Anti-magic cone

One of many debilitating powers of a Beholder, the anti-magic cone will remove ("de-buff") any and all magic effects that protect or guard a character. The anti-magic cone also prevents a character from arcane or divine spell casting for 3 seconds.

Since a player will be stripped of Death Ward, Protection from Evil and other alignment or death magic protections, the possibility of being killed immediately by Disintegrate, or similar death spells, or affected by negative energy effects becomes highly likely unless the player wears an item with persistent Deathblock effect. Even with Deathblock, the odds of survival from repeated Beholder attacks becomes remote.

There is no save to the anti-magic cone, but it can be prevented through use of spell absorption items such as:


 * Mantle of the Worldshaper
 * Scarab of Spell Absorption
 * Pale Lavender Ioun Stone

If your deathward does get dispelled, it's highly recommend you wear a:
 * Silver Flame Amulet, Pendant or Talisman and/or
 * Beholder Optic Nerves

Some classes create spell-like abilities that are NOT affected by anti-magic cones and may be able to use their abilities even if struck by an anti-magic cone. These include:


 * Buffs or similar finishing moves from a Monk
 * Songs from a Bard
 * Dragonmarks
 * The Sorcerer Savant's inherent spells (Such as a Fire Savant's Heat Death or Inherent Fireball)

Beholders have See Invisibility ability. While Invisibility spells cannot fool a Beholder, the ability to Hide and Move Silently may allow players to avoid a Beholder, or launch a point-blank attack on the powerful, but physically frail enemy. A side or rear attack will avoid the anti-magic cone, which comes from the monster's central front eye.

As it's name implies, the anti-magic cone is an actual conal AOE effect. A beholder will fire it off every 3 seconds (and it's duration is 3 seconds as well). Like any cone spell, it can indeed be dodged. It is very difficult to do so being that the cone is invisible, but skilled players can still do so simply by moving fast enough (Sprint boost/Monk speed recommended) or by absorbing any initial hit with a scarab or Mantle of the Worldshaper, then positioning yourself behind the beholder. As a frontal attack they cannot fire it off behind them. Strong melee will then use stunning blow while behind the beholder to hold it in place for the kill.