Posted by Wolfskin on EN World:
Compared to the Hobgoblin Warrior in Scourge of the Sword Coast, this hobgoblin is outfitted with much better armour (chain mail + shield compared to ring) and thus has an 18 AC compared to 14.
The Hobgoblin Warrior had Steadfast (a bonus against being frightened) and Disciplined (an action that allowed an ally to gain advantage with its next attack); these have been replaced for this Hobgoblin by Martial Advantage – an ability which is absolutely terrifying in its implications.
Longspear +2 (5 damage/d8+1) has been replaced by the Longsword and a slightly higher attack bonus, which probably relates to the change to base proficiency bonuses from +1 to +2. The Javelin has been replaced by the Longbow. Curious to see it printed as a Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack… I’m not quite sure what to think of that. (There are improvised weapon rules for bows, but this seems odd).
Otherwise, the stats are pretty much identical. Challenge remains a new stat.
Regarding the melee use of Longbow…2 possibilities occur to me:
1) When they replaced the Javelin text, they forgot to remove the melee option.
2) The Hobgoblin has some special archer proficiency missing from the edited description that still allows the use of a bow in close combat (ala Legolas).
#1 seems to be the more likely scenario.
#1 is correct. Mike’s got a post somewhere saying that it was a copy/paste error – it shouldn’t have the melee option.