Balor
Huge Fiend (Demon) · · CR 19
- Fiend (Demon)
- Huge
- Tier 4
Balor lists at CR 19 as a huge fiend (demon) (chaotic evil). Sourced from Monster Manual (5e 2014) and Monster Manual (5.5e 2024).
Stat Block
- Challenge Rating
- 19
- Type
- Fiend (Demon)
- Size
- Huge
- Alignment
- —
- Speed
- —
- Habitats
- —
- Sources
- Monster Manual (5e 2014), Monster Manual (5.5e 2024)
Ecology
Balors do not exist as ecological actors but as forces of war within the Abyss. They command demonic legions across infinite layers, leading charges against rival demon lords and against celestial incursions alike. Their presence on a layer alters its geography; rivers run with magma, mountains spew sulfurous smoke, and sky becomes ash. They feed not on flesh but on slaughter itself, growing stronger with each soul consumed in their wake. Outside the Abyss, summoned balors leave physical scars; battlefields where they fought remain barren and hostile to growth for generations.
Behaviour
Balors revel in destruction with a martial discipline that distinguishes them from lesser demons. They are generals, not brutes, and their armies obey out of terror rather than loyalty. They take elaborate trophies from worthy foes, often carrying skulls of slain archmages and angel-wings as personal regalia. They despise weakness, betray allies whenever advantageous, and respect only strength demonstrated against them personally. Conversation is rare but sometimes possible; a balor may parley with a mortal champion before killing them, savoring the dialogue as much as the death.
Origin
Balors are believed to be ascended marilith generals, demons promoted through millennia of successful battlefield command in the Blood War. The transformation is not granted but earned, demanding the deaths of countless rivals and the consumption of their essences. Each balor carries within it the memories of every demon it has slain to ascend, fragments of personality fighting eternally in the demonic mind. This internal war is part of what makes balors so dangerous: their hatred is multitudes, their cruelty is collective.
Related Monsters
Frequently Asked Questions about Balor
- What is the challenge rating of Balor?
- Listed CR for Balor: 19. Match it to a party that works against tier-4 parties.
- What type of creature is Balor?
- By creature type, Balor is a fiend (demon), huge size.