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I was reading Van Richten's Arsenal, and one of the spells listed there (Mystick Cage) was said to involve a fiend's phylactry.
I was confused, cause... Phylactries are a lich thing, aren't they? Do fiends have them too?
What function does a fiend's phylactry serve?
Are there any other phylactried creatures I should know about?

While we're at it, I have to also mention that The Arsenal is amazing.
It would take some work to convert the spells and items to 5e, but even if I wouldn't do any of it - the book does an excelent job in introducing NPCs using their writing style. A down-to-earth monster hunter would get straight to the items and elaborate on their potential uses, for example, while an a university professor would start every section with a review on the historical background of the subject. Each chapter genuinely feels like it's written by another person. This is peak characterization, I love it, this is what makes me love RPG manuals and 'bonus books' detailing a franchise's lore. It's a fascinating unconventional method of storytelling that deserves more appriciation.

TheArcaneWeirdo wrote: Mon Nov 03, 2025 12:50 pm I was reading Van Richten's Arsenal, and one of the spells listed there (Mystick Cage) was said to involve a fiend's phylactry.
I was confused, cause... Phylactries are a lich thing, aren't they? Do fiends have them too?
What function does a fiend's phylactry serve?
Are there any other phylactried creatures I should know about?

Yes if you read VRGtFiends or Monster Hunter's Compendium III it says that outsiders such as fiends must have a phylactery as liches do. Someone owning a fiend's phylactery has power over the fiend and in this forum you can find in the following link a great idea for the use of a fiend's phylactery. (The Fraternity of Shadows is using a devil's phylactery to form an artificial mistway between Richemulot and Souragne. Members of the Fraternity refer sarcastically to the devil as "Hizzoner."

https://fraternityofshadows.com/forum/v ... php?t=6197

There’s a reason why.

Outside of Ravenloft, when a fiend dies its essence goes back to its home plane (Devils to the Nine Hells, Yugoloths to Gehenna, Demons to the Abyss etc).

However, when in Ravenloft the fiend’s essence can’t escape, so the Dark Powers give them a phylactory.

Drinnik Shoehorn wrote: Tue Jan 27, 2026 7:21 pm There’s a reason why.

Outside of Ravenloft, when a fiend dies its essence goes back to its home plane (Devils to the Nine Hells, Yugoloths to Gehenna, Demons to the Abyss etc).

However, when in Ravenloft the fiend’s essence can’t escape, so the Dark Powers give them a phylactory.

VIEW CONTENT:

And it’s not just fiends, it’s all outsiders from the Upper and Lower planes. It’s why Isolde has her sword; she’s an angel and the sword is her phylactory. Creature from the planes of Conflict, like Modrons and Slaadi might have them, based on DM fiat, but they wouldn’t have Reality Wrinkles as that’s an effect created by the Angels and Fiends being made of the literal substance of Good and Evil. Modrons and Slaad are the avatars of neutrality.

Ooh, makes sense!

Shouldn't this be in the main forum? Also, there is a lot of info here if you want about phylacteries of fiends. They are not simple things and fiends are not easy to destroy.