AD&D Monster Spotlight: The Death Angel
Back in 1977, Dragon Magazine #6 introduced a monster that feels less like a wandering dungeon foe and more like fate walking into the room. The Death Angel.
Neutral in alignment, Death Angels are not villains in the normal sense. They act as oracles, warning mortals of doom, or they appear as executioners to deliver inevitable death. They are intelligent, telepathic, and when killed, they vanish completely, leaving no trace.
Their signature attack is the death scythe. One swing forces a saving throw at –3 or the victim dies instantly. Even if you survive, you lose a point of Constitution that only powerful healing can restore. Worse yet, Death Angels return the next day if turned away, and they keep coming back until their mission is complete.
Raise Dead does not work on their victims. Even Resurrection has limits. If a Death Angel kills you three times, nothing — not even a Wish — will bring you back. That makes them some of the most terrifying foes in early D&D lore.
The Death Angel works best not as a random encounter, but as an omen or a story device. They can appear to warn of impending doom, or to hunt a specific villain who has defied the gods. They can even serve as a recurring nemesis, returning again and again until their mission is fulfilled.
This monster is pure old-school — lethal, mysterious, and meant to keep players guessing. The Death Angel is not just a fight. It is a reminder that in AD&D, sometimes fate itself comes calling.
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