
Armour Class
−17+
Armour note (optional)natural armour
Hit points136
Hit dice (optional)6d8 + 12
Speed30 ft., fly 60 ft.
Show an Initiative line
Armour, hit points and speed
Ability scores
Strength (+5)
−20+
Dexterity (+2)
−14+
Constitution (+3)
−17+
Intelligence (+2)
−15+
Wisdom (+3)
−16+
Charisma (+4)
−19+
Ability scores
Saving throws, skills, resistances, senses and languages are typed just as a stat block writes them. Leave any you don't need empty.
Proficiencies, defences and senses
Written as a stat block writes them. Leave any empty.
Saving throwsDex +6, Wis +7, Cha +8
SkillsDeception +8, Perception +7
Resistancescold, fire, lightning
Immunitiespoison
Vulnerabilitiesradiant
Condition immunitiespoisoned, frightened
Sensesdarkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17
LanguagesAbyssal, Common
GearScimitar, Shortbow
TreasureArcana, Relics
Proficiencies, defences and senses, typed as a stat block writes them
Traits and actions
Next, its traits and actions, and any bonus actions, reactions and legendary actions. Each one has a Uses box: recharge, so many times a day, once per rest, or how many actions a legendary action costs. It's written after the name, just as official stat blocks show it.
Actions
NameEmber Breath
✕
Uses
Recharge▾
Recharges on5 or 6▾
Shown as "Ember Breath (Recharge 5-6)"
What it does
+ Add action
An action that recharges on a 5 or 6
Legendary actions
Optional. Shown on the stat block only when it has some.
NameTail Lash
✕
Uses
Costs more than one action▾
Actions it costs
−2+
Shown as "Tail Lash (Costs 2 Actions)"
What it does
+ Add legendary action
A legendary action that costs 2 actions
A boss
For a big bad, tick Boss. It can then hold lair actions and cooldown abilities in the combat tracker, ready for a fight with real bite.
Combat tracker (boss only)
The same settings an NPC has. An NPC linked to this monster can still set its own.
✓Boss (can hold lair actions and cooldown abilities in the combat tracker)
Lair actions
Lair action 1Ash rains down: DC 15 Con save or blinded
✕
Available whenAlways▾
+ Add lair action
Cooldown abilities
NameCinderstorm
Cooldown (rounds)3
✕
Description30 ft. radius, 6d6 fire, DC 15 Dex save for half
+ Add ability
Combat tracker, with Boss ticked, a lair action and a cooldown ability
Generators
To let the generators use it, choose where it lives, its habitat and its dungeon themes, and tick Include in generators.
Habitat and generators
Habitat is where it lives. The encounter and dungeon generators pick by habitat and dungeon theme.
The encounter and dungeon generators can then pick it, by its habitat and themes. Off by default. Needs at least one habitat or theme.
Habitat and generators
Players
Your homebrew monsters are hidden from players, so they stay a surprise. Only tick Players can pick this as a companion or form if you want a player to be able to take it as one.
Players
Your homebrew monsters are hidden from players, so they stay a surprise.
Players can pick this as a companion or form
Then players in your campaigns can see it, and choose it where their spells or features allow (a familiar, a Wild Shape form). Off by default.
Players
Save it
Choose where it comes from, and press Save. It's ready for your next fight.
They appear in your NPC and combat pickers and in Reference. Only you can see them, unless you tick Players can pick: then your players can choose one as a companion or Wild Shape form.
New monster
Ashveil Matriarch
CR 8 · Large fiend · My own work
EditDelete
Ash Hound
CR 0 · Medium beast · My own work
EditDelete
Retired
Not offered in the pickers or the generators. NPCs and fights already using them keep them.
Cinder Drake
CR 3 · Medium dragon
Bring back
The new monster, saved on the Monsters tab
That's a homebrew monster. Your own creatures, ready to terrify the table.