The Shadow of the Demon Lord - Quick Reference
CHALLENGE ROLLS CORE 31
Challenge Roll 1d20 + attribute modifier (+)
boons  or (-) banes.
Roll 10+ succeeds for all basic challenges.
Attack Same as challenge roll, but must
be ≥ opponent’s defense or relevant attribute.
Roll
BOONS/BANES / CORE 32
Boons and Banes are situational modifiers which apply to
challenge and attack rolls. Each cancels the other out in a
ratio of 1 boon  : 1 bane.
Roll a d6 for each boon; the highest roll
from the boons is added to the d20. All other
dice are discarded.
Boons  Boons are positive. You can gain boons for
roleplaying, relevant professions & items, and
when allies use the Help Action. Each instance
can grant multiple boons (per GM)
Like boons but subtracted from the roll.
Not directly opposed but boons/banes may
apply.
Banes  Banes are negative. Banes are assigned by
GM for many reasons or may be the result of
certain actions, items, spells. Each instance
can grant multiple banes (per GM)
ACTIONS CCORE 48
Attack Attack target with weapon or attack spell.
Cast a
Cast a non-attack spell.
Utility Spell
Prolong certain spells or effects. If you
Concentrate take damage or gain Insanity, make Will
challenge roll, lose concentration on
failure.
All attacks against you suffer 1 bane and all
Defend Challenge rolls resist attacks made with 1
boon.
End an Effect End an ongoing effect.
Per Challenge to find a hidden object
including traps. Per Attack vs. Agi of
hidden creature to spot hidden creature.
Find
Can Guess the Location and try to strike a
totally concealed opponent with a 3 bane
penalty.
Int Challenge to provide a 1 boon bonus to
Help a target within 5 yards, on the next Attack/
Challenge roll they make that round. 
Agi Challenge. Requires Heavily Obscured
or Three-Quarter Cover or better. Also
Hide
adds 1 boon to Attacks vs. the Def or Agi of
targets that cannot see you. 
Describe a Trigger Action. Take Action with
Prepare
1 boon when triggered. 
Reload Ready ammunition.
Move away up to half Speed. Does not
Retreat
trigger a Free Attack.
Rush Move up to twice Speed.
Int Challenge with 1 bane if the target is
Stabilize Dying . Success heals 1 damage.
Drink/administer a potion, retrieve an
Use an Item object, light a torch, etc.
CORE = SHADOW OF THE DEMON LORD CORE RULEBOOK
DLC & DLC 2 = DEMON LORD COMPANION & DEMON LORD COMPANION 2
OP = OCCULT PHILOSOPHY, FR = FORBIDDEN RULES
Shadow of the Demon Lord is a trademark of Schwalb Entertainment. This cheat sheet with permission by @dannyleegrimes from Delvingwood. Big shout out to Jay Robinson at cryptocartographer.net for inspiration.
ATTACK AN ATTRIBUTE CORE 51
Str or Agi Attack vs. higher of target’s Str or
Disarm Agi. Apply 2 banes to attempt if unarmed.

Short Range. Int Attack vs. target’s Int.
Distract Target makes next Attack/Challenge roll
that round with 2 banes.
Str or Agi Attack vs. target’s Str if Grabbed.
Escape Gets free and moves up to half Speed
without triggering Free Attack
Short Range. Agi Attack vs. target’s Per.
2 boons on the next Attack you make vs.
Feint target’s Def or Agi before round ends OR
your movement does not trigger Free
Attacks from target for 1 round. 
Str or Agi Attack vs. target’s Agi. If already
Grab Grabbed target, this is automatically
successful.
Knock Down Str Attack vs. target’s Agi with 1 bane/boon
per Size diff. Knocks target Prone. /
Str Attack vs. target’s Str. Only on Grabbed
Pull target of your Size or smaller. Move up to
half Speed taking them with you.
Str Attack vs. target’s Str with 1 bane/boon
Shove per Size difference. Moves them away 1
yard +1 yard per Str modifier. /
Move up to Speed and make one melee
Attack, Knock Down, or Shove. All Attacks/
Charge Challenges you make have a 1 bane penalty
until the end of the round. 
SOCIAL CONFLICT FR 10
Composure. Will - Ins. Number is max influence you can
take before changing attitude.
Influence. “Damage” done in social combat. When
Influence meets total Composure, your attitude shifts one
column on the Attitude table below.
Magic. Telepathy spells (DLC 41) see Demon Lord’s
Companion) and similar powers can grant advantages in
social combat.
SOCIAL ACTIONS
Befriend:​Will vs. Will. +1 boon to social rolls 
Deceive:​Int Attack vs. target’s Int.
Intimidate:​ Will or Str Attack vs. target’s Will.
Persuade:​Will Attack vs. target’s Will
Taunt:​ Int Attack vs. target’s Will.
