Unleash the Vecna Dossier, available at no cost at D&D Beyond: dndbeyond.link/yt_VecnaDossier_VecnaDossier Roll like an Arch-Lich with the Dice of Vecna: dndbeyond.link/yt_VecnaDice_VecnaDossier
@@mawdeeps7691 the average of all that damage is half his HP...actually not even half and that's not including the fact he will for sure use his legendary resistance so more like just 60 damage. He then thereafter will regain 80 hit points a turn soo.....
@@Alex-pu5dx you obv havent built a ranger meteor swarm alone is half his HP and i hope he does use a legendary resistance he need thems all as he doesnt have turn resistance
@@mawdeeps7691 I have no idea what your talking about so is most likely some mid maxing stuff so yea if you mid max the game most enemies will loose 1v1 with character but entire point of GM is to counter that with a bunch of other stuff outside the stats on a sheet expically with a master of the arcane arts like vecna who is most likely held up somewhere behind a bunch of wards and minons. For example I would build a custom lair for him that even has lair actions. This was just to help give people a guideline as how to stat vecna but there are a bunch of other things to do to build a encounter around him.
@@Alex-pu5dx thats an admission that the stat block is weak. its meant to be tough for 4-5 level 20's its just not. at least acerak has his sphere and level 9 spells. he says can go toe to toe with tiamat any ancient dragon will dumpster him
90% budget went to make Vecana as handsome as possible possible and being given that Thanos 🥊Golden. He might be not able Screw but definitely able 🦴 otherwise DND secrets will release. It is bear Bone 🦴 Vecana. Add wizard 🪄 spell list similar to His student Acerarke Tomb Of Annhiliation. And please increase intelligence score. It is lower than Acerake who is his student.
Fun fact about Dread Counterspell. Regular Counterspell requires "when you see a creature within 60 feet of you casting a spell" Dread Counterspell only requires "a creature he can see *that is* casting a spell." He doesn't have to see you casting it. He has to see you, and you have to be casting. Even subtle spell doesn't work - he can see you, the creature (and has truesight so no invisibility) and you the creature are casting. You know what does absolutely thrash him? A single Open Hand monk disabling his reactions.
So can you defeat Vecna by teaching him morals, booking him therapy, being his friends and talking to him, so by that you can end his anger issues and hatred? He wouldn't reassemble then, right?
@@tyrongkojy actually, to maintain lichdom he'd have to kill to feed the fillactery [sic], so if you made him stop killing, he'd basically die by not being a lich anymore
Vecana: "My hatred transcends the boundaries of Life and Death Child. Pointing in Kingly Manner with his 👆👁️ I alone have benevolence to kill the desire to Rebuke the Demons of desire and flesh to walk upon this wretched Earth, despite being Man Made God upon Heavens." Vecana is an Edge Lord
I was like no 9th level spells? What is this than I saw THE AVERAGE DAMAGE for one of his attacks he can do every turn is 96!? And if he bonus action teleports near you he gains 80 hp 😵💫😵💫😵💫
Still not as disgusting as Orcus in Monsters of the Multiverse (who shares the same challenge rating). He can make a ranged attack three times that deals 5d8+7 Necrotic damage, which is okay damage, unless he used Creeping Death to make his target vulnerable to Necrotic damage. If Orcus crits with a Necrotic Bolt while the target is under Creeping Death, which he can easily do by restraining them as a lair action, that's 10d8+7 Necrotic damage doubled in one hit. That's not even mentioning that while Creeping Death costs 2 legendary actions, he can still make one attack as an legendary action, which means another Necrotic Bolt.
I don’t think Vecna is strong enough for a Cr 26 monster. 2 Arcane Archer with Alert + Sharpshooter can pop him with 16 arrows and he’s gone. Increasing his hp to 300+ would be more challenging, but I don’t see how a 4 PC lv 20 party would find this challenging, as this level they might oneshot his teacher Orcus
I think this is the first time I've seen Ray interviewed and I hope it isn't the last. He seems to really love his job and that makes for a great interviewee. Please have him back.
I think it is important for everyone to know that Open Hand Monks can take away peoples reactions with a flurry of blows hit. Just a super specific foil to this enemy
@@yousefhokage2876 nope! Whenever you hit a creature with one of the attacks granted by your Flurry of Blows, you can impose one of the following effects on that target: (the save against prone, the save against push) - It can't take reactions until the end of your next turn. No save! Just like Shocking Grasp. Hit, no reaction.
@@g80gzt Starting at 5th level, you can interfere with the flow of ki in an opponent's body. When you hit another creature with a melee weapon attack, you can spend 1 ki point to attempt a stunning strike. The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end of your next turn.
For those concerned about the stat blocks spell selection, I believe wizards is gearing enemies to fight a specific way and use specific spells and abilities. I think they want it interpreted that if you use the spells that have listed this Vecna will perform as a CR 26 monster; not that Vecna as an Archmage/Archlich wouldn’t know hundreds of spells. I’m still not sure how the new system is designed to run and we’re sort of in a new tween period of the big revamp.
I like this way better. My issue with the old stats for magic casters is that all of them felt the same when it comes to the way they fight, and they were too reliant on their spells to the point where their other attacks sucked. This is why counterspell was such a problematic spell. When you have a party with 2 or 3 spellcasters that spam counterspell to basically prevent the BBEG from using spells, they have no choice but to do nothing, trivialising them as a threat. Not to mention that the Wizard's level 20 feature prevents a 3rd level spell from using up spell slots, so it's no wonder why counterspell was basically required.
The only damaging spell Vecna (who is a God at this point in time) has is a 3rd level Lightning Bolt. The father of all Liches can only cast Lightning Bolt and not Finger of Death. He is not even immune to necrotic damage, which his own hand deals. It must be awkward when your own hands deal damage to yourself just for being attached to you.
@@Upsilon1984 Vecna is more powerful, he can actually survive a round or two unlike Acererak, without the sphere of anihilation he is nowhere near as dangerous as Vecna.
@@Rafesco @Upsilon His ability to regen 80 HP/round with a bonus action and no extra cost is going to make him survive better than basically any creature in DnD ever could
I mean regardless of whether or not his current abilities match his entire origin is as a tribute to Jack Vance so it is a totally valid thing to bring up when they are talking a bit about the origins of Vecna...
Since in my setting, vecna is a true deity, this will be a great statblock for an avatar of vecna. All I need to do is add a single 9th or higher level spell to the 1/day list.
@@ThisNameIsBanned If I read the description correctly, simulacrum cannot duplicate an undead. But hey, Vecna customized the way lichdom works, so he might be able to make an undead simulacrum too...
This Vecna is brutal, a lot of powerful abilty and attack, is reaction with counterspell is insane (in a positive way) and he can heal with is teleport. If we consider that this is not God-Vecna but is Archlich form, i think this is maybe the best CR26 official monster.
I mean, it does make sense. Acererak is essentially the ultimate evil nerd. He’s like an undead version of the Riddler. He spends his time on mad experiments and constructing impossible dungeons and crazy death traps. Vecna is much more interested in shadowy intrigue. He knows people. Next to Asmodeus, Vecna is the master of all manipulators. So, really, what doesn’t make any sense is that he only has a charisma of 16.
@@Rafesco so what's the point of CR after 20? Because my understanding was that CR number represented a fair challenge for a group of 4 players of that level. But 5e doesn't go beyond level 20. So does each CR above 20 mean one additional level 20 character to the party? (CR 26 would be 10 players)
Granted I haven't seen it in motion, but I'm really apprehensive of the stat block at first glance. If the party wins initiative, he'll get creamed immediately with those weak defenses. The heal on his teleport will help a smidge, but if he's jumped he won't have time for that to work. If he doesnt fold immediately because of proper planning (all liches should have a plan and backup plan,) then he can tell multiple spellcasters in the party to stand in a corner, because with rapid-fire counterspells, and a heap of legendary resistances, why are they even playing? The fact that vecna is a melee based multiattacker with no high level spells is really odd, but the swingy nature of this boss fight is the real concern for me. Either he'll get rushed and melt immediately, or he turns off all the magic and wears down the rest with infinite healing. Anybody have a different take I'm not seeing?
