Trap Compendium

WRITTEN BY
Steven Gordon

PRODUCED BY
2CGaming

© 2CGaming, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Trap Compendium v1.0 published November, 2016 by 2CGaming, LLC.
The 2CGaming logos and name, the book name (Trap Compendium), are protected by appropriate copyright.
Any reproduction or unauthorized use of material contained herein is prohibited without the express written
permission of 2CGaming, LLC. or its authorized representatives.
 PROJECT LEADS & AUTHORS ARTISTS
Steven Gordon, Jonathan Kelly Ambrose Hoilman (Cover, Illustration),
Arthur Muzzin (Illustration),
EDITORS Gabrielle Schwall (Illustration),
Valerie Valdes, Jonathan Kelly, Steven Gordon Nolan Nasser (Cover Design),
John Cason (Graphic Design)

OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of
the Coast, Inc (“Wizards”). All Rights Reserved. 1. Definitions: (a)”Contributors” means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have
contributed Open Game Content; (b)”Derivative Material” means copyrighted material including derivative works and translations (including
into other computer languages), potation, modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment or
other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) “Distribute” means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell,
broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute; (d)”Open Game Content” means the game mechanic and includes the methods,
procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior
art and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License,
including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes Product Identity. (e) “Product Identity” means
product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures characters; stories, storylines, plots,
thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and
graphic, photographic and other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities,
teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or
effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product identity by the owner
of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the Open Game Content; (f) “Trademark” means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto,
designs that are used by a Contributor to identify itself or its products or the associated products contributed to the Open Game License by
the Contributor (g) “Use”, “Used” or “Using” means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise create Derivative
Material of Open Game Content. (h) “You” or “Your” means the licensee in terms of this agreement. 2. The License: This License applies to
any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License.
You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except as
described by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this License. 3.Offer
and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance of the terms of this License. 4. Grant and Consideration:
In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, nonexclusive license with
the exact terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content. 5.Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original
material as Open Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation and/or You have sufficient rights to grant
the rights conveyed by this License. 6.Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this License to
include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any Open Game Content You are copying, modifying or distributing, and You must add
the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holder’s name to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content you Distribute.
7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as an indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed
in another, independent Agreement with the owner of each element of that Product Identity. You agree not to indicate compatibility or co-
adaptability with any Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction with a work containing Open Game Content except as expressly
licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of such Trademark or Registered Trademark. The use of any Product Identity in
Open Game Content does not constitute a challenge to the ownership of that Product Identity. The owner of any Product Identity used in Open
Game Content shall retain all rights, title and interest in and to that Product Identity. 8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content
You must clearly indicate which portions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game Content. 9. Updating the License: Wizards or
its designated Agents may publish updated versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and
distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License. 10. Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy
of this License with every copy of the Open Game Content You Distribute. 11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise
the Open Game Content using the name of any Contributor unless You have written permission from the Contributor to do so. 12. Inability
to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content
due to statute, judicial order, or governmental regulation then You may not Use any Open Game Material so affected. 13. Termination: This
License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware
of the breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License. 14. Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be
unenforceable, such provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable. 15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE Open Game
License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc. System Reference Document 5.0 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors
Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Rodney Thompson, Peter Lee, James Wyatt, Robert J. Schwalb, Bruce R. Cordell, Chris Sims,
and Steve Townshend, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. END OF LICENSE

2 Trap Compendium
Table of Contents
FOREWARD.............................................................4 Trap Components ...............................................14
Component Universal Upgrades .....................14
INTRODUCTION...................................................6
Alarm.............................................................. 16
Building a Trap......................................................7 Antimagic........................................................ 16
Architect’s........................................................ 17
Mitigating Traps....................................................8 Bludgeoning.................................................... 18
Detection ............................................................8 Compulsion..................................................... 18
Disarming ..........................................................8 Darkness.......................................................... 18
Disabling......................................................... 19
What is a “Trigger”? .............................................8
Disease............................................................ 20
What is a “Target”? ...............................................8 Energy Damage............................................... 20
Gas.................................................................. 21
What is a “Component”?......................................9
Geas................................................................. 22
Balance & Gameplay ............................................9 Healing............................................................ 23
Illusion............................................................ 24
Trap Mitigation ...................................................10 Immobilizing................................................... 24
Mitigation Universal Upgrades........................10 Liquid.............................................................. 25
Madness.......................................................... 26
Trap Triggers .......................................................10
Magical Damage............................................. 26
Trigger Universal Upgrades.............................10
Movement....................................................... 27
Physical Trigger.................................................10
Piercing........................................................... 27
Manual Trigger.................................................12
Pit.................................................................... 28
Magical Trigger.................................................12
Poison.............................................................. 28
Additional Trigger............................................12
Rolling Boulder............................................... 29
Trap Targets.........................................................12 Slashing........................................................... 30
Target Universal Upgrades...............................13 Sphere of Annihilation......................................30
Basic Targeting..................................................13 Variant: Spellcasting.........................................31
Fixed Targeting.................................................14 Summoning.......................................................31
Magical Targeting.............................................14 Swarm................................................................32
Additional Target..............................................14 Wall....................................................................33
Web....................................................................34

SAMPLE TRAPS................................................. 35
Tier 1............................................................... 35
Tier 2............................................................... 37
Tier 3............................................................... 42
Tier 4............................................................... 48
Tier 5............................................................... 56
Tier 6............................................................... 61
Tier 7............................................................... 68

Trap Compendium 3
Foreword

Foreward

W elcome to the Trap Compendium! Before

we dig into all the traps you’ll be unleashing
on your poor, unsuspecting players, let’s take a
Exploration is an area where traps can really shine,
making a dungeon or ruin feel like an inhabited
area, or somewhere so dangerous that it’s more
moment to talk about traps themselves and how to believable the players are the first to successfully
best use them to enhance your game, rather than bypass its defenses and get the treasure within.
slow it down. The main pitfall here is that traps encountered
What is the purpose of a trap? Broadly speaking, by themselves are rarely interesting. The players
each trap should enhance one or more of the three either find the trap, succeeding on their Perception
core pillars of a fantasy adventure roleplaying checks, and then disarm it before moving on, or
game: combat, exploration, or roleplaying. We’ll they blunder into it, take some damage, and
talk about how a trap can enhance each of these in then move on. This is a good way to drain their
turn, and then discuss some potential pitfalls you resources, but doesn’t accomplish much else. It
can avoid. also offers little in the way of choice or excitement.
Combat is where the traps in this book work So how do we make a really cool, interesting
very well - not necessarily as a combat encounter and challenging exploration trap? There are a
all by themselves, but as supporting elements in few techniques you can leverage to tweak the
an existing encounter. Working together with traps in this book to make them a better fit for
monsters and villains, adding a few traps to an an abandoned dungeon. First, you can make the
encounter can give the players more things to trap (or parts of it) visible from the start. Your
consider, more actions to take, and more reasons players will take notice when they see a pressure
to stay mobile and use the environment to their plate on the ground, a tripwire, or even glowing
advantage. All of this helps keep a fight from magical runes surrounding a doorway. This gives
becoming a slugfest, where both parties stand them the opportunity to investigate, make some
next to each other and attack until someone is skill checks, and use skills other than Perception
dead. This is a straightforward use of traps, and and their Thieves’ Tools. Second, you can have the
is the main purpose of the Trap Compendium. trap require a skill challenge to defeat, giving it a
The next two types of traps, exploration and set of complex mechanisms and multiple failure
roleplaying, are a little more unusual, so we’ll conditions, so the whole party gets involved. This
tackle them one at a time. ties into the third technique, and then we’ll present
an example trap that uses all three.

4 Trap Compendium
 Foreword

The third technique is to use consequences other If you really want to give your players a hard
than damage. The trap could block off an optional choice, you can set up a trap like a pit with a massive
area, remove treasure, or make the final battle of stone block over it. The stone block completely
the dungeon more difficult, rather than simply seals the hallway the players need to travel down.
damaging the player. You can also add a time limit Leave a small 1-inch gap in the floor so the players
to the trap, making it worse over time, or giving can speak to an NPC trapped in the pit. If the
the players a limited number of in-game rounds to players release the stone block (which could be as
try to disarm it. easy as pulling a lever), they can proceed, but the
NPC will be crushed. Maybe that NPC is someone
they were sent to rescue, and now they have to
Here’s an example of an exploration trap: figure out how to raise the stone block without
The players step into a large room in a accidentally dropping it.
dungeon and see a pedestal with a treasure As another option, you can add a riddle, puzzle,
chest in the center of the room. As soon as or other sentient creature involved in the trap.
they enter the room, the pedestal begins to If the players mess up their interaction with the
descend into the floor. They have a limited creature, whether that’s getting the riddle wrong,
amount of time to get the treasure or stop the making the wrong move in a puzzle, or insulting
mechanism before it retracts, which may lead a capricious wizard, they suffer the effects of the
to them acting recklessly, potentially triggering trap. Perhaps the party’s social characters need to
additional traps in the room around the distract a pompous villain while being dangled
treasure, or running into an ambush of nearby over a pit of sharks to buy time for the rogue to
monsters. This is far more interesting than sneak around and figure out how to rescue them.
peppering them with arrows for 3d6 damage! Hopefully these examples are inspiring, and
you have a few ideas of your own for how to
challenge your players with hard choices and
And what about roleplaying? How can traps interesting scenarios. The rest of this book details
enhance roleplaying? The main pitfall with the construction of traps themselves, followed by a
roleplaying and traps is that players are mostly selection of 50 example traps you can drop directly
going to be dealing with traps through their skills, into your games.
by rolling dice, while roleplaying is often (but not
always) at its best when the dice aren’t being rolled.
There’s no single best solution here, but there are a
few tricks you can use to encourage your players to
speak in character when the traps come out. First,
you can add an NPC or two. What if that pit trap
has someone already trapped in it when the players
arrive? It can be a fellow adventurer, a monstrous
creature, or a normally violent adversary who is
suddenly willing to negotiate.

Trap Compendium 5
Introduction

Introduction

W elcome to the Trap Compendium. Here

you’ll find the tools needed to construct
your own fiendish traps, with guidelines to make
cost indicated; you can spread the total cost among
several different traps, or use it all on one powerful
trap. The XP Reward formula will tell you how
sure they’re an appropriate challenge for your many experience points the party should receive
players. This is a somewhat complex system, but for surviving the encounter, in addition to what’s
the goal is to make your life easier. If you read gained from defeating monsters, and should be
through the components and get an awesome idea used in your encounter difficulty calculations. Each
for a trap, but can’t find a way to build it using this set of traps counts as an additional creature for the
system, ignore the rules. Build your dream trap! encounter difficulty multiplier, and the XP value of
You should experiment, see what works and what the traps give a rough idea of their challenge rating.
doesn’t. Above all else, have fun! If you want an encounter with more traps than
If you want to skip straight to some examples, monsters, you can go through those steps a second,
check “Example Traps” at the end of this section third, or fourth time, but make sure you keep the total
for a set of 50 ready-to-use traps that can be scaled costs for each set of traps separate. No individual trap
to match your party’s level. At the back of this book should exceed the total cost suggested on the table,
you’ll find a sheet of Trap Stats cards for you to otherwise you’re likely to put your players up against
photocopy and print out, making it easy to build something that can kill them in a single hit. For
your own traps and keep track of their stats and example, if you’re running a trap-heavy encounter
abilities during an encounter. You can also find a for a party of 5th level characters, you might use three
PDF of this sheet on our website, at www.2cgaming. traps that each have a cost of 14. This represents
com/trapworkshop. approximately 4,200 XP of challenge (14 x 100 x 3),
Designing traps for an encounter is much like about the same as 3 monsters of challenge rating 5.
picking monsters. First, you should figure out your You should not use a single trap with a cost of 42,
party’s average level. Then, look at the “Trap Budget because that’s going to be far too dangerous for a 5th
Table” to find what tier of trap is appropriate. level party, and is more appropriate for a party of 14th
Finally, check the Total Cost column of the table to 16th level characters.
to see what your trap budget is for this encounter. The XP listed here assumes the players are under
The Total Cost column gives a suggested range; some kind of threat while facing the traps. If the
using higher cost traps will be more of a challenge traps are simply in an empty corridor, and there’s
for your party, while traps on the lower end of that nothing stopping the party’s rogue from taking
range will be less difficult. This represents one set of as much time as they need to disarm all of them,
traps. Each trap component you select will have a you shouldn’t award full XP for the traps. This

6 Trap Compendium
 Introduction

system works best as a way to add complications

and interesting challenges to a combat encounter,
a puzzle, or some other time-sensitive situation
Attacking Traps
where the players have to make a difficult choice In general, any trap component can be
attacked as long as the attacker can see
about whether to spend time dealing with the
the trap and is within the range of their
traps, or focus their efforts on their primary goals.
attack. Unless otherwise specified, assume
any attacks made against trap components
hit automatically. Trap components have
Trap Budget Table immunity to psychic and poison damage.
The trap components fail Strength,
PARTY TOTAL ESTIMATED XP Dexterity, and Constitution saving throws
TIER XP FORMULA
LEVEL COST RANGE automatically, and are immune to any
effects that require an Intelligence, Wisdom,
1 1-2 1-6 50 * cost 50 - 300
or Charisma saving throw. Assume a trap
2 3-4 7 - 13 75 * cost 525 - 975 component has 15 hit points per tier of
the trap, unless otherwise specified. A
3 5-7 14 - 21 100 * cost 1,400 - 2,100 destroyed component no longer functions.
At your discretion, it might be repaired
4 8 - 10 22 - 30 120 * cost 2,640 - 3,600
by the trap’s owners if the party leaves
5 11 - 13 31 - 40 140 * cost 4,340 - 5,600 them alone long enough. Generally a short
rest, or one hour, should be sufficient to
6 14 - 16 41 - 51 160 * cost 6,560 - 8,160
fully repair a trap, but if the area is poorly
7 17 - 20 52+ 180 * cost 9,360+ maintained or the owners are absent, the
traps might remain disabled until the party
finishes a long rest, or even be permanently
out of action, allowing the players to
Building a Trap gradually disarm the entire dungeon.

Triggers can be attacked and destroyed

There are five steps to adding traps to your
in a similar fashion, but only have 20 hit
encounters with this system. points. If a trigger takes damage, the trap
1. Identify the cost of the trap you’d like to it is attached to activates. This should
create based on the “Trap Budget” Table. be ample punishment for the reckless
2. Determine how hard to mitigate (detect and and direct approach. Once destroyed, a
disarm) the trap is. trigger no longer functions, no matter
how much further damage it takes or what
3. Choose one or more triggers for the trap, and
prodding with Thieves’ Tools it endures.
consider their location.
Destroyed triggers might be repaired in the
4. Choose one or more targets or target areas same manner as components, but should
for the trap. generally take less time to fix, as they tend
5. Add one or more components to the trap. to be simpler mechanisms.

Trap Compendium 7
Introduction

Mitigating Traps What is a “Trigger”?

Detection Every trap begins with a trigger. An adventurer
When it comes to detecting and disarming steps on a pressure plate, a thief walks into a
traps, all traps require a Perception check (or magical sensor, or a cunning kobold pulls a lever,
Investigation, at your discretion) starting with a and something happens. By default, each trap
base DC of 15 to locate the trap. When a character activates only once, even if it has multiple triggers.
detects a trap, they typically find the trigger first; You can upgrade them to be rearming (like spikes
however, depending on where they are searching, that shoot up each time someone steps on the
they might find the components without knowing trigger) or continuous (like swinging pendulum
how they are triggered, or might locate the entire blades that, once activated, are a constant threat to
trap—triggers, components, and anything else anyone who enters the area). Each trigger can be
related to it—all at once. Use your best judgment in assigned to one or more traps, if you want the same
determining what the party finds, as you don’t want trigger to activate a whole arsenal of traps. Just
them to spend 30 minutes rolling dice every time remember to keep in mind the total cost of traps in
they enter a new room. If the party hasn’t found the encounter.
a trap when they walk into it, then all players in The triggers provided are sorted by type, and the
the group can see the location of the trigger one of details of many of them are left intentionally vague.
them just hit, and when a trap activates, all players For example, if you select a Physical Trigger, the only
are aware of its components’ locations as well. It’s mechanical constraint is that it occupies a 5 ft. square
hard to keep hidden dart launchers a secret when in the dungeon and is triggered whenever a creature
they’ve begun shooting several volleys of darts. enters the area. It’s up to you whether that represents
a pressure plate, a tripwire, a false floor panel that
Disarming breaks open, or something else. You can upgrade the
Disarming a trap must be done one piece at a time. area of the trigger, add additional triggers (allowing
Each trigger and component must be disarmed the trap to activated in multiple places or in different
separately; however, disabling all the triggers or ways), or use the more advanced triggers available.
all the components is usually enough to keep the You then have to place the trigger somewhere in your
trap from being a threat. Like detecting a trap, the game. Once you’ve decided how the trap is activated,
base DC for a Thieves’ Tools check starts at 15. it’s time to decide how the trap picks its targets.
Disarming one piece of a trap requires an action,
and the character making the attempt must be
able to reach whatever they are trying to disarm. What is a “Target”?
Much like using Investigation to detect traps, at
your discretion you may allow your players to use By default, each trap targets the location of the
something other than Thieves’ Tools to disarm a trigger that activated it. When a character steps on
trap. You might let the party Barbarian attempt a pressure plate, arrows fly out of the walls at them.
to use Athletics to break open a locked pit trap, If the same trap has multiple triggers, it will aim at
or allow the Wizard to use Arcana to disable a whichever one was triggered. So if three adventur-
magical trap. ers step on three different pressure plates, each one

8 Trap Compendium
 Introduction

would be shot at by arrows once—they wouldn’t all What is a “Component”?

be targeted three times. There are several options
available to upgrade how your traps pick targets: you Finally, you must select one to three components
can increase the area that the trap can target, or give for your trap. While triggers cover how the trap is
it a fixed target, such as a pit that opens at the same activated and the targets determine who should be
spot regardless of how it’s triggered. Determining worried when they hear that “click,” the components
how the trap picks targets can be a little confusing are what the trap actually does. All components
at first, but some examples are provided that should are ranked in tiers from 1 to 7, with higher-tier
help you on your way. If you’re not comfortable with components being more powerful, but with a higher
it, you can also safely ignore the more advanced op- cost. Components can do damage, apply effects, or
tions and stick with basic traps that target whoever even simulate spells. Some make attack rolls, while
triggers them. Apply the range increase upgrade if others require the targets to make saving throws, and
needed, and the rest will take care of itself. Do note others have automatic effects. A simple trap with one
that, if you’ve upgraded the target to include a wider powerful component can be just as dangerous as a
area, you may, at your discretion, select sub-sections complicated one, but often adding a cheap secondary
of that area for specific components. In this fashion, component for movement, difficult terrain, or a
you’d be able to deal cold damage to half a room and debilitating condition can really make the trap an
fire to the other half, for example. interesting addition to your encounter. The limit of
three components isn’t absolute, but going beyond
that can make your traps overly complex, requiring
Magical Traps multiple attack rolls and saving throws every time
Some triggers and components are described they activate. Use with caution.
as being “magical,” and as such, as vulnerable
to many of the standard methods adventurers
use to deal with magical obstacles. No magical
traps can function in an antimagic field, and
Balance & Gameplay
if a magical trigger or component has been
detected, it can be targeted with dispel magic. When designing traps, you should consider the
This doesn’t destroy the trigger or the trap, monsters these traps are paired with. If you place
but does prevent it from functioning for 1d4 several rearming fireball traps in a room with a red
rounds. Make this roll in secret, because dragon, fire elementals, or other creatures that are
dispel magic is a blunt instrument compared immune to fire damage, those traps are going to be
to an experienced rogue’s delicate touch.
much more dangerous than they would normally be
Dispel magic can only affect one component
if the monsters had to worry about taking damage
or trigger each time it is cast. Any creatures
that have special defenses against magical from their own devices. On the other extreme,
effects such as advantage on saving throws mummies or other creatures that are vulnerable to
also gain those benefits against magical traps, fire damage would have to be even more cautious
but creatures that have special protection from than the players, making the traps a potential asset
spells only (and not “magical effects”) do not to the party instead of purely a hazard. As a rough
benefit from those bonuses, as none of the
guideline, if the traps and monsters go very well
magical traps are casting spells.
together, award double the XP for the trap. If the

Trap Compendium 9
Trap Mitigation

traps are more dangerous to the monsters than they owners or maintainers can reactivate the trap, given
are to the players, cut the trap’s XP value in half. If time, but they aren’t likely to activate again during a
you’re following the encounter building guidelines single encounter. Each trap can be upgraded to be
in the Dungeon Master’s Guide, factor the increased re-arming or continuous. All Triggers have a base
or decreased XP value into the encounter’s difficulty Perception DC of 15 to detect them, and a base
calculation. Thieves’ Tools DC of 15 to disarm them.
As always, if you want to kill your players, you can.
You can easily make traps that will be downright Trigger Universal Upgrades
lethal, brutally destroying those poor adventures Hairpin Trigger (+3 Cost): This trap is especially
with no chance of survival. prone to going off at the worst possible time. When
a character attempts to disarm a trap using Thieves’
Tools or some other skill, if they fail the check by
TRAP MITIGATION 5 or more, the trap activates immediately. This
upgrade can be taken multiple times, and each time
Mitigation Universal Upgrades reduces the threshold for activation by 2. This means
Hard to Find (+2 cost): Increase the Perception if you apply Hairpin Trigger three times, the trap
DC to detect this trap by 3. This upgrade can be will activate if the disarm check fails by 1 or more,
applied up to five times. guaranteeing the trap will activate on a failure.

