We’ve got a riddle for this final Epic Monsters post: what creature already has two different entries in the core rules but is getting a third one here today?
There are sphinxes (or sphinx-like creatures) throughout the mythological world, but in large part they’re thought to have originated in Egypt or Ethiopia—or rather, at least the Greeks recognized they were from elsewhere. In Egypt the sphinx is depicted as a male and also a guardian of knowledge, but decidedly nicer. In any event there’s just the one in Greek mythology, thought to be the daughter of Orthrus and Chimera, Orthrus and Echidna, or Echidna and Typhon. She guarded Thebes and only allowed travelers who could answer her riddle passage inside or out, eating anyone who couldn’t. Oedipus figures it out though, and in a fit of hysteria the Sphinx throws herself into the sea to die (making him into a hero of the thebans). What this riddle originally was is lost to time, but there are two still attributed to her:
Design Notes: This has sat on the queue for a long time because there’s already two stock sphinxes in the 5ESRD: the gynosphinx (lady sphinx) and androsphinx (dude sphinx). Since we’re on the last Epic Monsters post we’re going to take the request as literally as possible and tackle the sphinx, aka the Great Sphinx of Giza. Because the core rules do not have a 240 foot long, 60 foot tall sphinx statue made from nummulitic limestone. That’s a good place to start—we’ll take the little CR 11 sphinx and boost it up to big big Gargantuan size, ramp up its AC and hit points, and oomph its core ability scores (Strength, Constitution, and a smidge more Intelligence). Otherwise we’re going to pull stuff out of the oh-so-beloved World Turtle’s playbook to give this enormous stone creature that epic feel. Let’s do the numbers! The DMG clocks in at 24.3, Blog of Holding at 27.3, averages out to a heavy CR 25.
Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 350 (20d20+140)
Speed 50 ft., fly 50 ft.
Saving Throws Wis +12; Proficiency +8
Skills Athletics +15, Arcana +21, History +21, Perception +12, Religion +13
Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
Damage Immunities poison, psychic
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, stunned
Senses darkvision 200 ft., passive Perception 22
Languages Common, Sphinx
Challenge 25 (75,000 XP)
Broken Nose. The sphinx has disadvantage on scent-based Wisdom (Perception) checks.
Damage Threshold. When the sphinx takes damage from an attack, spell, or other effect, it ignores the first 10 points of damage (calculated after resistances; minimum 0).
Epic Concentration. The sphinx is able to concentrate on up to 2 spells at the same time. If it fails a concentration check while concentrating on more than one spell, it loses both spells. In addition, while it is using one or more concentration spells the sphinx gains one extra bonus action each turn that can only be used to manipulate those spells.
Inscrutable. The sphinx is immune to any effect that would sense its emotions or read its thoughts, as well as any divination spell that it refuses. Wisdom (Insight) checks made to ascertain the sphinx's intentions or sincerity have disadvantage.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the sphinx fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. The sphinx has advantage on saving throws made against spells and other magical effects.
Magic Weapons. The sphinx’s weapon attacks are magical.
Natural Wonder. The sphinx always knows how long until the next sunset or sunrise and the northerly direction, and it can perfectly remember anything it has experienced within the last century.
Regeneration. The sphinx regains 20 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point.
Spellcasting. The sphinx is a 14th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 21, +13 to hit with spell attacks). It requires no material components to cast its spells. The sphinx has the following wizard spells prepared:
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The sphinx attacks twice with its colossal claws, or it casts a spell and attacks once with its colossal claws.
Colossal Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 60 ft., multiple targets (60-foot line that is 10-feet wide centered on one target; roll separately for each creature and object in the area). Hit: 33 (4d12+7) bludgeoning damage and the target makes a DC 23 Strength saving throw or is knocked prone.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
The sphinx can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The sphinx regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Colossal Claw Attack. The sphinx makes one colossal claw attack.
Teleport (Costs 2 Actions). The sphinx magically teleports, along with any equipment it is wearing or carrying, up to 120 feet to an unoccupied space it can see.
Cast a Spell (Costs 3 Actions). The sphinx casts a spell from its list of prepared spells, using a spell slot as normal.
