Ares: God of War and Destruction

Medium celestial (divinity), chaotic evil

Armor Class 20 (studded leather, shield)
Hit Points 287 (25d8 + 175)
Speed 60 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
26 (+8)	22 (+6)	24 (+7)	10 (+0)	16 (+3)	15 (+2)

Saving Throws Str +15, Dex +13, Con +14
Skills Acrobatics +13, Athletics +15, Intimidation +9, Perception +10
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened
Senses truesight 60 ft., passive Perception 20
Languages Celestial, Common
Challenge 22 (41,000 XP)

Special Traits

• Legendary Resistance (3/day). If Ares fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
• Impaling Rush. If Ares moves at least 20 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a Spear attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 22 (4d10) piercing damage.
• God Weapons. Ares’ weapon attacks are magical.
• Weapon Recall. Ares forgoes one of his attacks and recalls his spear back to his hand.

Actions

• Dogs of War (Recharge 5-6). Ares summons 1d4 + 1 Dogs of War to within 30 feet of himself (use the Dire Wolf statblock).
• Scavenger’s Ballet (1/day). Ares unleashes a primal battlecry that can be heard up to 10 miles away. Each creature within 120 feet of Ares must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. An affected creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the condition on a success. At the start of Ares’ next turn, a gigantic flight of vultures swarms the battlefield, attacking every creature within 300 feet of Ares. Each creature in the affected area must succeed on a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw or take 31 (7d8) piercing damage and 31 (7d8) slashing damage (halved on a success).
• Multiattack. Ares makes 3 Spear attacks and 1 Shield Bash attack.
• Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 10 ft. or range 60/180 ft., one target. Hit: 22 (4d6 + 8) piercing damage.
• Shield Bash. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d4 + 8) bludgeoning damage. In addition, the target has to succeed on a DC 25 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone and pushed 20 feet back

Legendary Actions

Ares can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Ares regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

• Jump. Ares jumps to a place within 60 feet of himself without provoking opportunity attacks.
• Attack. Ares makes a Spear attack or a Shield Bash attack.
• Weapon Recall. Ares’ spear returns to his hand.

About

Ares represents the physical – or violent and untamed – aspect of war and is the personification of sheer brutality. He thrives in battle and is despised by most mortals and immortals alike. He is always followed by dogs and vultures, and represented by a soldier only wearing a helmet.