Hard to Disarm (+2 cost): Increase the Thieves’ Rearming (+5 cost): This trap can now activate once
Tools DC to disarm this trap by 3. This upgrade per round, resetting automatically at the end of the
can be applied up to five times. round and awaiting the next creature to activate one
of its triggers.
Repairing (+2 cost): When this trigger is disarmed
or destroyed, it magically repairs after 1 minute, Physical Trigger
returning to full function. This does not rearm the trap Size: 5 ft. square
if it has already activated. This is a magical upgrade.
Cost: 0
Rapid Repairing (+8 cost): When this trigger is
Description: This is the default trap trigger,
disarmed or destroyed, it magically repairs at the
covering things like pressure plates, tripwires, and
end of the disarming or destroying creature’s next
other methods of detection that require physical
turn, returning to full function. This does not
interaction.
rearm the trap if it has already activated. This is a
magical upgrade. Upgrades: Trapped Room (+2 cost): This trigger
traps an entire room, up to a 60 ft. cube. You can
place any number of Physical Triggers within that
TRAP TRIGGERS room, including making the entirety of the floor,
walls, and ceiling a series of pressure plates, if you
All traps, by default, are single-use. They can be are so inclined.
triggered once, and then they are disabled. The trap’s

10 Trap Compendium
 Trap Triggers

The ‘Trapped Room’ upgrade.

Example Triggers
Since this system can be a little confusing, Alternately, you could select the Magical Trigger
here are several examples that should help you and the Rearming upgrade, costing 9 (Magical
navigate your way to expert trapsmithing. Trigger: 4, Rearming: 5; 4 + 5 = 9).

Let’s take a room trapped with arrows for Each has advantages and disadvantages. Because
example: the Trapped Room upgrade creates separate
Physical Triggers, this trap could go off on
One way to make the trap’s trigger would be different creatures during the same round.
to select a Physical Trigger with the Trapped The Magical Trigger will activate only once
Room upgrade and the Rearming upgrade. This per round and target the first creature it detects
trigger would cost 7 points (Physical Trigger: 0, within the room.
Trapped Room: 2, Rearming: 5; 0 + 2 + 5 = 7).

Trap Compendium 11
Trap Triggers
vulnerable to dispel magic, counterspell, or similar
Manual Trigger effects.
Size: 5 ft. square
Upgrades: Keen Senses (+2 cost): Increase this
Cost: 0 trigger’s passive Perception by 5.
Description: This is a variation on the Physical Discerning Trigger (+4 cost): This trigger can now
Trigger; it will only activate if a creature interacts specify certain conditions that must be met before
with it, making it perfect for defensive traps. A the trap will activate, or certain conditions that
creature must be within reach of the Manual Trigger prevent its activation. For ideas, consider a trap
to activate it. It is highly recommended you combine that won’t activate if an undead is in its area (for
this trap with the Fixed Target upgrade in the the lich that prefers to avoid friendly fire), or a
Targeting section, otherwise whoever pulls the trap that only activates if three or more creatures
lever will get hit by the trap. On the other hand, are in its area (to maximize the impact of a
you could include a trick lever that intentionally single-use trap). You can also use this as a more
targets whoever pulls it, to punish the kind of expensive way to make a manual trap trigger with
intruders that pull every lever in sight. more flexibility, such as if the condition you set is a
Upgrades: Magical Lock (+2 cost): This trigger can command word that must be spoken by a specific
only be activated by creatures that meet a specific creature, be they friend or foe.
criteria set by you. Good examples include: using a Truesight (+4 cost): This trigger gains Truesight,
specific key; being a member of a certain class, race, allowing it see clearly in darkness and detect
or alignment;or saying a command word. invisible or ethereal creatures, as well as gaining
all other benefits of Truesight.
Magical Trigger
Size: up to a 60 ft. cube
Additional Trigger
Cost: same as trigger added + 1
Cost: 4
Description: You can add multiple triggers to the
Passive Perception: 18
same trap, allowing it to be activated in multiple
Description: Magical Triggers are activated when a ways or in multiple locations. You can use this to
creature the trigger can see or hear passes through add a secondary trigger that will fool adventurers
its area of effect. Creatures attempting to sneak into thinking the trap is disarmed, or be especially
by must make a Stealth check against the trap’s devious and add a Magical Trigger that activates
passive Perception of 18. They have advantage on when the first trigger is disabled. These can be the
their Stealth check if they can’t be seen, or if they same type as the base trigger, or different types,
can’t be heard. Creatures that are both invisible and they can be located adjacent to the existing
and silent (an invisible ghost, perhaps, or clever triggers or far away from them. You must pay
use of the spells silence and invisibility), can safely the cost for each additional trigger plus one. For
pass without triggering the trap, unless the trigger example, adding an additional Magical Trigger
is upgraded with Truesight. This trigger doesn’t would have a cost of 5 (4 + 1 = 5), while adding an
function in an antimagic field but is otherwise not additional Manual Trigger would have a cost of 1
(0 + 1 = 1).
12 Trap Compendium
 Trap Targets

TRAP TARGETS
Example Targets
Target Universal Upgrades Setting up the targeting for your trap can be
Precise Expansion (+1 cost): This upgrade adds a little tricky, so here are several examples
three additional 5 ft. cubes to the trap’s area, each to make the process more intuitive. First,
remember that the standard behavior for
adjacent to the trap’s previous area. This upgrade
a trap is to target whoever just triggered it.
cannot be selected in conjunction with the Bigger
Most of these tweaks and upgrades build on
Area upgrade, but can be applied multiple times. that basic model, so we’ll start by reviewing
the one upgrade that doesn’t. The Fixed Target
Bigger Area (+3 cost): This increases the area the upgrade is how you create pit traps, terrain
trap can target by 5 ft. in every direction each time hazards, and other effects that happen in a
it is purchased. This means a 5 ft. cube becomes a specific location, regardless of how they are
triggered. You can use this to create a hallway
15 ft. cube, and if purchased again, it becomes a 25
with a barrage of arrows flying across it by
ft. cube. You can also think of this as increasing the
adding the Bigger Area upgrade one or more
radius by 5 ft., or if you’re playing with a grid and times until the targeting area covers the whole
miniatures, visualize it as a single square becoming a hallway. Assuming you add it three times, this
3x3 grid of squares, which then becomes a 5x5 grid. gives you a total cost of 15 (Fixed Target: 0;
This upgrade cannot be selected in conjunction Bigger Area x 3: 3 x 3 = 9; 0 + 9 = 0).
with the Precise Expansion upgrade, but can be
If you wanted to create a complex target—say, a
applied multiple times.
maze with walls of fire—you could do it. It’s not
going to be cheap, so it’s more appropriate for
Discerning Targeting (+8 cost): You can now higher-level parties; for example, a party level
choose certain creatures to protect from this trap’s 8-10 would give you 22-30 points to spend on
effects. This can be specific individuals, creatures of a trap. If you combine Fixed Target with many
a certain type, or any other restriction you want. Precise Expansion upgrades, you can build out
They are never targeted by the trap’s attacks, and are the target area as much as you like. Add in a
Continuous Trap upgrade (for that proper wall
immune to any damage and any effects created by
of fire effect), and some fire damage, and you
this trap’s components.
have your maze! If you made thirty squares
of walls, it would cost a total of 25 points: 10
Basic Targeting for the walls (1 per 3 squares) and 15 for the
Cost: 0 continuous upgrade, leaving up to 5 points
to spend on the fire damage. On the other
Target Area: 5 ft. cube hand, you could drop the Continuous upgrade
down to Rearming, then spend 10 points on
Description: This target affects a 5 ft. area the walls, for a total cost of 15. This would
centered at the point where the trap was triggered. allow you up to 15 points to pump up the fire
All creatures in the target’s area are affected by the damage, making it a nightmare for anyone
trap. who runs carelessly across the room. Add a few
monsters with longbows to the mix, and you
have a nasty encounter.

Trap Compendium 13
Trap Components

Fixed Targeting Trap Components

Cost: 0
Component Universal Upgrades
Target Area: 5 ft. cube Hard to Break (+2 cost): This upgrade doubles the
hit points of one trap component, increasing them
Description: This target affects a 5 ft. area
to 30 hit points per tier of the component instead
centered at a fixed point. All creatures in the
of the usual 15.
target’s area are affected by the trap.

Magical Mechanisms (+2 cost): All attacks made or

Magical Targeting effects caused by this trap are considered magical.
Cost: 2 This upgrade is suppressed in an antimagic field,
but if the trap would normally function in such a
Target Area: 5 ft. cube field, it continues to do so.

Description: This target selects the nearest

Delayed Activation (+3 cost): This upgrade delays
creature within 30 ft. as the target of the trap. The
the activation of one component after it is triggered
trap targets a 5 ft. cube centered on that point. All
(minimum 1 round). There is no indication that
creatures in the target’s area are affected by the
the trap hasn’t activated until it finally goes off,
trap.
but if you have a trigger that “clicks” and nothing
Upgrades: Longer Range (+1 cost): This upgrade happens, your players may become suspicious.
increases the range of the target by 30 ft. each
time it is added. Knockback (+3 cost): Each time a creature is hit
by this component or fails a saving throw against
it, that creature is pushed back 10 ft. You can add
Additional Target this upgrade multiple times; its effects stack.
Cost: same as target added + 1
Slowing (+4 cost): Each time a creature is hit by
Description: You can add multiple targets to this component or fails a saving throw against
the same trap, allowing it to target additional it, that creature’s speed is reduced by 10 ft. for 1
creatures or areas. When a trigger activates the minute. This effect stacks, so if a creature is hit
trap, all targets associated with the trap will be three times, their speed will be reduced by a total
targeted by the trap’s effects. You must pay the of 30 ft., though the duration remains 1 minute
cost for each additional target plus one. For from the most recent hit. The speed reduction
example, adding an additional Magical Target ends early if the creature regains hit points, even
would have a cost of 3 (2 + 1 = 3), while an from non-magical healing. If a creature’s speed is
additional Fixed Target would have a cost of 1 (0 reduced to 0 it can no longer move, but it is not
+ 1 = 1). prevented from taking actions.

14 Trap Compendium
 Trap Components

Invisibility (+5 cost): You can use this upgrade

to make one component of a trap invisible. In Continuous Variant
addition to being hard to see, it gains advantage
If you don’t want to roll a fistful of dice
on all attack rolls that it makes while it is invisible. every time someone moves through
It remains invisible even after it attacks, but if the 40 ft. of a continuous trap, you can use
invisibility is removed through dispel magic or this alternate variant. It’s a little more
other means, it does not return until the trap is complicated to explain, but the core idea
repaired. This is a magical upgrade. is pretty simple.

When a creature enters a space containing

Continuous (+15 cost): This trap, once activated,
a continuous trap or if they start their
is on continuously, applying the effects of their turn in it, the trap targets them, as
components to any creature that enters the area normal. Either the trap makes an attack
for the first time on a turn, or starts their turn targeting them, or they make a saving
within it. When a creature enters a 5 ft. space throw. The result of this attack or saving
affected by a continuous trap for the first time on a throw applies for the rest of the creature’s
turn. This means if the trap misses them
turn or ends their turn in such a space, they suffer
or they succeed on their saving throw,
the trap’s effects. This means if a creature moves
they can use the rest of their movement
through 20 ft. of continuous trap, they’ll suffer to push ahead and potentially get safely
the effects of that trap four times, requiring four to the other side. On the other hand, if
attack rolls or four saving throws as appropriate. the trap hits them or they fail their saving
Continuous traps typically run for 1 minute, then throw, every 5 ft. of movement they use
reset, and can be triggered again on the same turn will cause the trap to hit them again
automatically, based on the result of the
they reset. At your discretion, the trap can run
first roll. If a player really wants to get
for longer (or indefinitely). If you choose to make
through to the other side, they can damn
the trap indefinite, you can have it already active the consequences and charge forward, but
when the party arrives. they can also stop and hope for better luck
on their next turn.

If a creature is pushed into a continuous

trap when it’s not their turn, make another
roll for the attack or saving throw and
apply that result for the current turn.

This variant speeds up the game when

continuous traps are in use, but puts the
players at the mercy of the dice, as if a
trap rolls a 20 on its attack roll, every 5 ft.
they move will mean another critical hit.
Try it, and see which version works best at
your table.

Trap Compendium 15
Trap Components
An ‘Antimagic’ component
Alarm Component ruins a Rogue’s invisibility.

TIER AUDIBLE DISTANCE COST

1 60 ft. 1
2 120 ft. 2
3 300 ft. 4
4 600 ft. 6
5 1/4 mile 8
6 1/2 mile 10
7 1 mile 12

Description: Simple but effective, this component

Antimagic Component
will sound the alarm and bring help running. Higher TIER AUTOMATIC DISPEL DISPEL BONUS COST
tiers improve the radius of the alarm; all creatures
1 1st Level +2 1
within the audible distance from the alarm are
aware of it going off. The alarm doesn’t transmit 2 2 Level
nd
+2 2

a message or directions, it simply broadcasts that 3 3rd Level +3 4

it has been triggered, usually by ringing a bell or 4 4 Level
th
+3 6
otherwise making a loud noise, though it may also 5 5th Level +4 8
involve lighting a signal fire or another visual cue. 6 6 Level
th
+4 10
This is not a magical component. 7 7th Level +5 12

Upgrades: Silent Alarm (+4 cost): The alarm Description: Designed to stymie spellcasters, an
is now telepathic, signaling only creatures you Antimagic component targets triggering creatures
choose within the specified distance. They will within the trap’s target area with an effect similar to
awaken if they are sleeping. This upgrade makes dispel magic. Spells of the indicated level or lower
the component magical. automatically end, and the component makes a
check with the bonus listed when attempting to
The ‘Alarm’ component. dispel higher level effects, rolling against a DC of
10 + the level of the spell. On a success, it ends
the spell. An Antimagic component is immune to
dispel magic and other effects that target spells or
magical effects. This is a magical component.

Upgrades: Counterspelling (+0 cost): Instead

of creating an effect similar to dispel magic,
this component produces an effect similar to
counterspell, following the same above rules for
removing spells of certain levels.

16 Trap Compendium
 Trap Components

To properly function as a reaction to a cast spell,

this component must be paired with a Discerning
Trigger upgrade.

Antimagic Zone (+8 cost): This component now

creates a zone of partial antimagic instead of creating
the dispel magic effect, suppressing the function or
casting of spells of the listed level or lower within its
area. This zone also suppresses magical items and
other ongoing magical effects not created by spells.
In a single-use trap, this lasts for 1 minute. Rearming Use an ‘Architect’s’
component to drop
traps with this upgrade refresh the duration each
adventures down a
time they are triggered, and traps with the continuous chute.
upgrade maintain the zone until the trap is disabled.
If the moving component would push a creature
Architect’s Component into a stationary object, the creature so pushed
is pinned (restrained), takes 11 (2d10) points of
TIER ARCHITECT’S COMPONENT COST bludgeoning damage per tier of the component, and
1 12 1 the components stops.
2 14 3 A rearming version of this component resets after
1 minute. A continuous version of this component
3 16 6
moves back and forth between its starting position
4 18 10
and the position where it terminates or is stopped.
5 20 13
As such, stopping a continuous component simply
6 22 17 causes it to revert along its previous path. This is not
7 24 21 a magical component.

Description: This component moves walls, floors, Upgrades: Quicksilver Mechanisms (+2 cost): The
and ceilings around in the dungeon. You can affect component activates immediately after the creature
a number of square ft. of walls, floors, and ceilings that activated the trap, rather than on initiative
equal to the area of the trap target. count 20. Additionally, the component moves 30 ft.
The components move on initiative count 20, per round instead of the previous 10 ft.
losing ties, moving at a rate of 10 ft. per round and
terminating at a point of your choosing or when Locked Mechanism (+4 cost): When a component
stopped. with this upgrade has finished moving into place,
When the component encounters a creature, it locks there, increasing the Strength Save DC to
that creature may elect to make a Strength saving move it by 5. A Thieves’ Tools check against the
throw (against the above-listed DC) to avoid being (now-increased) Strength Save DC unlocks the
pushed by the wall and stop the component. component, allowing it to move freely.