Characters/creatures are still able to take a reaction (in Vecna's case, 3 reactions) before their first turn, even if they lose initiative, as long as they aren't surprised. If you assume a party of five, he's still going to be able to make some combinations of 3 counterspell attempts or teleports to interrupt attack combos. He'll probably take a hefty chunk of damage, but as long as he isn't killed, which is unlikely with that amount of interaction, he's going to proceed to get 80 hp back, cast a big spell/use a bit ability, and then dagger a couple of characters. One of the most dangerous things to him is an archer fighter, since his teleport does not as cleanly interrupt their attack combo, but this can be solved by having an encounter room with areas where he can get full cover. Honestly, that's best practice for tactical diversity anyway. He can't cleanly interrupt a big paladin smite, either, which is obviously dangerous, but that is what it is. I'm planning to run the one-shot they released for him next week, with some tweaks, and I'm excited to see what he'll look like in play.
@@ALeftyGoth All good points I had missed. The counterspell math also works out to about 50% success, which is a little better than I realized. Still gonna be hell for a magic-heavy party, but less swingy than I thought.
@@ALeftyGoth those reactions are great against casters, but 2 20th level longbow wielding fighters can drop him in a single round and his reactions won't stop them.
@@cmckee42 Yes, I've seen the video too, and it, like you, completely ignores the easy solution to this of a combat arena with areas of full cover for him to teleport behind. I'm not saying it's not a weakness, but it's entirely overstated and ignores that most high level creatures fold easily to something.
@@ALeftyGoth the teleport range is 30 feet, and he has to be able to see it, so except on an arena specifically designed for teleportation cubby holes, the fighter should be able to move to a place where vecna loses total cover.
I love how accessible dnd beyond is, and love online resources and what they've done for the game. But I really wish they would make a paper dossier for Vecna like a collector kind of thing, that would be so freaking cool
How about that! Stranger things delves into the 1st edition and viola! We have Vecna converted to the new ruleset. Maybe Stranger Things will feature other 1st Edition content "inspiring" wizards to incorporate some of that vintage goodness? Hope so.
I really feel like this hasn't been playtested very well. A strong squad of martials with optimised magic items will annihilate Vecna before he can do anything. I've seen high level Paladins do 300+ damage in one round with hasted critsmites.
He is incredibly weak to martials. Bad initiative, Armor, Resistances (taking full damage from flametongue). A 20th level Rogue, Ranger, and Dex Fighter will demolish him with almost no effort.
Lmao I'm already trying to figure out how to buff/play vecna to go up against my party of min/maxers Boosting Int and HP, giving him a ton of minions, upping the flight of the dammed damage, letting him make afterthought attacks as ranged spell attacks (I don't want Vecna in melee with my hexblade-paladin) and most importantly giving him legendary actions. Ik he can take 3 reactions but not giving a boss like Vecna legendary actions feels crazy
Vecna does not deserve this low power stat block. Sure he can counterspell 3 times a turn but also Acererak his apprentice has a better statblock. HE HAS NO TURN RESISTANCE. HE IS COUNTERED BY A SECOND LEVEL CLERIC. Lets follow through on that line Acererak has more health, Immunity to Necrotic and Poison, SO MANY MORE SPELLS including 9th level, and also the ability to give players vulnerability, turn resistance, LEGENDARY ACTIONS, and a sphere of annhilation which can cause INSTANT DEATH. VS Vecna who has none of those and his ultimate recharge 5 attack is a bigger fireball that gives frightened. Sure Vecna does 96 damage a turn but that is way out classed (WHICH HE IS NOT IMMUNE TO AS A DAMAGE TYPE) By acererak's (Who reminder is CR 23) ability to deal Instant death.
This stat block is definitely effective, the actions and abilities are absolutely insane. But the stats themselves are a bit underwhelming. Even as an Archlich, his stats aren’t able to stack up to the likes of Acererak, who he brought up and trained. I guess you could say that’s a testament to Vecna’s abilities as a teacher, but still, it strikes me as a little odd.
I feel that Acererak is a poor example. One, he starts with legendary magic items such as the Sphere of Annihilation and the Staff of the Forgotten, which Vecna can also equip if the DM chooses. Second, he's specifically designed to be fought only in the Tomb of Annihilation, his stats were not designed for general use, and the Tomb itself is a huge factor to his difficulty.
@@TheCrimsonElite666 Even without his legendary magic items, he still beats Vecna with his higher AC, hp and immunity to Necrotic Damage as well as access to 9th Level spells.
@@mawdeeps7691 This is Vecna before death, before he lost his hand and eye. He only gets stronger from here. This statblock is just a template. The DM is more than capable of customizing him and adding the hand, eye, and book of vile darkness to his statblock if they wish.
The Acererak we have stats for is from the present. This Vecna's stats are from thousands of years ago, before he attained godhood. In all this time, Acererak hasn't managed to overcome the need of a phylactery like this Vecna has. A lich is defined by their phylactery binding their soul from death and knowledge of secret and powerful magic that made it possible. Vecna ascended above the need for a phylactery, and assimilated improved spells into innate abilities that can't be counterspelled. Acererak couldn't manage that in thousands of years searching the planes, but has gained experiences and tools to excel in other ways.
Automatically cancelling a spell of 4th level or lower is brutal. I'm guessing they specifically chose 4th level as the threshold to keep from outright screwing over warlocks.
@@TheHengeProphet idk, Shocking Grasp states: Lightning springs from your hand to deliver a shock to a creature you try to touch. Make a melee spell attack against the target. You have advantage on the attack roll if the target is wearing armor made of metal. On a hit, the target takes 1d8 lightning damage, and it can’t take reactions until the start of its next turn.
@@ColgateMcajax “I walk up to Vecna and make a touch attack. I rolled a 13.” “You miss. He uses a legendary action to attack you. Does a 31 hit?” “My AC is 12, so yes.” “You sustain 67 damage.” “My max hp is 30.” “You die, no save.”
Where can we get those posters that hang in the background? I know some of those designs are on limited edition books but f.e. the beholder design with those colors I have never seen before.
Hey, I love that they're giving Vecna some love and free stuff is always amazing! BUT with my experience as an DM, level 20 party... especially a holy one... will demolish this Vecna. Twilight Domain + Oath of Vengeance + Path of the Zealot + a Wizard will clear the floor with this lich's face. Homebrew THIS GOD with legedary actions, at least a 24 int. as Halaster Blackcloak and give him a proper Spellcasting ability. Don't forget about the minions and good fight strategies.
Minions and strats are important to every fight, but his 3 reactions would devastate that kind of party. His suped up Counterspell could wreck a wizard and cleric, and he can teleport away to drag on of the melee fighters into essentially single combat. The paladin's auras also mean they want to be close so his teleport can easily hit multiple party members, and heal almost a quarter his health. Rotten Fate can also wreck the wizard and cleric, zombifying them quickly, and his Flight of the Damned has a 120 foot cone, easily hitting everyone. He also has True Sight, meaning even greater invisibility is useless against him, and can cast Fly at will, easily keeping out of reach of the Paladin and Barbarian, just raining down raining down lightning bolts or Dominating the Barbarian or Paladin. And even if he comes close to losing, he can Plane Shift and gtfo, then pick your party off later.
Yeah, it's a goid base for homebrew, but needs some more meat. Like the somehow missing features every other lich has, better int, spellcasting, and some legendary actions.
@@ReagentGray thats fine the clerics got three turns at that level so burns 2 LS that leaves any other spell casters with 2 to worry about if he wants to not try and save the 3rd turn attempt and will likely survive. with approx 140 ish hp the fighter is mauling him with action surge anyhow, heavy +1 crossbow 9 attacks. now go on tell me taking a fighter and a cleric is meta as if they arent original staples of the game.