SOCIAL ATTITUDE FR 10
Attack Helpful Friendly Neutral Unfriendly Hostile
Befriend 3 boons 1 boon — 1 bane
Deceive 2 boons 1 boon — 1 bane
Intimidate 3 boons — — — 1 bane
Persuade 2 boons 1 boon — 1 bane
Taunt 2 banes 1 bane — 1 boon
p1
AFFLICTIONS CORE 41
A sleeping creature is prone and
Asleep unconscious. Another creature withing
reach can use an action to wake it up.
A blinded creature cannot see.
Surroundings as totally obscured. Attack
rolls against take 1 boon vs Defense or
Blinded
Agility. Sight perception automatically fail.
Speed becomes 2.
A charmed creature sees the source of the
Charmed affliction as a trusted friend and ally and
cannot choose to target them.
Creature can’t use actions or move. Each
fast turn, the compelling creature can force
Compelled the compelled creature to move or use an
action. The compelling creature makes all
decisions for the compelled creature.
Dazed A dazed creature cannot use actions.
A deafened creature cannot hear. Listen
Deafened perception challenge rolls automatically
result in failure.
A defenseless creature cannot defend itself.
Its Defense is 5, it cannot use actions, and
Defenseless its challenge rolls using attributes result in
failure. The creature can perceive and can
make Perception challenge rolls.
A diseased creature makes all attack and
Diseased challenge rolls with 1 bane.
A fatigued creature makes all attack and
Fatigued challenge rolls with 1 bane.
A frightened creature makes all attack and
Frightened challenge rolls with 1 bane. Cannot take a
fast turn.
If grabbed creature’s Size is equal or smaller
than the grabbing creature, the grabbed
creature cannot move away. If grabbed
Grabbed creature’s Size is larger than the grabbing
creature, when the grabbed creature
moves, the grabbing creature can choose to
move with it, or end the grab.
An immobilized creature has Speed 0 and
cannot benefit from bonuses to Speed.
Immobilized Creatures make attack rolls against with
1 boon.
An impaired creature makes all attack rolls
Impaired and challenge rolls with 1 bane.
A poisoned creature makes all attack rolls
Poisoned and challenge rolls with 1 bane.
A prone creature lies on the ground. Other
creatures can move through its space. While
prone, the creature can crawl or move to
stand up. When prone make Str and Agi
Prone
rolls with 1 bane. Creatures withing reach
make attack rolls with 1 boon, thoe out of
reach make attack rolls vs. Defense with
1 bane. /
A slowed creature can take only a slow turn,
Slowed its Speed is halved, and it cannot benefit
from increases to Speed.
Stunned creature can’t move or use actions.
Stunned Automatically fail any challenge rolls.
Creatures make attack rolls with 1 boon. 
3 banes A surprised creature cannot use actions,
Surprised move, and automatically fails any challenge
2 banes rolls.
An unconscious creature is unable to act,
move, or perceive its surroundings. The
2 banes Unconscious creature’s Defense is 5. It cannot use actions
or move, and all its challenge rolls result in
2 boons failure.
 The Shadow of the Demon Lord - Quick Reference p2

INITIATIVE CORE 46 WEAPON PROPERTIES CORE 102 SPELLCASTERS

Each player must choose to go Fast or Slow. Cumbersome.​ Attack with 1 bane.
CASTING SPELLS CORE 112
Fast. Players go first, Monsters & NPC’s follow​. Either can Defensive +#.​ Add the number to your Defense.
Move—OR—take and Action, not both. Spell
Finesse.​Choose Str OR Agi for Attack roll. d20 + (Int/Will modifier) vs Target Number
Casting
Slow. Players go first, Monsters & NPC’s follow​. Either can (TN) - usually Defense
Misfire.​Attack roll is 0 or less, weapon misfires. Roll d6: Check
Move—AND—take and Action. Even number, weapon misfire! Can be fired again after 1
End of Round.​Certains actions and effects may be minute using tools to clear barrel and repair weapon. Odd LEARNING SPELLS
resolved. Ongoing effects are tracked. number, weapon explodes causing you 2d6 damage. As you learn spells you will often be offered a choice to
discover a tradition—or—learn a new spell.
Range. Weapon’s length of range.
ATTACK ROLLS CORE 31 Discovering Traditions. List the new tradition and choose
Reach + #.​Add the number to your reach. one rank 0 spell.
Melee d20 + Str modifier Reload.​Weapon must be loaded. Learning Spells. Choose one spell from a discovered
Ranged/ Size 1.​ Minimum Size 1 to wield. tradition and whose rank is equal to or lower than your
d20 + Agi modifier
Finesse Power score.
Uses [ammunition]. Weapon uses ammo.
MELEE ATTACK OPTIONS CORE 50 Exchanging Spells. When you learn a new spell, you can
Thrown.​ Can be thrown as a ranged attack. exchange a spell you have previously learned for another
Driving You and target move yards equal to Str spell of the same or lower rank. OP 7
Attack mod. In same direction. DAMAGE & HEALING CORE 39
Lunging DAMAGE CASTINGS BY SPELL RANK CORE 112
Increase reach 1 yard. When you take damage, your damage score goes up, Number of castings are for each spell per day.
