Can a Beholder use all eye stalks in the same round, every round?

[Hua]

Are the eye attacks free actions and it can do all 8 at once?
Can it use the central eye the same round as well?

[Nifft]

Here's what the MM says:



They can use all 10 eye rays and their anti-magic eye, but only if there are sufficient targets in different 90°*arcs.

[Braininthejar2]

And they can't aim the rays into the antimagic cone - so two beholders that meet face to face will typically both open their eyes and be reduced to angrily biting at each other.

Hmm...

"As a free action". Does it mean, if a wizard polymorphs into a beholder, he will be able to fire all of his rays and cast a spell in the same round? (might need still spell, or girallion's blessing for that)

[unseenmage]

Makes me want to see a beholder monk build where the beholder in question specializes in hunting other beholder.

Still angrily biting, but with monk levels.

[ben-zayb]

And they can't aim the rays into the antimagic cone - so two beholders that meet face to face will typically both open their eyes and be reduced to angrily biting at each other.

Hmm...

"As a free action". Does it mean, if a wizard polymorphs into a beholder, he will be able to fire all of his rays and cast a spell in the same round? (might need still spell, or girallion's blessing for that)

Polymorph by itself? No, because you don't get Su. You'd need either Shapechange, Assume SU, or Metamorphic Transfer (limited to 3/day) to get access to Eye Rays.

[Braininthejar2]

of, course, shapechange. Been DMing at high levels for some time now, and my mind made a shortcut.

[Braininthejar2]

Still angrily biting, but with monk levels.

Wasn't there a specialised beholder that dropped the eye rays in favour of a razor-sharp tongue?

[lord_khaine]

It does explain the beholder mouth pick.
Such a stupidly silly weapon. Except for Beholder vs beholder fighting.

[Lotheb]

Mouthpick is a weapon enchantment tho, so it doesnt work in an antimagic field unless im missing something

[Gemini476]

And they can't aim the rays into the antimagic cone - so two beholders that meet face to face will typically both open their eyes and be reduced to angrily biting at each other.

Hmm...

"As a free action". Does it mean, if a wizard polymorphs into a beholder, he will be able to fire all of his rays and cast a spell in the same round? (might need still spell, or girallion's blessing for that)

I'd imagine that in addition to angily biting each other they'd also move out of their opponent's anti-magic cone to cast Disintegrate and Telekinesis on the environment. 13d6 damage from flinging rocks is a bit more impressive than the 2d4 bite, and a cave-in does 8d6 damage.

Also, well, they can only bite each other on a natural 20 (AC26, bite +2). It's a secondary natural weapon and not really that useful.

[Braininthejar2]

The books did describe it as a lengthy affair.

[wilphe]

Here's what the MM says:

They can use all 10 eye rays and their anti-magic eye, but only if there are sufficient targets in different 90°*arcs.

They've got us surrounded again, the poor bastards.

[Necroticplague]

I'd imagine that in addition to angily biting each other they'd also move out of their opponent's anti-magic cone to cast Disintegrate and Telekinesis on the environment. 13d6 damage from flinging rocks is a bit more impressive than the 2d4 bite, and a cave-in does 8d6 damage.

Lords of Madness is incredibly clear that that's exactly their preferred strategy.

Also, well, they can only bite each other on a natural 20 (AC26, bite +2). It's a secondary natural weapon and not really that useful.

The books did describe it as a lengthy affair.

Of all creatures, a beholder is perhaps the most invulnerable to others of its kind,

Interesting to see a case where they actually seem to take good consideration of the mechanics in the lore, instead of the usual approach of smacking them on opposite sides of a wall.