The Witch of Wilds, grandmother of Satan, gourmand of children, and crone of crones is today’s star on Mythological Figures: Baba Yaga!
Baba Yaga is a capricious figure of Slavic folklore and the witch of witches—when you think of a witch, you’re probably thinking of her whether or not you know it. She eats children and others who become lost in the forest, but is often sought out for her great knowledge and wisdom. The crone is wont to offer aid however as she ages one year for each question she answers, and though she can make a blue rose potion to reverse her aging she’s got better things to do. She’s likely best known for her chicken-legged hut and if you ever come across the walking building, remember: turn your back to the forest, your front to me.
There’s a great video from The Grimm Archives on YouTube with more information about Baba Yaga—give it a watch.
Design Notes: I’m not sure a proper RAW build exists for Baba Yaga—she does a lot of very weird things—so in a change of pace she’s getting monster treatment. Fortunately a very excellent RPG company (Paizo!) already put her together (in Pathfinder #72: The Witch Queen's Revenge of the Reign of Winter adventure path which also includes Rasputin Must Die!) and I’m going to convert their statistics for her over to 5th Edition. Her Pathfinder Roleplaying Game statblock is very big (absolute maximum official challenge rating boss monster) but I’m watering it down as far as it seems proper and tweaking things to be a little more accessible. It’d be heresy to not include her infamous hut but nobody requested that so I suggest this Reddit thread (which has two versions at CR 7 and 17) that will do in a pinch if statistics for her weird sidekick prove necessary. In closing I'll add that if you have not played a Baba Yaga homage character, I had a great time doing so in a Shadow of the Demon Lord game (see Fringe) and highly recommend it (provided the group you’re in can handle someone of that ilk).
Baba Yaga
Medium humanoid, lawful evil
Armor Class 20 (Intelligence)
Hit Points 262 (25d8+150)
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (in mortar and pestle)
Skills Arcana +14, Deception +12, Insight +11, Intimidation +12, Perception +11, Persuasion +12, Stealth +10, Survival +11
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities charmed, disease, frightened, madness, petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., detect magic and see invisibility, passive Perception 21
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Draconic, Giant, Infernal, Primordial, Sylvan
Challenge 24 (62,000 XP)
Agonizing Cackle. Baba Yaga can use a bonus action to cackle wildly, focusing her ire on a creature able to hear her that she can see within 60 feet. The target makes a DC 22 Constitution saving throw or is racked with intense pain and stunned. At the end of each of its turns, the target makes a new saving throw to resist the effect. On a success, the condition ends. A creature targeted by Baba Yaga’s agonizing cackle becomes immune to it for 24 hours after resisting its effects.
Dancing Hut. Baba Yaga lives and travels in a chicken-legged hut.
Child Scent. Baba Yaga has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell, but only with respect to humanoid children and immature animals.
Contingency (1/Day). When Baba Yaga is attacked, she is affected by mislead.
Elongating Limbs. Baba Yaga has a natural reach of 15 feet.
Fell Magician. While she is conscious, Baba Yaga's AC equals 10 + her Dexterity modifier + her Intelligence modifier.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Baba Yaga fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.
Lifegiver (1/Day). Baba Yaga can use an action to touch a dead creature and bring it back to life.
Long-Lived. Baba Yaga has greatly expanded her lifespan with complex arcane rituals. She adds +3 to any ability check she makes that doesn’t already include her proficiency bonus.
Magic Items. Baba Yaga has a magic broom (see below), a portable hole disguised as a wicker basket, a gem of seeing, a hat of disguise, a ring of free action, a gigantic mortar and pestle (which functions as a carpet of flying), and any other magic item the GM deems fit.
Magic Resistance. Baba Yaga has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Regeneration. Baba Yaga regains 15 hit points at the start of her turn. She dies only if she starts her turn with 0 hit points.
Scar. Baba Yaga can use a bonus action to touch a creature and horribly scar it. The creature makes a DC 22 Charisma saving throw. On a failure it is permanently scarred. These scars are visible through disguises, when the creature shapechanges, and even when the creature is brought back to life. Baba Yaga knows the scarred creature’s location and can target it with her spells as long as it is within range, regardless of whether or not she can see it. Baba Yaga may have up to 7 creatures scarred at a time and can use a bonus action to remove permanent scars from a creature.
Spellcasting. Baba Yaga is a 20th-level spellcaster that uses Intelligence as her spellcasting ability (spell save DC 22; +14 to hit with spell attacks). Baba Yaga has the following spells prepared and access to all class spell lists:
Sorcery Points (17/Day). Baba Yaga can use sorcery points to gain additional spell slots, or sacrifice spell slots to gain additional sorcery points.
