Beholder 5e Guide
Large Aberration, Lawful Evil
At a Glance
CR
13
Type
Aberration
Size
Large
Alignment
Lawful Evil
AC
18 (natural armor)
HP
180 (19d10 + 76)
Speed0 ft., fly 20 ft. (hover)
Ability Scores
str
10
+0
dex
14
+2
con
18
+4
int
17
+3
wis
15
+2
cha
17
+3
Key Abilities
| Ability | Description |
|---|---|
| Antimagic Cone | The beholder's central eye creates a 150-foot cone of antimagic. Each creature and magical effect in the area is affected by Antimagic Field. |
| Eye Rays | The beholder shoots three random eye rays from among ten options, each targeting a creature within 120 ft. Rays include <a href="/rules/conditions/charmed-condition-5e/">Charm</a>, <a href="/rules/conditions/paralyzed-condition-5e/">Paralyzing</a>, <a href="/rules/conditions/frightened-condition-5e/">Fear</a>, Slowing, Enervation, Telekinetic, Sleep, <a href="/rules/conditions/petrified-condition-5e/">Petrification</a>, <a href="/spells/offensive/disintegrate-5e/">Disintegration</a>, and Death rays. |
| Legendary Actions | The beholder can take 3 legendary actions: use one eye ray per action. It can also use its eye rays at the start of its turn. |
How to Run This Monster
Beholders are paranoid geniuses. They position themselves to use Antimagic Cone strategically — shutting down casters while using eye rays on martial characters. They use terrain to their advantage, hovering over pits or lava. A smart beholder has prepared its lair with traps, minions, and escape routes.
Encounter Ideas
Beholder lairs should feel like entering a mad genius's domain. Vertical terrain is key since the beholder hovers. Use the legendary actions to keep pressure on the party between turns. The antimagic cone creates tactical puzzles — do casters stay in range or retreat?
Loot
Beholder eyes retain residual magic and are prized by wizards (500–2,000 gp each). Their lairs contain hoarded treasures including magic items they've collected from defeated foes.
Common Mistakes
Common Mistake
Forgetting the Antimagic Cone also affects the beholder's own eye rays
Common Mistake
Not randomizing which eye rays fire each turn
Common Mistake
Playing the beholder as a brute instead of a paranoid tactician
DM Tips
DM Tip
Give the beholder a personality — each one is uniquely paranoid
DM Tip
Use the lair actions to make the environment itself hostile
DM Tip
The antimagic cone is a cone FROM the central eye — position matters
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & Further Reading
- Beholder — D&D 5e Wikidot — Full stat block
- Beholder — D&D Beyond — Official monster reference
- Beholder — Roll20 Compendium — Structured stat block