Long time ago in the wizards official page for 3.5 had a template for vampire called Vampire Lord who cut off all vunerabilities of normal vampire. We see in this case a possibility to increase the vampire power with a secondary unique template. You guys create the lich, the demilich, but not the Arch/Arc Lich to understand the fundamental differences between they. Are the Arch/Arc Lich one transformations of lich into one complete form of more powerful demilich? Because, well, we see demilich more powerful the a lich but just like a floating head only. Maybe the rest of the body is in other plane of existence, maybe? and the Arch Lich a complete/successful form of materialized Demilich intro material plane? Maybe yes, maybe not, what you guys can say?
Vecna isn't AN Archlich, he's THE Archlich. It's a title, not a description. Vecna was the most powerful lich, transcending the need for a phylactery, or ultimately, a body. This is Vecna just before he ascends to Godhood in 4e.
@@AwesomeWookiee Can you show me where is this title of Arch/Arc Lich like you mentioned in any official material of D&D os any edition please? Because to me Archlich specifically is a Good Lich and you can find in Monsters of Faerûn p.90 to be more precisely. Believe me my friend, Vecna isn't a Archlich.
@@AwesomeWookiee I'm sadly unfamiliar with 4e lore, but I know they changed a number of things. Were the details of Vecna's ascension changed for 4th edition?
Honestly, between getting rid of spell slots and seeing this Vecna......really seems like easy mode. My DM ran this counter for us, a group of four level 20s, easy sweep, even with minions
Gotta love that Vecna was all but forgotten for years. Critical Role kinda brought him back, but not enough for him to trend. Only when something was definently going to trend, Stranger Things S4, did Wizards of the Coast decide to revive Vecna to the public, riding the coattail of Stranger Things... What about Drizzt, or Elminster next? Or if we're strictly sticking to villains, what about Vlaakith, the githyanki lich queen?
Stats maybe, but abilities yikes. He's crazy lethal. You can't counter spell half of his stuff, but he can ream your casters. Add in lair actions and he is a nightmare even at level 20.
This would be Vecna without the Book of Vile Darkness, Hand of Vecna and Eye of Vecna. He could easilly be a lot stronger. (I find it very weird he doesn't have a flying speed however...)
Acererak may have higher spell slots available, more spells, and a higher AC, but this Vecna has way more damage potential, being able to essentially Finger of Death, necrotic reverse Thunder Step, and attack with a lethal dagger every turn, regaining 80hp if he damages someone with the teleport. He also gets three reactions every round rather than one and causes damage with the two built in reactions. He also has five legendary resistances compared to Acererak’s three. Vecna will be constantly teleporting around, causing lots of damage, and healing himself by a lot. If the DM doesn’t give Acererak some minions he’ll be down much quicker than Vecna. The Vecna from Critical Role was insane stat wise.
@@jaredeschweiler3505 level 3 monk open palm or a level 1 caster with shocking grasp ends all his reactions. he is a gimmick character with 0 playtesting.
@@Terker2 Pretty sure he'll need to have legendary actions added later so martials don't destroy him instantly. His AC is really, really low, so Shield won't even help him that much.
Hm... far less spells than expected but we can just play arround with that. His non-spell abilities are already quite fearsome so I can understand reducing the spells options to make him easier to use + avoid some abuse. Also youtube list this video as Diablo III content =P.
I like the new model of stat blocks because they avoid the bloat of abilities/spells that aren't realistically going to see use in a fight,which is where you most need the stats. Outside of that, he can do whatever creepy wizard stuff you think appropriate
@@TheCrimsonElite666 Which is unquestionably a good thing, I think, for the enjoyment of everyone at the table. Counterspell still definitely has a use, but it's more niche, now. Even when I play a wizard, the prospect of just cancelling every action the enemy wizard takes is . . . it's just dull, which means that even if I'm winning, I'm losing. The new design also means I get to use my reaction for other things, while still occasionally making use of a counterspell to stop the few key spells the enemy does have.
I have a couple of questions for my fellow Stranger Things fans, as well as D&D players: How does the Stranger Things Vecna hold up to the real D&D version? Do we have a lot to worry about in season 5 of ST?
In the 7:00 contradict what was write in 5e about Demonic Amulets: Blessing and Curses (Murdenkainen tome of foes). If even Demon Lords or Arch Devils have this cheating death like one phylactery it is Vecna Beyound they?
I love that his Vecna's counterspell cannot be Counterspelled. I'll use this ability in some of my stronger bosses. Additionally a "Young" Vecna is always cool. This being before Kas Strikes him down is cool. I'll still Give him both the ability to use the Book of Vile Darkness and some of the Eye and Hand of Vecna's spells. But beyond that his abilities are nice. That Teleport with 80 healing is Insane
Make sure to take note of "that is" A Sorcerer Vecna can see that casts a spell with subtle spell is still casting a spell. Vecna can see the Sorcerer, and the Sorcerer is casting a spell. Vecna can Dread Counter. Regular counter can't, since they have to see the creature casting the spell - not see a creature *that is* casting a spell.
Why do you guys dont give more informations about "the Serpent" mentioned in Vecna Lore, like Vecna Reborn, Dragon #348, Manual of Planes, Epic Level Handbook, Die Vecna Die!?
We really need Vecna and the Don't Say Vecna adventure in a physical book, guys D&D Beyond is all well and good but what happens in 30 years when I'm an old man DMing in my retirement home? You can't guarantee the servers will still be up. Heck, you can't guarantee the servers will be up when *6th* Edition finally rolls around
Man... 272 health is just not enough. I know liches are supposed to be built on a wizard's squishy frame, but this is CR 26. A competent party can destroy this in a single round
@@ReagentGray a baseline paladin with a holy avenger / sword of Kas deals 87 damage on average if they smite for 6d8. Vecna isn't getting more than 2 turns if the rest of the party can dish out damage as well
They said at the start that this isn't Vecna the deity. They fleshed out the stats for the Archlich version of him, and said that they think his ascension to godhood is best left alone. I imagine they'll take that stance with the other gods too. I personally giving gods stats is silly, anyway. The avatars of gods, sure. But in my mind, no matter how powerful the characters become, they should never have a hope in hell at even remotely coming close to damaging someone like Moradin. And when you give gods statblocks and abilities like that, what you are saying is that 'if you can beat these numbers, and come out on top, you can beat a god.' In my opinion, that is silly and should be best left alone unless you are playing characters who are gods, too.
Two Fighters with Magic +1 Bows, or the feat that makes their bow attacks magical, win initiative; Alpha Strike destroy Vecna Vecna is cool, but not "perfect". Gotta boost him a bit in some HP or AC, and also give him the Shield spell etc
I'm so confused. It's mentioned in this video that you can download the Vecna dossier, alongside the Monstrous Compendium. But you can't... I go to my digital library on the D&D website but it keeps telling me to sign into D&D Beyond, and then takes me to the D&D Beyond stat. Furthermore, the pdf of the Monstrous Compendium cannot be downloaded anymore. This is frustrating.
@@AnthonyWhitford That doesn't sound like how they described it. He says every turn he can lock out 3 spell casters. So in my mind that looks like this. Wizard: I cast fireball Dm: Vecna counterspells it. Cleric: I cast healing word Dm: Vecna counterspells it. Warlock: I cast shatter Dm: Vecna counterspells it. And then if a 4th spell is cast now he's out of counterspells until until start of his next turn.
that's his base statline without any magic items, the dossier states he can have Book, Eye and Hand. Acererak also comes pre-equiped with 3 magic items
Chris here and as much as I love this it's still not that great. A party of 20th level will most likely have him beat by turn 5 or less if the players are power builders. Now Vecna is truly dreadful for a party of maybe 16 or 15 level and lower in my opinion. I want to run him for sure. But that is where I believe the sweet spot for Vecna is. 272 HP for a CR26 is rather low. There are fighter builds that can do that in one or two turns.
Just want to throw this out there. A sorcerer can use subtle Chill Touch to cast the cantrip without any way for Vecna to counterspell it. If it hits his 18 AC (with a +11 to hit) he takes necrotic damage which he isn't immune to and can not regain HP until the start of YOUR next turn, and any attack roll he makes is done with disadvantage. So if the sorcerer or anyone with Metamagic adept does this and have Chill Touch. His ability to regain HP is just gone.
