10 Interesting But Underused Creatures In Dungeons And Dragons

These mysterious and devious outsiders are often found rigging politics, discovering hidden magic and enjoying all the luxury they can find. The true form of a Rakshasa is hardly ever seen. Their love of secrecy and ability to turn into any humanoid form, allows them to go unseen for years. If you are lucky (or unlucky) you will see that they are a humanoid with a Bengal Tigers' head. There is an easy way to confirm your suspicions without seeing them though. They have an innate need for luxury. Combine a rich aristocrat with the common housecat, and you have a creature full of self-importance and laziness.

A Rakshasa is unlikely to fight a person in open combat. Their transformative abilities and natural charisma allow them to create any number of lackeys to perform their dirty work. They will also always take the easier option, often robbing from the poor or needy as they are easier targets than the rich.

If you do find yourself face to face with one of these creatures, you will find they are no pushovers. Their vicious claws and spellcasting abilities can be quite a threat to an adventuring party. Perhaps their scariest ability is their magical curse. When hit with the claws of a Rakshasa, a player is left with a curse that will not activate until the next short or long rest. The player receives horrific images and dreams that stop them from gaining any advantage from the rest. This can only be countered with a remove curse spell or similar magic. You may have won that enconter you had with a Rakshasa, but you will pay for it later.