D&D: All the Iconic Villains in Vecna: Eve of Ruin

Wizards of the Coast has continually added depth and narrative nuance to Dungeons and Dragons with each subsequent campaign book taking players on fantastical journeys to new lands and worlds. 2024 has been a huge year for the tabletop experience, with the roleplaying game undergoing something of a rejuvenation process, with updates to the fifth edition encouraging fans to re-learn aspects of the title once again. As part of that relaunch, there are more campaign books to access, presenting new and familiar but tweaked storylines for Dungeon Masters to use with their group. Many of these have been hugely successful, and there are a host of highly anticipated releases yet to launch throughout the rest of 2024 and into 2025, which will continue to contribute to the reinvention of Dungeons & Dragons role-playing games.

Among the impressive list of country books is Vecna: Eve of the Ruin, a masterfully crafted and incredibly ambitious title that plays on the popularity of the iconic enemy that has been built throughout Dungeons and Dragons tradition and recently on Stranger Things. Vecna: Eve of Doom brings together a phenomenal roster of characters from past storylines as if it were a major crossover event. Most of these villains have appeared in previous books in one capacity or another, either as major boss battles or as background characters waiting to make their mark. Dungeons & Dragons – Vecna: Eve of Doom pushes Dungeon Masters to create incredible scenarios in which players must engage in conflicts, each of which is inspired by the roster of iconic villains featured here and in the campaign book.

Kas the Betrayer and Strahd Von Zarovich add an iconic touch

Players must find ways to counter these enemies again

• Kas The Betrayer was first mentioned in the 1978 First Player's Handbook.
• Strahd Von Zarovich first appeared in 1983 in Online purchase.

First up, attention will be turned to Kas The Betrayer, a man who has had many names. He has also been hailed as The Destroyer, The Bloody-Handed, The Hateful, and The Terrible. It is clear that his reputation precedes him, and players will have to contend with the vengeful threat within the campaign. Kas was once the general of Vecna ​​himself and was considered within his inner circle. He played a crucial role during the Battle of a Thousand Eyes, a particularly gruesome event. However, Kas gained his title after turning against Vecna, against whom he now seeks vengeance. Hungry for power, Kas's attempt to kill Vecna ​​proved futile, but the Betrayer's strength was nevertheless demonstrated.

In the game, Kas The Betrayer is a vampire and is classified as Medium Undead and Neutral Evil. He comes with a legion of perks, such as Eager Betrayer, Legendary Resistance, Regeneration, Spider Climb, and Strength of the Night, making him a terrifying foe to face. However, Sunlight Hypersensitivity puts him at a disadvantage. Players can expect Kas to shapeshift, move with incredible speed, and bring a Spector into battle who will support him no matter what. The vampire formerly known as Bloody-Handed is thus a handful, but one that a group can beat with the right cooperative tactics.

Strahd Von Zarovich, meanwhile, is an absolute classic of the realm of Dungeons and Dragons and an enemy that fans will be more familiar with The Curse of Strahd. The Vampire is a pillar of the universe and is known as a Darklord of Ravenloft, of unspeakable power. He is a skilled necromancer and has a great interest in the boundaries between the living and the dead. He is ancient, ruthless, and the leader of Barovia, a region players enter only with extreme caution.

The Prince and Summoner is classified as a Medium Undead and Lawful Evil. He has Regeneration, Spider Stride, Legendary Resistance, and Master of the House in his back pocket. However, Running Water and Hypersensitivity to Sunlight are notable weaknesses to exploit. Strahd's power to Shapeshift and even assume both Beast Form and Mist Form make him an unpredictable entity, and players should avoid his Deathbite at all costs. Ultimately, fans will need to draw on all their skills to counter this prince.

Miska the Wolf Spider and Acererak raise the stakes

Eve of Ruin presents players with a deadly encounter

• Miska The Wolf-Spider first appeared in the 1996 Second Edition The rod of seven parts.
• Acererak first appeared in 1978 in Tomb of Horrors.

