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Incubus (Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition)
| Incubus | |
|---|---|
 An Incubus as depicted in the 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual | |
| Characteristics | |
| Alignment | Neutral Evil |
| Type | Fiend (Shapechanger) |
| Publication history | |
| Source books | Monster Manual - 5th Edition |
| First appearance | Monster Manual - 5th Edition (2014) |
| Mythological origins | Incubus |
For other uses of the word Incubus, see Incubus (disambiguation).
Incubi, in the fifth edition rules of the Dungeons and Dragons role playing game, are described as Neutrally Evil Fiends. In this edition, Incubi and Succubi are the same type of creature, having the ability to appear as either, though most prefer one form or the other.
Incubi inhabit all of the Lower Planes and can be found serving devils, demons, night hags, rakshasas and yugoloths. Both Asmodeus, ruler of the Nine Hells, and the Demon Lord Graz'zt have Incubi and Succubi serving them.
Description
Incubi and Succubi are Neutrally Evil Fiends that have the ability to shape change. As a result, they are in fact the same type of creature, having the ability to appear as either female or male, according to their whims. Generally, most prefer one form or the other. Incubi and Succubi can be found in all of the Lower Planes and serve all types of devils, demons, night hags, rakshasas, and yugoloths.
Notably, Asmodeus, ruler of the Nine Hells, uses Succubi and Incubi to tempt mortals, while the Demon Lord Graz'zt uses Succubi and Incubi as advisers and consorts. Incubi and Succubi are rarely seen in their true forms by mortals, as they usually appear in more suitable forms to tempt and corrupt their targets instead.
Physical Appearance
Incubi typically stand 6 feet tall and weigh 170 pounds. Overall they appear to be graceful and desirable female humanoids in appearance with fair skin and overall typical features. They have small horns on their heads, large bat-like wings, and a spaded tail. Few have hooves as corrupting mortals is far easier when they appear as human as possible.
Actions
Generally, when a Incubus appears, they are in an ethereal, almost ghost-like form. As such they can pass through any obstacles in order to come close to their prey. They use this ability to lurk by their target as they sleep, using their telepathic abilities to send suggestions to them and attempt to seduce their targets into giving into their darkest desires, indulge in taboos, and forbidden appetites. As they gain more influence over time, the victim becomes more apt to fall to temptation during their normal waking life.
At some point the Incubus then forms themselves fully into the mortal world, intending to directly influence their victims by appearing as the seductive image they have been seeing in their dreams. The Incubus then soon befriends or, more often, seduces their victim. By doing so, they give their victim the opportunity to indulge in their desires which then has the effect of causing the victim to perform evil with their own free will.
The purpose of Incubi is to claim the soul of a mortal, but this is not by a formal contract, pledge or promise. By corrupting their victim over an extended period of time, they eventually fall into complete corruption. Some tales indicate that this requires the victim to commit betrayal by thought, word and deed and then at that point the victim's soul belongs to the Incubus. Depending on how virtuous the victim is, this can take a very long time to occur, but this is seen as making the end result more rewarding. When they have succeeded in their acts against their victim, the Incubus then kills the victim which then causes the corrupted soul to descend into the Lower Planes where the Incubus awaits their arrival.
Combat
Incubi and Succubi are not warriors and as such combat is a rare things for them. Incubi use their Charm ability only when absolutely necessary, and more often for self-defense. If charmed, a creature is not held responsible for the actions they perform, and as such, forcing a being to act against their will does not gain the Incubus what it desires most, the soul of their victim. If in their true form they can use their claws to attack, and can morph their forms to extend their fingernails into claw-like forms. The Incubus also has a draining kiss which gives the target severe pain and agony, but is not a normal means of attack.
Statistics
| Name | Incubus |
| Type | Medium Fiend (Shapechanger) |
| Alignment | Neutral Evil |
| Armor Class | 15 (Natural Armor) |
| Hit Points | 66 (12d8 + 12) |
| Speed | 30ft., Fly 60ft. |
| Saves | STR 8 (- 1), DEX 17 (+3), CON 13 (+1), INT 15 (+2), WIS 12 (+1), CHA 20 (+5) |
| Skills | Deception +9, Insight +5, Perception +5, Persuasion +9, Stealth +7 |
| Damage Resistances | Cold, Fire, Lightning, poison; Bludgeoning, Piercing and Slashing from nonmagical weapons |
| Senses | Darkvision 60ft., Passive Perception 15 |
| Languages | Abyssal, Common, Infernal, Telepathy 60ft. |
| Challenge | 4 (1,100 XP) |
| Special Qualities | Telepathic Bond: The fiend has no range restriction on its telepathy when communicating with a creature it has charmed. They do not need to be on the same plane of existence. Shapechanger: The fiend can use its action to polymorph into a Small or Medium humanoid, or back into its true form. Without wings, the fiend cannot fly. Other than its size and speed, its statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment worn or carried is not transformed. If killed, the succubus or incubus reverts to its true form. |
| Claw (Fiend Form Only) | Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1 d6 + 3) slashing damage. |
| Charm | The fiend can charm one humanoid within 30 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be magically charmed for 1 day. The charmed target obeys the fiend's verbal or telepathic commands. If the target suffers any harm or receives a suicidal command, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect if successful. If the target successfully saves against the effect, or if the effect ends, the target is immune to the fiend's Charm for the next 24 hours. The fiend can have only one target charmed at a time. If it charms another, the effect on the previous target ends. |
| Draining Kiss | The fiend kisses a creature charmed by it or a willing creature. The target must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw agai nst this magic, taking 32 (5d10 + 5) psychic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The target's hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. This reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0. |
| Etherealness | The fiend uses magic to enter the Ethereal Plane from the Material Plane, or vice versa. |
- Deadly Kiss: The kiss of an Incubus or Succubus is an echo of the emptiness that is the fiend's longing for a corrupted soul. Likewise, the recipient of the fiend's kiss gains no satisfaction from it, experiencing only pain and the profound emptiness that the fiend imparts. The kiss is nothing short of an attack, usually delivered as a final farewell before the fiend escapes.
- Fiendish Offspring: Incubi and Succubi can reproduce with one another to spawn more of their kind. Less commonly, an Incubus or Succubus reproduces with a humanoid. From this unholy union, a cambion child is conceived. Invariably, the fiendish offspring is as wicked as its fiendish parent, occasionally more so as they face much distrust and dislike because of their heritage from other humanoids on the Material Plane.
Publication History
The Incubus and Succubus in the 5th edition rules first appeared in the Monster Manual, published in 2014.
See Also
References
- Perkins, Christopher. Monster Manual. (Wizards of the Coast, 2014)