ACTIONS
Broom. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+6) magical bludgeoning damage.
Death Curse. Baba Yaga uses an action to point at a living creature she can see within 30 feet. The target makes a DC 22 Wisdom saving throw at the start of each of its turns. On a failure it gains one level of exhaustion. The creature continues making saving throws until it has 2 successes or dies. A creature targeted by Baba Yaga’s Death Curse becomes immune to it for 24 hours after resisting its effects.
Baba Yaga’s Broom
Weapon (club), artifact (requires attunement)
This artifact has the statistics of a +3 weapon and dancing sword (on a critical hit the target is blinded for 1 round), and while attuned to it you can innately cast pass without trace and nondetection at will. In addition, you can use a bonus action to knock the broom against a lock, door, lid, shackles, chains, or the like to open them. Once you have used this feature 3 times, you require a long rest before you can do so again.
Baba Yaga is a capricious figure of Slavic folklore and the witch of witches—when you think of a witch, you’re probably thinking of her whether or not you know it. She eats children and others who become lost in the forest, but is often sought out for her great knowledge and wisdom. The crone is wont to offer aid however as she ages one year for each question she answers, and though she can make a blue rose potion to reverse her aging she’s got better things to do. She’s likely best known for her chicken-legged hut and if you ever come across the walking building, remember: turn your back to the forest, your front to me.
There’s a great video from The Grimm Archives on YouTube with more information about Baba Yaga—give it a watch.
Design Notes: I’m not sure a proper RAW build exists for Baba Yaga—she does a lot of very weird things—so in a change of pace she’s getting monster treatment. Fortunately a very excellent RPG company (Paizo!) already put her together (in Pathfinder #72: The Witch Queen's Revenge of the Reign of Winter adventure path which also includes Rasputin Must Die!) and I’m going to convert their statistics for her over to 5th Edition. Her Pathfinder Roleplaying Game statblock is very big (absolute maximum official challenge rating boss monster) but I’m watering it down as far as it seems proper and tweaking things to be a little more accessible. It’d be heresy to not include her infamous hut but nobody requested that so I suggest this Reddit thread (which has two versions at CR 7 and 17) that will do in a pinch if statistics for her weird sidekick prove necessary. In closing I'll add that if you have not played a Baba Yaga homage character, I had a great time doing so in a Shadow of the Demon Lord game (see Fringe) and highly recommend it (provided the group you’re in can handle someone of that ilk).
Baba Yaga
Medium humanoid, lawful evil
Armor Class 20 (Intelligence)
Hit Points 262 (25d8+150)
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (in mortar and pestle)
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
16 (+3) | 17 (+3) | 22 (+6) | 24 (+7) | 19 (+4) | 21 (+5) |
Skills Arcana +14, Deception +12, Insight +11, Intimidation +12, Perception +11, Persuasion +12, Stealth +10, Survival +11
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities charmed, disease, frightened, madness, petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., detect magic and see invisibility, passive Perception 21
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Draconic, Giant, Infernal, Primordial, Sylvan
Challenge 24 (62,000 XP)
Agonizing Cackle. Baba Yaga can use a bonus action to cackle wildly, focusing her ire on a creature able to hear her that she can see within 60 feet. The target makes a DC 22 Constitution saving throw or is racked with intense pain and stunned. At the end of each of its turns, the target makes a new saving throw to resist the effect. On a success, the condition ends. A creature targeted by Baba Yaga’s agonizing cackle becomes immune to it for 24 hours after resisting its effects.
Dancing Hut. Baba Yaga lives and travels in a chicken-legged hut.
Child Scent. Baba Yaga has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell, but only with respect to humanoid children and immature animals.
Contingency (1/Day). When Baba Yaga is attacked, she is affected by mislead.
Elongating Limbs. Baba Yaga has a natural reach of 15 feet.
Fell Magician. While she is conscious, Baba Yaga's AC equals 10 + her Dexterity modifier + her Intelligence modifier.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Baba Yaga fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.
Lifegiver (1/Day). Baba Yaga can use an action to touch a dead creature and bring it back to life.
Long-Lived. Baba Yaga has greatly expanded her lifespan with complex arcane rituals. She adds +3 to any ability check she makes that doesn’t already include her proficiency bonus.
Magic Items. Baba Yaga has a magic broom (see below), a portable hole disguised as a wicker basket, a gem of seeing, a hat of disguise, a ring of free action, a gigantic mortar and pestle (which functions as a carpet of flying), and any other magic item the GM deems fit.