Trap Compendium 17
Trap Components

Crushing Walls (+5 Cost): When stopped, the Wisdom saving throw to resist the suggestion. The
component begins moving again on its next turn suggestion must be a single sentence, no longer than
instead of becoming inert. This cannot be paired 10 words. This is a charm effect, thereby rendering
with the Continuous upgrade. creatures immune to that condition immune to this
component. This is a magical component.
Bludgeoning Component
Upgrades: Implanted Suggestion (+5 cost): Rather
TIER ATTACK BONUS DAMAGE COST than immediately commanding a creature to take
1 +3 6 (1d10) 1 an action, when a target fails their saving throw
against this component they have a command
2 +4 11(2d10) 4
implanted in their subconscious. At the time of the
3 +5 22 (4d10) 8
trap’s creation, set both the trigger condition and the
4 +6 33 (6d10) 13
corresponding action. If the condition is met before
5 +8 55 (10d10) 19 the creature finishes a long rest, the creature suffers
6 +10 77 (14d10) 26 the effect of the command, compelling them to take
7 +12 99 (18d10) 34 the associated action. Creatures that fail their saving
throw against this effect by more than 5 do not know
Description: This trap component hits hard, but has they have a command implanted. Creatures that fail
poor accuracy. It deals bludgeoning damage to crea- by fewer than 5 are aware, but do not know what the
tures in the trap’s area. It might be hammers, mauls, trigger condition is or what the command will be.
or just big rocks. This is not a magical component.
Insidious Magic (+5 cost): Instead of making a
Compulsion Component Wisdom saving throw, creatures targeted by this
component must make a Charisma saving throw
TIER WISDOM SAVE DC COST instead. This is no longer a charm effect.
1 12 4
2 14 7
Darkness Component
3 16 10
TIER DURATION DISPEL DC COST
4 18 14
1 1 minute 11 3
5 20 18
2 1 minute 12 4
6 22 23
3 5 minutes 14 6
7 24 28
4 5 minutes 16 7

Description: When you stand on a high ledge and 5 10 minutes 18 9

get the urge to jump, it might be one of these compo- 6 10 minutes 20 11

nents at work. The Compulsion component is very 7 10 minutes 22 13
similar to the spell command. It issues a short order,
usually to do something that is a very bad idea, and Description: The Darkness component is designed
creatures within the trap’s target area must make a to make it harder to see things, obscuring the space
within the trap’s target area. This is usually to hide

18 Trap Compendium
 Trap Components

other traps, monsters, or anything else you want to Disabling Component

keep out of sight. The obscuring effect lasts for the
specified duration when the trap is triggered. TIER WISDOM SAVE DC COST
A rearming trap will reset the duration each time 1 11 3
it is triggered, and a continuous trap will make its
2 12 5
duration permanent. A creature can attempt to
3 14 8
remove this effect with dispel magic or a light spell
4 16 12
(such as daylight), requiring a spellcasting ability
check against the DC listed in the component 5 18 16

table. Dispelling the component with such a light 6 20 20

spell grants an additional bonus to the roll equal to 7 22 25
the level of the light spell used.
Description: This component attempts to disable
creatures in its area; targets must succeed on a
Example: A wizard with an Intelligence bonus Wisdom saving throw or become incapacitated for
of +4 casting daylight (3rd level spell), would 1 minute. Affected creatures can repeat the save
roll 1d20 + 7 against the darkness trap’s DC. at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect
On a success, the darkness is removed. on a success. It can be upgraded to improve the
severity of the effect. This is a magical component.

Upgrades: Swirling Fog (+4 cost): The darkness Upgrades: Insidious Magic (+2 cost): Instead of
is filled with sight-obscuring fog that distorts making a Wisdom saving throw to resist the effects
everything within. Creatures with Truesight or of this component, targets must make a Charisma
Devilsight or those who can otherwise see through saving throw instead.
magical darkness can only see the fog within.
If your players object, tell them the fog seems Stunning (+4 cost): Instead of becoming
specifically designed to foil Truesight. A light spell incapacitated, creatures that fail their Wisdom
used to dispel this effect also dispels the fog. saves against this component are stunned for 1
minute. They may still repeat the save at the end of
A trap with the ‘Disabling’ component. each of their turns, as normal.

Paralysis (+8 cost): Instead of becoming

incapacitated, creatures that fail their Wisdom
saves against this component are paralyzed for 1
minute. They may still repeat the save at the end of
each of their turns, as normal.

Trap Compendium 19
Trap Components

Disease Component maximum hit points are reduced by 1d6 per tier
of the component. If the creature’s hit points are
TIER CONSTITUTION SAVE DC COST reduced to 0 in this fashion, it dies. Their hit point
1 11 3 maximum returns to normal as soon as this dis-
ease is cured.
2 13 6
3 15 10
Hard to Cure (+5 cost): The component’s effect can
4 17 14
only be ended by remove curse, greater restoration,
5 19 18 or wish. It otherwise lasts until a creature naturally
6 21 23 fights off the disease. This upgrade makes the
7 23 29 component magical.

Description: The filth and squalor of a dungeon Bodywrack Sickness (+6 cost): While diseased,
make it a natural place to encounter diseases, creatures have disadvantage on all saving throws,
whether through creatures or exposure in attack rolls, and ability checks.
the environment, but the most malicious of
trapmakers will deliberately lay snares to infect Exhausting (+6 cost): Each time a creature
and contaminate trespassers. The tier of the trap fails their saving throw against this component
component determines how difficult the disease is (including initial infection), they gain 1 level of
to resist, and upgrades add additional effects that exhaustion. Creatures afflicted by this disease
diseased creatures suffer. By default, creatures that cannot reduce levels of exhaustion by taking long
fail their saving throws do not manifest symptoms rests. A creature cured of this disease is also cured
until the end of their next long rest, but you can of all exhaustion imparted by the disease.
use a shorter or longer period at your discretion. At
the end of each long rest, diseased creatures suffer Magic Phage (+8 cost): While diseased, creatures
the effects of the disease and must repeat the saving must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against
throw, with success reducing the Save DC by 1d6 the disease’s save DC each time they attempt to cast
and failure increasing it by 1. If the DC is reduced a spell. On a success, they cast the spell normally,
to 0, that creature is cured of the disease. Magic otherwise the spell is cast, but has no effect.
such as lesser restoration can cure most diseases,
but some are harder to deal with. Energy Damage Component
The base Disease component imposes any one
of the following: disadvantage on ability checks, TIER ATTACK BONUS DAMAGE COST
disadvantage on saving throws made with a single 1 +5 4 (1d6) 2
ability, or disadvantage on attacks. The disease can
2 +6 7 (2d6) 5
be upgraded to include additional effects. This is
3 +8 14 (4d6) 10
not a magical component.
4 +10 21 (6d6) 16

Upgrades: Ghoul Rot (+4 cost): When a creature 5 +12 35 (10d6) 23

fails a saving throw against this component, their 6 +14 49 (14d6) 31

7 +16 63 (18d6) 39

20 Trap Compendium
 Trap Components

Description: This trap component deals fire, acid,

cold, lightning or thunder damage to creatures in
the target area. The damage is caused by burning
fuel, a vial of acid, or some other mundane attack;
as such, this is not a magical component.

Upgrades: Saving Throw (+3 cost): This component

no longer makes an attack roll; instead, all
creatures in the trap’s area must make a saving
throw (Dexterity or Constitution, your choice)
against a DC of 8 + the trap’s attack bonus, taking
half damage on a success. A ‘Fire’ component in a door-activated trap.

Lingering Burn (+6 cost): When a creature is hit by Gas Component

this component or fails a saving throw against it,
they must make a Dexterity or Constitution saving TIER DURATION DISPEL DC COST
throw (your choice when you create the trap) at 1 1 minute 11 2
the start of their next turn against a DC of 8 + the
2 1 minute 12 3
component’s attack bonus or take 1d6 damage per
3 1 minute 13 6
tier of the component. This damage is of the same
4 1 minute 14 9
type as the component. If a creature is hit by this
component or fails a saving throw against it again, 5 5 minutes 16 12

the ongoing damage increases by a further 1d6 per 6 5 minutes 18 15

tier of the trap. This effect continues to stack until 7 5 minutes 20 20
a successful save at the start of the creature’s turn
removes all the ongoing damage. Description: This component releases a cloud of
gas in the trap’s target area. By default, this cloud
obscures vision through the affected area, but it
Example: A creature takes damage from a Tier can be upgraded to add several different negative
2 Acid component. At the start of their next effects. When a creature enters the component’s
turn they must make a saving throw against a area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn
DC of 14. They fail the saving throw and take there, it suffers the component’s effects.
2d6 acid damage. The Tier 2 Acid component Dispersing the cloud with a spell like gust of wind
hits them again, and on their next turn they requires a spellcasting ability check, similar to
must make that same DC 14 saving throw. If using dispel magic on a higher- level spell, against
they fail, they’ll take 4d6 acid damage. If they the gas cloud’s DC. If natural wind is present, a
succeed, they take no ongoing damage. weak wind has no effect, moderate wind makes an
unmodified d20 roll, and strong wind makes the
check with a +2 bonus. The gas cloud otherwise
lasts for the specified duration after the trap is

Trap Compendium 21
Trap Components

triggered, then disperses naturally. A rearming

trap can release another cloud of gas (which will
reset the duration) each time it is triggered, and
a continuous trap will make the gas cloud persist
until the trap is deactivated or disabled. This is not
a magical component.

Upgrades: Poisonous Gas (+0 Cost, Special): Add

a Poison component to this trap. You must pay the
cost of the Poison component as normal; e.g. a Tier
1 Poison component gives this upgrade a cost of 2.
This does not count toward the maximum number
of components you can place on a trap. An example of the ‘Gas’ component in action.

Diseased Gas (+0 Cost, Special): Add a Disease Geas Component

component to this trap. You must pay the cost of
the Disease component as normal; e.g. a Tier 1 TIER DURATION WISDOM SAVE DC COST
Disease component gives this upgrade a cost of 3. 1 1 day 13 5
This does not count toward the maximum number
2 1 week 15 12
of components you can place on a trap.
3 2 weeks 17 20
4 3 weeks 19 28
Flammable Gas (+2 cost): If a creature within the
gas or the gas cloud itself takes fire damage, the 5 1 month 21 36

cloud of gas ignites, dealing 2d6 fire damage per 6 3 months 23 42

tier of the Gas component to all creatures within 7 A year and a day 25 50
the gas cloud. There is no saving throw to reduce
this extra damage, and the gas cloud is destroyed if Description: Intended for roleplaying and story
it burns in this way. use more than making a combat encounter more
difficult, the Geas component gives a character
Translucent (+3 cost): The gas can’t be seen, a new bond (determined at the trap’s creation),
smelled, or otherwise detected unless a creature something they must do their best to follow
succeeds on a DC 25 Perception check, or has through on. It is similar to the spell of the same
Truesight. name, but more subtle in nature.
Targeted creatures must make a Wisdom saving
Choking Gas (+5 cost): Creatures within the gas throw against the listed DC to avoid acquiring
are silenced, and can’t speak or cast spells with this new bond. A creature failing this save believes
verbal components. Creatures in the area must this bond to be an integral part of their character
hold their breath or begin suffocating. and will resist attempts to remove the bond. Such
creatures do not know they have been magically
influenced.

22 Trap Compendium
 Trap Components

The bond cannot be one that would clearly bring Healing Component
harm to the afflicted creature (such as “jump off
the nearest cliff ” or “stab yourself ”), but any such TIER HEALING COST
other bond should be considered. 1 5 (1d8) 3
While under the effects of the geas, a creature 2 9 (2d8) 6
may attempt to resist its effects, suppressing the
3 18 (4d8) 10
bond for 1 minute with a successful Wisdom saving
4 26 (6d8) 14
throw against the listed DC. A creature failing this
save cannot attempt another such save for the next 5 36 (8d8) 19

10 minutes. 6 45 (10d8) 24
The geas effect lasts for the listed duration, but can 7 63 (14d8) 30
be ended early by dispel magic, break enchantment,
remove curse, and any other spells that end mental Description: Healing may seem like a strange
compulsions. Creatures that are immune to charm choice for a trap, but it’s an excellent defensive
effects are immune to this component. This is a choice that can keep a small force in fighting shape
magical component. during a long battle. The healing component heals
all creatures in the target area, unless you upgrade
Upgrades: Hard to Break (+5 cost): This effect the trigger or targeting of the trap to be more
can now only be ended by remove curse, greater selective, so it must be used with caution or it will
restoration, or wish. It otherwise lasts for the full help intruders just as much as the defenders. This
duration. is a magical component.

Insidious Magic (+5 cost): Instead of making a Upgrades: Lesser Restoration (+5 cost): This
Wisdom saving throw, creatures targeted by this component can also cure a single disease, or
component must make a Charisma saving throw remove the poisoned, blinded, deafened, or
instead. This is no longer a charm effect. paralyzed condition from any creatures it targets,
functioning like the spell lesser restoration.
The Price of Disobedience (+5 cost, special): By
paying the cost of another component increased Greater Restoration (+20 cost): This component
by 5, you can add that component to the Geas. If can also reduce exhaustion by one level or end
a character passes their saving throw when they one of the following negative effects: charm,
attempt to suppress the bond, they are targeted petrification, curse, reduction to the target’s ability
by that component. It will only ever target them, scores, or a reduction to the target’s hit point
never affecting any creatures around them. This maximum. This functions like the spell greater
does not count toward the maximum number of restoration.
components you can place on a trap.

Trap Compendium 23
Trap Components
Illusion Component Sound (+2 cost): The illusion now replicates sound
as well as other standard or upgraded sensory
TIER INVESTIGATION DC DURATION COST
components.
1 13 1 minute 1
2 15 5 minutes 3 Touch (+5 cost): The illusion replicates touch as well
3 17 5 minutes 5 as other standard or upgraded sensory components,
4 19 5 minutes 8 though it does not represent other senses such as
pain or heat, and does not provide effects associated
5 22 10 minutes 11
with the item the illusion is mimicking. For example,
6 24 10 minutes 13
illusory lava would have the texture and consistency
7 26 10 minutes 16
of lava, but deal no damage. An illusory wall would
block movement. If a creature is aware that a physical
Description: This component creates an illusory illusion is an illusion, they can choose to interact
copy of any other component within the trap’s with it or ignore it.
target area. It is totally non-real, and can’t do any
damage by itself; but as a distraction or decoy, it can
really put someone in a bad spot. You can also use
this component to create a more standard illusion,
such as a creature or object. Creatures or objects
mimicked in this fashion cannot exceed the target
area for the trap, but can move out of the area.
Without upgrades, the illusion is purely visual; it
does not replicate other sensory effects.
A dispel magic spell can dispel the illusions
created by this component. Treat the illusion as a
spell of level equal to its tier.
Characters can attempt to discern that the illusion
isn’t real with an action to make an Investigation An illusory bridge created by an ‘Illusion’ component.
check against the listed DC. A single-use illusion
lasts for the listed duration, while a rearming
one refreshes the duration each time the trap is
Immobilizing Component
triggered. A continuous illusion is active until the
TIER SAVE DC COST
trap is disarmed or manually reset. This is a magical
component. 1 11 1
2 12 2
Upgrades: Smell (+1 cost): The illusion now 3 14 4
replicates smell as well as other standard or 4 16 6
upgraded sensory components.
5 18 9
6 20 12
7 22 16

24 Trap Compendium
 Trap Components

Description: This component creates difficult terrain Liquid Component

in the trap’s target area. It can be used on floors,
walls, or even ceilings, which is best coupled with a TIER DEPTH COST
forced movement effect that pushes creatures into 1 5 ft. 1
the affected areas. The Save DC column reflects the
2 10 ft. 3
save needed to avoid the upgrade effects below.
3 20 ft. 5
This is not a magical component.
4 40 ft. 7

Upgrades: Knockdown (+1 cost): Creatures that 5 60 ft. 9

enter the area or start their turn in it must make 6 80 ft. 11
a Dexterity save against the component’s DC or be 7 100 ft. 13
knocked prone.
Description: If you need a water hazard, this
Adhesive (+3 cost): Creatures that enter the area component has you covered. This component covers
or start their turn in it must make a Dexterity save the trap’s target area with water of maximum depth
against the component’s DC or become restrained. noted on the above table. A single-use liquid trap
They can use their action to make a Strength check creates the liquid only once, while rearming traps
against the save DC, ending the effect on a success. can replenish the liquid each time they are activated.
A creature restrained by this component is stuck A continuous liquid trap projects a steady flow,
to something, such as a wall, the ceiling, or some quickly filling up even a large space. This component
other surface. If the surface this component is on can be upgraded to add liquids other than water to
moves for any reason, creatures restrained by this the trap. This is not a magical component.
component move with it.
Upgrades: Acid Bath (+5 cost): This component
Suffocating Snare (+10 cost): Creatures that now creates acid, which deals 2d6 points of acid
enter the area or start their turn in it must make damage per tier of the component to any creature
a Dexterity save against the component’s DC or that comes into full contact with it. For example, a
become restrained. They can use their action to Tier 4 Liquid component with this upgrade would
make a Strength check (at disadvantage) against the deal 8d6 acid damage. Any part of the body the size
save DC, ending the effect on a success. A creature of a hand or larger that is submerged is sufficient
within 5 ft. of the snared creature may use its action to take full damage, while lightly touching the acid
to make a Strength check against the save DC, should deal 1 point of damage as a warning.
ending the restrained effect on a success.
While so restrained, at the start of each of its Lava Bath (+15 cost): This component now creates
turns, the creature must succeed on a Constitution lava, which deals 2d6 points of fire damage per
saving throw against the trap’s save DC or begin to tier of the component on contact (no save), and
suffocate, meaning after a number of rounds equal 5d6 points of fire damage per tier on full contact
to their Constitution modifier (minimum 1), they (no save). A Tier 5 Liquid component with this
will drop to 0 hit points and begin dying. They upgrade would deal 10d6 fire damage to a creature
cannot be restored to more than 0 hit points until that touched the lava, and 25d6 fire damage to
they are no longer suffocating. anyone that fell in.
Trap Compendium 25
Trap Components

Madness Component Magical Damage Component

TIER WISDOM DC DURATION COST TIER SAVE DC DAMAGE COST

1 13 1d6 rounds 3 1 11 4 (1d6) 6

2 15 2d6 rounds 6 2 12 7 (2d6) 10
3 17 3d6 rounds 10 3 14 14 (4d6) 15
4 19 4d6 rounds 15 4 16 21 (6d6) 23
5 21 1d4 minutes 20 5 18 35 (10d6) 31
6 23 1d8 minutes 26 6 20 49 (14d6) 40
7 25 2d6 minutes 32 7 22 63 (18d6) 49

Description: This component assaults the mind Description: This trap component deals radiant,
and sensibilities of its targets, driving them mad. A necrotic or force damage to creatures in the area,
creature that fails a Wisdom saving throw against allowing the affected creature a Constitution saving
this component gains one effect from the Short- throw against the listed Save DC. This is a magical
Term Madness table. The effect lasts for the amount component.
of time listed in the Duration column, but the
affected creature can repeat the saving throw at Upgrades: Psychic Effect (+3 cost): This component
the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a deals psychic damage instead of the other damage
success. Lesser restoration or more powerful healing types. Instead of a Constitution saving throw, the
magic is sufficient to cure the character. This is a component requires an Intelligence, Wisdom or
magical component. Charisma save (your choice), taking half damage
on a success.
Upgrades: Hard to Break (+3 cost): This effect can
only be ended by remove curse, greater restoration, Lingering Magic (+8 cost): When a creature fails a
or wish. It otherwise lasts for the full duration or saving throw against this component, they must
until a creature succeeds on their saving throw. repeat their saving throw at the start of their next
turn or take 1d6 damage per tier of the component.
Magical Paradox (+5 cost): Instead of making a This damage is of the same type as the component. If
Wisdom saving throw, creatures targeted by this a creature fails a saving throw against the component
component must make an Intelligence saving again, the ongoing damage increases by a further
throw instead. 1d6 per tier of the component. This effect continues
to stack until a successful save at the start of the
Controlled Insanity (+8 cost): Instead of rolling creature’s turn removes all the ongoing damage.
on the Short-Term Madness table, you can pick an
effect each time a creature fails their saving throw
against this component.

