This is thelist ofDungeons & Dragons monsters from products published in 1974–1976, an important element of thatrole-playing game.[1] This list only includes content from the original 1974Dungeons & Dragons boxed set, theGreyhawk supplement (1974), theBlackmoor supplement (1975), andEldritch Wizardry (1976), and does not include any licensed or unlicensed third party products such as video games or unlicensedDungeons & Dragons manuals.
The 1974Dungeons & Dragons boxed set byGary Gygax andDave Arneson contained three booklets, including a list of monsters in the booklet "Monsters & Treasure". This booklet contained an index on pages 3–4 featuring statistics about how many creatures of each type of creature appeared per encounter, armor class, how many inches the creature could move on its turn, hit dice, % in lair, and treasure. Pages 5–20 followed with descriptions of each of the monsters, typically consisting of one or more paragraphs. Most of the monsters on this book did not feature an illustration. Also featured are descriptions of humans (bandits, brigands, berserkers, dervishes, nomads, buccaneers, cavemen, and mermen), horses, insects, and other small and large animals.
| Creature | Other Appearances | Versions Included | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basilisks | Original:Eldritch Wizardry; Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Companion Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #81; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume Two,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Basilisk | Has the power of turning to stone by touch and glance. Based on the creature from medievalbestiaries.[2] In the originalMonster Manual it is described as a reptilian monster whose gaze can turn creatures to stone.[3]AD&D's basilisk was also adapted into theMagic: The Gathering trading card game, with a depiction taken from theMonster Manual being used in a prototype version.[4]: 247 |  |
| Black Pudding | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual,Dragon #219; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual | Black pudding | Black (or Gray) puddings dissolve wood, and corrode metal. "D&D's large variety of monstrous oozes and slimes took their original inspiration fromIrvin S. Yeathworth Jr'sThe Blob" movie.[2] |  |
| Centaurs | Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual,The Complete Book of Humanoids,Player's Option: Skills & Powers; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual | Centaur | Can attack twice, once as a man and once as a horse. Based on thecreature fromGreek mythology.[2][5][6] |  |
| Chimera | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set,Companion Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #94; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Chimera | Can gore with goat's head, tear with lion fangs, and dragon's head can bite or breathe fire. The chimera is based on thechimera of Greek mythology as found in theIliad byHomer,[7][8] "stronger than a centaur but weaker than a sphinx".[6] Present in the game since the earliest edition.[4]: 45 |  |
| Cockatrices | Basic 1977:Basic Set; 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #95; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual | Cockatrice | A less powerful but more mobile basilisk, turns opponents to stone by touch. Based on the creature from medievalbestiaries.[2] |  |
| Djinn | Basic 1977:Basic Set; 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set,Companion Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual | Djinn | Aerial creatures with magical powers |  |
| Dragons | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Basic Set; Basic 1983:Basic Set,Companion Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual,Draconomicon; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual,Draconomicon; 4th Edition:Monster Manual,Draconomicon: Chromatic Dragons | White dragon, black dragon, green dragon, blue dragon, red dragon, golden dragon | Powerful and intelligent, usually winged reptiles with magical abilities and breath weapon.[9] The different subraces, distinguished by their colouring, vary in power.[10] The dragon has been referred to asthe "iconic creature forD&D adventurers to conquer".[11]: 34 [12] |  |
| Dryads | Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #87; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume Two,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Dryad | Beautiful tree sprites, each a part of their own respective tree. Based on the dryad from classical sources.[2] |  |
| Dwarves | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Basic Set; Basic 1983:Basic Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual,Player's Handbook; 2nd Edition:Player's Handbook,Monstrous Compendium Volume Two,The Complete Book of Dwarves,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Player's Handbook,Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Player's Handbook,Monster Manual,Races of Stone; 4th Edition:Player's Handbook,Monster Manual | Dwarf | Described in the "Chainmail" set; clumsy monsters like ogres and giants have a hard time hitting them. Based onTolkien's version of thedwarf.[13][14]: 78 Often depicted as "short, stout, and fond of ale", "bearded masters of metalworking" and "predisposed towards a "good" moral alignment", "tend to embody an extreme vision of masculinity".[14]: 58, 67, 78, 165 |  |
| Efreeti | Similar to djinn, but creatures of fire that tend to be Chaotic. A depiction of an "evil [...] efreet" already appeared in the originalDungeons & Dragons (1974) edition, another "enormous, devilish red" one was the main feature of the cover of the 1st editionDungeon Master's Guide. Within the game's cosmology they were based on thePlane of Fire, centered around the "fabledCity of Brass".[4]: 20–21, 85, 87, 244–245 |  | ||