Magic Resistance. Baba Yaga has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Regeneration. Baba Yaga regains 15 hit points at the start of her turn. She dies only if she starts her turn with 0 hit points.
Scar. Baba Yaga can use a bonus action to touch a creature and horribly scar it. The creature makes a DC 22 Charisma saving throw. On a failure it is permanently scarred. These scars are visible through disguises, when the creature shapechanges, and even when the creature is brought back to life. Baba Yaga knows the scarred creature’s location and can target it with her spells as long as it is within range, regardless of whether or not she can see it. Baba Yaga may have up to 7 creatures scarred at a time and can use a bonus action to remove permanent scars from a creature.
Spellcasting. Baba Yaga is a 20th-level spellcaster that uses Intelligence as her spellcasting ability (spell save DC 22; +14 to hit with spell attacks). Baba Yaga has the following spells prepared and access to all class spell lists:
Cantrips: eldritch blast, mending, minor illusion, prestidigitation, thaumaturgy, vicious mockery
1st-level (4 slots): charm person, cure wounds, faerie fire, feather fall, hideous laughter, hunter’s mark, magic missile
2nd-level (4 slots): blindness/deafness, mirror image, suggestion, web
3rd-level (3 slots): bestow curse, dispel magic, fireball, haste, lightning bolt, protection from energy
4th-level (3 slots): confusion, dominate beast, greater invisibility, polymorph
5th-level (3 slots): dominate person, geas, legend lore, scrying
6th-level (2 slots): chain lightning, disintegrate, eyebite, heal
7th-level (2 slots): finger of death, symbol, teleport
8th-level (1 slots): clone, control weather, feeblemind
9th-level (1 slots): foresight, time stop, weird, wish
1st-level (4 slots): charm person, cure wounds, faerie fire, feather fall, hideous laughter, hunter’s mark, magic missile
2nd-level (4 slots): blindness/deafness, mirror image, suggestion, web
3rd-level (3 slots): bestow curse, dispel magic, fireball, haste, lightning bolt, protection from energy
4th-level (3 slots): confusion, dominate beast, greater invisibility, polymorph
5th-level (3 slots): dominate person, geas, legend lore, scrying
6th-level (2 slots): chain lightning, disintegrate, eyebite, heal
7th-level (2 slots): finger of death, symbol, teleport
8th-level (1 slots): clone, control weather, feeblemind
9th-level (1 slots): foresight, time stop, weird, wish
Sorcery Points (17/Day). Baba Yaga can use sorcery points to gain additional spell slots, or sacrifice spell slots to gain additional sorcery points.
- Creating Spell Slots & Sorcery Points. As a bonus action on her turn, Baba Yaga can expend one spell slot and either gain a number of sorcerer points equal to the slot’s level or create a spell slot by expending sorcery points (1st-level—2 points, 2nd-level—3 points, 3rd-level—5 points, 4th-level—6 points, 5th-level—7 points).
- Metamagic: Distant Spell. When Baba Yaga casts a that has a range of 5 feet or greater, she can spend 1 sorcery point to double the range of the spell. When Baba Yaga casts a spell that has a range of touch, she can spend 1 sorcery point to make the range of the spell 30 feet.
- Metamagic: Quickened Spell. When Baba Yaga casts a spell that has a casting time of 1 action, she can spend 2 sorcery points to change the casting time to 1 bonus action for this casting.
- Metamagic: Subtle Spell. When Baba Yaga casts a spell, she can spend 1 sorcery point to cast it without any somatic or verbal components.
- Metamatic: Twinned Spell. When Baba Yaga casts a spell that targets only one creature and doesn’t have a range of self, she can spend a number of sorcery points equal to the spell’s level to target a second creature in range with the same spell (1 sorcery point if the spell is a cantrip). To be eligible for Twinned Spell, a spell must be incapable of targeting more than one creature at the spell’s current level.
ACTIONS
Broom. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+6) magical bludgeoning damage.
Death Curse. Baba Yaga uses an action to point at a living creature she can see within 30 feet. The target makes a DC 22 Wisdom saving throw at the start of each of its turns. On a failure it gains one level of exhaustion. The creature continues making saving throws until it has 2 successes or dies. A creature targeted by Baba Yaga’s Death Curse becomes immune to it for 24 hours after resisting its effects.
Baba Yaga’s Broom
Weapon (club), artifact (requires attunement)
This artifact has the statistics of a +3 weapon and dancing sword (on a critical hit the target is blinded for 1 round), and while attuned to it you can innately cast pass without trace and nondetection at will. In addition, you can use a bonus action to knock the broom against a lock, door, lid, shackles, chains, or the like to open them. Once you have used this feature 3 times, you require a long rest before you can do so again.
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