@@Cloud_Seeker Yeah I would really tweek this villian out differently. Double Concentration to start of with, a full spell slots, a better spell list. And some more
You're a creature he can see, and you are casting a spell. He can still Dread Counter you. Dread only needs to see a creature *that is* casting a spell. Regular counter needs to see a creature casting a spell.
IMO the 2nd edition Vecna will remain the most powerful simply by the virtue of the ruleset by then. Death saving throws were mercilessly hit and miss! Never mind the high lvl of spell casting he had access to as well.....
Totally agree! Like he made the lady of pain take notice in second ed, he was a badass. Still, is and this can always be played around with people are saying Acererak this and that, but just reading this dossier made me go "oh, this could make Elminster sweat a bit"
I've always thought of Asmodeus as being so far beyond even max level adventurers that he would just tear them apart effortlessly. He's literally a god, after all.
A long time ago, in a continent far away I played as a DM almost weekly for nearly ten years, we played with the Rules-Cyclopedia, Advanced D&D, and (mostly) 3E; we played almost exclusively on Faerun (Forgotten Realms) but we also have a few adventures on The Planes; I don't remember at all the character of Vecna but because my children don't stop mentioning him now I checked on all my books and I only encountered a very small mention of him in "The Manual of The Planes" (3E). Please, somebody can tell me when this character became famous in D&D? and which manuals of AD&D would have mentioned him. I'm assuming that the characters of Stranger Things on the 4th Season are playing AD&D.
Sorry, but this statblock is weak. You can simply change the chalenge ratting to 20 that it would be more correct. In no way this Vecna has enough power to be in equal strenght as a Ancient Greatwyrm or Demogorgon. I'm more afraid of Acererak than Vecna.
I heavily disagree with this design. Youre removing half of a typical adventuring party from any semblance of effectiveness. That’s an anti fun ability design. It doesn’t increase the joy of anyone playing against him, it just trashes every caster in the party… it’s like legendary resistances only worse.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Unleash the Vecna Dossier, available at no cost at D&D Beyond: dndbeyond.link/yt_VecnaDossier_VecnaDossier
Roll like an Arch-Lich with the Dice of Vecna: dndbeyond.link/yt_VecnaDice_VecnaDossier
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No longer available? What does it cost you guys to host the PDF? Available for less than two weeks. That's just poor planning.
anywhere to still get it, if we missed this?
no longer available already? wtf?
I'm sad now :( no longer available :'(
Immediately after hearing about Vecnas new counterspell ability
Vecna: ˢᶜʳᵉʷ ʸᵒᵘ ˢᵃᵐ ʳᶦᵉᵍᵉˡ
yeah meateor swarm followed by a ranger at the correct cr and this dude is toast this is weak sauce
@@mawdeeps7691 the average of all that damage is half his HP...actually not even half and that's not including the fact he will for sure use his legendary resistance so more like just 60 damage. He then thereafter will regain 80 hit points a turn soo.....
@@Alex-pu5dx you obv havent built a ranger meteor swarm alone is half his HP and i hope he does use a legendary resistance he need thems all as he doesnt have turn resistance
@@mawdeeps7691 I have no idea what your talking about so is most likely some mid maxing stuff so yea if you mid max the game most enemies will loose 1v1 with character but entire point of GM is to counter that with a bunch of other stuff outside the stats on a sheet expically with a master of the arcane arts like vecna who is most likely held up somewhere behind a bunch of wards and minons.
For example I would build a custom lair for him that even has lair actions. This was just to help give people a guideline as how to stat vecna but there are a bunch of other things to do to build a encounter around him.
@@Alex-pu5dx thats an admission that the stat block is weak. its meant to be tough for 4-5 level 20's its just not. at least acerak has his sphere and level 9 spells. he says can go toe to toe with tiamat any ancient dragon will dumpster him
"How powerful is Vecna?"
Yes.
Depending on the edition, however, that can be a hard "Yes" or an impossible "Yes".
Or the elusive: "more powerful than you'd think". He is the master of all that is Secret after all.. maybe we're not supposed to know his power level
Not powerful enough to shrug off Turn Undead apparently. I have no idea how he doesn't have immunity as an archlich.
I mean if you sort of understand the rules of the game and have studied a bit, you can kind of just chill.
@@AJ-vr9hf this Vecna, yeah. My mind still thinks of Matt Mercer's version with three 9th level spell slots and all kinds of other nonsense.
Weaker than Acererak apparently. Which is weird since it's supposed to be the other way around.
I like how Vecna's portrait looks at the reader.
He knows and keeps the forbidden secret that he's a fictional character, looking through the fourth wall. 🤣
90% budget went to make Vecana as handsome as possible possible and being given that Thanos 🥊Golden. He might be not able Screw but definitely able 🦴 otherwise DND secrets will release.
It is bear Bone 🦴 Vecana.
Add wizard 🪄 spell list similar to His student Acerarke Tomb Of Annhiliation. And please increase intelligence score.
It is lower than Acerake who is his student.
Fun fact about Dread Counterspell.
Regular Counterspell requires "when you see a creature within 60 feet of you casting a spell"
Dread Counterspell only requires "a creature he can see *that is* casting a spell."
He doesn't have to see you casting it. He has to see you, and you have to be casting. Even subtle spell doesn't work - he can see you, the creature (and has truesight so no invisibility) and you the creature are casting.
You know what does absolutely thrash him? A single Open Hand monk disabling his reactions.
To be honest, Monk Disabling Vecana's Nervous System is down right funny.
Dread Counterspell also works if he is using scrying to see you.
So can you defeat Vecna by teaching him morals, booking him therapy, being his friends and talking to him, so by that you can end his anger issues and hatred? He wouldn't reassemble then, right?
If you then betrayed and killed him, well, yes, he would. Otherwise, still a lich, still immortal.
@@tyrongkojy actually, to maintain lichdom he'd have to kill to feed the fillactery [sic], so if you made him stop killing, he'd basically die by not being a lich anymore
@@obsidiansiriusblackheart As they said, he doesn't even HAVE a phylactery anymore.
@@tyrongkojy and if he doesn't notice that he is being betrayed? Then he didn't hate anyone before his sudden death and would not come back.
@@spongie8784 He'll hate THAT he's dying.
Vecna: *hatred too strong to destroy*
The headline: *local archlich literally too angry to die*
Vecana: "My hatred transcends the boundaries of Life and Death Child. Pointing in Kingly Manner with his 👆👁️ I alone have benevolence to kill the desire to Rebuke the Demons of desire and flesh to walk upon this wretched Earth, despite being Man Made God upon Heavens."
Vecana is an Edge Lord
I was like no 9th level spells? What is this than I saw THE AVERAGE DAMAGE for one of his attacks he can do every turn is 96!? And if he bonus action teleports near you he gains 80 hp 😵💫😵💫😵💫
Still not as disgusting as Orcus in Monsters of the Multiverse (who shares the same challenge rating). He can make a ranged attack three times that deals 5d8+7 Necrotic damage, which is okay damage, unless he used Creeping Death to make his target vulnerable to Necrotic damage. If Orcus crits with a Necrotic Bolt while the target is under Creeping Death, which he can easily do by restraining them as a lair action, that's 10d8+7 Necrotic damage doubled in one hit. That's not even mentioning that while Creeping Death costs 2 legendary actions, he can still make one attack as an legendary action, which means another Necrotic Bolt.
So what your saying is Vecna found the wand of Orcus too, has the book of vile darkness, and a talisman of the sphere too.
they could have at least given him something like power word kill or astral projection to at least show he is capable of 9th level spells
@@ddynamite3835 agreed
he's a gimmick character....witch sucks
Still no one wants to talk about how Chris Perkins must have been the model for this artwork.
Model?
@@DavidFeig For the artwork in the dossier and the statue that's coming out based on that artwork. The face is pretty uncanny.
But... It is established that Chris Perkins is a clone. Does that mean Vecna was cloned? 🤔
ok im glad im not the only one
@@aarndal90 I can only imagine that since V is an Arch Lich, he has had or still has a plethora of clones.
