Sphinx of Lore

Large Celestial, Lawful Neutral

AC: 17

Initiative: +10 (20)

HP: 170 (20d10 + 60)

Speed: 40 ft., fly 60 ft.

STR
18 (+4)
DEX
15 (+2)
CON
16 (+3)
INT
18 (+4)
WIS
18 (+4)
CHA
18 (+4)

Skills: Arcana +12, History +12, Perception +8, Religion +12

Resistances: necrotic; radiant

Immunities: psychic

Condition Immunities: charmed; frightened

Senses: Truesight 120 ft., Passive Perception 18

Languages: Celestial, Common

CR: 11 (XP 7,200, or 8,400 in lair; PB +4)

Habitat: Desert, Planar, Upper

Treasure: Arcana

Inscrutable.

No magic can observe the sphinx remotely or detect its thoughts without its permission. Wisdom (Insight) checks made to ascertain its intentions or sincerity are made with Disadvantage.

Legendary Resistance (3/Day, or 4/Day in Lair).

If the sphinx fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Spellcasting.

The sphinx casts one of the following spells, requiring no Material components and using Intelligence as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 16):

At will: Detect Magic, Identify, Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation

1/day each: Dispel Magic, Legend Lore, Locate Object, Plane Shift, Remove Curse, Tongues

Actions

Multiattack.

The sphinx makes three Claw attacks.

Claw.

Melee Attack Roll: +8, reach 5 ft. Hit: 14 (3d6 + 4) Slashing damage.

Mind-Rending Roar (Recharge 5-6).

Wisdom Saving Throw: DC 16, each enemy in a 300-foot Emanation originating from the sphinx. Failure: 35 (10d6) Psychic damage, and the target has the Incapacitated condition until the start of the sphinx's next turn.

Legendary Actions

Legendary Action Uses: 3 (4 in Lair). Immediately after another creature’s turn, this creature can expend a use to take one of the following actions; it regains all expended uses at the start of each of its turns.

Arcane Prowl.

The sphinx can teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space it can see, and it makes one Claw attack.

Weight of Years.

Constitution Saving Throw: DC 16, one creature the sphinx can see within 120 feet. Failure: The target gains 1 Exhaustion level. While the target has any Exhaustion levels, it appears 3d10 years older. Failure or Success: The sphinx can't take this action again until the start of its next turn.

Regional Effects

The region containing a sphinx of lore's or sphinx of valor's lair is altered by its presence, creating the following effects:

  • Distant Sight.

    While in its lair, the sphinx can cast Clairvoyance, requiring no spell components and using the same spellcasting ability as its Spellcasting action. When cast this way, the spell's range is 1 mile.

  • Infusion of Knowledge.

    Whenever the sphinx or one of its allies takes a Study action while within 1 mile of the lair, it adds 1d6 to any ability check it makes for that action.

If the sphinx dies or moves its lair elsewhere, these effects end immediately.

Find this creature in the encounter builder

Sphinx of Lore

Source: Monster Manual (2025), p. 293 - Licenses and attribution