Bearded Devil
Medium Fiend (devil), lawful evil
700 XP
Special Abilities
Devil's Sight
Magical darkness doesn't impede the devil's darkvision.
Magic Resistance
The devil has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Steadfast
The devil can't be frightened while it can see an allied creature within 30 feet of it.
Actions
Multiattack
The devil makes two attacks: one with its beard and one with its glaive.
Beard
Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. While poisoned in this way, the target can't regain hit points. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Glaive
Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) slashing damage. If the target is a creature other than an undead or a construct, it must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or lose 5 (1d10) hit points at the start of each of its turns due to an infernal wound. Each time the devil hits the wounded target with this attack, the damage dealt by the wound increases by 5 (1d10). Any creature can take an action to stanch the wound with a successful DC 12 Wisdom (Medicine) check. The wound also closes if the target receives magical healing.
Quick Reference
Running This Encounter
Bearded Devils are cunning infernal soldiers that excel at controlling battlefield positioning with their glaive reach and barbed tail. They should be used as lieutenant-level threats in devilish encounters, often commanding lesser fiends or acting as bodyguards for more powerful devils. Their relatively modest AC and HP make them vulnerable to concentrated fire, so use cover, allies, and tactical retreats to keep them relevant. The combination of melee prowess and infernal intelligence makes them interesting as recurring antagonists who learn from previous encounters.
Combat Tactics
Bearded Devils leverage their 10-foot glaive reach to stay at distance while using their tail to deal bonus damage and knock enemies prone as a reaction. In combat, they prioritize controlling space around ranged party members and flanking with allies, using their INT 16 to coordinate tactics. They are proud but not reckless—a wounded devil will attempt to fall back toward stronger allies or defensible terrain rather than fight to the death.
Environment & Setting
Bearded Devils thrive in infernal strongholds, hellish fortresses, and cults' underground temples where they can leverage architecture for defensive positioning. They work well in encounters with multiple levels, pillars, or narrow passages that allow them to control engagement distance and enable hit-and-run tactics.