I don’t think Vecna is strong enough for a Cr 26 monster. 2 Arcane Archer with Alert + Sharpshooter can pop him with 16 arrows and he’s gone. Increasing his hp to 300+ would be more challenging, but I don’t see how a 4 PC lv 20 party would find this challenging, as this level they might oneshot his teacher Orcus
I think this is the first time I've seen Ray interviewed and I hope it isn't the last. He seems to really love his job and that makes for a great interviewee. Please have him back.
I think it is important for everyone to know that Open Hand Monks can take away peoples reactions with a flurry of blows hit.
Just a super specific foil to this enemy
But monks most likely have relatively low DC for that ability so vecna is probably making that DC
Sooo, just Shocking Grasp.
@@yousefhokage2876 nope!
Whenever you hit a creature with one of the attacks granted by your Flurry of Blows, you can impose one of the following effects on that target:
(the save against prone, the save against push)
- It can't take reactions until the end of your next turn.
No save! Just like Shocking Grasp. Hit, no reaction.
@@g80gzt Starting at 5th level, you can interfere with the flow of ki in an opponent's body. When you hit another creature with a melee weapon attack, you can spend 1 ki point to attempt a stunning strike. The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end of your next turn.
@@yousefhokage2876 That's stunning strike you buffoon.
For those concerned about the stat blocks spell selection, I believe wizards is gearing enemies to fight a specific way and use specific spells and abilities. I think they want it interpreted that if you use the spells that have listed this Vecna will perform as a CR 26 monster; not that Vecna as an Archmage/Archlich wouldn’t know hundreds of spells. I’m still not sure how the new system is designed to run and we’re sort of in a new tween period of the big revamp.
I like this way better. My issue with the old stats for magic casters is that all of them felt the same when it comes to the way they fight, and they were too reliant on their spells to the point where their other attacks sucked. This is why counterspell was such a problematic spell. When you have a party with 2 or 3 spellcasters that spam counterspell to basically prevent the BBEG from using spells, they have no choice but to do nothing, trivialising them as a threat. Not to mention that the Wizard's level 20 feature prevents a 3rd level spell from using up spell slots, so it's no wonder why counterspell was basically required.
it sucks acererak is way more powerful than this weak sauce
@@TheCrimsonElite666 the enemy can just counterspell their counterspells, I don't see the issue here
The only damaging spell Vecna (who is a God at this point in time) has is a 3rd level Lightning Bolt. The father of all Liches can only cast Lightning Bolt and not Finger of Death. He is not even immune to necrotic damage, which his own hand deals. It must be awkward when your own hands deal damage to yourself just for being attached to you.
@@Cloud_Seeker would make his personal time akward
One thing I don't understand is why Vecna has "only" 22 INT and his highest stat is WIS (24)... Acererak, for example, has 27 INT
Also Lady Illmarrow from Eberron has a 26 while Tasha/Igwilliv has a 27.
All the Vecna love is a welcome surprise.
Vecna's stat block seems weaker than Acererak's stat block
@@Upsilon1984 Vecna is more powerful, he can actually survive a round or two unlike Acererak, without the sphere of anihilation he is nowhere near as dangerous as Vecna.
@@Rafesco @Upsilon His ability to regen 80 HP/round with a bonus action and no extra cost is going to make him survive better than basically any creature in DnD ever could
I think it is because the latest stranger things villain is named after him.
@@Rafesco but he has the sphere and can cast 2 level 9 spells
the "tribute to Jack Vance" thing is somewhat ironic, since the new stat block moves him sooooo far away from the *Vancian* Magic he inspired in D&D
Excellent point. it's like he only mentions Vance because, I don't know, every RUclipsr in the biz had already discussed this? "Little known fact..."
I mean regardless of whether or not his current abilities match his entire origin is as a tribute to Jack Vance so it is a totally valid thing to bring up when they are talking a bit about the origins of Vecna...
@@2g33ksgamingttv3 bootlicker
Since in my setting, vecna is a true deity, this will be a great statblock for an avatar of vecna. All I need to do is add a single 9th or higher level spell to the 1/day list.
@@vornsukiBecause I find him cool. And it's not like he isn't in multiple different settings already.
@@vornsuki why do you care?
You may also want to add a magic item to give fire resist. Fighter with a Flame Tongue could be rough if timed after he uses his 3 reactions.
Hes a stupid strong wizard. He should have endless amounts of Simulacrums.
@@ThisNameIsBanned If I read the description correctly, simulacrum cannot duplicate an undead. But hey, Vecna customized the way lichdom works, so he might be able to make an undead simulacrum too...
"If you stat it, they will kill it."
They can try
@@BrickHeadGamin they will its weak sauce
Where do you get the Vecna Figure? That’s what I want to know
I just want access to the Book of Vile Darkness
It is coming out from Wiz Kids this fall
Slimfast buddy, drink lots and lots of Slimfast
This Vecna is brutal, a lot of powerful abilty and attack, is reaction with counterspell is insane (in a positive way) and he can heal with is teleport. If we consider that this is not God-Vecna but is Archlich form, i think this is maybe the best CR26 official monster.
Can still be Turned Undead for some reason
@@Comrade2261 It is a little weird, but he also has a +15 to wisdom saving throws so I don't think it will matter much.
@@Comrade2261 no legendary resistance?
level 1 caster with shocking grasp ends his reactions and transforms him into a very weak wizard with a very weak spell list.
@@wizard380 shocking grasp counts as a spell of level 4 or lower though, no (cantrips=level 0 spells)?
I see, Vecna has become the Spooky Scary Skeleton Tarrasque.
He needs more spells, he's a goddamn lich!
The one thing I don´t like too much is that Acererak is a lot more intelligent than his master Vecna
So is Halaster, who is just some crazy old guy
I mean, it does make sense. Acererak is essentially the ultimate evil nerd. He’s like an undead version of the Riddler. He spends his time on mad experiments and constructing impossible dungeons and crazy death traps. Vecna is much more interested in shadowy intrigue. He knows people. Next to Asmodeus, Vecna is the master of all manipulators. So, really, what doesn’t make any sense is that he only has a charisma of 16.
If you read the stat block there’s a note saying that this is his power before Kas strikes him down so this is before accerak
Also that Acererak has Immunity to Necrotic Damage, a higher AC and more hp lol
Did you seriously call Halaster some crazy old guy
Looking at the other CR 26 monsters compared to Vecna, Vecna feels distinctly stronger, closer to CR 27 or 28
It is weird he doesn't have Legendary Actions, right?
@@VivaLaDnDLogs his reactions seem like a replacement for them.
@@VivaLaDnDLogs Yeah, it is weird that he doesn’t have legendary actions.
I think he is 26, the problem is that other boss monsters like Demogorgon or Zariel are pretty weak for his CR
@@Rafesco so what's the point of CR after 20? Because my understanding was that CR number represented a fair challenge for a group of 4 players of that level. But 5e doesn't go beyond level 20. So does each CR above 20 mean one additional level 20 character to the party? (CR 26 would be 10 players)
Granted I haven't seen it in motion, but I'm really apprehensive of the stat block at first glance. If the party wins initiative, he'll get creamed immediately with those weak defenses. The heal on his teleport will help a smidge, but if he's jumped he won't have time for that to work.
If he doesnt fold immediately because of proper planning (all liches should have a plan and backup plan,) then he can tell multiple spellcasters in the party to stand in a corner, because with rapid-fire counterspells, and a heap of legendary resistances, why are they even playing? The fact that vecna is a melee based multiattacker with no high level spells is really odd, but the swingy nature of this boss fight is the real concern for me. Either he'll get rushed and melt immediately, or he turns off all the magic and wears down the rest with infinite healing. Anybody have a different take I'm not seeing?
Characters/creatures are still able to take a reaction (in Vecna's case, 3 reactions) before their first turn, even if they lose initiative, as long as they aren't surprised. If you assume a party of five, he's still going to be able to make some combinations of 3 counterspell attempts or teleports to interrupt attack combos. He'll probably take a hefty chunk of damage, but as long as he isn't killed, which is unlikely with that amount of interaction, he's going to proceed to get 80 hp back, cast a big spell/use a bit ability, and then dagger a couple of characters. One of the most dangerous things to him is an archer fighter, since his teleport does not as cleanly interrupt their attack combo, but this can be solved by having an encounter room with areas where he can get full cover. Honestly, that's best practice for tactical diversity anyway. He can't cleanly interrupt a big paladin smite, either, which is obviously dangerous, but that is what it is.