26 Trap Compendium
 Trap Components

Upgrades: Random Movement (+0 cost): This com-

Example: A creature takes damage from a Tier ponent now moves creatures in a random direction.
3 Radiant component. At the start of their next You can roll 1d8, with 1 being North, 2 being North-
turn they must make a saving throw against a East, 3 being East, and so on. Make this roll each
DC of 14. They fail the saving throw and take 3d6 time a creature is targeted by this trap.
radiant damage. The Tier 3 Radiant component
hits them again, and on their next turn they must Telekinetic Slide (+5 cost): This component can
make that same DC 14 saving throw. If they slide characters along any path, so long as the total
fail, they’ll take 6d6 radiant damage. If they distance moved does not exceed the listed distance.
succeed, they take no ongoing damage. This upgrade makes the component magical.

Teleporting (+8 cost): This component now requires

Movement Component a Wisdom saving throw against the listed DC instead
of a Strength or Dexterity saving throw. Creatures
TIER SAVE DC MOVEMENT DISTANCE COST failing this save are either teleported a relative
1 11 15 ft. 1 distance from their current location or to a specified
position. In either case, the total distance teleported
2 12 25 ft. 3
cannot exceed the Movement Distance indicated in
3 14 35 ft. 5
the table. Attempting to teleport the creature to an
4 16 45 ft. 7
occupied space moves that creature to the closest
5 18 60 ft. 10 unoccupied space instead.
6 20 75 ft. 13 Use caution when teleporting creatures out of their
7 22 90 ft. 17 line of sight, as a trap that teleports a creature into a
stone coffin with 30 ft. of stone on a side is extremely
Description: When activated, this component dangerous and likely infuriating to your players.
pushes or pulls creatures in the target area up to
a certain distance in a straight line; determine Piercing Component
the direction at the time of the trap’s creation. A
Strength or Dexterity saving throw—your choice at TIER ATTACK BONUS DAMAGE COST
the time of the trap’s creation—negates this effect. 1 +5 4 (1d6) 1
This movement can be caused by a moving floor, a
2 +6 7 (2d6) 4
rope snare that retracts, or some other non-magical
3 +8 14 (4d6) 8
method of moving a creature against its will. It can
4 +10 21 (6d6) 13
be used aggressively, to push intruders off cliffs,
or defensively, to help reinforcements arrive more 5 +12 35 (10d6) 19

quickly. It can even be used to launch creatures 6 +14 49 (14d6) 26

vertically, either knocking them into something 7 +16 63 (18d6) 34
dangerous above them, dealing falling damage, or
both. This is not a magical component. Description: This trap component is the most
accurate but the least damaging of the physical

Trap Compendium 27
Trap Components

damage traps. It deals piercing damage to creatures Poison Component

in the trap’s area. It might be arrows, darts or a
ballista bolt. This is not a magical component. TIER SAVE DC DAMAGE COST

1 11 4 (1d6) 2
Pit Component 2 12 7 (2d6) 3
3 14 11 (3d6) 6
TIER DEPTH SAVE DC COST
4 16 14 (4d6) 9
1 10 ft. 10 1
5 18 21 (6d6) 12
2 20 ft. 12 2
6 20 28 (8d6) 15
3 30 ft. 14 4
7 22 35 (10d6) 20
4 40 ft. 16 6
5 50 ft. 18 8 Description: This component poisons creatures in
6 60 ft. 20 11 the area; all creatures within take poison damage,
7 70 ft. 22 14 and must succeed on a Constitution saving throw
or become poisoned for 1 minute. A successful
Description: A Pit component drops creatures saving throw prevents the poisoned condition and
within its target area into its waiting embrace, reduces the damage by half. Affected creatures can
usually dealing a bit of damage in the process. repeat the save at the end of each of their turns,
Creatures standing in the pit’s area when it activates ending the poisoned effect on a success. This is not
must succeed on a Dexterity save to avoid falling. a magical
Creatures that succeed on their saving throw move
to the nearest unoccupied safe space adjacent to the Upgrades: Blinding Poison (+3 cost): While a
pit. If there are no unoccupied spaces adjacent to creature is poisoned by this trap, they are blind.
the pit, that creature falls in, even if they succeeded
on their saving throw. Attempting to climb out of Knightsbane Poison (+6 cost): While a creature is
the pit requires an Athletics check against the Save poisoned by this trap, they become vulnerable to
DC. A rearming pit trap can close and reopen once piercing, slashing and bludgeoning damage.
per round, while a continuous pit trap will always
open and immediately close again every time it is Stone Toxin (+8 cost): While poisoned by this
triggered. This is not a magical component. trap, creatures begin turning to stone. They are
immediately restrained, and must continue to
Upgrades: Greased Walls (+1 cost): All checks made repeat their saving throw at the end of each of
to climb out of the pit are made with disadvantage. their turns. If they succeed three times, this
effect ends. If they fail three times, they become
Relocking Door (+2 cost): When a creature triggers petrified until the condition is removed by another
the trap, the pit closes again after they fall in, creature. The successes and failures do not need to
trapping them until someone successfully disables be consecutive.
the trap.

28 Trap Compendium
 Trap Components

Trap with both ‘Piercing’ and ‘Poison’ components.

Rolling Boulder Component When the trap is activated and at the end of each
of the triggering character’s future turns (exclud-
TIER SAVE DC DAMAGE SPEED COST ing the turn the trap was activated), the boulder
1 12 11 (3d6) 30 ft. 3 moves its speed from its point of origin toward the
destination, affecting creatures and objects in its
2 14 21 (6d6) 40 ft. 6
path as described below until stopped.
3 16 32 (9d6) 50 ft. 10
If the boulder would enter a creature’s space, that
4 18 42 (12d6) 60 ft. 14
creature must make either a Strength or Dexterity
5 20 53 (15d6) 70 ft. 19 saving throw (their choice) against the listed
6 22 63 (18d6) 80 ft. 24 DC. On a successful Dexterity saving throw, the
7 24 74 (21d6) 90 ft. 30 creature moves to one side of the boulder, taking
no damage. On a successful Strength saving throw,
Description: The classic rolling boulder trap. It’s the creature takes half the listed damage and the
big, it likes to move, and it’s going to cause a real boulder stops.
headache for anyone in its way. If either saving throw fails, the creature takes
The boulder is no larger than a 5 ft. diameter full damage and is knocked prone in their square
sphere per tier. It originates from a point within as the boulder rolls over them, continuing on its
the trap’s target area and moves in a straight line path. If the boulder encounters an immovable
toward a point you designate within 100 ft. per obstacle (such as a wall), it is stopped. This is not a
tier, determined at the time of the trap’s creation. magical component.

Trap Compendium 29
Trap Components

Upgrades: Rolling Component (+3 cost, Special): Slashing Component

By paying the cost of another component
increased by three, you can add that component TIER ATTACK BONUS DAMAGE COST
to the boulder itself. It activates continuously 1 +5 4 (1d6) 1
while the boulder is rolling, targeting all creatures
2 +6 7 (2d6) 4
within 20 ft. of the boulder. Once the boulder
3 +8 14 (4d6) 8
stops, that component stops activating as well.
4 +10 21 (6d6) 13
This additional component does not count against
the maximum number of components that can be 5 +12 35 (10d6) 19

placed on a trap. 6 +14 49 (14d6) 26

7 +16 63 (18d6) 34
Impact Component (+0 Cost, Special): By paying
the cost of another component, the boulder now Description: This trap component is a balance of
activates a second component when it is stopped, accuracy and damage. It deals slashing damage
targeting all creatures within 30 ft. of the stopped to creatures in the trap’s area. It might be scythes,
boulder. This additional component is always sawblades, or even a guillotine. This is not a
single-use, activating only once. This additional magical component.
component does not count against the maximum
number of components that can be placed on a Sphere of Annihilation
trap. Component
TIER SAVE DC FORCE DAMAGE COST

1 13 11 (2d10) 5
2 14 22 (4d10) 10
3 15 33 (6d10) 16
4 16 44 (8d10) 22
5 17 66 (12d10) 29
6 18 88 (16d10) 36
7 19 110 (20d10) 45

Description: A staple of devious dungeons for a

long time, this component adds an imitation sphere
A ‘Rolling Boulder’ component with the ‘Rolling
Component’ upgrade. of annihilation to the dungeon placed within the
trap’s area. Unlike the actual artifact, these cannot
be controlled, and cannot move unless upgraded.
A creature coming in contact with the sphere must
make a Dexterity saving throw against the listed
DC to avoid the listed damage. A creature ending
its turn within the sphere takes maximum damage
from the sphere (no save).

30 Trap Compendium
 Trap Components

Variant: Spellcasting Component

Description: This trap component casts a spell when
SPELL LEVEL ATTACK BONUS SAVE DC COST
triggered, affecting creatures in the target area with
1 +3 11 3 the spell. This component does not follow the normal
2 +4 12 7 progression of 7 tiers—instead, the cost of this
3 +5 13 12 trap is entirely based on the level of the spell used.
4 +6 14 20 Unsurprisingly, this is a magical component.
5 +7 15 28
6 +8 16 37 Notes: If this trap component casts a spell that requires
7 +9 17 46 concentration, the trap component is considered to
8 +10 18 54 be concentrating on it. If the trap component takes
9 +11 19 60 damage, it must make a saving throw to maintain
concentration on the spell. Roll 1d20 and use the trap’s
Initially we had a component that cast spells, aptly attack bonus as its saving throw bonus for this roll.
named the Spellcasting component. However, due If any other spell effect requires a roll that uses the
to just how diverse spells are, even those of the spellcaster’s casting stat (such as a trap that casts dispel
same level, we ultimately decided it just wasn’t a magic), add the same bonus to that roll.
good fit for the Trap Compendium. We’re including This trap can cast cantrips, using the same cost and
some options for Spellcasting components here as a stats as though it were casting a 1st level spell. You can
variant, but they are very likely to cause problems, also cast lower level spells at higher levels, but must
be imbalanced, and generally be a pain to use. If pay for the higher level trap. So a trap that casts a 5th
you’re feeling brave, give it a try. level magic missile would cost as much as a trap that
casts cone of cold or any other 5th level spell.

The Sphere of Annihilation component appears Summoning Component

within the trap’s target area. It is always active; it
doesn’t need a trigger, it doesn’t need a target, and TIER CHALLENGE RATING COST
it can never be rearming or continuous—it simply 1 1 5
2 2 10
Upgrades: Hunting Sphere (+5 cost): At initiative
3 3 15
count 20 each round, the sphere moves 10 ft. toward
4 4 20
the nearest creature within 60 ft. of it. If there are
no creatures within 60 ft. it remains stationary. The 5 6 26
sphere can enter other creature’s spaces. 6 8 32
7 11 40
Maiming Sphere (+10 cost): Creatures that take
damage from the sphere must make a Constitution Description: The Summoning component allows
saving throw against the listed DC or suffer you to call in reinforcements when and where you
a lingering injury, as listed in the table in the need them. It creates a single creature up to the
Dungeon Master’s Guide. listed Challenge Rating, which obeys either a preset

Trap Compendium 31
Trap Components

list of commands or the commands of the trap’s

owners. It may also be totally rogue, attacking
the nearest creatures with no real strategy or
plan. The component maintains concentration
on the summoned creature, allowing a single
active activation of the trap at a time. Continuous
versions of this trap summon another creature
immediately after concentration is lost on the first
or the summoned creature dies. This is a magical
component.
A monster summoned by a ‘Summoning’ component.
Upgrades: Berserker (+3 cost): The summoned
creature makes attacks with advantage. Swarm Component
Multiple Summons (+5 cost): Components with TIER CONSTITUTION SAVE DC COST
this upgrade can summon any number of creatures 1 12 1
as long as their total challenge rating is lower than
2 14 3
one and a half times the challenge rating listed in
3 16 5
the component table (rounded down to the nearest
4 18 8
whole number). The component cannot create any
one creature of a higher challenge rating than the 5 20 12
component’s tier. 6 22 16
7 24 20

Example: A Tier 6 Summoning component Description: The Swarm component conjures a

can summon creatures such that their sum writhing horde of tiny beasts, which function like
total challenge rating is 12 or lower and none terrain effects, turning the target area into difficult
of their individual challenge ratings exceeds 6. terrain. Creatures starting their turn in the area or
entering it for the first time on a turn must make a
Constitution saving throw against the listed DC or
Lifelink (+6 Cost): Whenever a creature be Poisoned for 1 minute. Creatures starting their
summoned by this trap would be reduced to 0 hit turn in the swarm make this save at disadvantage.
points but not killed outright, it is instead reduced Poisoned creatures can repeat the saving throw at
to 1 hit point. This effect lasts until this trap is the end of each of their turns, ending the effect on
disabled or destroyed. a success.
You can combine multiple upgrades, potentially
creating a horrible wasp-spider-leech hybrid. It’s
ultimately up to you what the swarm looks like; the
rules here only govern the mechanics of the trap.
This trap is not magical.

32 Trap Compendium
 Trap Components

Upgrades: Aquatic (+1 cost): This swarm and trap Web-weavers (+5 cost): While poisoned by this
can function underwater. component, creatures are restrained.

Snakes (+2 cost): Creatures that fail a saving throw Potent Venom (+10 cost): While poisoned by this
against this component take 2d6 poison damage per trap, creatures are paralyzed.
tier of the component. A successful save reduces this
damage by half. Wall Component
Leeches (+3 cost): While poisoned by this component, TIER DEXTERITY WALL HEIGHT COST
creatures lose hit points equal to the component’s 1 12 5 ft. 1
tier at the start of each of their turns. Hit points lost
2 14 10 ft. 2
in this fashion also reduce the creature’s maximum
3 16 15 ft. 3
hit points by the same amount. This reduction lasts
4 18 20 ft. 5
until the creature finishes a long rest.
5 20 25 ft. 7

Tenacious (+3 cost): A creature failing its save 6 22 30 ft. 9

against the swarm is afflicted by the swarm even if 7 24 35 ft. 11
the creature leaves the swarm’s space. The affected
creature may spend its action to make a saving throw Description: The Wall component creates impassible
against the swarm, ending the effect on a success. terrain within the target area. The walls it creates are
difficult to move or destroy, and can be upgraded
Wasps (+5 cost): This component completely fills the to further impede characters that try to bypass
targeted areas. All creatures make saves against the
swarm’s effects at disadvantage.

A ‘Swarm’ component on
a trapped chest.

Trap Compendium 33
Trap Components

through magical means. Finally, the walls created by Dimensional Anchor (+4 cost): The walls block
this component are a great place to put additional magical travel, preventing characters from bypassing
traps, and can be manipulated by an Architect’s them with misty step, passwall, or other magic unless
component. This trap can create any number of the creature attempting succeeds on a Charisma
walls within the target area. The height of the walls saving throw against a DC of 11 + the component’s
cannot exceed 5 ft. per tier, as per the table. tier. This upgrade makes the component magical.
Walls created by this component have an AC of
14, and 15 hit points per tier of this component Web Component
for each 5 ft. section. They have resistance to non-
magical damage and immunity to psychic damage. TIER DEXTERITY SAVE DC COST
They are otherwise treated like normal objects. 1 12 2
When the wall is first created, a creature within
2 14 4
5 ft. of the wall may use their reaction to make a
3 16 6
Dexterity saving throw against the listed DC to
4 18 8
move to either side of the created wall.
Walls created in this fashion retract 1 minute after 5 20 11

their creation. This component is not magical. 6 22 14

If you apply the Discerning Targeting upgrade 7 24 18
to a trap with a Wall component, creatures you
designate can pass freely through walls created by Description: Like the spell of the same name, this
this component. This functions similarly to the component conjures webbing out of nothingness,
passwall spell, creating a temporary opening just restraining creatures within and impeding
large enough for them to move through and then movement through the trap’s target area. Creatures
closing once they pass to the other side. A creature that start their turn in the webbing or enter the area
adjacent to one such temporary opening can use its for the first time on a turn must make a Dexterity
reaction to make a Dexterity saving throw against saving throw against the listed DC or become
the component’s save DC to leap through one of restrained. They can use their action on each of their
these doorways before it closes. On a failure, they turns to attempt a Strength check against the same
hit the wall and stop their movement. DC, freeing themselves on a success. The webbing is
flammable. Each 5 ft. section burns away in 1 round
Upgrades: Ethereal Barrier (+2 cost): The walls if exposed to fire, and creatures within take 2d4 fire
extend into the ethereal plane, blocking travel for damage per tier of the component. Once created,
creatures on that plane as well. This upgrade makes the webbing lasts until it is destroyed. Each 5 ft.
the component magical. section has 10 hit points per tier of the component.
This is a magical component.
Fast Walls (+3 Cost): Creatures attempting Dexterity
saving throws to move to either side of a wall make Upgrades: Flame Resistant (+1 cost): The webbing
their save at disadvantage. created by this component is no longer flammable;
it does not burn away when exposed to flame.

34 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

Sample Traps
Dark Blades Reducing the difficulty of this trap is difficult,
as it’s already pretty bare bones. You can reduce
TIER 1 COST 5 250 XP the area to 5 ft. by 5 ft., meaning it won’t hit the
MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15 whole party anymore, but at that point, it’s a very
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0) mild scare. If you do this, place it in a very narrow
TARGETS Fixed Targeting (Cost 0) corridor so it still feels threatening.
Upgrades: Precise Expansion (+1 Cost)
COMPONENTS Slashing—Tier 1 (Cost 1)
Darkness—Tier 1 (Cost 3) A Touch Of Madness
Description: Sometimes the best traps are simple. TIER 1 COST 6 300 XP
This trap does damage and creates an area of dark- MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
ness; what more do you need? For a low-level par- TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
ty, this is likely to be the scariest thing they’ve seen Upgrades: Hairpin Trigger (+3 Cost)
in a while. First they get hurt, then they can’t see! TARGETS Fixed Targeting (Cost 0)
COMPONENTS Madness—Tier 1 (Cost 3)
Game Notes: This trap, set in a 10 ft. by 10 ft.
corridor, is triggered by simple pressure plate. Description: A good trap doesn’t need to be
When activated, blades extend from the walls on complicated, it just needs to make things complicated.
either side of a 10 ft. square including the one This trap is very easy to set off, and is likely to hit
occupied by the triggering creature. All creatures the party’s rogue, a class not known for its good
in this space suffer an attack (+4 to hit), taking 5 Wisdom saving throws.
(1d8) slashing damage on a hit.
Additionally, the trap conjures a 10 ft. by 10 ft. area Game Notes: The creature triggering this trap
of darkness directly behind the triggering creature. must make a Wisdom saving throw against DC
This darkness lasts for 1 minute or until dispelled. 13 or suffer a random effect from the Short-Term
Madness table for 1d6 rounds.
Scaling Suggestions: Scaling this trap upward in When attempting to disable this trap, if the Thieves’
difficulty is easy. You can add more damage by Tools check fails by 5 or more, the trap activates,
upgrading the Slashing component, including targeting the creature attempting the check.
additional debilitating components such as
Disabling or Immobilizing, or even send a Swarm Scaling Suggestions: You can easily make this
component or Summoning component coming trap more dangerous by upgrading the Madness
out of the darkness at the group. component, but it’s more interesting to add

