AC 12 (15 with mage armor )
HP 117 (18d8 + 36; bloodied 58)
Speed 30 ft.
Proficiency +4; Maneuver DC 14
Saving Throws Int +9, Wis +7
Skills Arcana +9 (+1d8), Insight +7, History +9, Perception +7
Damage Immunities psychic (with mind blank )
Condition Immunities charmed (with mind blank )
Senses passive Perception 17; darkvision 120 ft.
Languages shadow elvish, elvish, underlander, deep speech
Foresight. When the foresight spell is active, the archmage can’t be surprised and has advantage on ability checks, attack rolls , and saving throws . In addition, other creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls against the archmage.
Mind Blank. When the mind blank spell is active, the archmage is immune to psychic damage, any effect that would read their emotions or thoughts, divination spells, and the charmed condition.
Innate spells. The shadow elf archmage can innately cast dancing lights as a cantrip andfaerie fire and darkness once each per long rest with no material components, using Intelligence as their spellcasting ability.
Spellcasting. The archmage is an 18th level spellcaster. Their spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with spell attacks). The archmage can cast shield at level 1 and alter self at level 2 without expending a spell slot. They have the following wizard spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): fire bolt , light , mage hand , message , prestidigitation
1st-level (4 slots): detect magic , identify , mage armor , shield
2nd-level (4 slots): alter self , misty step , suggestion
3rd-level (3 slots): counterspell , lightning bolt , clairvoyance
4th-level (3 slots): greater invisibility , hallucinatory terrain , dimension door
5th-level (3 slots): cone of cold , cloudkill , scrying
6th-level (1 slot): globe of invulnerability , true seeing
7th-level (1 slot): teleport
8th-level (1 slot): mind blank
9th-level (1 slot): foresight
ACTIONS
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 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: +9 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 22 (4d10) fire damage.
Lightning Bolt (3rd-Level; V, S, M). A bolt of lightning 5 feet wide and 100 feet long arcs from the archmage. Each creature in the area makes a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw , taking 28 (8d6) lightning damage on a failure or half damage on a success.
Cone of Cold (5th-Level; V, S, M). Frost blasts from the archmage in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in the area makes a DC 17 Constitution saving throw , taking 36 (8d8) cold damage on a failure or half damage on a success.
Globe of Invulnerability (6th-Level; V, S, M, Concentration). A glimmering, 10-foot-radius sphere appears around the archmage. It remains for 1 minute and doesn’t move with the archmage. Any 5th-level or lower spell cast from outside the sphere can’t affect anything inside the sphere, even if cast with a higher level spell slot. Targeting something inside the sphere or including the sphere’s space in an area has no effect on anything inside.
Teleport (7th-Level; V). The archmage teleports to a location they are familiar with on the same plane of existence.
REACTIONS
Counterspell (3rd-Level; S). When a creature the archmage can see within 60 feet casts a spell, the archmage 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 archmage 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 archmage 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 archmage 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 their stat block, the shadow elf archmage 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
As rare as mages are, far fewer still go on to become archmages, gaining a mastery over magic that approaches the very heights of mortal power. These powerful spellcasters enact ancient rituals and conduct potentially disastrous experiments in their endless pursuit of arcane excellence.
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.