Attack
your Health does not go down.
Shifting Your Move does not trigger free attacks Power 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
from thetarget until the end of the Amount ≥ Half Health. Injured. Notify the GM.
Attack round. Amount = Health. Incapacitated. 0 1 — — — — — — — — — —
Dead. Taking further Damage after being Incapacitated. 1 2 1 — — — — — — — — —
Unbalancing If target is your Size or smaller, it must Instant Death. You die if the damage equal to Health 2 3 2 1 — — — — — — — —
make an Agi Challenge. Failure: Falls from a single source.
Attack Prone. 3 4 2 1 1 — — — — — — —
Two Weapon Attacks. DISABLED 4 5 2 2 1 1 — — — — — —
Disabled characters are defenseless.
One Target. Attack with main hand weapon and 2 bane At the end of each round you are disabled, roll a d6. On a 5 6 3 2 2 1 1 — — — — —
penalty. If it hits, both weapons hit, but off-hand weapon 1, you start dying. On a 6, you heal 1 damage and become 6 7 3 2 2 2 1 1 — — — —
just adds its normal unmodified damage die to total. impaired for 1 minute. Other numbers no effect. 7 8 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 — — —
Two Targets. Attack with main hand weapon vs. one If after 3 consecutive rounds you are still disabled, you 8 9 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 — —
become unconscious for 1d3 hours and stop making the 9 10 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 —
target. Attack with off-hand weapon against another fate roll. At the end of this time, you heal 1 damage and
target, each with 3 banes. become impaired for 1 minute. 10 11 3 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 1 1
Shield Attack. If you attack with a shield lose defensive DYING FRIGHTENING &
benefit for rest of the round. Dying characters are unconscious.
At the end of each round you are dying, roll a d6. On a 1, HORRIFYING CREATURES CORE 214
Free Attacks you die. On a 6, you become disabled. Other numbers no When you encounter a frightening creature, make
Once per round, you can make a free melee attack vs. any effect. a Will challenge roll to avoid being frightened for a
creature moving out of reach, unless: number of rounds = 1d3 + your Insanity.
HEALING
1) They are using the Retreat Action to move away. Rest for at least 8 hours once per 24 hours. When you encounter a horrifying creature, make a
2) Tney are using the Escape Action from a grab. Rest heals Healing Rate damage. Will challenge roll to avoid gaining Insanity.
If rests full 24 hours, regains double Healing Rate. Regardless of the roll’s outcome, all attacks against
RANGED ATTACK OPTIONS CORE 51 If Rest period is wasted if interrupted more than 1 minute. horrifying creatures gain 1 bane.
Choose specific body location. Attack
Called Shot with 2 banes. Has additional effect created ILLUMINATION CORE 43 INSANITY & CORRUPTION CORE 35
by GM. Lit. Sighted creatures can see everything in a lit area
Attack with 1 bane. Attack target beyond that’s within its field of view and not hidden. Darkness You gain Insanity when you experience terrible things;
Distance Shot weapon’s range up to twice weapon’s becomes shadows within a distance of a light source you gain Corruption when you do terrible things.
range. equal to twice the light’s radius. Insanity. When you gain Insanity, you become frightened
Shadows. Shadows form the border between light for rounds = your Insanity total. When frightened, all rolls
Staggering Attack with 2 banes. If target is your Size get a bane and you cannot take fast turns.
or smaller, it must make an Agi Challenge. and darkness. Indirect illumination, faint glows, and
Shot: Failure: Falls Prone.  moonlight create areas of shadow. An area of shadows is When your Insanity = your Will, you may go mad; inform
partially obscured. the GM. You can reduce Insanity by resting, taking quirks,
RANGE & DISTANCE CORE 43 Darkness. This is the total absence of light. An area of going mad, and through magic.
darkness is totally obscured. Corruption. When you gain Corruption, roll 1d20. If result
You Yourself
is < your Corruption, you gain a Mark of Darkness. If your
Reach Size, Minimum 1 yard. (Str or Agi) vs Agi if COVER & HIDING IN SHADOWS CORE 43 Corruption is 4+, you experience negative effects.
target is unwilling. ½ Cover.​1 bane
Short 5 yards ¾ cover.​2 banes
FORTUNE CORE 45
Medium 20 yards Partially obscured (or in shadows) 1 bane Spend a point of Fortune to:
Long 100 yards Heavily obscured​2 banes Create Success.​ Turn a failure into a success.
Extreme 500 yards Totally obscured (or in darkness): 3 banes and must Grant Boons.​Add 2 boons to anyone’s d20 roll.
guess the target’s location Roll High. Replace a d6 result, for you or another, with a 6.
Sight Whatever can be seen
Total cover.​Automatic failure
House rule. Medium range weapons targeted at long
range take 1 bane.
Shadow of the Demon Lord is a trademark of Schwalb Entertainment. This cheat sheet with permission by @dannyleegrimes from Delvingwood. Big shout out to Jay Robinson at cryptocartographer.net for inspiration.