D&D 5E How do you kill a Nilbog...?

[Elderbrain]

The Nilbog in Volo's Guide to Monsters has a Reaction which lets it take zero damage from an attack AND also gain some hits points (forget how many). My question is, how often can it use that Reaction? Because right now, it's looking immortal...

 

[kbrakke]

It can use it as often as it has a reaction, which is to say once per round. So the way to kill a nilbog is to hit it at least twice a round, the second attack doing more than 3.5 damage on average.

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

Unless otherwise stated, every creature can take 1 reaction per round, refreshing on their turn.

So you kill a Nilbog by smacking it good and hard right after it has used it's reaction to recover hp.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

That's a pretty cool way to write up the Nilbog. I approve and am looking forward to my copy of the book. Although not to the artwork (judging by the Fire Giant Dreadnought nonsense).

 

[Croesus]

Unless otherwise stated, every creature can take 1 reaction per round, refreshing on their turn.

So you kill a Nilbog by smacking it good and hard right after it has used it's reaction to recover hp.

Incapacitating the nilbog (sleep spell) would also deny it reactions, as would shocking grasp. Chill touch would prevent the healing. So it appears there are multiple ways to take out a nilbog. Still, a nilbog in a group of normal goblins will be a pain in the neck for lower level parties.

 

[flametitan]

That's a pretty cool way to write up the Nilbog. I approve and am looking forward to my copy of the book. Although not to the artwork (judging by the Fire Giant Dreadnought nonsense).

It was one of the official previews as well:

https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-medi...ogressive,q_80,w_800/aywcfloykwrhn6g7hrjw.png

 

[marcelvdpol]

Any creature (monsters, beasts, npc, player character etc) gets one action, one bonus action, one reaction until the start of its next turn (movement is not any of those). A nilbog can use its reaction to prevent it from dying but a single, individual nilbog has only one reaction until the start of its next turn. If you reduce it to zero hitpoints after it has already used its reaction (for any reason; opportunity attacks for example also use a reaction) then it will not be able to use its ability again so it will die.

 

[Elderbrain]

O.K. thanks everyone!

 

[dagger]

In 1st Edition you punch the DM in the throat for using the Nilbog in the first place. In 5e, you just gang up on it

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Wasn't the only way to kill them back then to use healing magic?

In 1st Edition you punch the DM in the throat for using the Nilbog in the first place. In 5e, you just gang up on it