I just fought the Minotaurs and the Bulette for the first time tonight. Honestly, I didn't find either encounter to be hard. (Same with the githyanki fight.) I'm not trying to brag or make myself sound cool, I just really didn't have any problem with them. None of my characters were downed in either fight. And I didn't use any cheese tactics or outside help or powerful consumables. No ogres, no barrels, no wyvern poison, no potions of speed, no scrolls, no box-stacking, etc. Really nothing but our class abilities, good tactics, a couple of vials of normal poison, and I think ONE normal healing potion. I didn't even long rest between the Minotaurs and the Bulette.

I play a Thief Rogue, and have Lae'zel (Battlemaster), Shadowheart (with Warlock Initiate), and Gale (Evocation).


Things which are Really Good:

1. Opening a fight with a ranged sneak attack from hiding in an elevated position, and surprising the enemies, sneak attacking AGAIN in the surprise round, and then luring them back to the rest of your party who are also in a superior position.
2. Battlemaster's Menacing attack, when that Frighten effect lands it's a bad day for even very powerful opponents. (Worked on the hag, worked on the bulette, worked on the spider matriarch.)
3. 2nd-level Sleep spell as soon as an enemy dips below 32 HP, and then finish em off with something big like Inflict Wounds (with the free crit from Sleep).
4. Casting Jump on one or more party members for incredible mobility and getting to superior positions.
5. Casting Dancing Lights as a bonus action at range, to make sure no one is taking a darkness penalty to attack.
6. Always be backstabbing, always be higher grounding.
7. Positioning and tactical movement are actually more important than just attacking every round.
8. Don't overlook Battlemaster's Rally skill, it's only a bonus action and it can be a literal life-saver.
9. Have Aid on the party always.
10. Have Mage Armor on your wizard always.
11. If a party member goes down, prioritize getting them back up immediately with either Healing Word or by throwing a healing potion at the ground by their body.
12. Obviously, Shove any time you have a chance to knock someone off something.