Additional Information

See pages 5—18 in the Volo's Guide to Monsters (2016) book for more information on Beholders. The book also has tables to roll on to help generate your Beholder-Kin's personality and appearance. Additionally, the book Monstrous Arcana: I, Tyrant for DnD 2e also provides more insights into beholders.

As a Level 1 Character

• Gain all the traits of the Sightseer species.
• Gain all the traits in the Core Beholder Traits table.
• Gain the Beholder’s level 1 features, which are listed in the Beholder Features table.

As a Multiclass Character

• Only beholder-kin can multiclass into the Beholder class.
• Gain the following traits from the Core Beholder Traits table: Hit Point Die, and proficiency with one tool of your choice.
• Gain the Beholder's level 1 features, which are listed in the Beholder Features table.

Level 1: Eye Rays

You have several eye stalks, each stalk possessing its own special ray it can unleash. You can take the Magic Action to use an Eye Ray against a target within range. At level 1 you start with four eye rays of your choice from the Eye Rays section (pg. 6-7). Charm Ray, Death Ray, Sleep Ray and Telekinetic Ray are recommended.

When you gain certain Beholder levels, you gain more eye rays of your choice, as shown in the Eye Rays column of the Beholder Features table. Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can replace one of your Eye Rays with another Eye Ray.

Range. Your Eye Rays have a range of 60 feet. To target something with a ray, you must have a clear path to it, so it cannot be behind Total Cover.

Saving Throws. Most eye rays require your target to make a saving throw. The save DC equals 8 plus your Intelligence modifier and Proficiency Bonus.

Damage Modifier. You add your Intelligence modifier to your eye rays damage rolls.

Empowering Rays. You have a number of Ray Charges determined by your Beholder level, as shown in the Ray Charges column of the Beholder Features table. You can expend these charges to empower an eye ray, granting it enhanced effects, or you may use charges to fuel Beholder features. When you expend an Ray Charge, it is unavailable until you finish a Short or Long Rest, at the end of which you regain all your expended charges. If an empowered effect has a level prerequisite, you must meet it to use it.

Sickening Ray

The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or take 1d8 Poison damage, and have the Poisoned condition until the end of your next turn.

Empowered: The target takes half as much damage on a successful Constitution saving throw, instead of none. The target is Poisoned for 1 minute. At the end of each of the target's turns, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the condition on itself on a success. The damage increases by 1d8 for each Ray Charge expended.

Sleep Ray

The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or have the Incapacitated condition until the end of its next turn.

Creatures that don’t sleep or that have Immunity to the Exhaustion condition automatically succeed on saves against this eye ray.

Empowered: At the end of the Incapacitated target's next turn, it must repeat the save. If the target fails the second save, the target has the Unconscious condition for 1 minute. The effect ends on a target if it takes damage or someone within 5 feet of it takes an action to shake it out of the eye ray's effect.

Slowing Ray

The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or have its speed halved for 1 minute or until your Concentration ends.

Empowered (5th Level): A Slowed target can't take reactions, and it can take either an action or a bonus action on its turn, not both.

Sonic Ray

The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or take 1d8 Thunder damage, and have the Deafened condition until the end of your next turn.

Empowered: The target takes half as much damage on a successful Dexterity saving throw, instead of none. The damage increases by 1d8 for each Ray Charge expended.

Telekinetic Ray

When you use this eye ray, you can exert fine control on objects, such as manipulating a simple tool, opening a door or a container, stowing or retrieving an item from an open container, or pouring the contents from a vial. This eye ray can only interact with creatures and objects within the eye ray’s range. The eye ray can’t activate magic items, or carry more than (five times your Intelligence modifier) pounds.

If the target is a creature, the target must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be moved 10 feet in any direction of your choice.

Empowered (10th Level): If the target is a creature and fails the save, you can move it up to 30 feet in any direction within range. Until the end of your next turn, the creature has the Restrained condition, and if you lift it into the air, it is suspended there. It falls at the end of your next turn unless you use this eye ray on it again and it fails the save.

If the target is an object and isn’t being worn or carried, you automatically move it up to 30 feet in any direction within the spell’s range. If the object is worn or carried by a creature, that creature must succeed on a Strength saving throw, or you pull the object away and move it up to 30 feet in any direction within range.

Sightseer Traits

Beholder-kin spawn with similar traits due to being manifested by a beholder's dreams.

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age. Sightseers normally spawn fully grown, like most beholders, and they can live up to over 150 years.

Alignment. Their alignment can be fickle due to their alien minds and irrational emotions. Sightseers are typically any chaotic alignment.

Size. Sightseers round bodies can measure around 2 to 3 feet in height, your size is Small.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 5 feet.

Far Realm. You are an Aberration.

Darkvision. Due to your aberrant origin, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Eye Stalks. You have Advantage on sight-based Wisdom (Perception) checks.

Bite. Your toothy maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Tiusium Glands. You have a flying speed of 25 feet, and can hover. You can’t use this flying speed if you’re wearing medium or heavy armor, or if you exceed your maximum Carry Capacity.

Void Blood. You automatically succeed on saving throws against the effects of extreme cold and heat environments.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Deep Speech, and Undercommon.

Quick Build

You can make a beholder quickly by following these suggestions. First, Intelligence should be your highest ability score, followed by Wisdom. Second, choose the urchin background.

Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

• (a) Alchemist's supplies (b) Cook's utensils, or (c) Tinker's tools
• (a) Dungeoneer's Pack or (b) Explorer's Pack
• a Magnifying glass

Starting Wealth

This table helps you determine starting wealth based on your class and background as described in the Player’s Handbook (pg. 143).

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.