I'm planning to run the one-shot they released for him next week, with some tweaks, and I'm excited to see what he'll look like in play.
@@ALeftyGoth All good points I had missed. The counterspell math also works out to about 50% success, which is a little better than I realized. Still gonna be hell for a magic-heavy party, but less swingy than I thought.
@@ALeftyGoth those reactions are great against casters, but 2 20th level longbow wielding fighters can drop him in a single round and his reactions won't stop them.
@@cmckee42 Yes, I've seen the video too, and it, like you, completely ignores the easy solution to this of a combat arena with areas of full cover for him to teleport behind. I'm not saying it's not a weakness, but it's entirely overstated and ignores that most high level creatures fold easily to something.
@@ALeftyGoth the teleport range is 30 feet, and he has to be able to see it, so except on an arena specifically designed for teleportation cubby holes, the fighter should be able to move to a place where vecna loses total cover.
I love how accessible dnd beyond is, and love online resources and what they've done for the game. But I really wish they would make a paper dossier for Vecna like a collector kind of thing, that would be so freaking cool
How about that! Stranger things delves into the 1st edition and viola! We have Vecna converted to the new ruleset. Maybe Stranger Things will feature other 1st Edition content "inspiring" wizards to incorporate some of that vintage goodness? Hope so.
DND Beyond is great, but how about a PDF?
I really feel like this hasn't been playtested very well. A strong squad of martials with optimised magic items will annihilate Vecna before he can do anything. I've seen high level Paladins do 300+ damage in one round with hasted critsmites.
He is incredibly weak to martials. Bad initiative, Armor, Resistances (taking full damage from flametongue). A 20th level Rogue, Ranger, and Dex Fighter will demolish him with almost no effort.
Maybe...but he automatically Wind iniziative! He's immortal.
Vecna's new art seems more like a Mummy Lord than a lich
May help explain his improved self revive.
Vecna in popular media is surreal experience. Imagine a lot of other villain names mainstreaming. Come on my boys Strahd and Acererak.
Lmao I'm already trying to figure out how to buff/play vecna to go up against my party of min/maxers
Boosting Int and HP, giving him a ton of minions, upping the flight of the dammed damage, letting him make afterthought attacks as ranged spell attacks (I don't want Vecna in melee with my hexblade-paladin) and most importantly giving him legendary actions. Ik he can take 3 reactions but not giving a boss like Vecna legendary actions feels crazy
Vecna does not deserve this low power stat block. Sure he can counterspell 3 times a turn but also Acererak his apprentice has a better statblock. HE HAS NO TURN RESISTANCE. HE IS COUNTERED BY A SECOND LEVEL CLERIC. Lets follow through on that line Acererak has more health, Immunity to Necrotic and Poison, SO MANY MORE SPELLS including 9th level, and also the ability to give players vulnerability, turn resistance, LEGENDARY ACTIONS, and a sphere of annhilation which can cause INSTANT DEATH. VS Vecna who has none of those and his ultimate recharge 5 attack is a bigger fireball that gives frightened. Sure Vecna does 96 damage a turn but that is way out classed (WHICH HE IS NOT IMMUNE TO AS A DAMAGE TYPE) By acererak's (Who reminder is CR 23) ability to deal Instant death.
"Vecna can take up to three reactions per round but only one per turn."
You're wrong.
I would say that Jack Vance is very powerful.
I love that Vecna was trending on Twitter!
3:40 “it’s perhaps Vecna’s most fearsome ability”
7:08 “in fact, perhaps Vecna’s most fearsome ability”
Well dang, which is it? 🤔
This stat block is definitely effective, the actions and abilities are absolutely insane. But the stats themselves are a bit underwhelming. Even as an Archlich, his stats aren’t able to stack up to the likes of Acererak, who he brought up and trained. I guess you could say that’s a testament to Vecna’s abilities as a teacher, but still, it strikes me as a little odd.
also not really powerful compared to acerak who has that sphere of anhilation
I feel that Acererak is a poor example. One, he starts with legendary magic items such as the Sphere of Annihilation and the Staff of the Forgotten, which Vecna can also equip if the DM chooses. Second, he's specifically designed to be fought only in the Tomb of Annihilation, his stats were not designed for general use, and the Tomb itself is a huge factor to his difficulty.
@@TheCrimsonElite666 Even without his legendary magic items, he still beats Vecna with his higher AC, hp and immunity to Necrotic Damage as well as access to 9th Level spells.
@@mawdeeps7691 This is Vecna before death, before he lost his hand and eye. He only gets stronger from here. This statblock is just a template. The DM is more than capable of customizing him and adding the hand, eye, and book of vile darkness to his statblock if they wish.
The Acererak we have stats for is from the present. This Vecna's stats are from thousands of years ago, before he attained godhood. In all this time, Acererak hasn't managed to overcome the need of a phylactery like this Vecna has.
A lich is defined by their phylactery binding their soul from death and knowledge of secret and powerful magic that made it possible. Vecna ascended above the need for a phylactery, and assimilated improved spells into innate abilities that can't be counterspelled. Acererak couldn't manage that in thousands of years searching the planes, but has gained experiences and tools to excel in other ways.
working on a classical mini campaign with this dude. Thanks Boss.
I want that miniature shown in b-roll so hard
Automatically cancelling a spell of 4th level or lower is brutal. I'm guessing they specifically chose 4th level as the threshold to keep from outright screwing over warlocks.
getting a level 1 caster to shocking grasp him ends all his reactions. they did not playtest him at all.
@@wizard380 it would take three shocking grasps before he ran out of reactions to counter spell any of them.i all not seeing the issue here
@@TheHengeProphet idk, Shocking Grasp states: Lightning springs from your hand to deliver a shock to a creature you try to touch. Make a melee spell attack against the target. You have advantage on the attack roll if the target is wearing armor made of metal. On a hit, the target takes 1d8 lightning damage, and it can’t take reactions until the start of its next turn.
@@ColgateMcajax cantrips can be counter spelled
@@ColgateMcajax “I walk up to Vecna and make a touch attack. I rolled a 13.”
“You miss. He uses a legendary action to attack you. Does a 31 hit?”
“My AC is 12, so yes.”
“You sustain 67 damage.”
“My max hp is 30.”
“You die, no save.”
Where can we get those posters that hang in the background? I know some of those designs are on limited edition books but f.e. the beholder design with those colors I have never seen before.
Yes! I've been waiting for this! Thank you! Vecna has been the big bad for my campaign!
Hey, I love that they're giving Vecna some love and free stuff is always amazing!
BUT with my experience as an DM, level 20 party... especially a holy one... will demolish this Vecna. Twilight Domain + Oath of Vengeance + Path of the Zealot + a Wizard will clear the floor with this lich's face. Homebrew THIS GOD with legedary actions, at least a 24 int. as Halaster Blackcloak and give him a proper Spellcasting ability. Don't forget about the minions and good fight strategies.
Minions and strats are important to every fight, but his 3 reactions would devastate that kind of party. His suped up Counterspell could wreck a wizard and cleric, and he can teleport away to drag on of the melee fighters into essentially single combat. The paladin's auras also mean they want to be close so his teleport can easily hit multiple party members, and heal almost a quarter his health. Rotten Fate can also wreck the wizard and cleric, zombifying them quickly, and his Flight of the Damned has a 120 foot cone, easily hitting everyone. He also has True Sight, meaning even greater invisibility is useless against him, and can cast Fly at will, easily keeping out of reach of the Paladin and Barbarian, just raining down raining down lightning bolts or Dominating the Barbarian or Paladin. And even if he comes close to losing, he can Plane Shift and gtfo, then pick your party off later.
Yeah, it's a goid base for homebrew, but needs some more meat. Like the somehow missing features every other lich has, better int, spellcasting, and some legendary actions.
