Elemental Cataclysm: Obliterate Cities With This Gargantuan Elemental In D&D 2024 (5.5e)

Elemental destruction with this brand new, high level creature from the 2024 Monster Manual.

Created from the elemental chaos found beyond the edges of the elemental planes, elemental cataclysms are a devastating force of the elements.

Usually, their destructive path is maintained far from civilisation, with their presence restricted to regions of elemental chaos. However, the multiverse has many creative anarchists with enough power to bring about apocalyptic threats; meaning an elemental cataclysm is just a summons away.

Thankfully, harnessing (or at least summoning, as such things can’t really be harnessed) is a challenging endeavour for even the most adept of magic-wielders making the appearance of elemental cataclysms a rare event. On those occasions when they do appear though, they will attempt to destroy civilisation wherever it can be found, despising the uprooting of the natural world; especially those made of metal and clockwork. So if you do see an elemental cataclysm, try not to be in a city at the time!

The elemental cataclysm is an entirely new, high level enemy, introduced in the 2024 Monster Manual. With a CR of 22, it’s a genuinely terrifying entity, designed to challenge even the most battle-hardened adventurers. Below you can find out all about them and how best to tackle them in your game.

What abilities does the elemental cataclysm have?

Here’s everything an elemental cataclysm has in its arsenal:

Immune to almost all conditions – It’s immune to almost every condition in the book! There are only 2 exceptions; incapacitated (because there’s got to be some way to defeat it) and invisible (in case you want that city to get destroyed and not know what was coming…). You may want to put that hold monster spell away for now!
High initiative – +18 initiative means this creature should be going early in combat, so prepare for a deadly first turn!
Elemental immunities – It stands to reason that a creature formed from the very elements, might be immune to such powers, but in case it needs spelling out, they are immune to the damage types they harness. That includes; acid, cold, fire, lightning, poison and thunder damage.
They see all – With truesight, they can see you no matter what you do to veil your location!
Versatile movement – 60ft of movement is strong and this becomes 80ft when they fly (or swim)! With their legendary actions, they can also double this movement each round. Not only that but they can swim and burrow too! So beware of this creature attacking from above and below! If you’re a DM, you could consider having one of these appear at sea, on mountain heights or deep in the underdark. Changing the environment can really alter how this encounter plays out.
Beware the constitution saving throw – With a +15 to constitution saving throws, there’s little point attempting such things. Your best options are intelligence (-1) and charisma (+6). But beware of legendary resistance as well.
Long reach – The elemental cataclysm has a reach of 30ft. This means it can make opportunity attacks when you leave that 30ft reach. Even if you do leave that range, it has a 150ft range on its ranged attacks so it takes a lot to be out of range.
Legendary actions – It has 3 legendary actions each round. That means a couple more attacks, but also something called rumbling movement which allows it to move it’s standard movement distance and anyone it gets within 5ft of will be knocked prone if it fails a DC 23 constitution saving throw. This makes for an easy source of advantage on melee attacks rolls, especially with such a large reach.
Random cataclysmic events – Instead of making their standard attacks, they can opt to use a cataclysmic event which is a rechargeable attack that chooses from a random one of 4 effects. All of these cause AoE damage and most cause some kind of condition on a failed saving throw like being knocked prone, having speed reduced to 0, being blinded, deafened or restrained.
Controlling the weather – The elemental cataclysm can control the weather. It’s not generally that nasty, but in certain situations, could cause problems.

Tactics for fighting the elemental cataclysm

You planning on actually fighting one of these apocalyptic monsters? I’ve got you covered with tactics below:

Enhancing saving throws – While the elemental cataclysm can dish out strength and dexterity saving throws, these will be rarer and it’s random which one will be needed. Constitution saving throws are the ones you should anticipate each turn. If you have a way of enhancing saving throws, this will help you stay on your feet and if you can only choose one saving throw to enhance, I’d suggest constitution.
Split up – While you’re probably going to struggle to keep out of ranged distance from the elemental cataclysm, splitting up will stop too many of you getting caught up in the cataclysm’s AoE attacks. It should also keep some of you safe from it’s rumbling movement.
Beware of flight – Rumbling movement doesn’t specify it only works on the ground, and as the elemental cataclysm can fly, it can knock you prone in the skies. Of course, if this happens, it means falling and taking extra damage. Either stay well out of range, or keep low to the ground.
Don’t bother with conditions – It’s immune to pretty much every condition, so I wouldn’t bother trying to cause any of them on this behemoth!
Focus on attack rolls and certain saving throws – Although 20 AC is decent, it’s not too hard to hit at these levels. You can also focus on intelligence saving throws which will be very easy to land. Unfortunately, these are hard to come by. Charisma then strength and wisdom are your next best options here. I’d avoid constitution saving throws at all costs though, and probably dexterity too. It will almost certainly pass these.
Elemental resistances – It can usually choose to deal one of 5 different types; acid, cold, fire, lightning or thunder. Resistance to these might lower damage for an attack, but you can’t expect these to be consistently useful. Still, a kind DM may consider the cataclysm unaware of your resistances, or multiple resistances might foil the creature for longer, but because of the changeable damage types it deals, resistances can’t be relied on.
Be prepared to tackle burrowing – If your DM is cunning or cruel, it might have the elemental cataclysm make attacks, then burrow underground for safety. It doesn’t create tunnels when it burrows either so you can’t just chase it down there. You may want to have a method for tackling such devious tactics. Spells that don’t require line of sight or that affect the earth could be of use here like earthquake. I’d also have the party ready actions for when the cataclysm emerges from the earth. If it wants to make use of its legendary actions, it may also need to be above the earth at least for some of your turns so it shouldn’t just lurk underground all the time, especially if it knows you have attacks waiting.
Be prepared for flight too – If your barbarian only has melee weapons available, a clever elemental cataclysm might just fly out of range. Many strength based martials lean on thrown weapons which lack the range of something like a bow too so be aware of this creature just staying out of range of your martials. Giving your martials flight can help get around this or better ranged capabilities.
Consider slowing it down – The elemental cataclysm isn’t immune to the effects of being slowed down. You can use things like weapon mastery slow and the slow spell to accomplish this. Slowing down the elemental cataclysm works twice. Once on it it’s normal movement and once for it’s rumbling movement. Slowing this creature down should limit it’s effectiveness.
Don’t bother with illusions – It can see through your illusions. The same goes for things like invisibility. Truesight nullifies all of this.

The elemental cataclysm is a truly apocalyptic level monster capable of levelling entire cities! If you’ve fought one of these titans and lived to tell the tale, tell me about it in the comments below.