Trap Compendium 35
Sample Traps

additional magical targets so the trap might hit Scaling Suggestions: The Rolling Boulder
more than one party member even if they’re component has a lot of fun upgrades available.
standing back while the rogue works on the trap. Besides just adding damaging components to
You can also upgrade the Disarm DC so the it while it rolls or on impact, you can add an
Hairpin Trigger is more likely to be set off. Immobilizing component with the Adhesive
Removing the hairpin trigger is the best way to upgrade that will restrain anyone the boulder
tone down this trap, as if you remove the madness passes, then drag them along with it. If you’re
component… there isn’t a trap anymore. It’s only a making this trap very high level, consider adding a
Cost 6 trap, so if you’re toning it down you must be Compulsion component to the pedestal that forces
feeling very kind. whoever grabs the treasure to stand still and wait
for the boulder to crush them.
The only option for toning down this trap is to
Dr. Jones’ Dilemma reduce the tier of the rolling boulder to 1, but just like
the previous trap, you’re toning down a Cost 6 trap. It’s
TIER 1 COST 6 300 XP okay to beat up your players a bit, they’ll survive.
MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
TARGETS Fixed Targeting (Cost 0) Poisoned Whispers
COMPONENTS Rolling Boulder—Tier 2 (Cost 6)
TIER 1 COST 6 300 XP
Description: A small treasure rests on a pedestal. MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
When removed, the trap activates, sending a TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
massive boulder down the corridor towards the TARGETS Fixed Targeting (Cost 0)
pedestal. You’ve probably seen this one before. COMPONENTS Gas—Tier 1 (Cost 2)
Upgrades: Poisonous Gas
Game Notes: When this trap is activated, a 10 (+0 Cost, additional cost below),
ft. diameter boulder begins rolling towards the Flammable (+2 Cost)
triggered location, moving at a speed of 40 ft. per Poison—Tier 1 (Cost 2)
round on initiative count 20 (losing ties).
If the boulder would enter a creature’s space, that Description: Another simple trap that pairs gas
creature may suffer 21 (6d6) bludgeoning damage and poison to make an unpleasant experience
and be knocked prone, mitigated by a Strength or for anyone of a poor Constitution. This is best
Dexterity check against DC 14. A successful Strength positioned to catch the back line of the party
check reduces the damage by half, prevents the during a fight, as they’re most likely to succumb
prone condition, and stops the boulder’s movement. to its toxins.
A successful Dexterity check negates the damage,
prevents the prone condition, and moves the creature Game Notes: The triggered creature is surrounded
out of the boulder’s path (if applicable). by a 5 ft. cloud of gas within their space. The cloud
is opaque and requires creatures first entering
it or beginning their turn within it to make a
Constitution saving throw against DC 11 or take

36 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

4 (1d6) poison damage and become poisoned for Scaling Suggestions: One possible variant would be
1 minute. Affected creatures can repeat this saving to compel the triggering creature to step through
throw at the end of each of their turns, ending the the door, closing and holding it shut behind them.
Poisoned condition on a success. If this is the party’s barbarian, it’s likely to make
The gas is flammable, exploding on contact with things very difficult. If it’s the scrawny rogue, it’ll
open flame, which deals 7 (2d6) fire damage to be easy for them. You can also upgrade this trap to
creatures within the gas, which is then removed. compel the character to run away from the door,
making it even harder to get through.
Scaling Suggestions: The most obvious way to scale To make this trap easier, you can remove the
up this trap is to add some fire damage to ignite the Rearming upgrade. That’s about it, as there’s not
gas cloud. You could also go a different route and much else to the trap.
expand the area of the cloud, or place this trap in a
pit, either of which makes it harder to avoid.
To make this trap less dangerous, you can remove Lead Boots
the Flammable upgrade or the Poisonous Gas, but
not both. The Flammable upgrade has a chance to TIER 2 COST 10 750 XP
be a very surprising explosion if the person who MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
triggers the trap is carrying a torch, and depending TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
on your style, that may be good or bad. TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
COMPONENTS Pit—Tier 2 (Cost 2)
Immobilizing—Tier 2 (Cost 2)
Amnesia Upgrades: Adhesive (+3 Cost)
Liquid—Tier 2 (Cost 3)
TIER 2 COST 9 675 XP
MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15 Description: A pit with a twist, this one takes
TRIGGER Manual Trigger (Cost 0) anyone who falls into it and sticks them to the
Upgrades: Rearming (+5 Cost) ground, then dumps water on them. Characters
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0) with a low Strength will struggle to escape, and
COMPONENTS Compulsion—Tier 1 (Cost 4) someone may have to dive in and rescue them.

Description: This one is more for fun than a Game Notes: When this false floor is stepped on,
serious threat, but if you put it on the only exit of a it drops the offending character into a 20 ft. pit.
very dangerous room, that laughter may soon turn A creature may attempt a Dexterity saving throw
to tears. This trap makes a door hard to open. Very against DC 12 to catch the ledge, avoiding the fall.
hard. It compels whoever opens the door to push it When the creature strikes the bottom, it lands
closed again—before they’ve gone through it. prone, taking 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage.
The creature must immediately attempt a
Game Notes: When a creature opens this door, the Strength saving throw against DC 12 to avoid
trap activates, compelling them to close it again becoming restrained, stuck to the floor of the pit.
unless they make a successful Wisdom saving A creature may use its action on its turn to make a
throw against DC 12. Whenever the door is closed,
the trap rearms.
Trap Compendium 37
Sample Traps

Strength ability check against the same DC, ending The Straw Army
the restrained effect on a success.
When the creature strikes the floor, the pit fills TIER 2 COST 10 750 XP
with 10 ft. of water in one round. MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
TRIGGER Manual Trigger (Cost 0)
Scaling Suggestions: Adding a Poison or Disease TARGETS Fixed Targeting (Cost 0)
component will make this pit much more difficult Upgrades: Bigger Area (+3 Cost)
to escape, and a Relocking Door upgrade on the pit COMPONENTS Illusion—Tier 3 (Cost 5)
itself can really make it a headache if the rogue is Upgrades: Smell (+1 Cost)
the one who gets stuck. Architect’s—Tier 1 (Cost 1)
Removing the Liquid component is enough to
make this trap less deadly, but it also removes most Description: This trap only works if it’s paired
of the fun factor. A good adjustment is to reduce with monsters. It conjures an illusion, designed to
the tier of the Immobilizing component, making it trick the party into moving in one direction, while
easier for a trapped character to escape. simultaneously opening a back door, allowing
the real threats to move in from the other side.
Without that other threat, this trap does very little.

Game Notes: When the lever is pulled, an illusory

copy of the creatures within a 15 ft. cube centered
on the lever appear in the nearby hallway. These
creatures move to attack the closest creatures.

The Straw Army.

38 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

Simultaneously, the trap opens a side passageway +5 to hit and dealing 9 (2d8) slashing damage on a
in the nearby room, allowing the actual creatures hit. Because the scythe is invisible, it has advantage
to either escape or re-position. on all of these attacks.

Scaling Suggestions: Further additions depend Scaling Suggestions: Increasing the Slashing
on the use of the trap. If it’s intended to let the component damage is an easy way to make this
copied creatures escape, the trigger may lay down trap more dangerous, but you can also add a
a Disabling component to prevent the players from Poison or Disease component to the blade to delay
following. If offense if the goal, it may flood the trespassers, potentially allowing whoever was
corridor with an invisible Gas component. retreating to come back and attack them again.
It’s hard to reduce the threat of this trap, because Removing the Invisibility upgrade makes this
by itself, it’s not much of a threat at all. You could trap less dangerous, but also less interesting. Better
remove the Illusion component and just have it to lower the damage of the Slashing component if
open a secret door, which could still mess with the you want it to be more appropriate for lower level
party during a hectic battle. characters.

Invisible Reaper Smashed Spiders

TIER 2 COST 11 825 XP TIER 2 COST 11 825 XP
MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15 MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0) TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0) TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
Upgrades: Precise expansion x2 (+2 Cost) Upgrades: Bigger Area (+3 Cost)
COMPONENTS Upgrades: Invisibility (+5 Cost) COMPONENTS Web—Tier 1 (Cost 2) .
Slashing—Tier 2 (Cost 4) Architect’s—Tier 1 (Cost 1)
Upgrades: Crushing Walls (+5 Cost)
Description: Invisible traps are the coolest thing
since sliced bread, and slice things up is exactly Description: Crushing walls are so common in
what this trap does. It’s pretty simple: an invisible dungeons that adventurers all know to run for
scythe tries to bisect everyone behind the triggering safety as soon as they hear grinding stone. But
creature. This trap is perfect for hallways that a how can they run for safety if they’re trapped in
villain is planning to retreat through—just make webbing? And even if the agile rogue can escape,
sure they go through one at a time! is he or she really going to abandon the squishy
wizard and helpless cleric? Probably, but it’ll be fun
Game Notes: When a pressure plate is stepped on, to watch.
an invisible blade scythes from a hidden floor slit
starting on a square 5 ft. behind the triggering space Game Notes: When this trap is triggered, creatures
and slicing 30 ft. away from that creature. It attacks within 5 ft. of the triggering space must make a
all creatures whose spaces it passes through, rolling Dexterity saving throw (DC 12) or become restrained

Trap Compendium 39
Sample Traps

Smashed Spiders.

by webbing that adheres them to the walls and Assassin Stone

ceiling. A restrained creature may use their action to
attempt a Strength check (DC 12) to free themselves. TIER 2 COST 12 900 XP
Additionally, a 15 ft. section of the nearby wall MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
(centered on the trigger point) immediately begins to TRIGGER Manual Trigger (Cost 0)
close on the webbed area, moving 10 ft. per round on TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
initiative count 20 of each round (losing ties). If the COMPONENTS Geas—Tier 2 (Cost 12)
wall would push a creature, that creature may make a
Strength saving throw DC 12 to avoid being pushed, Description: When you hear the phrase “assassin
stopping the wall for that round. If the wall presses stone” you probably think it’s being used to beat
creatures into the opposite wall, it deals 11 (2d10) someone over the head. Not this rock. This rock
bludgeoning damage to the creatures on its turn. is enchanted with a powerful Geas that bewitches
anyone who picks it up, compelling them to try to
Scaling Suggestions: The Quicksilver upgrade on murder the nearest government official. Because
this would make the trap spring across the hallway creatures that fail their save against a Geas don’t
in a single round immediately after its activation. know that magic has affected them, it’s likely to
Coupling this with a Rearming upgrade will make make the next trip to town very interesting.
the wall slam back and forth repeatedly. This is a
very bad time for anyone stuck in the webs. Game Notes: When this stone is picked up, the trap
Removing the Crushing Walls upgrade from the activates, influencing the character with a powerful
Architect’s component is the best way to scale this Geas unless they make a successful Wisdom saving
trap down. If the players manage to stop the wall, throw against DC 15. A failed save imposes the
it will stay stopped, giving them all the time they new Bond, “I will do my all to kill the nearest
need to escape the webbing. government official.” The compulsion lasts for one
week or until removed via remove curse, dispel
magic, break enchantment or similar magic is used.

40 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

Scaling Suggestions: Increasing the area of this convince most adventurers to take anything more
trap greatly increases the odds that at least one than the shortest swim in unknown waters. This
creature will be afflicted with the murderous intent. trap solves that problem by creating the water and
The addition of a Price of Disobedience upgrade, summoning a very angry and very big octopus.
afflicting the disobeying character with a disease that
gives disadvantage on Wisdom saving throws, will Game Notes: When activated, this 10 ft. by 10 ft.
make them less likely to resist the Geas in the future. trapdoor drops all characters on it into a 20 ft. pit
(Dexterity saving throw DC 12 avoids). When the
Assassin Stone. creature lands (taking 2d6 damage as normal), the
bottom 10 ft. of the pit fill with water, and the trap
summons a Giant Octopus to assault the fallen
characters.

Scaling Suggestions: Inclusion of a Relocking Door

upgrade (+2 Cost) and additional summoned
creatures (increased tier and the Additional
Creatures upgrade) will make this trap notably
more challenging. A very high-level version might
include both an Acid Bath upgrade to the Liquid
component and creatures immune to its harmful
effects, such as an ooze.
Lowering the challenge of the creature
summoned is the best way to make this trap easier;
using something like a swarm of quippers is ideal.
They’re still dangerous, but they can’t restrain
someone and drown them.
Instant Fish Tank
TIER 2 COST 13 975 XP
MITIGATION Perception DC 18 Disarm DC 15
Upgrades: Hard to Find (+2 Cost)
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
Upgrades: Precise Expansion (+1 Cost)
COMPONENTS Pit—Tier 2 (Cost 2)
Liquid—Tier 2 (Cost 3)
Summoning—Tier 1 (Cost 5

Description: The aquatic creatures in the Monster Instant Fish Tank.

Manual are awesome, right? But it’s hard to

Trap Compendium 41
Sample Traps

A Sticky Situation.

A Sticky Situation Game Notes: When the pressure plate is stepped

on, the floor springs up, launching the offending
TIER 3 COST 14 1,400 XP character 35 ft. to the ceiling. A Dexterity saving
MITIGATION Perception DC 18 Disarm DC 15 throw against DC 14 avoids this.
Upgrades: Hard to Find (+2 Cost) Creatures so thrown must make a Strength
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0) saving throw against DC 14 to avoid being stuck to
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0) an adhesive patch on the ceiling. A freed creature
COMPONENTS Movement—Tier 3 (Cost 5 may fall to the ground if appropriate preparations
Immobilizing—Tier 3 (Cost 4) aren’t made.
Upgrades: Adhesive (+3 Cost)
Scaling Suggestions: Increasing the tier of the
Description: Launching adventurers through the Immobilizing component makes it more likely
air is always fun, but why stop there? This trap also adventurers will get stuck to the ceiling, which you
sticks them to the ceiling, leading to an awkward want. If you’re making this trap very high level,
situation with awkward solutions. Place this trap you can add a continuous damage component on
in the middle of a fight, and it’s a recipe for a very the ceiling, perhaps a barrage of arrows or steady
memorable encounter. flame jets, making rescue imperative.

42 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

To make this trap easier while keeping its flair, Damage component if you want it to be more
simply decrease the tier of the Movement and of a direct threat, or just upgrade the Disabling
Immobilizing components. Sticking creatures to component to make it harder to resist. If you’re
the ceiling is the fun here, so you want to keep the feeling truly devious, you can make it rearming, but
Adhesive upgrade. that runs the risk of disabling the majority of the
party for most of the fight, and that’s not very fun.
Removing the Additional Target upgrade is a
Rigor Mortis good way to make this trap weaker, as that limits it
to a single character. You can remove the necrotic
TIER 3 COST 14 1,400 XP damage, but there’s little point, as that’s not the
MITIGATION Perception DC 18 Disarm DC 15 main threat of this trap.
Upgrades: Hard to Find (+2 Cost)
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0) Quite an Entrance
Upgrades: Additional Target—
Magical Targeting (+3 Cost) TIER 3 COST 17 1,700 XP
COMPONENTS Magical Damage (Necrotic)— MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
Tier 1 (Cost 6) TRIGGER Magical Trigger (Cost 4)
Disabling—Tier 1 (Cost 3) Upgrades: Discerning Trigger (+4 Cost)
TARGETS Magical Targeting (Cost 2)
Description: This trap goes very well with a few COMPONENTS Alarm—Tier 2 (Cost 2)
monsters, as it isn’t much of a threat on its own. Energy Damage (Thunder) —
Paired with difficult adversaries, incapacitating Tier 2 (Cost 5)
two of the heroes for a round or two can be deadly.
Description: As soon as someone swings their fist
Game Notes: The triggering creature and nearest or their blade, or casts the wrong spell, this trap
creature within 30 ft. must succeed on a Wisdom goes off. A thunderous scream alerts everyone
saving throw (DC 11) or suffer 4 (1d6) necrotic nearby to what has happened, and the scream itself
damage and become incapacitated for 1 minute. batters and assails the triggering creature with
A successful save reduces the damage by half and thunder damage.
prevents the incapacitation.
Affected creatures may repeat their save at the Game Notes: When a creature in this room
end of each of their turns, ending the effect on a makes an attack against another creature, the trap
success. activates, magically targeting the attacking creature
with a booming scream.
Scaling Suggestions: Add extra targets to make this The scream wakes all creatures within 120 ft. of
trap a real problem for your players. Incapacitating the attacking creature. The attacking creature is
multiple characters at once is going to cause some targeted by the thunderous scream of the trap (+6
serious issues, especially if it disables the party’s to hit), taking 7 (2d6) thunder damage on a hit.
healer. You can also increase the tier of the Magical

Trap Compendium 43
Sample Traps

Scaling Suggestions: You can add a Disabling repeat this save at the end of each of their turns,
component to the trap, potentially incapacitating ending the effect on a success.
or stunning the triggering creature. You can also A moment later, a javelin hurls from a chamber
expand the area, targeting additional creatures in the wall towards the triggering creature (+8 to
near the one that set off the trap. The Discerning hit), dealing 14 (4d6) piercing damage on hit.
Trigger upgrade is already in place, and will prevent
friendly creatures from activating the trap. Scaling Suggestions: Making this trap more difficult
You can reduce or eliminate the thunder damage starts by making the poison more dangerous and
to scale down this trap, making it just a very harder to resist. You can also expand the trap’s
flavorful alarm. area, allowing it to potentially poison multiple
characters, then shoot javelins at all of them.
To make it easier, consider removing the javelin
Knightsbane and just using this trap alongside some monsters.
While that’s certainly more dangerous than the trap
TIER 3 COST 19 1,900 XP by itself, it’s not going to suddenly blast a character
MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15 with an average of 28 damage out of nowhere, and
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0) it gives the victim a chance to retreat or call for
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0) healing before they take damage.
COMPONENTS  Upgrades: Magical Mechanisms
(+2 Cost)
Poison—Tier 2 (Cost 3) Technical Knockout
Upgrades: Knightsbane Poison
(+6 Cost) TIER 3 COST 19 1,900 XP
Piercing—Tier 3 (Cost 8) MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
Description: The tricky thing about fighters and TARGETS Fixed Targeting (Cost 0)
other durable warriors is that they’re hard to hit COMPONENTS Upgrades: Knockback (+3 Cost)
and hard to hurt. This trap, named after the poison Bludgeoning—Tier 3 (Cost 8)
it applies, aims to correct that. It starts with a Disabling—Tier 3 (Cost 8)
poison, which carries with it vulnerability to most
types of physical damage. Then a big javelin shoots Description: This trap looks simple: a big piece
at them to take advantage of their new weakness. of the floor swings up to hit someone in the face,
but it’s coupled with some magic that provides a
Game Notes: A spray of contact poison on the knockout punch even if the target avoids getting
triggering character followed by a propelled javelin. hit by a ton of bricks.
The affected character must made a Constitution
saving throw against DC 12 or suffer 7 (2d6) poison Game Notes: A spring-loaded slate of floor lifts
damage and be poisoned for 1 minute. While so from the ground towards the triggering creature,
poisoned, the creature is vulnerable to piercing, making an attack (+5 to hit), dealing 22 (4d10)
bludgeoning and slashing damage. A creature may bludgeoning damage on hit.

44 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

The creature (regardless of the hit or miss) must arrows, all of which miss the character. Using an
make a Wisdom saving throw against DC 14 or be action to make an Intelligence (Investigation) check
incapacitated for 1 minute. Affected creatures may against DC 17 identifies the arrows as illusory. On
repeat the save at the end of each of their turns, that creature’s next turn, the trap activates a second
ending the effect on a success. time, firing a stream of arrows at the creature (+8
If the creature is either struck by the bludgeon or to hit), dealing 14 (4d6) damage on a hit. If the
fails their save, they are knocked 10 ft. away, falling creature failed its previous Investigation check, the
prone. trap makes this attack with advantage.