@@ReagentGray once his legendasry saves are used cleric uses turn undead he's f'd
@@mawdeeps7691 he has 5, and his wis save is +15, he'll be fine. He's also more than smart enough to focus down the cleric first.
@@ReagentGray thats fine the clerics got three turns at that level so burns 2 LS that leaves any other spell casters with 2 to worry about if he wants to not try and save the 3rd turn attempt and will likely survive. with approx 140 ish hp the fighter is mauling him with action surge anyhow, heavy +1 crossbow 9 attacks. now go on tell me taking a fighter and a cleric is meta as if they arent original staples of the game.
Long time ago in the wizards official page for 3.5 had a template for vampire called Vampire Lord who cut off all vunerabilities of normal vampire. We see in this case a possibility to increase the vampire power with a secondary unique template. You guys create the lich, the demilich, but not the Arch/Arc Lich to understand the fundamental differences between they. Are the Arch/Arc Lich one transformations of lich into one complete form of more powerful demilich? Because, well, we see demilich more powerful the a lich but just like a floating head only. Maybe the rest of the body is in other plane of existence, maybe? and the Arch Lich a complete/successful form of materialized Demilich intro material plane? Maybe yes, maybe not, what you guys can say?
This was almost impossible to follow... Trash english...
Vecna isn't AN Archlich, he's THE Archlich. It's a title, not a description. Vecna was the most powerful lich, transcending the need for a phylactery, or ultimately, a body. This is Vecna just before he ascends to Godhood in 4e.
@@AwesomeWookiee Can you show me where is this title of Arch/Arc Lich like you mentioned in any official material of D&D os any edition please?
Because to me Archlich specifically is a Good Lich and you can find in Monsters of Faerûn p.90 to be more precisely.
Believe me my friend, Vecna isn't a Archlich.
@@AwesomeWookiee I'm sadly unfamiliar with 4e lore, but I know they changed a number of things. Were the details of Vecna's ascension changed for 4th edition?
In 5e, Archlich just means stronk lich. The term has only ever been used in this edition to refer to Acererak and Vecna.
Honestly, between getting rid of spell slots and seeing this Vecna......really seems like easy mode.
My DM ran this counter for us, a group of four level 20s, easy sweep, even with minions
Gotta love that Vecna was all but forgotten for years. Critical Role kinda brought him back, but not enough for him to trend. Only when something was definently going to trend, Stranger Things S4, did Wizards of the Coast decide to revive Vecna to the public, riding the coattail of Stranger Things... What about Drizzt, or Elminster next? Or if we're strictly sticking to villains, what about Vlaakith, the githyanki lich queen?
How do I get my hands on some of those posters in the background? That would be perfect for the game room.
Vecna's stat block seems weaker than Acererak's stat block
Stats maybe, but abilities yikes. He's crazy lethal. You can't counter spell half of his stuff, but he can ream your casters. Add in lair actions and he is a nightmare even at level 20.
This would be Vecna without the Book of Vile Darkness, Hand of Vecna and Eye of Vecna. He could easilly be a lot stronger. (I find it very weird he doesn't have a flying speed however...)
@@alphaa3350 he can cast fly at will
Acererak may have higher spell slots available, more spells, and a higher AC, but this Vecna has way more damage potential, being able to essentially Finger of Death, necrotic reverse Thunder Step, and attack with a lethal dagger every turn, regaining 80hp if he damages someone with the teleport. He also gets three reactions every round rather than one and causes damage with the two built in reactions. He also has five legendary resistances compared to Acererak’s three. Vecna will be constantly teleporting around, causing lots of damage, and healing himself by a lot. If the DM doesn’t give Acererak some minions he’ll be down much quicker than Vecna.
The Vecna from Critical Role was insane stat wise.
@@jaredeschweiler3505 level 3 monk open palm or a level 1 caster with shocking grasp ends all his reactions. he is a gimmick character with 0 playtesting.
Pretty weak if a few un-optimized martials can take him out before he gets a turn.
That's why you use a wall of force
@@thecondescendinggoomba5552 Round 1 these martials beat him on round one. And his initiative is crazy bad.
@@Terker2 Pretty sure he'll need to have legendary actions added later so martials don't destroy him instantly. His AC is really, really low, so Shield won't even help him that much.
@@Terker2 wrong
@@robertarmstrong3939 please elaborate.
Hm... far less spells than expected but we can just play arround with that. His non-spell abilities are already quite fearsome so I can understand reducing the spells options to make him easier to use + avoid some abuse.
Also youtube list this video as Diablo III content =P.
I like the new model of stat blocks because they avoid the bloat of abilities/spells that aren't realistically going to see use in a fight,which is where you most need the stats. Outside of that, he can do whatever creepy wizard stuff you think appropriate
RUclips has a thing for characterising any dnd videos as WoW videos or diablo videos, they haven't nailed it down quite yet
@@ALeftyGoth It also prevents the need for players to counterspell spam to trivialise fights with spellcasters.
@@TheCrimsonElite666 Which is unquestionably a good thing, I think, for the enjoyment of everyone at the table. Counterspell still definitely has a use, but it's more niche, now. Even when I play a wizard, the prospect of just cancelling every action the enemy wizard takes is . . . it's just dull, which means that even if I'm winning, I'm losing. The new design also means I get to use my reaction for other things, while still occasionally making use of a counterspell to stop the few key spells the enemy does have.
I don’t see it on D&D beyond. Is it not out yet ?
Vecna is so powerful that even just a legend about his head leads to mass suicide of adventureres
I think the main takeaway from Strange Things 4 is that the world is ready for a serious live action D&D show
Give me a big budget Dark Sun show
That's... Literally what stranger things is lmao.
lmao no
I have a couple of questions for my fellow Stranger Things fans, as well as D&D players:
How does the Stranger Things Vecna hold up to the real D&D version?
Do we have a lot to worry about in season 5 of ST?
i am still caching up but i would say stranger things vecna is weaker but by less than you would think
In the 7:00 contradict what was write in 5e about Demonic Amulets: Blessing and Curses (Murdenkainen tome of foes).
If even Demon Lords or Arch Devils have this cheating death like one phylactery it is Vecna Beyound they?
I love that his Vecna's counterspell cannot be Counterspelled. I'll use this ability in some of my stronger bosses. Additionally a "Young" Vecna is always cool. This being before Kas Strikes him down is cool. I'll still Give him both the ability to use the Book of Vile Darkness and some of the Eye and Hand of Vecna's spells. But beyond that his abilities are nice. That Teleport with 80 healing is Insane
Make sure to take note of "that is"
A Sorcerer Vecna can see that casts a spell with subtle spell is still casting a spell.
Vecna can see the Sorcerer, and the Sorcerer is casting a spell. Vecna can Dread Counter.
Regular counter can't, since they have to see the creature casting the spell - not see a creature *that is* casting a spell.
Why do you guys dont give more informations about "the Serpent" mentioned in Vecna Lore, like Vecna Reborn, Dragon #348, Manual of Planes, Epic Level Handbook, Die Vecna Die!?
ive always took the Serpent as the essence of magic itself.
@@StarFyreXXX what i need is more content of wizards about this, because, officially, this history is too short.
Where can we get that acererak poster? Love it!
This video implies there will be a nice PDF version of the Dossier available too?
Is there any way to get the dossier and the adventure as PDF's?
Am I the only one who thinks it’s at least a little funny that Acereak has a higher intellegence then Vecna
We really need Vecna and the Don't Say Vecna adventure in a physical book, guys
D&D Beyond is all well and good but what happens in 30 years when I'm an old man DMing in my retirement home? You can't guarantee the servers will still be up. Heck, you can't guarantee the servers will be up when *6th* Edition finally rolls around
Thank you Todd.
BREAKING NEWS: LOCAL ARCHLICH DEMIGOD LITERALLY TOO ANGRY TO DIE lmao
The Vecna dice set needs a physical release
Exactly the thing I searched for in the last 2 weeks!
Man... 272 health is just not enough. I know liches are supposed to be built on a wizard's squishy frame, but this is CR 26. A competent party can destroy this in a single round
He heals 80 every turn as a bonus action, can counter 3 spells in one turn, and one of his moves hits for an average of 96 damage?