| Elves | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Basic Set; Basic 1983:Basic Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual,Player's Handbook; 2nd Edition:Player's Handbook,Monstrous Compendium Volume One,The Complete Book of Elves,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Player's Handbook,Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Player's Handbook,Monster Manual,Races of the Wild; 4th Edition:Player's Handbook,Monster Manual | Elf | Elves make their homes in woodlands and remote meadowlands. Based onTolkien's version of theelf,[13] "quick but fragile", with senses surpassing a human's, often depicted as "effeminate" and "predisposed towards a "good" moral alignment".[14]: 14, 26, 68 |  |
| Elementals | Four types described: Air, earth, fire, and water. Powerful creatures in the game;[15] a characteristic of the air elemental is the ability of rapid movement.[16]: 141 |  | ||
| Gargoyles | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Basic Set; Basic 1983:Basic Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume Two,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Gargoyle | Reptilian bipedal beast, Chaotic in alignment.AD&D's gargoyle was adapted into theMagic: The Gathering trading card game, with a depiction taken from theMonster Manual being used in a prototype version.[4]: 247 |  |
| Ghoul | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Basic Set; Basic 1983:Basic Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual,Dragon #252; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual,Savage Species; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual,Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Ghoul | Paralyze anyone they touch. Undead with "terrible claws".[16]: 175 AD&D's ghouls were also adapted into theMagic: The Gathering trading card game, with a depiction taken from theMonster Manual being used in a prototype version.[4]: 247 |  |
| Giants | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual,Giantcraft; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual,Savage Species; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Hill giant, stone giant, frost giant, fire giant, cloud giant | Overlarge powerful humanoids with a self-involved social focus,[17]: 8 usually presented as the "bad guys".[18] Based on mythological figures and Tolkien, their stone-throwing ability indicates their creative roots inwargaming.[7][2] |  |
| Gnolls | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Basic Set; Basic 1983:Basic Set, Gazetteer:The Orcs of Thar; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #63; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual,The Complete Book of Humanoids,Player's Option: Skills & Powers; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #367 | Gnoll | A cross between gnomes and trolls, otherwise similar to hobgoblins. Richard W. Forest assumed them to be inspired from but not resembling thegnoles conceived byLord Dunsany,[2] while Gary Gygax himself stated that although Dunsany's "gnole" is close", he came up with the name as "a cross between a gnome and a troll", and the description was his original creation. He wanted to create a humanoid opponent in the game to fit in between the hobgoblin and bugbear in power.[19] Gnolls were considered one of the "five main "humanoid" races" in AD&D by Paul Karczag andLawrence Schick.[20]: 92 |  |
| Gnomes | Slightly smaller than dwarves, with longer beards, inhabits hills and lowland burrows. Player character race "often stereotyped as buffoons, illusionists, mad inventors, and many characters play them as intentionally "wacky" or anachronistic"; often conforms to thetrickster archetype. "predisposed towards a "good" moral alignment".[14]: 23, 31, 67 |  | ||
| Goblins | Small monsters first described in the original "Chainmail" set. Based primarily on thegoblins portrayed in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth.[21] Considered one of the "five main "humanoid" races" in AD&D by Paul Karczag and Lawrence Schick.[20]: 92 Presented as "evil" and "predisposed towards a society of brutal regimes where the strongest rule" in the game.[14]: 48, 66, 134 Suitable opponent for characters of lowest level.[22] |  | ||
| Gorgons | Original:Eldritch Wizardry; Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set,Companion Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #97; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume Two,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual,; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Gorgon | Bull-like monsters with a breath capable of turning creatures to stone. "iron plated bull", based on early modern bestiaries, with only the name being derived from the Classical counterpart.[6][7] |  |
| Gray Ooze | Seeping horror that resembles wet stone and corrodes metal like a black pudding |  | ||
| Green slime | Non-mobile hazard that turns flesh into more green slime |  | ||
| Griffons | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume Two,Dragon #161,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual,Savage Species; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Griffon | The most prized of steeds, fond of horse flesh. Originally based on the creature fromPersian mythology.[23] |  |
| Hippogriffs | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume Two,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Hippogriff | Fierce fighters that attack with both hooves and sharp beaks. Originally based on the creature fromPersian mythology[23] the adaptedhippogriff "was among the earliest fantasy beasts introduced into theDungeons & Dragons universe":[24] An artistic representation drawing inspiration from real eagles and horses was used for the cover of the third booklet of the originalDungeons & Dragons (1974) edition and became one of "the game's earlies ambassadors" through use of that cover in advertisements.[4]: 20–21, 27, 39 Gary Gygax used a story in which he received a letter asking how many eggs a Hippogriff could lay as an example of the encyclopedic knowledge which fans expected him to have over every detail of gameplay.[25] |  |
