How to Make Epic Boss Fights in D&D | Part 1

In this video, I discuss several ways you can create the perfect, epic boss fight for your D&D players. Being able to create a fun and challenging BBEG battle for a Dungeons & Dragons game is something every dungeon master should be equipped to do.

#dnd #dnd5e #dungeonsanddragons #dungeonmaster #gamemaster

[littlesherlock]

Step 1: make the boss really, really powerful
Step 2: play the boss super intelligently
Step 3: soften players with minions
Step 4: encounter with boss
Step 5: kill a player or two
Step 6: wait this is going too well...
Step 7: TPK

[davidpotts]

Here’s an idea: instead of JUST using the environment as hazards, make the BOSS use the environment as well. I took inspiration from The Witcher 3 using the Leshen monsters as recurring bosses. They literally use the entirety of their arena as a hazard zone that the players can’t predict unless the DM makes the Leshen use an action to prepare a massive root attack.

[thatoneVoidDemon]

“I’m especially looking at healing spirit right now”
Nervous laugh in Druid

[timquaty]

Lord Paxton better be the nerdiest halfling ever.

[aidanallen]

I’d say it’s always great to pull players out of their comfort zone for both boss fights and important battles. If they’re relying on a specific tactic, spell, or whatever too much, throw them something that won’t fall so easily. It’ll keep the game interesting and force players to come up with more complex solutions than just fireball, fireball, fireball

[jgr]

Overly Sarcastic Productions has released a vid yesterday on Minions in Literature. it helps so much in giving BBEGs friends!

[fredilhos]

I tend not to focus the "boss Must die" mechanics... i try to make other objectives that needs to be fullfilled like "Disrupt/protect the ritual" or something like a boss that knows how to use it's lair... maybe he has a LOT of mirrors, or portals, traps etc. Home turf advantage. And if the boss is desperate i ponder: "is this boss inteligent enough to know when AND how to escape?" A villain loses a battle only to learn more about the heroes.
Also i like the "minions" mechanics from 4e, when you deploy a lot of enemies with 1 hitpoint, just to overwhelm the heroes.
ALSO: when it's THE boss, ALL attacks are rolled on the open, even the bosses. So the players KNOW, i cannot change a CRIT, or fudge damage. this way they get scared AF.

[Darkorangeth]

I've always wanted to be a wizard.
"EXCUSE ME CAN I SPEAK TO YOUR MANAGER?"
"I cast shield."

[mirjanastevanovic-radojevi]

I have been waiting for this for a time, I'm so happy.

[dnddude]

**Boss appears**

Players: “Alright, let’s get this over with”

Players: **Kills Boss in 2 turns**

Players: “Wow, that was ea-”

Boss: “Sike”

Boss: **Obliterates players**

[kjellgunnartrimbo-forthun]

I love how we get to see DM Luke react to the party's criticisms

[schemage]

So the boss should be at the very end of a dungeon playing with his doll house waiting for the heroes to show I guess I know where I have been going wrong all this time. LoL. Great video, great tips.

[bigklu]

"To win without risk is to triumph without glory." -- Pierre Corneille

[innocentmonster]

I sometimes fudge abilities for bosses. I once made an 'Outsider' type boss fight inspired by Dishonored. I had a moving environment with the boss using Blink (short range teleport) once per round. Each party member had to stay on one platform to fight the boss as well as Crow Swarms in this shadow realm.

[nathanielsteward]

This was at just the right time! I have a massive battle in one hour!

[relax]

For the "wear your party out" part. My idea for the last "boss" of my campaign was en elf general being corrupted by darkness confronting the players. They are at 100% BUT she summon 3 zombies templars and starts a strange ritual.
So players has to choose, spend ressources to kills adds ASAP and stop the ritual (start battle the corrupted elf)
Or, spend less ressources and risk the ritual being completed (so they will probably fight a dark monster insead).

Basically they're not fully ready for the boss at the start of the battle, but instead of crawing into a dongeon they are close to the boss and I think it adds some tension :)

[Iwantbelieve]

Hello all. Getting into D&D after 30 years since my limited introduction. It's my teens getting me into it and I have been binge watching Luke and really enjoy his videos. Was just looking forward to playing but now I am inspired to become a DM at some point. Love to world build but baby steps right? Look forward to your vids Luke and thank you.

[kendrickrochelanzot]

A boss I designed took place in a city where earthquakes were frequent. The place us ruled by a evil half dragon.

The boss was interesting because he had a pocket kobold sorcerer that heals him in every turn he gets. After 5 turns a earth elemental pops up, the cause of the earthquakes.

The fight gets easy in terms of the kobold getting scared and retreating, making the enemy lose his healer.

[alexm]

PC's: the boss fight is lame
DM: Ahem 😡
Wizard: I cast shield!!! 😨

[RyuSpike]

I’ve been designing my boss fights with action economy in mind. If the boss and their allies don’t have actions that equal to or surpass the players’ then that is when I either add more minions or physical obstacles in the environment. When adding minions, I always choose the weakest so that they don’t deal too much damage, but still serve as a threat that’ll accumulate if my players don’t take care of them soon. Thus rewarding the players for reducing the enemy numbers before taking down the big bad.

Sometimes I would even give my villains magic items if they don’t have enough actions in a turn. It serves as a way to make battles more interesting AND it teaches the players how the item is used before they can claim it. A practical form of distributing magic items.