Balor
- Size: Huge
- Type: Fiend (Demon)
- Alignment: Chaotic Evil
- AC: 19
- Initiative: +14 (24)
- HP: 287 (23d12 + 138)
- Speed: 40 ft, Fly 80 ft .
| ATTR | VAL | MOD | SAVE |
|---|---|---|---|
| STR | 26 | +8 | +8 |
| Dex | 15 | +2 | +2 |
| Con | 22 | +6 | +6 |
| INT | 20 | +5 | +5 |
| Wis | 16 | +3 | +9 |
| CHA | 22 | +6 | +6 |
- Skills: Perception +9
- Resistances: Cold, Lightning
- Immunities: Fire, Poison; Charmed, Frightened, Poisoned
- Senses: Truesight 120 ft.; Passive Perception 19
- Languages: Abyssal; telepathy 120 ft .
- CR: 19 (XP 22,000; PB +6)
Traits
Death Throes. The balor explodes when it dies. Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 20, each creature in a 30 -foot Emanation originating from the balor. Failure: 31 (9d6) Fire damage plus 31 (9d6) Force damage. Success: Half damage. Failure or Success: If the balor dies outside the Abyss, it gains a new body instantly, reviving with all its Hit Points somewhere in the Abyss.
Fire Aura. At the end of each of the balor's turns, each creature in a 5 -foot Emanation originating from the balor takes 13 (3d8) Fire damage.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the balor fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. The balor has Advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Actions
Multiattack. The balor makes one Flame Whip attack and one Lightning Blade attack.
Flame Whip. Melee Attack Roll: +14 , reach 30 ft . Hit: 18 (3d6 + 8) Force damage plus 17 (5d6) Fire damage. If the target is a Huge or smaller creature, the balor pulls the target up to 25 feet straight toward itself, and the target has the Prone condition.
Lightning Blade. Melee Attack Roll: +14 , reach 10 ft . Hit: 21 (3d8 + 8) Force damage plus 22 (4d10) Lightning damage, and the target can't take Reactions until the start of the balor's next turn.
Bonus Actions
Teleport. The balor teleports itself or a willing demon within 10 feet of itself up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space the balor can see.
Lore & Background
Balors are among the most feared and powerful demons in the Abyss, serving as generals in the Blood War and rulers of entire demon hordes. These towering fiends embody the destructive chaos of the Abyss itself, wielding flame and shadow as weapons of terror. Each balor is a unique entity of immense power, often commanding legions of lesser demons and ruling over entire layers of the Abyss.
The creation of a balor is a rare and catastrophic event, typically occurring when a demon lord ascends to near-divine power or when the Abyss itself spawns a champion of ultimate destruction. Their very presence warps reality around them, turning peaceful lands into hellish battlegrounds. Balors are ancient beings, some having existed since the dawn of the multiverse, accumulating knowledge, power, and hatred over eons.
These demons are not mindless destroyers but cunning strategists who delight in corrupting mortals and orchestrating the downfall of entire civilizations. They view themselves as nobility among demonkind, demanding respect and tribute from lesser fiends. Their intelligence and charisma make them natural leaders, able to unite chaotic demon armies under their banner through a combination of fear, respect, and shared malice.
Combat Tactics
Balors are devastating combatants who combine overwhelming physical might with tactical brilliance. They prefer to open combat by teleporting into the midst of their enemies, using their fire aura to damage multiple foes while engaging the most dangerous opponents with their flame whip and lightning blade. The whip's extended reach allows them to control the battlefield, pulling enemies into melee range or positioning them for maximum damage from their aura.
Their legendary resistance ensures they can shrug off most magical attacks, while their magic resistance provides additional protection against spellcasters. Balors are patient fighters who use their flight to maintain tactical advantage, diving in for devastating attacks before retreating to safer positions. They often focus fire on spellcasters first, recognizing the threat posed by powerful magic users.
When facing multiple opponents, balors use their teleportation ability to reposition constantly, preventing enemies from surrounding them or establishing favorable positions. They're not above using environmental hazards or summoning additional demons to tip the scales in their favor. As the battle progresses and they take damage, balors become increasingly reckless, knowing that their death throes will likely eliminate their killers.
Encounter Ideas
The Demon General: A balor leads a massive demon army threatening to spill from the Abyss into the material plane, requiring heroes to infiltrate the demonic host and eliminate the general before the invasion begins.
The Corrupt Bargain: A desperate ruler has made a pact with a balor for power, and the demon now comes to collect, demanding the souls of the kingdom's citizens as payment for services rendered.
The Planar Prison: A balor has been bound within an ancient magical prison, and cultists work to free their master while the heroes race to stop the ritual and reinforce the containment.
The Blood War Spillover: The eternal conflict between demons and devils erupts into the material plane as a balor pursues a pit fiend, with mortal lands becoming the battlefield for their ancient hatred.
Lair Features
Balor lairs are typically located in the most chaotic and dangerous regions of the Abyss, though some establish strongholds on other planes through conquest or corruption. These fortresses are built from obsidian and bone, wreathed in eternal flames and surrounded by rivers of lava or acid.
Abyssal Architecture: The lair's structure defies conventional physics, with rooms that exist in multiple dimensions simultaneously and corridors that lead to different planes entirely.
Flame Geysers: Jets of hellfire erupt randomly throughout the lair, dealing fire damage to intruders and providing the balor with additional tactical options during combat.
Demon Portals: Permanent gates to various layers of the Abyss allow the balor to summon reinforcements or retreat to safety when necessary.
Reality Distortion: The balor's presence warps local reality, causing magical effects to function unpredictably and creating pockets of extreme environmental conditions.
Environmental Effects
Scorched Earth: The ground within a mile of a balor's presence becomes blackened and barren, with plants withering and water sources becoming tainted with sulfur and ash.
Demonic Influence: Lesser demons are drawn to the area, creating an ecosystem of chaotic evil that spreads outward from the balor's location like a supernatural infection.
Planar Weakness: The barrier between planes becomes thin, allowing for easier summoning of fiends and increasing the likelihood of random planar phenomena.
Corrupted Weather: Storm systems become more violent and unpredictable, with lightning taking on unnatural colors and rain falling as acid or liquid fire.
Treasure
Abyssal Artifacts: Weapons and armor forged in the heart of the Abyss, imbued with chaotic properties and immense destructive power that few mortals can safely wield.
Demon Lord Tribute: Valuable offerings from lesser demons and cultists, including rare gems, precious metals, and magical components gathered from across the multiverse.
Planar Currencies: Coins and treasures from dozens of different planes, accumulated through millennia of conquest and tribute, many bearing the marks of civilizations long destroyed.
Bound Souls: The life essence of powerful mortals trapped in crystalline prisons, which can be released to restore life or consumed to fuel dark magic.
Plot Hooks
The Fallen Hero: A legendary paladin's soul has been claimed by a balor, and their former companions must venture into the Abyss to attempt a rescue before the corruption becomes permanent.
The Demon's Gambit: A balor offers to eliminate a greater threat to the material plane in exchange for a seemingly small favor, but the true cost of the bargain may be far higher than anticipated.
The Abyssal Invasion: Cracks are appearing in reality as a balor attempts to merge a section of the material plane with the Abyss, creating a permanent foothold for demonic forces.
The Ancient Enemy: A balor from the dawn of time awakens from eons of slumber, carrying grudges against gods and mortals that predate recorded history, seeking revenge for ancient slights.