Medium humanoid 2,300 XP
AC 12 (15 with mage armor )
HP 67 (9d8 + 27; bloodied 33)
Speed 30 ft.
Proficiency +3; Maneuver DC 13
Saving Throws Int +6, Wis +4
Skills Arcana +6 (+1d4), History +6, Investigation +6, Perception +4
Senses passive Perception 14; darkvision 120 ft.
Languages any three
Innate spells. The shadow elf mage can innately cast dancing lights as a cantrip and faerie fire and darkness once each per long rest with no material components, using Intelligence as their spellcasting ability.
Spellcasting. The mage is a 9th level spellcaster. Their spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks). They have the following wizard spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): fire bolt , light , mage hand , prestidigitation
1st-level (4 slots): detect magic , identify , mage armor , shield
2nd-level (3 slots): alter self , misty step
3rd-level (3 slots): clairvoyance , counterspell , lightning bolt
4th-level (3 slots): dimension door , greater invisibility
5th-level (1 slot): cloudkill
ACTIONS
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.
Fire Bolt (Cantrip; V, S). Ranged Spell Attack: +6 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d10) fire damage.
Lightning Bolt (3rd-Level; V, S, M). A bolt of lightning 5 feet wide and 100 feet long arcs from the mage. Each creature in the area makes a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw , taking 28 (8d6) lightning damage on a failure or half damage on a success.
Dimension Door (4th-Level; V). The mage teleports to a location within 500 feet. They can bring along one willing Medium or smaller creature within 5 feet. If a creature would teleport to an occupied space, it takes 14 (4d6) force damage, and the spell fails.
Greater Invisibility (4th-Level; V, S, Concentration). The mage or a creature they touch is invisible for 1 minute.
Cloudkill (5th-Level; V, S, Concentration). A 20-foot-radius sphere of poisonous, sickly green fog appears centered on a point within 120 feet. It lasts for 10 minutes. It spreads around corners, heavily obscures the area, and can be dispersed by a strong wind, ending the spell early. Until the spell ends, when a creature starts its turn in the area or enters it for the first time on a turn, it makes a DC 17 Constitution saving throw , taking 22 (5d8) poison damage on a failure or half damage on a success. The fog moves away from the mage 10 feet at the start of each of its turns, sinking to the level of the ground in that space.
BONUS ACTIONS
Misty Step (2nd-Level; V). The mage teleports to an unoccupied space they can see within 30 feet. The mage can’t cast this spell and a 1st-level or higher spell on the same turn.
REACTIONS
Counterspell (3rd-Level; S). When a creature the mage can see within 60 feet casts a spell, the mage attempts to interrupt it. If the creature is casting a 2nd-level spell or lower, the spell fails. If the creature is casting a 3rd-level or higher spell, the mage makes an Intelligence check against a DC of 10 + the spell’s level. On a success, the spell fails, and the spellcasting creature can use its reaction to try to cast a second spell with the same casting time so long as it uses a spell slot level equal to or less than half the original spell slot. If the mage casts counterspell with a higher spell slot, the interrupted spell fails if its level is less than that of counterspell.
Shield (1st-Level; V, S). When the mage is hit by an attack or targeted by magic missile , they gain a +5 bonus to AC (including against the triggering attack) and immunity to magic missile. These benefits last until the start of their next turn.
Varied Spellbooks
Besides the spells listed in the mage, archmage, or arcane blademaster’s stat block, they may also know one of the following spells:
1 find familiar , and has a familiar
2 magic mouth , and has cast lots of magic mouths in the area
3 alter self , and is in disguise
4 detect thoughts , and uses it irresponsibly
5 animate dead , and has a pet zombie or skeleton
6 glyph of warding , and has cast Explosive Runes
7 nondetection , and is on the run
8 polymorph , and often transforms into a hawk or rat
9 scrying , and has been watching you
10 animate objects , and has several animated pieces of furniture
Shadow elf mages study spells that are useful underground. The lightning bolts and poisonous gases they evoke wreak incredible destruction in narrow catacombs and tunnels.
CR 0–2 1 or 2 apprentice mages ; apprentice mage with acolyte , grimalkin , owl , or quasit
Treasure 8 pp, spellbook, spell scroll of unseen servant , 1 wand of the war mage (sentient, named Mentor, with Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma scores of 14; speaks 6 languages; lectures its owner on the right way to do everything)
CR 5–10 mage ; mage with 1 or 2 apprentice mages ; mage with animated armor , elemental , gargoyle , grimalkin , or imp ; forest gnome illusionist with faerie dragon or scout ; necromancer with 1d8 skeletons or zombies ; shadow elf mage with 1d10 shadow elf warriors ; shadow elf mage with shadow elf champion warrior
Treasure jade and onyx chessboard (250 gp), tiny gold chess pieces (750 gp), spellbook, spell scroll of magic mouth , winged boots , twisted iron wand which acts as a ring of spell storing
CR 11–16 archmage ; 2 mages ; archmage with elemental ; mage with clay guardian , bone devil , giant elemental , invisible stalker , or shield guardian ; necromancer with skeleton horde , zombie horde , skeletal tyrannosaurus rex , or 2 skeletal champions
Treasure 700 gp, ceremonial gold skullcap (2,500 gp), spellbook, spell scrolls of fire shield and secret chest , ring of mind shielding , cracked crystal ball which displays a flickering image of its user near any scrying sensor it creates
CR 17–22 arcane blademaster ; 2 archmages ; archmage with djinni , giant elemental , mage , shield guardian , or stone guardian
Treasure 3 emeralds (1,000 gp each), pseudodragon egg (5,000 gp), spellbook, potion of clairvoyance , spell scrolls of circle of death and eyebite , ring of free action , staff of power
CR 23–30 arcane blademaster with 3 knights ; archmage with 5 or 6 ghasts , hell hounds , knights , mummies , or ogre zombies
Treasure 8,000 gp, vial of powdered diamond (5,000 gp), copper dragon egg (10,000 gp), spellbook, 2 potions of supreme healing , spell scrolls of prismatic wall and sunburst , ring of mind shielding , robe of the archmagi (archmage) or dwarven plate (arcane blademaster)
Humanoids include a number of different intelligent, language-using bipeds of Small or Medium size. Humans and elves are humanoids, and so are orcs and goblins. Humanoids may employ magic but are not fundamentally magical—a characteristic that distinguishes them from bipedal, language-using fey, fiends, and other monsters. Humanoids have no inherent alignment, meaning that no humanoid ancestry is naturally good or evil, lawful or chaotic.