Shadow Yai
Creature 16 — fiend, giant, humanoid, oni, shadow, unholy
Pre-Remaster content. May include legacy alignment.
ShadeAnvilLANDAERIALfiendgiantoni
Oni who assume the form of shadow giants are known as shadow yais. Many shadow yais crave the pleasures of music and go to great lengths to secure bardic or musically inclined supplicants. Smaller beings who refuse to submit to a shadow yai are subject to painful, drawn out, and strangely beautiful deaths, for a shadow yai has a special way of evoking melodic cries and screams from their victims: a veritable symphony of pain. Individuals of particular musical skill who accompany a shadow yai can
Source: fists-of-the-ruby-phoenix-bestiary (Pre-Remaster)
Perception +28; greater-darkvision
Languages common, jotun
Skills acrobatics +28, arcana +30, athletics +30, deception +33, intimidation +31, performance +33, stealth +30
Str
+8
Dex
+6
Con
+5
Int
+6
Wis
+6
Cha
+9
Items Glaive
AC 39
Fort +25
Ref +28
Will +26
HP 290 (regeneration 15 (deactivated by acid or fire))
Speed 40 feet, fly 40 feet (Shadow Step)
Offense
Melee Glaive (deadly-2d8, evil, forceful, magical, reach-15, unholy) +32, Damage 3d8+14 slashing plus 2d6 sonic
Melee Fist (agile, magical, reach-10, unarmed, unholy) +28, Damage 3d8+14 bludgeoning plus Shadow Touch
Ranged Sonic Missile (evil, magical, sonic, unholy) +30, range increment 60 feet, Damage 3d10+11 sonic
Abilities
Greater Darkvision — A creature with greater darkvision can see perfectly well in areas of darkness and dim light, though such vision is in black and white only. A creature with greater darkvision can see through even forms of magical darkness.
Shadow Step (primal, shadow, teleportation) —
Regeneration 15 (Deactivated by Acid or Fire) — This monster regains the listed number of Hit Points each round at the beginning of its turn. Its Dying condition never increases beyond Dying 3 as long as its regeneration is active. However, if it takes damage of a type listed in the regeneration entry, its regeneration deactivates until the end of its next turn. Deactivate the regeneration before applying any damage of a listed type, since that damage might kill the monster by bringing it to Dying 4.
Attack of Opportunity —
Change Shape (concentrate, polymorph, primal) — The shadow yai takes on the appearance of a Shadow Giant. This doesn't change its Speed or Strike attack and damage.
The monster changes its shape indefinitely. It can use this action again to return to its natural shape or adopt a new shape. Unless otherwise noted, a monster cannot use Change Shape to appear as a specific individual. Using Change Shape counts as creating a disguise for the Impersonate use of Deception. The monster's transformation automatically defeats Perception DCs to determine whether the creature is a member of the ancestry or creature type into which it transformed, and it gains a +4 status bonus to its Deception DC to prevent others from seeing through its disguise. Change Shape abilities specify what shapes the monster can adopt. The monster doesn't gain any special abilities of the new shape, only its physical form. For example, in each shape, it replaces its normal Speeds and Strikes, and might potentially change its senses or size. Any changes are listed in its stat block.
The monster changes its shape indefinitely. It can use this action again to return to its natural shape or adopt a new shape. Unless otherwise noted, a monster cannot use Change Shape to appear as a specific individual. Using Change Shape counts as creating a disguise for the Impersonate use of Deception. The monster's transformation automatically defeats Perception DCs to determine whether the creature is a member of the ancestry or creature type into which it transformed, and it gains a +4 status bonus to its Deception DC to prevent others from seeing through its disguise. Change Shape abilities specify what shapes the monster can adopt. The monster doesn't gain any special abilities of the new shape, only its physical form. For example, in each shape, it replaces its normal Speeds and Strikes, and might potentially change its senses or size. Any changes are listed in its stat block.
Shadow Touch — A shadow yai's touch harms their target's spiritual essence in addition to its body. A creature hit by the shadow yai's fist Strike must attempt a DC 36 Will save.
Critical Success The creature is unaffected.
Success The creature takes 2d6 void damage.
Failure The creature becomes Drained 1 and takes 3d6 void damage. As long as the creature is drained as a result of this ability, it loses the ability to speak above a whisper. When the creature attempts to Cast a Spell with a verbal component, it must succeed at a flat check or the spell is disrupted. The DC of this flat check is equal to 5 plus the creature's drained value (for example, DC 7 if the creature is drained 2).
Critical Failure As failure, but the creature becomes Drained 2 and takes 6d6 void damage.
Critical Success The creature is unaffected.
Success The creature takes 2d6 void damage.
Failure The creature becomes Drained 1 and takes 3d6 void damage. As long as the creature is drained as a result of this ability, it loses the ability to speak above a whisper. When the creature attempts to Cast a Spell with a verbal component, it must succeed at a flat check or the spell is disrupted. The DC of this flat check is equal to 5 plus the creature's drained value (for example, DC 7 if the creature is drained 2).
Critical Failure As failure, but the creature becomes Drained 2 and takes 6d6 void damage.
Primal Innate Spells DC 37, attack +29
5th Shadow Walk
3rd Enthrall (At Will)
2nd Darkness, Invisibility (at will, self only), Sound Burst
1st Charm, Charm (×3), Command (×3)
WORKS WELL WITH
CrasherLAND / AERIALCombines area pressure with the yai's reach-15 glaive and Attack of Opportunity to create overlapping threat zones.
WeaverLAND / AERIALPairs teleportation and debuffs to reposition enemies into the yai's reach while isolating priority targets.
MenderLAND / AERIALCovers the Regeneration deactivation window from acid or fire while the yai maintains frontline presence.
PUNISHES
✖ movement in combat✖ low Will✖ kiting✖ attrition without fire or acid
Another Shade dilutes the valuable frontline control provided by reach and Attack of Opportunity.
Works well with · Punishes · Pairing advice
Unlock with Tactics
Run Shadow Yai in the encounter builder — free, no install.
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