D&D General 2025 Rakshasa has a great stat block

[UngeheuerLich]

I like the 2025 Raksasha because it is less powerful than 2014. The 2014 one was game breaking. Let's review:

I don't think the new one is less powerful in general. The one time I used the rakshasa (in 2014) they were a pushover by a level 6 party that included a paladin and a barbarian. You juut had to resist the mind affecting spells and the rakshasa can't defend themselves.

The 2014 Raksasha "can't be affected or detected by spells of 6th level or lower unless it wishes to be. It has advantage on saving throws against all other spells and magical effects."

As a CR13, a 13th level single-class caster has ONE spell/day that can touch a 2014 raksasha. A 20th level full-caster has at most 4 spell slots/day. Half casters have zero spells that can affect a 2014 Raksasha.

Look at the staple spells of Spirit Guardians and Fireball. V2025 takes half damage from both (auto-save) and has movement reduced while v2014 ignores them like they didn't happen unless upcast to 7th+.

With twice as much HP, the rakshasa can stand a bit in such spells.

Magic missile hits v2025 but not v2014 (unless upcast to 7th). Both ignore combat cantrips (autosave/automiss vs unaffected). V2025 can be affected by illusions that don't have saves (Minor/Silent/Major Image), v2014 is "unaffected"...so maybe some arguments there.

You missed their truesight ability which lets them see through illusions.

V2025 can also be seen with See Invisible, v2014 can't be detected at all.

That is a good one.

I guess overall the new rakshasa is better and now can actually defend themselves if detected. The old one was punching way below CR 13. And if they happened to be caught by level 13 characters, their immunity did not help them at all.

 

[TwoSix]

The 2014 Raksasha "can't be affected or detected by spells of 6th level or lower unless it wishes to be. It has advantage on saving throws against all other spells and magical effects."

The new wording is much less ambiguous, which in my opinion makes it a ton better. "Can't be affected by spells" is the type of phrasing that leads to tons of arguments.

 

[Queer Venger]

more magic resistance, more legendary actions, more legendary resistance, yes, much improved MM

 

[dave2008]

I guess overall the new rakshasa is better and now can actually defend themselves if detected. The old one was punching way below CR 13. And if they happened to be caught by level 13 characters, their immunity did not help them at all.

To be clear a CR 13 monster is not a challenge for a lvl 13 group. You are looking at CR 18-19 for a level 13 "Hard" encounter.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

To be clear a CR 13 monster is not a challenge for a lvl 13 group. You are looking at CR 18-19 for a level 13 "Hard" encounter.

I know. But it is a totally pushover. Even before that level. I know it should be an intrigue monster. But the 2014 monster can't do a lot except trying to suggest the party to go away...

You don't have to affect the rakshasa to benefit from spells. Use defensive spells, buffs. Use good old flour to detect them if they are invisible...

 

[occam]

I love the new stat block in general; it's fun and easier to use. But it's weird to me that rakshasas no longer have a way to magically coerce anyone: no charm/dominate person, no suggestion. They don't even have Persuasion proficiency, relying solely on Deception.

 

[Gladius Legis]

I like the 2025 Raksasha because it is less powerful than 2014. The 2014 one was game breaking. Let's review:

The 2014 Raksasha "can't be affected or detected by spells of 6th level or lower unless it wishes to be. It has advantage on saving throws against all other spells and magical effects."

As a CR13, a 13th level single-class caster has ONE spell/day that can touch a 2014 raksasha. A 20th level full-caster has at most 4 spell slots/day. Half casters have zero spells that can affect a 2014 Raksasha.

Look at the staple spells of Spirit Guardians and Fireball. V2025 takes half damage from both (auto-save) and has movement reduced while v2014 ignores them like they didn't happen unless upcast to 7th+. Magic missile hits v2025 but not v2014 (unless upcast to 7th). Both ignore combat cantrips (autosave/automiss vs unaffected). V2025 can be affected by illusions that don't have saves (Minor/Silent/Major Image), v2014 is "unaffected"...so maybe some arguments there.

V2025 can also be seen with See Invisible, v2014 can't be detected at all.

And for the Paladin Smite haters, well, with this change Divine Smite works on it as it always did. And for that matter, other Smite spells now do as well (to varyingly useful extents given the timings of the new rakshasa's auto-saves).

 

[kigmatzomat]

I don't think the new one is less powerful in general. The one time I used the rakshasa (in 2014) they were a pushover by a level 6 party that included a paladin and a barbarian. You juut had to resist the mind affecting spells and the rakshasa can't defend themselves.

Sure. If your barbarian gets lucky that's great. Our fighter failed his save and began beating the wizard like a rug with Action Surge. The Raksasha was hiding behind a minor illusion. When the fighter finally made his save, the Raksasha used minor illusion (no verbal components) to draw attention elsewhere. Then they popped out of the illusion and clawed the wizard and cleric, cursing them. They ignored all the casters spells but took took some damage from the melees before using Fly+dash to get separation and lost us, possibly switching to Invisibility.

As it is, later that night the Fighter on watch was suggested to go on patrol...in an 8-hour force march carrying the raksasha, to a cliff. Where they were Dominated (again) , ordered to strip naked and then jump off the cliff. They didn't die, but they had 4 levels of Exhaustion and no food, so even if they rested they wouldn't get better.

The Raksasha put on his gear, cast Disguise Self as the fighter, met us on the trail, said the Raksasha had gotten in his head. Handed over his weapons in case he was mind controlled, then clawed the cleric and wizard (again) before flying off (again) with most of the Fighter's gear.

This went on for days. Our Warlock knew Remove Curse or we'd never have gotten any rest.

The GM had decided against the Raksasha Plane Shifting anyone to Gehenna. But they thought about it. Instead they gave the Raksasha Banish which they used on the Fighter when we finally cornered it in a spot it couldn't fly out.

You missed their truesight ability which lets them see through illusions.

I can't miss what wasn't in OP. True Seeing the spell has a 120ft range and requires using a 1/day power.