@@ReagentGray An Eversmoking Bottle shuts him down hard. Truesight can't see through fog. No Vecna Step, no Counterspell.
@@edsiefker1301 yeah, but that's also no targeting him, and he can just go out
@@ReagentGray a baseline paladin with a holy avenger / sword of Kas deals 87 damage on average if they smite for 6d8. Vecna isn't getting more than 2 turns if the rest of the party can dish out damage as well
@@KingKevin108 good luck smiting him when he can cast Fly at will, and he'll likely only hit once on average on account of his reaction teleport.
Hopefully they'll do this with more deities. Maybe moradin or some demon lord's
Is this part of the monster I believe it's compodium?
Seperate, it's own thing, you can claim it for free on dndbeyond if you have an account 👍
They said at the start that this isn't Vecna the deity. They fleshed out the stats for the Archlich version of him, and said that they think his ascension to godhood is best left alone. I imagine they'll take that stance with the other gods too.
I personally giving gods stats is silly, anyway. The avatars of gods, sure. But in my mind, no matter how powerful the characters become, they should never have a hope in hell at even remotely coming close to damaging someone like Moradin. And when you give gods statblocks and abilities like that, what you are saying is that 'if you can beat these numbers, and come out on top, you can beat a god.' In my opinion, that is silly and should be best left alone unless you are playing characters who are gods, too.
@@Foretelling avatars is what i was i meant. I had not finished the vid
Those posters are sick!
huh? I just watched the 2nd episode of the current season of Stranger Things and this was recommended to me.
I like that unlike the rest of necrotic figures being mostly green, vecna is purple based. I guess Orcus is red.
where do I find the dossier in dnd beyond? I claimed it but I can't find it on the app
Scanlan: Did someone say, counter spell?
Two Fighters with Magic +1 Bows, or the feat that makes their bow attacks magical, win initiative; Alpha Strike destroy Vecna
Vecna is cool, but not "perfect". Gotta boost him a bit in some HP or AC, and also give him the Shield spell etc
WOW this video is laborious to sit through
damn that is awesome!
on a sidenote... Matt mercer's vecna was also fun
I'm so confused. It's mentioned in this video that you can download the Vecna dossier, alongside the Monstrous Compendium. But you can't... I go to my digital library on the D&D website but it keeps telling me to sign into D&D Beyond, and then takes me to the D&D Beyond stat. Furthermore, the pdf of the Monstrous Compendium cannot be downloaded anymore. This is frustrating.
3 counter spells every turn...goodness.
Thank Scanlan and Critical Role for that one 😂
No. Three reactions before HIS next turn. He can only do one reaction per turn.
@@AnthonyWhitford
That doesn't sound like how they described it. He says every turn he can lock out 3 spell casters. So in my mind that looks like this.
Wizard: I cast fireball
Dm: Vecna counterspells it.
Cleric: I cast healing word
Dm: Vecna counterspells it.
Warlock: I cast shatter
Dm: Vecna counterspells it.
And then if a 4th spell is cast now he's out of counterspells until until start of his next turn.
@@Nyarlarthotep9 Yeah one reaction per turn, three reactions per ROUND
"Vecna can take up to three reactions per round but only one per turn."
You're wrong.
I'll have to compare vecna to his "contemporary" Acererak.
acererak wrecks him
I don’t know if I’m ever going to throw Vecna at a party in D&D but if I get to I’m so excited to use this stat block!!!
He can hate himself back into existence? Looks like we have a new winner for the Playah Haters Ball.
Is Osterneth making a cameo? The Bronze Lich has been linked to Vecna. Sheldon make a cool mini-boss on the way to Vecna
"Vecna is the apex of mad wizards at this part of his carreer." *looks at Halaster* I wonder who would win a death battle.
Vecna.
Sure, Halaster is powerful, but he isn't a god.
Vecna became one.
I doubt Vecna could beat Halaster in undermountain, and Halaster never leaves it.
Bro is literally the definition of too angry to die
Can't wait for Stranger Things S4 Volume 2! 😃
It’s the guy from DBD! Just use a wooden pallet on him. On and crouch his Spector skeletons.
Well now we need Kas! GIVE US KAS!
Kas would just have the warrior variant of the vampire lord's statistics
@@Somber_Knight why would he he's famous for dropping vecna he's obviously special amongst his kind just as vecna isnt a typical archlich
so is vecna's true name vance?
I never heard of vecna until joe did The Godfather style Maneuver in critical role.
Why does Acererak have higher INT than Vecna? 27 vs 22
this statblock seems rushed IMO, they neglected to give him a 9th level spell for example
This is pre-chopped Vecna. He hasn't reached his full power yet.
@@ReagentGray he was still a lvl 20 wizard when he became lich.
that's his base statline without any magic items, the dossier states he can have Book, Eye and Hand. Acererak also comes pre-equiped with 3 magic items
Chris here and as much as I love this it's still not that great. A party of 20th level will most likely have him beat by turn 5 or less if the players are power builders. Now Vecna is truly dreadful for a party of maybe 16 or 15 level and lower in my opinion. I want to run him for sure. But that is where I believe the sweet spot for Vecna is. 272 HP for a CR26 is rather low. There are fighter builds that can do that in one or two turns.
Just want to throw this out there. A sorcerer can use subtle Chill Touch to cast the cantrip without any way for Vecna to counterspell it. If it hits his 18 AC (with a +11 to hit) he takes necrotic damage which he isn't immune to and can not regain HP until the start of YOUR next turn, and any attack roll he makes is done with disadvantage.
So if the sorcerer or anyone with Metamagic adept does this and have Chill Touch. His ability to regain HP is just gone.
@@Cloud_Seeker Yeah I would really tweek this villian out differently. Double Concentration to start of with, a full spell slots, a better spell list. And some more
Magitech cyborg Vecna is looking great.
I can't wait for the d&d version
Sorcerers: "Subtle spell, subtle spell, subtle all the waaaay."
You're a creature he can see, and you are casting a spell. He can still Dread Counter you.
Dread only needs to see a creature *that is* casting a spell.
Regular counter needs to see a creature casting a spell.
That gets counterspelled too. If Vecna can see you and you are casting a spell he can counterspell it.
He can cast 3 any level spells in one round!
IMO the 2nd edition Vecna will remain the most powerful simply by the virtue of the ruleset by then. Death saving throws were mercilessly hit and miss!
Never mind the high lvl of spell casting he had access to as well.....
Totally agree! Like he made the lady of pain take notice in second ed, he was a badass. Still, is and this can always be played around with people are saying Acererak this and that, but just reading this dossier made me go "oh, this could make Elminster sweat a bit"
God I want Asmodeus and Lolth stats
I've always thought of Asmodeus as being so far beyond even max level adventurers that he would just tear them apart effortlessly. He's literally a god, after all.
A long time ago, in a continent far away I played as a DM almost weekly for nearly ten years, we played with the Rules-Cyclopedia, Advanced D&D, and (mostly) 3E; we played almost exclusively on Faerun (Forgotten Realms) but we also have a few adventures on The Planes; I don't remember at all the character of Vecna but because my children don't stop mentioning him now I checked on all my books and I only encountered a very small mention of him in "The Manual of The Planes" (3E). Please, somebody can tell me when this character became famous in D&D? and which manuals of AD&D would have mentioned him.
I'm assuming that the characters of Stranger Things on the 4th Season are playing AD&D.
There is a trilogy of modules for Adnd for him: Vecna Lives; Vecna Reborn and Die Vecna Die.
@@andrasmayer3206 Thanks for the info!
*This Vecna has less spells than a standard lich and is somehow weaker than Acecerak.*
Sorry, but this statblock is weak. You can simply change the chalenge ratting to 20 that it would be more correct. In no way this Vecna has enough power to be in equal strenght as a Ancient Greatwyrm or Demogorgon. I'm more afraid of Acererak than Vecna.
Same
I heavily disagree with this design. Youre removing half of a typical adventuring party from any semblance of effectiveness. That’s an anti fun ability design. It doesn’t increase the joy of anyone playing against him, it just trashes every caster in the party… it’s like legendary resistances only worse.