There are sphinxes (or sphinx-like creatures) throughout the mythological world, but in large part they’re thought to have originated in Egypt or Ethiopia—or rather, at least the Greeks recognized they were from elsewhere. In Egypt the sphinx is depicted as a male and also a guardian of knowledge, but decidedly nicer. In any event there’s just the one in Greek mythology, thought to be the daughter of Orthrus and Chimera, Orthrus and Echidna, or Echidna and Typhon. She guarded Thebes and only allowed travelers who could answer her riddle passage inside or out, eating anyone who couldn’t. Oedipus figures it out though, and in a fit of hysteria the Sphinx throws herself into the sea to die (making him into a hero of the thebans). What this riddle originally was is lost to time, but there are two still attributed to her:
"Which creature has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed?"
Man—who crawls on all fours as a baby, then walks on two feet as an adult, and then uses a cane in old age.
"There are two sisters: one gives birth to the other and she, in turn, gives birth to the first. Who are the two sisters?"
Day and night; in Ancient Greek ἡμέρα (day) and νύξ (night) are feminine.
Design Notes: This has sat on the queue for a long time because there’s already two stock sphinxes in the 5ESRD: the gynosphinx (lady sphinx) and androsphinx (dude sphinx). Since we’re on the last Epic Monsters post we’re going to take the request as literally as possible and tackle the sphinx, aka the Great Sphinx of Giza. Because the core rules do not have a 240 foot long, 60 foot tall sphinx statue made from nummulitic limestone. That’s a good place to start—we’ll take the little CR 11 sphinx and boost it up to big big Gargantuan size, ramp up its AC and hit points, and oomph its core ability scores (Strength, Constitution, and a smidge more Intelligence). Otherwise we’re going to pull stuff out of the oh-so-beloved World Turtle’s playbook to give this enormous stone creature that epic feel. Let’s do the numbers! The DMG clocks in at 24.3, Blog of Holding at 27.3, averages out to a heavy CR 25.
Great Sphinx
Gargantuan construct, lawful neutralArmor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 350 (20d20+140)
Speed 50 ft., fly 50 ft.
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
25 (+7) | 15 (+2) | 25 (+7) | 20 (+5) | 18 (+4) | 18 (+4) |
Skills Athletics +15, Arcana +21, History +21, Perception +12, Religion +13
Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
Damage Immunities poison, psychic
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, stunned
Senses darkvision 200 ft., passive Perception 22
Languages Common, Sphinx
Challenge 25 (75,000 XP)
Broken Nose. The sphinx has disadvantage on scent-based Wisdom (Perception) checks.
Damage Threshold. When the sphinx takes damage from an attack, spell, or other effect, it ignores the first 10 points of damage (calculated after resistances; minimum 0).
Epic Concentration. The sphinx is able to concentrate on up to 2 spells at the same time. If it fails a concentration check while concentrating on more than one spell, it loses both spells. In addition, while it is using one or more concentration spells the sphinx gains one extra bonus action each turn that can only be used to manipulate those spells.
Inscrutable. The sphinx is immune to any effect that would sense its emotions or read its thoughts, as well as any divination spell that it refuses. Wisdom (Insight) checks made to ascertain the sphinx's intentions or sincerity have disadvantage.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the sphinx fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. The sphinx has advantage on saving throws made against spells and other magical effects.
Magic Weapons. The sphinx’s weapon attacks are magical.
Natural Wonder. The sphinx always knows how long until the next sunset or sunrise and the northerly direction, and it can perfectly remember anything it has experienced within the last century.
Regeneration. The sphinx regains 20 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point.
Spellcasting. The sphinx is a 14th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 21, +13 to hit with spell attacks). It requires no material components to cast its spells. The sphinx has the following wizard spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): mage hand, minor illusion, prestidigitation
1st level (4 slots): detect magic, identify, shield
2nd level (3 slots): darkness, locate object, misty step, suggestion
3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, dispel magic, remove curse, tongues
4th level (3 slots): banishment, black tentacles, confusion
5th level (2 slot): cone of cold, legend lore, telekinesis
6th level (1 slot): sunbeam, true seeing
7th level (1 slot): arcane sword
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The sphinx attacks twice with its colossal claws, or it casts a spell and attacks once with its colossal claws.
Colossal Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 60 ft., multiple targets (60-foot line that is 10-feet wide centered on one target; roll separately for each creature and object in the area). Hit: 33 (4d12+7) bludgeoning damage and the target makes a DC 23 Strength saving throw or is knocked prone.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
The sphinx can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The sphinx regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Colossal Claw Attack. The sphinx makes one colossal claw attack.
Teleport (Costs 2 Actions). The sphinx magically teleports, along with any equipment it is wearing or carrying, up to 120 feet to an unoccupied space it can see.
Cast a Spell (Costs 3 Actions). The sphinx casts a spell from its list of prepared spells, using a spell slot as normal.