Scaling Suggestions: Upgrading the Disabling Scaling Suggestions: The addition of a second
component to stun or paralyze the creature Delayed Activation upgrade with another Piercing
makes this trap much more dangerous, especially Tier 3 component attacks the same character on
if the Disabling component activates before the their next turn. You can also increase the size of
bludgeoning part of the trap. the targeting area, allowing this trap to hit multiple
To make this trap milder, just reduce the tier of creatures.
both components. It doesn’t need any fancy tricks, To make it less dangerous, reduce the strength
and removing either one makes the trap much less of the arrows or remove the Sound upgrade from
interesting. the Illusion. Clever players may notice the arrows
don’t make noise, giving them advantage on their
Investigation check to realize the illusory nature of
False Alarm the first barrage.

TIER 3 COST 20 2,000 XP

MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15 A Quick Breather
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
TARGETS Magical Targeting (Cost 2) TIER 3 COST 20 2,000 XP
COMPONENTS Upgrades: Delayed Activation (+3 Cost) MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
Illusion—Tier 3 (Cost 5) TRIGGER Magical Trigger (Cost 4)
Upgrades: Sound (+2 Cost) Upgrades: Discerning Trigger (+4 Cost),
Piercing—Tier 3 (Cost 8) Rearming (+5 Cost)
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
Description: A click in the floor precedes a hail of COMPONENTS Healing—Tier 1 (Cost 3)
arrows, but none of them hit the party! A sigh of Antimagic—Tier 1 (Cost 4)
relief precedes a second volley of arrows, this time
unexpected. If the adventurers didn’t realize the first Description: This “trap” offers on-demand healing
set of arrows were just an illusion, they are in for a for allies of the trapmaker, making it a great pick
bad time when the second, very real set hits them. for a stronghold, villain’s lair, or other location that
has permanent residents who don’t plan on leaving.
Game Notes: When this trap activates, it targets It works once per round, but any creature friendly
the triggering character with a barrage of illusory to the trap’s creator can call out for help and get it.

Trap Compendium 45
Sample Traps

Game Notes: When a creature in the room allied Snare Mix-Up

with the trap’s creator speaks the command word
“Help” at no action cost on that creature’s turn, the TIER 3 COST 20 2,000 XP
trap activates, targeting the creature. MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
The trap attempts to dispel hostile spell effects TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
with a duration targeting the creature. Such 1st level TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
spells are automatically dispelled. Higher-level COMPONENTS Immobilizing—Tier 4 (Cost 6)
spells are rolled against with a +2 dispel bonus. Upgrades: Knockdown (+1 Cost),
Additionally, the triggering creature is healed 5 Adhesive (+3 Cost)
(1d8) hit points. Illusion—Tier 2 (Cost 3)
The trap rearms the next round on the initiative Upgrades: Sound (+2 Cost)
count just before the triggering creature’s initiative Illusion—Tier 2 (Cost 3)
count. Upgrades: Sound (+2 Cost)

Scaling Suggestions: Ramping up the Healing and Description: Take the classic shell game, where
Antimagic components will make this trap more a shell is hidden under three identical cups and
effective, but you should also consider tweaking shuffled around, then replace the shell with a poor
the trigger command. If you make it a telepathic adventurer and the cups with snare traps that
trigger rather than verbal, it will be much more conjure illusions to make it appear their victim is
reliable and much harder for the players to figure in three places at once.
out what’s going on. You might also make this trap
continuous, so that every creature can benefit from Game Notes: When this trap activates, the creature
it every round, but that’s going to drag the fight out must succeed on a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw
quite a bit. to avoid being snared and pulled to the ground in
There are two good ways to make this trap a space adjacent to the snare.
less dangerous. First is removing the Antimagic At the same time, two illusions of the character
component, keeping this as just a healing trap. (similarly snared) fall into spaces adjacent to the
The second option is to remove the Healing trigger location. These illusions mirror any actions
component and the Rearming upgrade, and the snared character makes, including visual and
increase the Antimagic component to Tier 2. This auditory components. A creature may spend its
makes the trap a single-use emergency dispel for a action to make an Intelligence (Investigation) check
villain to use if they find themselves locked down against DC 15 to identify that the illusions are such.
by an unpleasant spell. You may want to give this
a more subtle trigger than calling for help, perhaps Scaling Suggestions: The addition of the Suffocating
activating automatically if the villain fails a saving upgrade to the snare increases the danger this
throw against a spell. trap poses by itself. Replacing one of the Illusion
components with a Movement component will
entrap and move the character, with the illusion
mirroring the movement and snaring effects. If
you really want to mess with the players, make the

46 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

Movement component a Teleporting one, and have Scaling Suggestions: To make this trap more
it remove the player from the room completely, dangerous, add another debilitating effect to the
summoning three illusions instead of just two. darkness. Choking gas is a great choice, because
To make this trap less dangerous, conjure only it will make anyone in the darkness have to hold
one illusion instead of two. You can reduce the their breath, preventing them from casting spells
tier of the Immobilizing component to make it or calling out for help.
less likely to grab someone, but most of the danger Making it less of a challenge is somewhat tricky,
from this trap comes from the creatures you pair it because there’s not a lot to take away. You could
with, not the trap itself. remove the darkness, but it’s better and more
interesting to remove the Alarm component. How
will the party’s rogue react to being suddenly
Blinding Bell immersed in darkness? They might make enough
noise to act as an alarm all by themselves.
TIER 3 COST 20 2,000 XP
MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
TRIGGER Magical Trigger (Cost 4) Razor Webs
Upgrades: Discerning Trigger (+4 Cost)
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0) TIER 3 COST 21 2,100 XP
Upgrades: Bigger Area (+3 Cost) MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
COMPONENTS Alarm—Tier 2 (Cost 2) TRIGGER Magical Trigger (Cost 4)
Darkness—Tier 1 (Cost 3) Upgrades: Discerning Trigger (+4 Cost),
Upgrades: Swirling Fog (+4 Cost) Rearming (+5 Cost)
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
Description: A twist on the basic alarm trap, this COMPONENTS Web—Tier 2 (Cost 4)
one specifically guards against unknown intruders. Piercing—Tier 2 (Cost 4)
In addition to ringing the alarm bell, it also casts
magical darkness on the intruder, blocking even Description: Webs make easy targets, and darts
Truesight and Devil’s Sight. It also has a giant bell, like easy targets. This trap leverages the piercing
but that’s just for style. component’s high accuracy to deal reliable damage
to a target that isn’t going anywhere.
Game Notes: A magical sensor in this room
detects the presence of new creatures entering the Game Notes: When the magical sensor detects
room. If a new creature enters the room, the trap a creature within 60 ft. that is not restrained
activates unless the creature isn’t detectable with (passive Perception 18), the trap activates, firing
an 18 passive Perception. a sticky blob of webbing to that creature’s space.
If the trap detects a creature, an alarm goes off, The creature must make a Dexterity saving throw
alerting all creatures within 120 ft. of the triggering against DC 14 or become restrained in their space.
creature. At the same time, a 15 ft. cube of magical A creature so restrained may use its action to make
darkness appears on the triggering creature. The a Strength check against the same DC to escape.
darkness swirls with fog, blocking Truesight and
Devil’s Sight within its area.
Trap Compendium 47
Sample Traps

The trap then fires a dart at the creature (+6 to succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or gain
hit), dealing 7 (2d6) piercing damage on a hit. one short-term madness effect for 1d6 rounds.
The trap rearms each turn on the initiative Immediately following this, all creatures allied
count just before the triggering creature until it is with the trap within the area are healed for 5
disabled or destroyed. (1d8) hit points and gain the benefits of a lesser
restoration spell, curing them of their madness
Scaling Suggestions: You can make this trap much or the poisoned, blinded, diseased, deafened, or
more dangerous by replacing the Piercing component paralyzed conditions. The trap rearms on initiative
with fire damage. This will burn the webbing away, count 20.
dealing bonus damage, then when the trap rearms
and activates again, it will create more webbing. Scaling Suggestions: You can make this trap more
Reducing the tier of the Piercing damage difficult by upgrading the Healing component,
component is the best way to reduce the challenge and by adding other components that aren’t
of this trap. You can also lower the tier of the Web going to affect the trapmaker’s allies. Pits are a
component, as that will make it easier to avoid the good choice, as the defenders know their location
entire trap. and can avoid them, while intruders are likely to
blunder into them.
To make this trap less dangerous, eliminate the
Mad-gical Healing Rearming upgrade. It will trigger once, potentially
driving some of the party members insane, then
TIER 4 COST 23 2,760 XP they’ll have a chance to deal with it before it hits
MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 18 them again. This is a substantial reduction to the
Upgrades: Hard to Disarm (+2 Cost) trap’s threat.
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
Upgrades: Trapped Room (+2 Cost),
Rearming (+5 Cost) Living Webs
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
Upgrades: Bigger Area (+3 Cost) TIER 4 COST 23 2,760 XP
COMPONENTS Madness—Tier 1 (Cost 3) MITIGATION Perception DC 18 Disarm DC 18
Healing—Tier 1 (Cost 3) Upgrades: Hard to Find (+2 Cost)
Upgrades: Lesser Restoration (+5 cost) Hard to Disarm (+2 Cost)
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
Description: This trap shows off how well TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
the healing component can work to make an Upgrades: Bigger Area x2 (+6 Cost)
encounter much more challenging. It debilitates COMPONENTS Web—Tier 3 (Cost 6)
the players while bolstering their foes, and that’s a Swarm—Tier 3 (Cost 5)
dangerous combination by any measure. Upgrades: Snakes (+2 Cost)

Game Notes: Whenever this trap is triggered, all Description: Webs and spiders are a common
creatures within 5 ft. of the triggering creature must sight, but what about webs and snakes? It may

48 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

Living Webs.

not make a lot of sense in nature, but in a magical Additionally, the trap creates a swarm of
trap set by a maniacal overlord, why not? Few poisonous snakes within the webbed area.
things are worse than being restrained and bitten Creatures in the initial effect area, or those
by something you can’t reach, and this trap does entering or ending their turn within the area must
exactly that. Webs capture the party, poisonous make a Constitution saving throw (DC 16) or
snakes bite at their ankles. It’s a bad time for become poisoned for 1 minute and take 21 (6d6)
everyone. Except the snakes. poison damage. A creature may repeat this saving
throw at the beginning of each of their subsequent
Game Notes: When this trap triggers, webs turns, ending the effect on a success.
explode in all directions, coating a 25 ft. cube
centered on the trigger point. Creatures in the Scaling Suggestions: The webs are already hard
area must make a Dexterity saving throw against to avoid, but adding the Flame Resistant upgrade
DC 18 or become restrained. Restrained creatures will prevent them from being easily burned away.
may use their action to make a Strength check Increasing the tier of the Swarm component will
against DC 18 to free themselves. make characters more likely to be poisoned, which

Trap Compendium 49
Sample Traps

gives them disadvantage on all ability checks, making Reducing the area this trap targets makes it
escape very difficult. less dangerous, as does reducing the tier of the
You can make this trap easier by reducing the tier of Slashing component. Leave the Slowing upgrade;
both components, or removing the Snakes upgrade it’s a large part of what makes this trap unique.
from the Swarm component. Without the snakes,
this trap just imposes the poisoned condition. This
makes escaping the webs much harder, but unless The Siege Winner
there are other monsters attacking the players, they
aren’t in much danger. TIER 4 COST 25 3,000 XP
MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
Shredding Shrapnel TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
COMPONENTS Rolling Boulder—Tier 2 (Cost 6)
TIER 4 COST 23 2,760 XP Upgrades: Rolling Component
MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15 (Energy Damage) (+3 Cost,
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0) additional cost below);
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0) Impact Component (Energy
Upgrades: Bigger Area x2 (+6 Cost) Damage) (+0 Cost, additional
COMPONENTS Upgrades: Slowing (+4 Cost) cost below)
Slashing—Tier 4 (Cost 13) Energy Damage—Tier 2 (Cost 5)
Upgrades: Saving Throw (+3 Cost)
Description: Getting hit with slashing blades is Energy Damage—Tier 2 (Cost 5)
pretty common in a dungeon, but these are specially Upgrades: Saving Throw (+3 Cost)
aimed to leave a lasting impression. Getting hit by
this trap slows down affected creatures, making Description: Maybe you already used Dr. Jones’
them easy prey for an ambush, or for more traps. Dilemma, but you really love a good rolling
boulder trap. How about a rolling boulder that
Game Notes: When this trap triggers, an explosion spews fire and explodes on impact? This trap is
of shrapnel targets all creatures within 10 ft. of sure to make a big impression on your players,
the triggering creature. The trap attacks all such and it works incredibly well as an actual siege
creatures (+9 to hit), dealing 27 (6d8) slashing weapon unleashed at something they’re trying to
damage on a hit. Creatures hit by the trap find defend. Brave characters can stop the boulder with
their movement speed reduced by 10 ft. for 1 a successful Strength saving throw, but that’s going
minute or until they receive magical healing. to make it explode on them. How selfless are they?

Scaling Suggestions: Making this trap rearming Game Notes: The boulder is 10 ft. in diameter and
makes it notably more dangerous for minimal rolls forward at a speed of 40 ft. per turn. When it
cost increase. Each time the trap strikes, it may enters a creature’s space, that creature can choose
reduce the speed of creatures more and more, to a to make either a Dexterity or Strength saving
minimum of 0 ft. throw against a DC of 14. Failure on either save

50 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

means the creature takes 21 (6d6) bludgeoning Enticing Swim

damage and is knocked prone. If they succeed on a
Dexterity save, they move out of the way and take TIER 4 COST 26 3,120 XP
no damage. If they succeed on a Strength saving MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
throw, they stop the boulder and take half damage. TRIGGER Magical Trigger (Cost 4)
While the boulder is moving, it spews fire at all Upgrades: Rearming (+5 Cost)
creatures within 20 ft., dealing 7 (2d6) fire damage, TARGETS Fixed Targeting (Cost 0)
with a successful Dexterity saving throw against COMPONENTS Liquid—Tier 1 (Cost 1)
DC 14 halving the damage. When it stops, whether Upgrades: Acid Bath (+5 Cost)
because a creature stopped it or because it hit an Movement—Tier 2 (Cost 3)
object, it explodes, dealing 7 (2d6) fire damage to Upgrades: Teleporting (+8 Cost)
all creatures within 30 ft., with a DC 14 Dexterity
save for half damage. Description: Acid pits. They’re great until the
adventurers learn to go around them. Then they
Scaling Suggestions: Increasing the damage of the aren’t so great. This trap pulls the characters to the
trap is a good way to make it more dangerous, but acid, teleporting them over a small trough of acid
there are several unusual methods as well. Changing every round that they remain in the area.
the final component from a damaging explosion to
something that immobilizes or restrains characters Game Notes: At the center of this 45 ft. by 45 ft.
can be lethal in a crowded fight, and a debilitating area is a shallow, 5 ft. deep trough. When a creature
disease can put the whole party under the weather. moves within 25 ft. of the trough or ends its turn
To make the trap easier, remove either the there, the trap activates, filling the trough with acid
continuous flames or the final explosion. It needs and attempting to teleport the creature directly
one of the two components to retain its unique above the pool (Wisdom saving throw DC 12 to
character. resist). A creature moved to the pool suffers 14
(4d6) acid damage on entering the pool and when
they end their turn there.
The trap rearms on initiative count 20 of each
turn, re-activating a long as it can detect a creature
within 25 ft. of the center trough, detectable with a
passive Perception of 18.

Scaling Suggestions: You can make this trap much

more dangerous by replacing the acid with lava.
If that seems unsporting, consider adding an
Immobilizing or Disabling component to try to
trap intruders in the acid for a little longer. Or add
a Swarm component to the water, punishing them
even further for staying in the area.

The Siege Winner.

Trap Compendium 51
Sample Traps

Making this trap easier is a little tricky. You can the hat could start attacking its wearer up to a few
reduce the tier of the components, lowering their minutes later (possibly during a fight).
saving throw DCs, but anything more than that To reduce the challenge here, remove the
severely cuts down on the trap’s power. Removing Suffocating Snare upgrade and reduce the tiers of
the Rearming upgrade, for example, makes the trap the Compulsion and Immobilizing components.
a surprise and an annoyance, but not a true threat.

Tiny’s Friend
Dangerous Fashion
TIER 4 COST 27 3,240 XP
TIER 4 COST 27 3,240 XP MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
MITIGATION Perception DC 18 Disarm DC 15 TRIGGER Magical Trigger (Cost 4)
Upgrades: Hard to Find (+2 cost) Upgrades: Discerning Trigger (+4 Cost),
TRIGGER Magical Trigger (Cost 4) Hairpin Trigger (+3 Cost)
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0) TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
COMPONENTS Compulsion—Tier 2 (Cost 7) COMPONENTS Pit—Tier 5 (Cost 8)
Immobilizing —Tier 3 (Cost 4) Liquid—Tier 2 (Cost 3)
Upgrades: Suffocating Snare (+10 Cost) Upgrades: Acid Bath (+5 Cost)

Description: This trap turns curiosity into peril Description: This 40 ft. tall elevator functions
with an obvious trap that’s not easy to avoid once normally until more than 200 lbs. step into it.
triggered. Putting this hat in the middle of an When this happens, the elevator raises to its
encounter with creatures who are immune to charm maximum height, then opens its floor and drops
effects is sure to make things very interesting. all within 50 ft. down the elevator chute below, into
a rapidly-filling pool of acid. The Hairpin Trigger
Game Notes: The first creature within 60 ft. of this upgrade means any attempt to disarm the trap
simple hat is affected by the trap, compelling the risks setting it off.
creature to put the hat on (Wisdom saving throw
DC 14 resists this effect). When the hat is put Game Notes: This trap has a Hairpin Trigger
on and fastened about the head, tendrils extend upgrade, meaning if a disarm attempt fails by 5
from the hat towards the creature’s feet, requiring or more, the trap activates immediately. Creatures
a Dexterity saving throw against DC 14. A failed that ride all the way to the top of the trap before
saving throw restrains them, and requires a it activates have nowhere to go when the floor
Constitution saving throw at the beginning of each drops out beneath them, and automatically fail
round to avoid suffocation (DC 14). their Dexterity saving throws to avoid the fall. If
the elevator floor drops out while there is room to
Scaling Suggestions: The addition of a Darkness escape, all creatures on the elevator must make a
or Gas component here makes finding the choking Dexterity saving throw (DC 18) to leap to safety,
character very difficult. Adding the Delayed avoiding the fall. A failed save causes 17 (5d6)
Activation upgrade to the choking portion means bludgeoning damage.

52 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

When the trap activates, the pit below fills with Removing the Liquid component entirely will
10 ft. of acid. Immersion in the acid deals 14 (4d6) lower the damage substantially, and make the
acid damage to any creature that starts its turn consequences of staying down there much less
within. severe. You can also tweak the trigger to make it
easier to set off, meaning it will go off as soon as
Scaling Suggestions: Changing the acid out for one character steps on it, instead of potentially
lava is a quick way to make this trap much less catching more than one.
pleasant. You can also add an Immobilizing
component or Greased Walls upgrade to the pit,
making it harder for characters to escape once
they’re in trouble. Finally, consider a Sphere
of Annihilation component for the ultimate in
adventurer discouragement.

Tiny’s Friend.