The iconic enemies keep coming for fans in Vecna: Eve of Ruin and Miska The Wolf-Spider is among the most dangerous. While Miska's legion of spider-like minions are scary enough, the Demon Prince and ruler of the spider-demons is a powerful threat in his own right. A monstrous humanoid-tarantula hybrid from the AbyssMiska had some quirks, including a desire to keep things organized. But his dedication to a cruel and ruthless hunt made him a powerful player in the game of influence.

Miska is classified as a Huge Fiend and a Chaotic Villain. While Foul Icher, Legendary Resistance, Magic Resistance, Spider Climb, Web Sense, and Web Walker combine to make for a particularly difficult arachnid to counter, it's the Wolf's Bite and Chaos Trident that might actually catch players off guard. The Loyalty of Claim is another effective bonus to overcome, and players will need to be tactical with what they hit the Wolf Spider with, in the hope that it stays down. There are numerous tips for new players when battling Miska, but in truth, avoiding conflict with the Wolf Spider entirely is the safest option.

Next up is Acererak, who players may remember from previous adventures, nicknamed The Devourer or The Eternal. Acererak has brought the Death Curse to Tomb of Annihilation and is known as a powerful lich. Interestingly, despite the fact that Acererak could have been a godlike being, especially since he demonstrated his power as he traveled across the universe, the creature had no interest in being worshiped and instead focused only on the misery he could cause, even to those who actually followed him.

Acererak has always been shrouded in mystery, but his abilities are certainly not secret. He has Turn Resistance, Legendary Resistance, Rejuvenation, Spellcasting, and actions like Paralyzing Touch, Staff, and Call Curse on his character sheet. Legendary actions like Spell at Will, Frightful Gaze, and End Life could prove game-changers, and as an enemy, Acererak is one of the most difficult to fight.

Lolth and Lord Soth offer dangerous encounters

These clashes will become legend

• Lolth first appeared in the 1978 module Descent into the depths of the Earth.
• Lord Soth first appeared in the 1985 novel Dragons of Spring Dawn.

Fight through the campaign long enough and players will encounter Lolth, a goddess whose icy cruelty knows no bounds. She hails from the Dark Seldarine pantheon and is known as the Queen of Spiders and Queen of the Demon Web Pits. Often found in the Abyss, Lolth has a long history within Dungeons and Dragons tradition and obsessed with obtaining absolute obedience from his subjects. But, he also prided himself on creating conflict among his followers, forcing them to fight as he fell from grace and lost his enormous influence.

Anyone who fights the monster known as Lolth will have to overcome the six vorpal scimitars she wields. Not to mention that her skill list includes Cunning Action, Discorporation, Aura of Fear, and Limited Magic Immunity. She has all the powers of a spider-like creature like Web Sense and Web Walker, and can summon demons with a legendary action. Change Shape, Scale, and Unarmed Strike round out a character with a wide array of ways to end an enemy.

Finally, players will also have to defeat Lord Soth, a fallen knight of Solamnia, and a Death Knight who was formerly known as the Knight of the Black Rose. Soth's story is extremely tragic, with love and affection turning to death and destruction as he is corrupted and forged by evil. Often considered one of the greatest and most complex villains in Dungeons and Dragons history, his arrival in Vecna: Eve of Ruin it is welcome.

Soth, known as Medium Undead and Lawful Evil, has Legendary Resistance, Magic Resistance, and Marshal Undead. Actions like Forsaken Brand and Cataclysmic Fire are sure to keep players on their toes, and Ward of Death is a particularly dangerous move for the Dungeon Master to pull off. Legendary actions like Implacable Maneuver and Strike give Lord Soth a variety of attacks that live up to the knight's potential.

Ultimately, players who collect Dungeons & Dragons – Vecna: Eve of Doom will surely enjoy this trip down memory lane, with a series of iconic villains appearing, either to be defeated once again or to claim victory in the depths of darkness from which they came. Who knows, decades later, there may be antagonists introduced in recent campaign texts who will take on the same reputation as this series of classics.