Mastering Legendary Actions: How Many is the Right Number?

The most straightforward answer is: most creatures have between 2-3 legendary actions. However, the optimal number of legendary actions a creature should possess is not a fixed number, but rather depends on its role in the encounter, its overall power level, and the desired dynamic of the combat. It’s about crafting an engaging and challenging experience for the players, ensuring the boss feels formidable and intelligent, without becoming overwhelming or predictable.

Designing a Legendary Encounter: Beyond the Numbers

While 2-3 legendary actions are common, simply adhering to this range doesn’t guarantee a well-designed boss fight. Here’s a deeper dive into the factors that influence the ideal number of legendary actions:

• Creature’s Role: Is the creature a primary boss, a mini-boss, or simply a powerful opponent? A final boss should likely have more impactful and diverse legendary actions than a mini-boss, potentially influencing the number to trend toward 3 or even more (though be careful with action economy overload).

• Creature’s Power Level: A creature with high damage output or potent control abilities might need fewer legendary actions to remain balanced. Conversely, a creature that primarily relies on tactical maneuvers or buffing allies might benefit from more options to express its strategic complexity.

• Party Size and Level: The size and level of the player party significantly impact the encounter’s difficulty. A larger or higher-level party can withstand more punishment and deliver more damage, potentially necessitating more legendary actions to keep the boss relevant.

• Encounter Design: Consider the environment and any supporting enemies. A complex battlefield with interactive elements or additional creatures can make the encounter more challenging, allowing for fewer legendary actions. If the boss is alone in a relatively simple arena, it might need more actions to compensate.

• Desired Combat Dynamic: Legendary actions are designed to disrupt the players’ strategies and keep them on their toes. Too few actions can make the boss predictable, while too many can lead to frustration and a sense of unfairness. The goal is to create a dynamic where players feel challenged but still have opportunities to strategize and react effectively.

Thinking Outside the Box: Legendary Action Variety

Beyond the number of actions, the variety and impact of the actions themselves are crucial. A boss with three distinct and impactful legendary actions is often more challenging and interesting than one with five redundant or weak options.

Consider the following when designing legendary actions:

• Offensive Options: These actions allow the creature to deal damage, inflict conditions, or disrupt the party’s formation.

• Defensive Options: These actions allow the creature to protect itself, heal, or mitigate damage.

• Utility Options: These actions allow the creature to move, manipulate the environment, or buff allies.

• Control Options: These actions allow the creature to hinder the players, such as imposing movement restrictions.

A well-rounded set of legendary actions provides the creature with flexibility and allows it to respond to a variety of situations, making it a more dynamic and engaging opponent.

The Action Economy Conundrum

Be mindful of action economy. Legendary actions give the monster more opportunities to act during the round, evening the playing field against a larger party of adventurers. However, too many legendary actions can swing the action economy too far in the monster’s favor, leading to a frustrating experience for the players.

Playtesting is Key

Ultimately, the best way to determine the optimal number and type of legendary actions is to playtest the encounter thoroughly. Observe how the players react to the boss’s actions, assess the overall difficulty of the encounter, and make adjustments as needed. Remember, the goal is to create a memorable and challenging experience that players will enjoy. By experimenting with different combinations of legendary actions, DMs can create more engaging and balanced encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Legendary Actions

1. What are Legendary Actions?

Legendary actions are a special type of action that powerful creatures can take outside of their normal turn. They allow the creature to react to the players’ actions and maintain a presence throughout the combat.

2. How do Legendary Actions Recharge?

A legendary creature regains all spent legendary actions at the start of its turn. This refresh ensures the creature always has options available.

3. Can a creature use multiple Legendary Actions at once?

No, only one legendary action option can be used at a time. This helps maintain balance and prevents the creature from overwhelming the players.

4. When can Legendary Actions be used?

Legendary actions can only be taken at the end of another creature’s turn. This restriction forces the creature to react to the players’ actions, making the combat more dynamic.

5. Are Legendary Actions affected by the Slow spell?

No, Legendary actions are special abilities that the creature possesses and are not affected by the Slow spell. Slow affects Actions, Bonus Actions and Reactions, not Legendary actions.

6. Can you Counterspell a Legendary Action?

You can attempt to Counterspell a legendary action if it involves casting a spell, but it might not be effective. Counterspell needs to be cast while a spell is being cast, not after.

7. How many Legendary Actions do Dragons get?

Generally, dragons get 3 legendary actions, choosing from a set of options. The specific options vary depending on the dragon’s age and type.

8. Can a Stunned creature take Legendary Actions?

No, a stunned creature cannot take any actions, including legendary actions. Being stunned is devastating for monsters, as they lose their ability to react.

9. Can you use Legendary Actions when Surprised?

No, if a creature is surprised, it cannot use Legendary Actions until after its first turn in the combat.

10. What is the difference between a Legendary Action and a Reaction?

Legendary actions are additional actions that can be taken at the end of another character’s turn, while reactions are triggered by specific events. Reactions are limited to one per round, while legendary actions are refreshed each turn.

11. Can you use Legendary Resistance against a Counterspell?

No, Legendary Resistance cannot be used against Counterspell. Counterspell invokes Ability checks involving the spellcasting ability, not a saving throw.

12. What happens if you Counterspell a Counterspell?

You can attempt to counter a counterspell, but you would be using your reaction and losing your originally casted spell. It isn’t effective.

13. Are Legendary Actions stopped by being Incapacitated?

Yes. A creature that is incapacitated cannot take Legendary Actions. The same rule applies to lair actions as well.

14. Do Legendary Actions affect a monster’s Challenge Rating (CR)?

Yes, legendary actions do affect a monster’s Challenge Rating. Adding legendary actions generally increases the CR of a monster because it makes the monster more effective in combat. Removing legendary actions can reduce the CR.

15. Can Legendary Actions be used right before the creature’s turn?

Yes, a legendary action can be used after any other creature’s action, so yes, they can be used right before the monster’s turn. This provides tactical flexibility to the monster.

Remember, these guidelines are just a starting point. The best way to determine the optimal number and type of legendary actions for your encounters is to experiment, playtest, and tailor them to your specific campaign and players. If you are interested in learning more about Games Learning Society, visit GamesLearningSociety.org.