Trap Compendium 53
Sample Traps

Rotting Gases save DC by 1. The disease ends when its save DC is

reduced to 0. Creatures cured of this disease have
TIER 4 COST 27 3,240 XP their hit point maximum restored immediately.
MITIGATION Perception DC 18 Disarm DC 15
Upgrades: Hard to Find (+2 Cost) Scaling Suggestions: You can make this trap more
TRIGGER Basic Trigger (Cost 0) difficult by increasing the tier of the Disease
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0) component to raise the initial saving throw, and
Upgrades: Bigger Area x2 (+6 Cost) by adding a Movement component to pull the
COMPONENTS Gas—Tier 1 (Cost 2) party together before the gas cloud is released,
Upgrades: Translucent (+3 Cost), maximizing its impact.
Disease (+0 Cost, additional If you want to tone down the trap, adjust the
cost below) Disease component so it affects a saving throw other
Disease—Tier 3 (Cost 10) than Constitution, and reduce the size of the gas
Upgrades: Ghoul Rot (+4 Cost) cloud, so it’s less likely to hit multiple heroes at once.

Description: Diseases are unpleasant, and this one

is no exception! It can potentially infect the entire Trick Wall
party, putting a serious drain on their healing
resources if it doesn’t cut short their dungeon delve TIER 4 COST 28 3,360 XP
entirely. Leaving this untreated is a mistake, as it MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
wears away at an infected creature’s hit points and TRIGGER Basic Trigger (Cost 0)
can swiftly bring down even the mightiest warriors. Upgrades: Trapped Room (+2 Cost),
Rearming (+5 Cost)
Game Notes: When a creature enters the trigger’s TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
5 ft. space, this trap activates, filling all squares Upgrades: Bigger Area (+3 Cost)
within 10 ft. of the trigger space with a transparent COMPONENTS Upgrades: Invisibility (+5 Cost)
gas. This gas cannot be detected except by a Architect’s—Tier 2 (Cost 3)
Perception check against DC 25 or with Truesight Upgrades: Crushing Walls (+5 Cost)
(which reveals subtle swirling mist). Illusion—Tier 3 (Cost 5)
Creatures beginning their turn within the gas
must make a Constitution saving throw against Description: This is a sneaky one. It tricks
DC 15 or become diseased. Symptoms manifest trespassers into thinking the walls are closing in
when the creature finishes its next long rest. After around them, while in reality, it’s a section of the
this point, while diseased, the creature suffers ceiling that is descending, invisible, to crush them
disadvantage on Constitution saving throws. against the floor.
Whenever the diseased creature ends a long rest,
their hit point maximum is reduced by 11 (3d6), Game Notes: The trap, set in a large room, creates
and they are afforded a Constitution saving throw the illusion of the far wall closing in on the party,
against the disease. A success reduces the disease’s while the ceiling invisibly lowers.
save DC by 1d6. A failure increases the disease’s

54 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

When the trap is triggered, an illusion of a Peace by Force

15 ft. section of the wall closest to the triggering
creature begins sliding across the room towards the TIER 4 COST 28 3,360 XP
character. The illusion moves forward at a rate of 10 MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
ft. per round, acting on initiative count 20 (losing Upgrades: None.
ties). A creature may make an Intelligence check as TRIGGER Magical Trigger (Cost 4)
an action against DC 17 to see through the illusion. Upgrades: Discerning Trigger (+4 Cost)
Creatures listening to the component make their TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
save with advantage. COMPONENTS Upgrades: Continuous (+15 Cost)
At the same time, an invisible 15 ft. section of Wall—Tier 2 (Cost 2)
ceiling, centered on the triggering location, begins Upgrades: Fast Walls (+3 Cost)
descending at a rate of 10 ft. per round on initiative
count 20 (losing ties). Creatures under the trap Description: Every time someone dares to raise a
when it reaches the floor must make a Strength weapon against the lord or lady of this dungeon,
saving throw against DC 14 or take 22 (4d10) walls spring up around them, trapping them. This
bludgeoning damage and are pinned (restrained). trap works great as part of a giant’s lair (it only
Creatures that cannot see the component suffer targets Medium-sized or smaller creatures), or as
disadvantage on their Strength saving throw. part of a pacifist monastery or other non-violent
On initiative count 20, the trap presses into any locale.
restrained creatures, dealing a further 22 (4d10)
bludgeoning damage. A creature adjacent to the Game Notes: This trap activates whenever a
component can attempt a Strength check (DC 14) Medium-sized or smaller creature makes an attack
to free creatures so restrained. within its area. When activated, walls spring up in
a 5 ft. area around the triggering creature’s space,
Scaling Suggestions: You can upgrade the rising to the 10 ft. ceiling above. The walls have 30
Architect’s component to make the trap more hit points per 5 ft. section.
dangerous, or add an immobilizing effect that the The triggering creature can make a Dexterity
players will likely think is meant to keep them in saving throw against DC 14 to step to either side of
the path of the oncoming wall. You could also add the rising wall.
spikes to the invisible ceiling, though you would
need a second Invisible upgrade to make the spikes Scaling Suggestions: The addition of a pit or other
invisible as well. damaging component to this trap puts the trapped
To make this trap easier, reduce the tier of the character in a bad spot until they free themselves.
Illusion component, making it easier to discern that And with the Continuous upgrade already applied,
the oncoming wall is a fake. You can also reduce the you can put damaging components to good work,
tier of the Architect’s component, but that makes making this inconvenience into a deathtrap.
the trap much less of a threat, and what’s the point Removing the Continuous upgrade and the Fast
of a trap if it doesn’t threaten the party at least a Walls upgrade reduces this trap’s Cost to 10, making
little bit? it suitable for a low-level challenge that can throw
the party into disarray during a climactic fight.

Trap Compendium 55
Sample Traps

Mage’s Plague Scaling Suggestions: Increasing the potency of

the disease will make this trap harder to resist,
TIER 4 COST 30 3,600 XP harder to cure, and harder to deal with during the
MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15 encounter. You can also add a Geas component to
TRIGGER Magical Trigger (Cost 4) make it really nasty, with the bond of “I must cast
Upgrades: Discerning Trigger (+4 Cost) as many spells as I can.”
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0) To make this trap easier, remove the
COMPONENTS Antimagic—Tier 3 (Cost 8) Counterspelling upgrade. That way the triggering
Upgrades: Counterspelling (+0 Cost) spell works as normal, but the disease still comes
Disease—Tier 2 (Cost 6) into play. That’s the main fun of the trap, anyway.
Upgrades: Magic Phage (+8 Cost)

Description: Is there anything that messes up Instant Maze

a good plan quite like a wizard? That’s what this
trap is for. As soon as someone casts a spell near it, TIER 5 COST 31 4,340 XP
they’re immediately counterspelled, then infected MITIGATION Perception DC 18 Disarm DC 15
with a virulent anti-magic disease. It’s a bad day to Upgrades: Hard to Find (+2 Cost)
be a spellcaster. TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
TARGETS Fixed Targeting (Cost 0)
Game Notes: The first creature to cast a spell within Upgrades: Bigger Area x4 (+12 Cost)
60 ft. of this trap triggers it. Spells of 3rd level or lower COMPONENTS Wall—Tier 2 (Cost 2)
are immediately counterspelled. If the cast spell was Summoning—Tier 3 (Cost 15)
higher than 3rd level, roll a d20+3. If the result exceeds
10 + the spell level, the spell is counterspelled. Description: When the door to this room is
In either case, the casting creature must make opened, the featureless room writhes, spitting
a Constitution saving throw against DC 13 or be walls up all over it—an instant maze to the other
afflicted with a magical plague, the symptoms side. But the maze isn’t empty...
manifesting at the end of the creature’s next long
rest. At the end of each long rest the creature Game Notes: This 45 ft. room appears unremarkable.
takes after this, the creature makes a subsequent The door leading into the room is trapped. When
Constitution save against the disease. A success triggered, walls rise from the floor of the room to
reduces the DC of future Constitution saves by the 10 ft. ceiling above. These walls have AC 14, 30
1d6. A failure increases it by 1. The disease ends if hit points, are resistant to nonmagical damage and
the DC is reduced to 0. are immune to psychic damage. A creature within
While afflicted with the disease, the creature 5 ft. of a newly-created wall may use its reaction to
suffers disadvantage on saving throws associated make a Dexterity saving throw against DC 12 to
with their spellcasting ability modifier. Additionally, move 5 ft. to either side of the wall.
when the diseased creature attempts to cast a spell, Immediately after the walls strike the ceiling, the
they must succeed at a Constitution saving throw trap summons a Minotaur within the maze to hunt
(DC 13) or lose the spell. the players.

56 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

Safe Haven.

Scaling Suggestions: The addition of a magical, Safe Haven

discerning trigger coupled with the Rearming
upgrade causes the trap to trigger after each TIER 5 COST 32 4,480 XP
minute within the maze. The walls re-form in new MITIGATION Perception DC 18 Disarm DC 18
positions (to keep the party from either door) and Upgrades: Hard to Find (+2 Cost)
the Minotaur is re-summoned to hunt again. You Hard to Disarm (+2 Cost)
can also upgrade the Summoning component to TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
make the Minotaur a more dangerous adversary. Upgrades: Hairpin Trigger (+3 Cost)
Reducing the room size (and thereby target area) TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
and removing the Summoning component will COMPONENTS Pit—Tier 3 (Cost 4)
make this challenge more appropriate for lower- Upgrades: Relocking Door (+2 Cost)
level groups. Gas—Tier 5 (Cost 12)
Upgrades: Flammable Gas (+2 Cost)
Choking Gas (+5 Cost)

Description: Usually when someone falls in a pit,

bad things happen to them. In this case, though,
the bad things are above the pit. Anyone who falls

Trap Compendium 57
Sample Traps

in will soon feel very lucky indeed as the pit door Mindless Surrender
shuts and re-locks, and the corridor above it fills
with flammable, choking gas. TIER 5 COST 33 4,620 XP
MITIGATION Perception DC 21 Disarm DC 18
Game Notes: If a Thieves’ Tools check to dis- Upgrades: Hard to Find (+2 Cost)
arm this trap fails by 5 or more, the trap triggers. Hard to Disarm (+2 Cost)
When triggered, this trap drops everyone in a 10 TRIGGER Magical Trigger (Cost 4)
ft. square centered on the trigger into a 30 ft. deep TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
pit (Dexterity saving throw DC 14 avoids the fall), Upgrades: Additional Target—
locking the trap door above them. The small pit is Magical Targeting (+3 Cost),
airtight, but requires a Thieves’ Tools check (DC Additional Target—Magical Targeting
18) to unlock. (+3 Cost)
Immediately after this, the room above fills COMPONENTS Immobilizing—Tier 4 (Cost 6)
with a flammable, opaque gas. The gas lasts for 5 Upgrades: Adhesive (+3 Cost)
minutes . When it comes in contact with an open Compulsion—Tier 3 (Cost 10)
flame, the gaseous area explodes, dealing 10d6
damage (Dexterity saving throw, DC 16 for half). Description: Perfect for the megalomaniacal
While within the gas, creatures are silenced and villain’s lair, this trap forces intruders to sit down
can’t speak or cast spells with verbal components. and disarm themselves, ready to be subjected to
Creatures in the area must hold their breath or a monologue that will undoubtedly explain the
begin suffocating. villain’s plan in sufficient detail for the heroes to
stop it just in the nick of time.
Scaling Suggestions: The addition of a continuous
fire trap element in the bottom of the pit makes Game Notes: When a creature detected with a
a difficult decision for the characters—does the passive Perception of 18 moves within 60 ft. of the
fallen character get roasted, or open the pit, magical sensor, the trap activates, targeting that
igniting the gas outside? creature and the nearest two creatures within 30
To scale this trap down, remove the Choking ft. of the initial target.
upgrade to the gas. This allows characters to cast Targeted creatures must succeed at a Wisdom
spells normally, potentially using gust of wind or saving throw (DC 16) or be subject to the
similar effects to deal with the toxic fumes before suggestion, “Throw away everything you’re
freeing their companions. holding and sit on the floor.” Creatures failing
their saving throw fling all items in-hand 30 ft.
from their position and sit on the floor (prone).
Regardless of the success or failure of the
compulsion, the creatures must then make
Strength saving throws against DC 14 or become
restrained. A creature compelled to sit makes this
save with Disadvantage.

58 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

Creatures save against whichever effects they be used to teleport a monster around the room,
are affected by at the end of their turns, ending the moving it adjacent to the triggering creature (the
effects individually on successes. exact nature of which is up to how you configure
the Discerning Targeting upgrade).
Scaling Suggestions: You can make this trap more The second use would be to target a character
dangerous by adding a Movement component that at the end of the triggering character’s turn, then
takes the disarmed character’s equipment away move that character adjacent to a dangerous
from them. It might slide it across the room, but monster within the room. In this case, the
if you’re feeling truly malicious, it will teleport character would be afforded a Wisdom saving
it into another room entirely. Or perhaps into a throw (DC 14) to resist the effect.
massive vault at the back of the villain’s lair.
To make this easier, you might reduce the tier Scaling Suggestions: A simple adjustment here
of the Compulsion component or the number would be to replace the Movement component
of targets. But what’s the point of monologuing with a Summoning component, removing the
without a captive audience? monster associated with this trap. In this case,
the trap would re-summon a new monster each
time the trap was triggered, placing the monster
Monstrous Stalker at the location of the corresponding triggering
creature. Such a trap would be very difficult to
TIER 5 COST 35 4,900 XP bypass, almost certainly requiring it to be disabled
MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 18 before the party can pass through the area safely.
Upgrades: Hard to Disarm (+2 Cost) You can also make this trap more difficult by
TRIGGER Magical Trigger (Cost 4) adding… Even more traps. Have a separate one
Upgrades: Rearming (+5 Cost) teleport adventurers into very unpleasant spots, or
TARGETS Magical Targeting (Cost 2) generally into the line of fire.
Upgrades: Longer Range (+1 Cost), While it’s easiest to adjust the monsters used
Discerning Targeting (+8 Cost) alongside this trap, you can also tweak the trap itself
COMPONENTS Movement—Tier 3 (Cost 5) and reduce the tier of the Movement component.
Upgrades: Teleporting (+8 Cost) This lowers the distance it can teleport creatures,
making it easier to deal with.
Description: Being pushed around is never fun.
Except when you’re a monster, and the push is a
teleportation effect that moves you next to juicy
prey. This trap moves monsters around, helping
them engage and attack the targets they want to
get at while avoiding tough, durable characters
wearing heavy armor who usually get in the way.

Game Notes: While there are multiple uses for a

trap like this, two come to mind. Primarily, it can

Trap Compendium 59
Sample Traps

The Laser Grid Watery Annihilation

TIER 5 COST 37 5,180 XP TIER 5 COST 40 5,600 XP
MITIGATION Perception DC 18 Disarm DC 15 MITIGATION Perception DC 18 Disarm DC 15
Upgrades: Hard to Find (+2 Cost) Upgrades: Hard to Find (+2 Cost)
TRIGGER Basic Trigger (Cost 0) TRIGGER Magical Trigger (Cost 4)
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0) TARGETS Fixed Targeting (Cost 0)
Upgrades: Precise Expansion x5 (+5 Cost) Upgrades: Bigger Area x3 (+9 Cost)
COMPONENTS Upgrades: Invisibility (+5 Cost), COMPONENTS Upgrades: Invisibility (+5 Cost)
Continuous (+15 Cost) Liquid—Tier 3 (Cost 5)
Magical Damage (Radiant) —Tier 2 Sphere of Annihilation—
(Cost 10) Sphere Tier 2 (Cost 10)
Upgrades: Hunting Sphere (+5 Cost)
Description: Remember all those movie scenes
where a superspy sneaks past a grid of invisible Description: When something starts moving
laser beams? That’s what this trap is. Only this toward you in the water, you probably think of a
time instead of triggering an alarm, the beams shark. This is much worse. An invisible sphere of
sear whoever crosses them. The damage of a single annihilation lurks beneath these waters, ready to
beam isn’t dangerous, but running across the entire consume anything and everything that enters the
stretch of the trap is going to put a lot of hurt on room.
the overeager adventurer.
Game Notes: Within this 30 ft. room lurks an
Game Notes: This trap sits within a 10 ft. wide invisible Sphere of Annihilation trap, 10 ft. in
corridor, blanketing a 40 ft. stretch of it in invisible diameter. The entrance ends at a 20 ft. ledge
continuous beams of radiant energy. Whenever a overlooking the floor below. The far door sits
creature enters a 5 ft. space within this area, or ends similarly 20 ft. above the floor.
their turn there, they must make a Constitution When a creature enters within 60 ft. of the door
saving throw (DC 12) or take 7 (2d6) radiant damage. on the opposite side, the trap activates, filling the
room with 20 ft. of water, and the sphere begins
Scaling Suggestions: A brutal upgrade here would to move towards the nearest creature. The sphere
be the inclusion of the Slowing universal upgrade. displaces water, but is invisible—impossible to see
Each time the character would take damage from underwater. It acts on initiative count 20, moving
the trap, their speed would be reduced by 10 ft., 10 ft. towards the nearest creature. The sphere does
eventually stopping movement altogether while not leave the water.
the lasers incinerate them. When a creature first touches the sphere, it must
An easy reduction of challenge here would be to succeed on a Dexterity saving throw against DC 14
reduce the number of Precise Expansions to 1, causing or take 22 (4d10) force damage. A creature ending
the trap to affect a 10x10 ft. space. With a lower-level its turn within one of the sphere’s spaces takes
group, remove the Hard to Find upgrade and reduce maximum (40) force damage (no save).
the tier of the Magical Damage component to 1.

60 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

Scaling Suggestions: Add a Movement component likelihood of determination that it’s fake), while
to push characters into the water or toward the the stalker moves to engage spellcasters first.
sphere for a really bad time. You can also add an
Immobilizing component, which will not only Scaling Suggestions: To make this trap more
make them easy prey for the sphere, but also add difficult, increase the tier of the Summoning
the risk of drowning. Finally, considering adding a component and summon something more
Gas component above the water, to make going up dangerous.
for breath a risky decision. If you really want your To reduce the challenge, lower the tier of the
players to hate you, replace the water with acid. Summoning component to conjure less dangerous
To make this trap less dangerous, make the foes, or remove the Sound upgrade to the illusion
sphere visible. It’ll still be a threat, moving through to make it easier for the trick to be discovered.
the water toward slow swimmers, but it won’t be
quite the surprise an invisible sphere is.
Wizard’s Coughin’
Invisible Foe TIER 6 COST 43 6,880 XP
MITIGATION Perception DC 21 Disarm DC 15
TIER 6 COST 41 6,560 XP Upgrades: Hard to Find x2 (+4 Cost)
MITIGATION Perception DC 18 Disarm DC 18 TRIGGER Magical Trigger (Cost 4)
Upgrades: Hard to Find (+2 Cost) Upgrades: Discerning Trigger (+4 Cost)
Hard to Disarm (+2 Cost) TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
TRIGGER Magical Trigger (Cost 4) Upgrades: Bigger Area (+3 Cost)
TARGETS Fixed Targeting (Cost 0) COMPONENTS Upgrades: Delayed Activation (+3 Cost)
COMPONENTS Summoning—Tier 5 (Cost 26) Wall—Tier 2 (Cost 2)
Illusion—Tier 3 (Cost 5) Antimagic—Tier 3 (Cost 8)
Upgrades: Sound (+2 Cost) Upgrades: Antimagic Zone (+8 Cost)
Gas—Tier 1 (Cost 2)
Description: Misdirection is a fun tactic, and this Upgrades: Choking Gas (+5 Cost)
trap embraces it. It conjures a decoy illusion of a
specter while summoning an actual monster, an Description: An arcane scroll, a crystal ball, or a
invisible stalker, to attack the party while they’re book of spells. All of these items are tempting bait
distracted. Pair it with a conjurer villain for perfect for a spellcaster. And once they touch it, they are
synergy. in for a very bad time. Walls of stone rise up out
of nowhere, a limited antimagic field encompasses
Game Notes: When the magical sensor detects a them, and choking gas fills the area.
creature within 60 ft. with its passive Perception
of 18, the trap activates. An illusion of a specter Game Notes: This trap only triggers when a
appears in the center of the room, while an wizard, sorcerer, bard, or warlock activates it.
Invisible Stalker is summoned. The specter flies out When activated, the trap raises a series of walls in
of reach of the players’ melee attacks (to reduce the a 15 ft. cube centered on the triggering creature.