| Hobgoblins | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Basic Set; Basic 1983:Basic Set,Gazetteer: The Orcs of Thar; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #63; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual,The Complete Book of Humanoids,Player's Option: Skills & Powers; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual,Races of Faerûn; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #309,Monster Manual V; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Hobgoblin | Large and fearless goblins. Muscular humanoids somewhat taller than humans with reddish skin and canine teeth.[16]: 215 Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse gave them a new background as a species originating in and expelled from theFeywild, while also presenting hobgoblins societies with different characteristics on different worlds, but all centered around forming close-knit groups.[26] |  |
| Hydras | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #272; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Hydra | Large dinosaurs with multiple heads. Based on the creature fromclassical sources,[2][8] withHeracles' famed method of slaying it adapted into a vulnerability against fire, but not with the less well-known poisonous bite, showing how the game mostly focusses on the well-known traits of mythological creatures.[6] Present in the game since its inception.[4]: 26 AD&D's hydra was also adapted into theMagic: The Gathering trading card game, with a depiction taken from theMonster Manual being used in a prototype version.[4]: 247 |  |
| Invisible Stalkers | Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Companion Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual | Invisible stalker | Monsters created by spells, faultless trackers |  |
| Kobolds | Original:Blackmoor; Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Basic Set; Basic 1983:Basic Set,Gazetteer: The Orcs of Thar; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #63,Dragon #141; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual,The Complete Book of Humanoids,Player's Option: Skills & Powers; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #332,Races of the Dragon; 4th Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #364 | Kobold | Similar to goblins but weaker. "[S]hort subterranean lizard-men",[16]: 66 considered one of the "five main "humanoid" races" in AD&D by Paul Karczag and Lawrence Schick,[20]: 92 and ranked among the weakest monsters in the game by Scott Baird fromScreen Rant.[27] |  |
| Lycanthropes | Werewolf, wereboar, weretiger, werebear | Afflicted shapechangers, whose condition could be transmitted like a disease.[28] Depiction of the werewolf is related to those in 1930s and 1940s Hollywood movies likeThe Wolf Man.[2] Ranked sixth among the ten best low-level monsters by the authors ofDungeons & Dragons For Dummies: "a classic monster", interesting due to shapechanging because "players can never be entirely sure whether that surly villager might indeed be the great black wolf who attacked their characters out in the forest."[29]Screen Rant has described the operation of lycanthropy in the game as an aspect that "makes no sense" because it is often a positive development for a character. "It is possible for a character to be infected with lycanthropy in Dungeons & Dragons and it comes highly recommended, as the benefits outweigh the negatives".[30] Present in the game since its inception, an image of a werewolf's face by Gygax' childhood friend Tom Keogh was "[a]lmost certainly the oldest piece of art" in the originalD&D.[4]: 26–27 |  | |
| Manticoras | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Dragon #153,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Manticore | Based on its mythological counterpart, including the barbed tail, the manticore appeared in the game from its earliest edition.[24]: 44 [31]: 268 Huge, lion-bodied monstrosities with a tail full of spikes that can be fired |  |
| Medusae | Original:Eldritch Wizardry; Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Basic Set; Basic 1983:Basic Set,Companion Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual,Savage Species; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; Dragon #355 (May 2007); 4th Edition:Monster Manual; 5th Edition:Monster Manual (2014) | Medusa | Human-type monster with the lower body of a snake, turns those who look at it to stone. Based on the creature from classical sources[2][5] but translated into species of monsters[32][8] originated from "humans seeking eternal youth".[6] Part of the game from its very beginning, a medusa was already depicted in the playtest material from 1973 for the original edition.[4]: 21 |  |
| Minotaurs | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Basic Set; Basic 1983:Basic Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #116,Dragon #141; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual,The Complete Book of Humanoids,Player's Option: Skills & Powers; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual,Savage Species; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #369 | Minotaur | Bull-headed men, who are man-eaters. Based on thecreature from Greek mythology,[2][5][6][33] but translated from a singular creature into a species.[8] The minotaur was among the monsters featured as trading cards on the back of Amurol Products candy figure boxes.AD&D's minotaurs were also adapted into theMagic: The Gathering trading card game, with a depiction taked from theMonster Manual being used in a prototype version.[4]: 161, 163, 247 |  |
