Juiblex (MToF)
Oozes are a fun time D&D monster. While at first glance they fall into the trap of being slow-ground-bound melee monsters, that isn’t quite the case. Most of them have either an advanced movement option (normally spider climb), or simply take up all the encounter space available (like the famous Gelatinous Cube). Whichever way they are encountered, all oozes have a gimmick related to their unique physiology, which more solid creatures can’t pull off without the help of magic. The Demonic Lord of Oozes, Juiblex is no exception to these guidelines, despite being a demon himself. In fact, I wonder why he didn’t also get the ooze tag appended to his creature type.
When talking about a Demon Lord, I like to start off with their cultists, which are represented as a sort of template in this book. And I do love creature templates. While it may be hard to imagine who exactly would worship an uncaring pile of slime, I am sure that the internet can find people who are into that kind of thing. Alternatively, now that Spelljammer is confirmed, the Plasmoids seem popular enough. In any case, Cultists of Juiblex have the most impressive powers in this book so far. With rank and file cultists being able to squeeze through 1’ gaps as if they were a liquid, and the particularly devoted gaining an innate resistance to non-magical weapon attacks.
Like all good slimes, Juiblex is at his best when inside of his lair, the Slime Pits of the Abyss. Which he shares with fellow Demon Lord Zuggtmoy, the Queen of Fungi. It would be quite the epic brawl if you had the PCs fighting both of them at the same time, so consider it if you ever plan on using one or the other. Zuggtomoy in particular could really use the help. His lair actions are all spreading some kind of slime around, either the Green Slime hazard from the DMG, a Sticky Slime that restrains, and a Slippery Slime that can be used to slide people around into other traps. These slime patches work wonderfully together, and are possibly the best example of lair actions in this book so far. While the slimes can be burned off, anyone coated in the slime is going to take a significant amount of damage for the trouble, which most parties won’t think to guard themselves against, given that Juiblex himself deals primarily acid damage.
Juiblex himself is a bit of a brute controller. His primary multiattack allows for three ranged or melee attacks, and he has a special action that can be used to dissolve armor. He has a small passive AoE that poisons creatures near him. His most devastating attack is his Corrupting Touch legendary action, which automatically poisons the target should it land, and also automatically poisons anyone within 10’ of that target, no saving throw required. Speaking of saving throws, while Juiblex isn’t a particularly strong spellcaster,
Contagion is a really strong spell. It can be used to nullify acid and poison damage resistance, blind someone, or Inflict someone with Slimy Doom. Which I imagine is his go-to use of the spell.
In the changeover, Jubilex lost his madness table, his (totally redundant) Magical Weapons ability, as well as the spells
Acid Splash and
Blight. In return, he was given a climb speed, acid damage immunity, and his Acid Lash attack was given ranged coverage.