Trap Compendium 61
Sample Traps

Creatures within 5 ft. of a wall may attempt a Scaling Suggestions: While a 2nd-level antimagic
Dexterity saving throw to move to the opposite zone prevents the casting of movement spells like
side of a rising wall. The walls are 2 inches thick misty step, increasing the tier of this component
and have 30 hit points per 5 ft. section. prevents even more useful escape spells. If
As this happens, the 15 ft. by 15 ft. area is covered you want to make this trap really nasty, add a
in an antimagic field ending spells of 2nd level or continuous counterspell component; the captive
lower within its area and preventing the casting of character had better hope their companions get
spells of 2nd level or lower within the area. them out quickly.
Finally, the area rapidly fills with a choking gas. You can tone down this trap by removing the
Creatures in the area that do not begin holding Antimagic component, the Choking Gas upgrade,
their breath begin to suffocate on their turn. or both. For a low level party, trapping the wizard
This prevents the casting of spells with verbal in a block of stone can be highly effective and
components. memorable without threatening to kill off a brand
new character.

Don’t Jump.

62 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

Don’t Jump Crush the Cleric

TIER 6 COST 45 7,200 XP TIER 6 COST 46 7,360 XP
MITIGATION Perception DC 18 Disarm DC 18 MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
Upgrades: Hard to Find (+2 Cost), TRIGGER Magical Trigger (Cost 4)
Hard to Disarm (+2 Cost) Upgrades: Discerning Trigger (+4 Cost)
TRIGGER Magical Trigger (Cost 4) TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
Upgrades: Discerning Trigger (+4 Cost), COMPONENTS Antimagic—Tier 1 (Cost 4)
Rearming (+5 Cost) Bludgeoning—Tier 7 (Cost 34)
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
COMPONENTS Movement—Tier 5 (Cost 10) Description: This trap hates healers. It packs an
Upgrades: Telekinetic Slide (+5 Cost) incredible punch, and pairs it with a minor dispel
Piercing—Tier 4 (Cost 13) magic effect that nonetheless has a chance to
remove even powerful protections.
Description: Stationed at the edge of a very-
jumpable 20 ft. pit, this trap gives jumpers an Game Notes: When a creature detectable with
impressive boost, right into the concealed spikes a passive Perception of 18 within 60 ft. of the
lined up on the ceiling. magical sensor casts a spell that allows a creature
to recover hit points, this trap activates, targeting
Game Notes: When a creature attempts to jump the caster.
over the pit, this trap activates, requiring a Strength The trap targets the caster with dispel magic,
saving throw (DC 18) to avoid being thrown 60 automatically ending spell effects of 1st level. Roll
ft. vertically into the spikes on the high ceiling. 1d20+2 for each other spell active on the caster. A
Creatures thus thrown are attacked by the spikes result of 10 + the spell level or greater causes the
(+10 to hit; 21 (6d6) piercing damage on hit), and spell to end.
then fall back down into the 20 ft. pit (taking 8d6 Following this, a cannonball explodes from the
falling damage). far wall towards the caster (+12 to hit), dealing 99
(18d10) bludgeoning damage on hit.
Scaling Suggestions: To increase the danger to
higher level groups here, an Antimagic component Scaling Suggestions: A good way to make this trap
at the bottom will prevent magical means of more dangerous is to add a Rearming upgrade,
traversing this area, making an ill-advised jump making healing anyone a very unappealing
more likely. You can also add a Swarm component prospect. Changes beyond that include a Hairpin
to the pit, attacking anyone who falls in. Trigger upgrade, meaning that if the rogue fumbles
Removing the spikes up top still makes for a their Thieves’ Tools check, the trap will go off, and
fairly memorable and dangerous trap, as an 80 if you add the Discerning Target upgrade, you
ft. fall is nothing to sneer at. You can keep the can have it target the cleric again. Fair warning:
Movement component at a high tier and reduce the the cleric will not be happy about this. With just
fall height to further weaken the trap. Your players Hairpin Trigger it will blast the rogue, and that’s
are definitely going to remember being flung into probably enough.
the ceiling.
Trap Compendium 63
Sample Traps

Bad Log Ride.

To make it easier, remove the Antimagic Bad Log Ride

component and reduce the tier of the Bludgeoning
component. This will prevent the spell from TIER 6 COST 47 7,520 XP
stripping high level effects on a lucky (or unlucky, MITIGATION Perception DC 21 Disarm DC 15
depending on who you ask) roll, and make it less Upgrades: Hard to Find x2 (+4 Cost)
likely to drop the cleric in a single hit. TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
TARGETS Fixed Targeting (Cost 0)
Upgrades: Precise Expansion x9 (+9 Cost)
COMPONENTS Upgrades: Continuous (+15 Cost)
Knockback x2 (+6 Cost)
Bludgeoning—Tier 4 (Cost 13)

Description: Poised over some manner of precarious

obstacle, creatures crossing this bridge are in danger
of being struck by massive swinging logs. It’s simple,
it’s nasty, and it gets the job done.

64 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

Game Notes: The 10 ft. by 70 ft. bridge here contains pit with caustic fumes that steadily burn more and
swinging logs at each 5ft. interval. Creatures more, taking down even the toughest hero in just a
entering the area are attacked (+6 to hit; 33 (6d10) few rounds. And worse still, if the trap is destroyed
bludgeoning damage on hit). A struck creature is or disarmed, it reactivates in 1 minute.
pushed 20 ft. off one side of the bridge.
Game Notes: When this pit trap activates (by stepping
Scaling Suggestions: Adding flying creatures can re- on the concealed trapdoor), the creature must make
ally make this trap nasty, especially if those flying a Dexterity saving throw against DC 20 or fall into a
creatures can restrain, stun, or otherwise make the shallow 10 ft. pit, taking 1d6 damage. The trapdoor
party easier targets for the giant logs. Whatever you immediately relocks above the character.
put under the bridge will also strongly affect how dif- An acidic mist fills the pit, dealing 7 (2d6) acid
ficult this trap is, as it’s the difference between falling damage to the trapped character when the trap
into a bottomless pit and never being seen again, or activates. A Dexterity saving throw against DC
just taking a bunch of damage and hitting your head. 14 reduces this damage by half. At the beginning
You can reduce the tier of the Bludgeoning of each of the trapped character’s turns, if they
component to lower the logs’ attack bonus, making failed their saving throw against the acid, they
them less likely to hit, or you can tweak whatever must repeat it at the start of their turn, taking a
the penalty is for falling off; perhaps it’s just a mild cumulative 7 (2d6) acid damage for each failed
inconvenience, a drop into some mud or waist- Dexterity saving throw they have made to avoid
deep water. the trap’s effects. A successful saving throw resets
this damage to zero.
If the trap is destroyed or disarmed, it repairs
The Melting Pot and rearms within 1 minute.

TIER 6 COST 47 7,520 XP Scaling Suggestions: Upgrading the acid damage

MITIGATION Perception DC 18 Disarm DC 21 does a lot with for trap, due to the cumulative
Upgrades: Hard to Find (+2 Cost), damage, so that’s a quick and easy way to make it
Hard to Disarm x2 (+4 Cost), a much bigger threat. If you want to spice it up,
Repairing (+2 Cost) consider adding another component, such as a
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0) teleporting Movement component that relocates
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0) the victim to a different pit, where the acid is,
COMPONENTS Upgrades: Continuous (+15 Cost) while their companions struggle to open a door
Pit—Tier 6 (Cost 11) that leads to an empty pit.
Upgrades: Relocking Door (+2 Cost) You can make this trap less dangerous by reducing
Energy Damage (Acid)— the damage dealt by the acid. Doing much more
Tier 2 (Cost 5) than that will mess with the trap’s intent, but you
Upgrades: Lingering Burn (+6 Cost) could also make the pit easier to avoid and easier
to open, making it less of a challenge to get out of
Description: A self-repairing trap that gets worse the trap once it has sprung.
the longer someone is stuck in it. This trap fills a

Trap Compendium 65
Sample Traps

Arrow Gauntlet.

Arrow Gauntlet
marching across an exposed and open space,
TIER 6 COST 47 7,520 XP paired with some kind of adversary who can take
MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15 advantage of this, or just a time limit that makes
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0) them consider running full tilt through the arrows.
Upgrades: Trapped Room (+2 Cost)
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0) Game Notes: Each floor panel in this 35 ft. by 35 ft.
Upgrades: Discerning Targeting (+8 Cost) room is keyed to the trap, activating a continuous
Bigger Area x3 (+9 Cost) barrage of arrows from slits on the walls around
COMPONENTS Upgrades: Continuous (+15 Cost) the room. A randomly-moving 10 ft. by 10 ft. area
Piercing—Tier 4 (Cost 13) of safety patrols the room slowly, where arrows
from all sides don’t fire.
Description: A hall of arrow launchers is nothing Creatures moving into a space or ending their
new, but this trap is designed to encourage slow turn where arrows are firing suffer an attack (+10
and steady progress with a steadily-moving safe to hit, 21 (6d6) piercing damage).
zone. The goal, of course, is to get the party slowly

66 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

Scaling Suggestions: As Discerning Targeting can want to really put this trap to good use, stick it in
trigger off of any condition you wish to set, you the middle of a crowded area full of NPCs. It can
can make the pattern of the safe zone as forgiving make a great “cursed item” dropped in the king’s
and easy to follow or as frustrating as you like. banquet, with your players struggling to remove
It can be a steady progress across the room, or it it while fighting off its effects and crazed victims.
can jump around with only a moment’s notice
before it changes position. Additionally, include Game Notes: When the magical sensor detects a
creatures with ranged attacks in this room (with the creature within 60 ft. (passive Perception 18), the
Discerning Targeting upgrade set to never target trap activates. If an attempt to disarm the trap
them with arrows) to make this a more challenging fails by 5 or more, the trap activates, targeting the
encounter. disarming creature.
An alternate would be to have this trap rearm, When activated, the trap selects the triggering
rather than fire continuously, placing the safe zone creature and the closest three creatures within
algorithmically at each rearm. 60 ft. of the triggering creature. Each of these
selected creatures must make a Wisdom saving
throw against DC 19 or gain the following short-
Murderer’s Orgy term madness effect for 4d6 rounds: the character
must use his or her action each round to attack the
TIER 6 COST 51 8,160 XP nearest creature. An affected creature may repeat
MITIGATION Perception DC 18 Disarm DC 18 its save at the end of each of its subsequent turns,
Upgrades: Hard to Find (+2 Cost), ending the effect on a success.
Hard to Disarm (+2 Cost) The trap rearms the next round on the initiative
TRIGGER Magical Trigger (Cost 4) just prior to the trigger creature’s initiative count.
Upgrades: Rearming (+5 Cost),
Hairpin Trigger (+3 Cost) Scaling Suggestions: Adding an additional target
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0) will make this trap more of a challenge, but the
Upgrades: Additional Target (Magical best way to make it an awful situation is to give it
Targeting, Longer Range—Cost 4), the Continuous upgrade. Then it will affect every
Additional Target (Magical Targeting, creature within 60 ft., and become incredibly
Longer Range—Cost 4), Additional difficult to approach safely.
Target (Magical Targeting, Longer To make this trap less of a challenge, lower the
Range—Cost 4) tier of the Madness component and either reduce
COMPONENTS Madness—Tier 4 (Cost 15) the number of targets, or remove the Rearming
Upgrades: Controlled Insanity upgrade.
(+8 Cost)

Description: Players attacking each other is

usually a sign of a game gone wrong, but when
they’re coerced by magic, it’s a great opportunity
for some pent-up aggression to come out. If you

Trap Compendium 67
Sample Traps

The Black Ball by the 20 ft. diameter sphere at the end of their turn
are afforded no saving throw and take maximum
TIER 7 COST 54 9,720 XP damage (80).
MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 15
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0) Scaling Suggestions: There’s not much to scale up
Upgrades: Trapped Room (+2 Cost) here except to raise the tier of both components.
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0) But you would only do that if you really wanted
Upgrades: Additional Target x4 to murder your players. And you don’t want to do
(Magical Targeting, +3 Cost each, that, right? Right?
+12 Cost total) To make this trap less lethal, you can remove
COMPONENTS Sphere of Annihilation— the Adhesive and Knockdown upgrades from the
Tier 4 (Cost 22) Immobilizing component, making it easier for the
Upgrades: Hunting Sphere (+5 Cost) players to avoid the roaming sphere. You can also
Immobilizing— Tier 5 (Cost 9) tone down the sphere, but not too much or the trap
Upgrades: Knockdown (+1 Cost) loses its coolest feature.
Adhesive (+3 Cost)

Description: Spheres of Annihilation have been Curse of the Skywalker

popular ever since a certain lich known for his
horrific tomb put one in his entryway, waiting for TIER 7 COST 60 10,800 XP
someone to blunder into it. This trap brings the MITIGATION Perception DC 21 Disarm DC 21
sphere to the heroes, pinning them to the ground Upgrades: Hard to Find x2 (+4 Cost)
and moving slowly forward to engulf them. Hard to Disarm x2 (+4 Cost)
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
Game Notes: When a trigger panel anywhere TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
within this room is activated, the trap targets the COMPONENTS Geas—Tier 3 (Cost 20)
five creatures closest to the trigger (within 30 ft.) Upgrades: Insidious Magic (+5 Cost),
with a magical immobilization effect. Affected The Price of Disobedience (+5 Cost,
creatures must make a Dexterity save (DC 18) or additional cost below)
fall prone and become restrained. A restrained Movement—Tier 7 (Cost 17)
creature can use its action to attempt to free itself Upgrades: Telekinetic Slide (+5 Cost)
with a Strength check (DC 18).
At the center of the room, a pulsing Sphere of Description: Do you enjoy toying with your
Annihilation sits, waiting. As soon as a creature players? Giving them curses that are more
moves within 60 ft. of the sphere, it activates, inconvenient than anything else? Against a high
moving towards the nearest creature within 60 ft. level party, this trap is likely to make them laugh
at a rate of 10 ft. per round on initiative count 20. more than cry, and that’s not necessarily a bad
Creatures coming in touch with the sphere must thing.
make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 16) or suffer
44 (8d10) force damage. Creatures fully-enclosed

68 Trap Compendium
 Sample Traps

Game Notes: When a creature steps before this The Storm Swarm
glowing door, a sigil pulses with energy, forcing
the triggering creature to make a Charisma saving TIER 7 COST 60 10,800 XP
throw against DC 17 to avoid being affected by a MITIGATION Perception DC 24 Disarm DC 15
Geas effect. The affected character gains the bond, Upgrades: Hard to Find x3 (+6 Cost)
“I will do anything in my power to get closer to the TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
sky” for 2 weeks. A dispel magic, lesser restoration, TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
break enchantment, or more powerful magic will Upgrades: Bigger Area x2 (+6 Cost)
end this effect early. COMPONENTS Swarm—Tier 5 (Cost 12)
When compelled to take action that follows Upgrades: Leeches (+3 Cost),
this bond, a character may resist the effect with Tenacious (+3 Cost),
another Charisma saving throw against DC 17. A Wasps (+5 Cost),
success removes the bond for 1 minute. A failed Web-weavers (+5 Cost)
save prevents the afflicted character from resisting Energy Damage (Lightning)—
the bond for the next ten minutes. Tier 3 (Cost 10)
When a character under the Geas successfully Energy Damage (Thunder)—
saves to resist the bond compulsion, they must Tier 3 (Cost 10)
make a Strength saving throw against DC 22
or be flung 90 ft. into the air—stopping if their Description: In a burst of lightning and a clap
movement would be interrupted. of thunder, the space around you is filled with
buzzing monstrosities! They are, without a doubt,
Scaling Suggestions: Making this trap more the most hideous creatures you have ever seen.
dangerous is a simple matter of increasing the
tier of the initial effect, and expanding the target Game Notes: The area within 10 ft. of the triggering
area. If your whole party gets cursed in this way, space is subjected to an attack (+8 to hit), dealing
however, you may be in for a very slow session as 14 (4d6) thunder damage and 14 (4d6) lightning
they all try to climb the nearest tall object. damage on hit. The area is then completely covered
To lower the difficulty of this trap, reduce the in flying bloodsucking insects, each trailing
strength of the Telekinetic upgrade. You don’t streams of webbing. The area is treated as difficult
want to lower the tier of the Geas effect because terrain.
without it, there is no trap. Creatures affected by the trap or starting their
turn within the area must make a Constitution
saving throw against DC 20 (made with
disadvantage) or become poisoned. Creatures so
poisoned reduce their hit points and maximum hit
points by 5 at the beginning of each of their turns
and are restrained. A creature regains these lost hit
points at the end of its next long rest.
A creature failing any save against the swarm
continues to be affected by the swarm at the

Trap Compendium 69
Sample Traps

beginning of each of its turns unless it leaves Game Notes: When this trap activates, an
the swarm’s space and spends it action to make explosion of radiant energy strikes the triggering
a Constitution saving throw against DC 20. A character, dealing 21 (6d6) damage and pushing
successful save ends the swarm’s effect on that the triggering creature 30 ft. away from the
creature. trigger. A Constitution saving throw against DC
16 reduces this damage to half and prevents the
Scaling Suggestions: This trap is at the upper limits forced movement.
of what you should be throwing at your players, When triggered, this trap rearms on the next
but if you really want to make it more dangerous, round at the initiative count before the triggering
you can add a Disabling component that will keep creature.
them stuck in the swarm for longer. If a creature fails a Thieves’ Tools check to disarm
Reducing the challenge of this trap is fairly this trap, the trap activates, targeting that creature.
straightforward; there’s a lot going on here. You If this trap is disarmed or destroyed, it repairs and
can start by taking a few upgrades away from the reactivates at the end of that creature’s next turn,
Swarm component, then move on to reducing giving a very small window to get whatever this
the initial damage from the Energy Damage trap is guarding before it fires up again.
components. Combining these options will make
the trap quite a bit less dangerous. Scaling Suggestions: If you need to, you can
ramp up the damage this trap deals, or increase
the Disarm DC even further, making it almost
The Thiefbreaker impossible to crack open.
To make this trap less dangerous, start by
TIER 7 COST 62 11,160 XP reducing the damage, then consider reducing the
MITIGATION Perception DC 15 Disarm DC 27 threshold for Hairpin Trigger, so it’s less likely to
Upgrades: Hard to Disarm x4 go off on a failed attempt at disarming it.
(+8 Cost), Rapid Repairing (+8 Cost)
TRIGGER Physical Trigger (Cost 0)
Upgrades: Hairpin Trigger x3 (+9 Cost).
Rearming (+5 Cost)
TARGETS Basic Targeting (Cost 0)
COMPONENTS Upgrades: Knockback x3 (+9 Cost)
Magical Damage (Radiant)
—Tier 4 (Cost 23)

Description: Easy to spot, hard to disarm. And

even the slightest mistake will set it off. The worst
part? It’ll rearm before the triggering creature gets
another crack at it. This trap is best tackled by a
pair of thieves, because any solitary rogue is going
to have a lot of trouble.

70 Trap Compendium