The phoenix is a creature that sages believe originates from one of the good aligned Outer Planes. Information provided here applies to Prime Material Plane encounters only. Often referred to by the common folk as a “firebird” or “bennu bird,” sighting a phoenix is believed to be a good omen and a mark of divine favour. Though the phoenix is a creature of the Outer Planes, it finds great joy in scenes of tranquil beauty and is therefore most often encountered deep in sylvan woods, in the company of fey creatures and woodland animals. Though a phoenix is a formidable foe many of its body parts are prized by alchemists and wizards and as a result, a phoenix in the Prime Material Plane avoids contact with most living creatures besides the fey denizens of the deep woods. Even good-aligned characters seeking its help will be viewed with a degree of mistrust, at least initially.
In combat, the phoenix employs one of two attack routines; either two clawing attacks when airborne or one beak attack if not. What makes the phoenix even more imposing in combat, however, are its myriad spell-like abilities and special powers. Through the use of these abilities, it is difficult even to engage the creature in combat if it desires to avoid it.
The phoenix is a large bird vaguely resembling a stork or heron, with beautiful plumage of bright gold and fiery red that catches the light in a manner reminiscent of dancing flames. Its dagger-sharp claws and long, hard beak are an iridescent violet; the eyes of a phoenix have been described as rubies glowing with an inner fire. The phoenix speaks the language of its kind; the language of any feathered, flying creature; and can communicate with other creatures with either telepathy or telempathy, as appropriate to the level of intelligence of the other creature.
Special Abilities
Hit Only By Magical Weapons: Due to its other-planar nature, the phoenix can only be hit with +3 or better weapons.
Constant Detection Abilities: The creature can constantly and automatically detect charm, detect evil, and detect magic.
Protection from Fear: Constantly radiates protection from fear, 10-ft radius.
Planar Travel: The phoenix can become astral or æthereal at will, and once per week can transport itself and up to 10 man-sized creatures to its home plane (it can also reach its home dimension through the use of its astral and æthereal ability).
Cannot Be Surprised: A phoenix has finely-honed senses and therefore cannot be surprised. It receives +3 to all initiative rolls.
Superior Vision: The phoenix has 120-ft range in both infravision and low-light vision.
Healing Touch: This amazing being can heal itself or another creature spontaneously, up to 100 hit points total per day.
Cure Disease: It can also cure disease with but a touch of its beak, limited to one cure disease per creature per day.
Cure Light Wounds: It can also cast cure light wounds at will with a brush of its wingtips, though any human or humanoid can only be healed thus twice during any one day.
Tremendous Heat: A phoenix has the innate ability to cause a tremendous heat up to thrice per day; igniting all flammable materials, boiling liquids, and blistering exposed skin.
Dissipate Energy: It can also dissipate any energy based attack, ranging from spells to dragon breath, up to thrice per day and taking no damage therefrom.
Dispel Abilities: Its powerful voice can dispel illusion and dispel magic at a level equal to a 40th level magic user, and cast exorcise as a 40th level cleric.
Spell-Like Abilities (At Will): The phoenix can use the following spell-like abilities at will, once per round at a 20th level of ability, unless otherwise noted: affect normal fires, audible glamour, blink, blindness, blur, control temperature 50-ft radius, continual light, find traps, fire charm, fire shield, improved invisibility, misdirection, produce flame, pyrotechnics, remove curse, remove fear 10-ft radius, snake charm.
Spell-Like Abilities (Once Per Day): Once per day, the phoenix can use the following spell-like abilities, again at 20th level: call woodland beings, duo-dimension, find the path, fire quench (reverse of the druid spell produce fire), fire seeds, fire storm, neutralise poison, reincarnate, veil and wall of fire.
Spell-Like Abilities (Thrice Per Day): Thrice per day the phoenix can cast colour spray, heat metal, polymorph self.
Spell-Like Abilities (Once Per Week): Once per week can cast incendiary cloud.
Feather Attack: The phoenix has two final special abilities it will only use when great need is upon it. First, it can fire up to 8 of its feathers at its opponents per round. These feathers will sap 5 hp apiece from the phoenix and explode as a holly berry fire seed.
Retributive Strike: If overcome in battle, the phoenix can release its version of a retributive strike—invoking a hellish firestorm of destruction equal in power to a firestorm combined with an incendiary cloud, each cast at 40th level of ability. This mega-firestorm can be created even if both spell abilities have already been used that day. This attack will kill the phoenix (and most likely everything else within range) but leaves behind a crystalline egg the size of an adult human head. A new phoenix will arise from the egg in 3d8 days.
Communication: The phoenix speaks the language of its kind; the language of any feathered, flying creature; and can communicate with other creatures with either telepathy or telempathy, as appropriate to the level of intelligence of the other creature.