| Mummies | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #300,Savage Species; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual,Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Mummy | Touch causes a rotting disease. Based on the creature fromGothic fiction and appearances in more contemporary entertainment.[23][34] |  |
| Nixies | Water sprites are Neutral in nature but will enslave humans for one year |  | ||
| Ochre Jelly | Giant amoeba which can be killed by fire or cold, but divides when hit by weapons.Ian Livingstone considered the ochre jelly one of the game's more "exotic and strange creatures".[35] |  | ||
| Ogres | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Basic Set; Basic 1983:Basic Set,Gazetteer: The Orcs of Thar; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual,The Complete Book of Humanoids,Player's Option: Skills & Powers; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #304,Savage Species; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual,Monster Manual IV; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Ogre | Large and fearsome monsters. Large, powerful humanoid creatures, with slightly below average intelligence.[17]: 249, 257 [36] Typical bad guys in the game,[18] who can be used to teach "players about fighting big, powerful, stupid monsters, which is an iconic D&D experience".[29]: 356 |  |
| Orcs | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Basic Set; Basic 1983:Basic Set,Gazetteer: The Orcs of Thar; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #62,Dragon #141; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual,The Complete Book of Humanoids,Player's Option: Skills & Powers; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual,Monster Manual IV; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Orc | Tribal creatures that live in caves or villages. Directly adapted from theorc in J.R.R. Tolkien's works.[2] Considered one of the "five main "humanoid" races" in AD&D by Paul Karczag and Lawrence Schick.[20]: 92 Presented as "evil" and "savage raiders" in the game.[14]: 48, 95 |  |
| Pegasi | Winged horses that will serve only Lawful characters. Taken fromgreek mythology, an example of the diverse cultures amalgamated into D&D.[6][37] |  | ||
| Pixies | Air sprites originally described in the "Chainmail" set, naturally invisible to human eyes |  | ||
| Purple Worms | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume Two,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #282; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Purple worm | Huge and hungry monsters lurk beneath the surface. The "dread purple worm" attacks with both ends,[31]: 268 maw and stinger. This "iconic monster" and original creation ofDungeons & Dragons is present all editions of the game.[4]: 26, 28–29 |  |
| Rocs | Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume Two,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Roc | Large and fierce birds that nest in mountains; hostile to creatures of Chaos and Neutrality. An enormous bird, based on a mythological creature probably ofPersian origin, known fromSindbad the Sailor.[7] |  |
| Skeletons | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Basic Set; Basic 1983:Basic Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual,Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Skeleton | Acts under the instructions of their motivator, be it Magic-User or Cleric (Chaos). Skeleton of a deceased creature animated as an undead. The skeleton was ranked second among the ten best low-level monsters by the authors ofDungeons & Dragons For Dummies: "introduces players to the special advantages and weaknesses of undead monsters". They also thankRay Harryhausen for people knowing what fighting skeletons ought to look like.[29] |  |
| Spectres | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Spectre | Have no corporeal body and drain life energy levels. Inspired by Gothic fiction.[23] |  |
| Treants | Tree-like creatures able to command trees, Lawful in nature. Based on the Ent by J. R. R. Tolkien,[2][38]: 27 and renamed due to copyright reasons.[4]: 71 |  | ||
| Trolls | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set,Gazetteer: The Orcs of Thar; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #301,Savage Species; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Troll | Thin and rubbery, loathsome creatures able to regenerate. A characteristic denizen of AD&D worlds.[39] Their appearance and powerful regenerative ability is taken fromThree Hearts and Three Lions byPoul Anderson rather than from their mythological or Tolkienesque counterparts.[2][7] Considered one of the "five main "humanoid" races" in AD&D by Paul Karczag and Lawrence Schick.[20]: 92 |  |
| Unicorns | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia,Thunder Rift; 1st Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #77; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual,Dragon #190; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Unicorn | Can be ridden by maiden-warriors and will obey them. Based on the creature from medieval bestiaries.[2][23] TheDungeons & Dragons animated series featured Uni the unicorn as a well-received "mascot" and "cute animal sidekick".[40] |  |
| Vampires | Original:Greyhawk; Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual,Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Vampire | Powerful undead. Depiction is related to those in 1930s and 1940s HollywoodDracula movies,[2] as well as folklore[34] andGothic fiction,[23][39] and "classic" monster of the game.[41] |  |
| Wights | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Basic Set; Basic 1983:Basic Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual,Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead,Dragon #348; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Wight | Thin humanoid undead that drains away energy levels on a hit.[42] Directly adapted from thebarrow-wight in Tolkien'sThe Lord of the Rings,[2][38]: 27 while the concept is inspired by Icelandic sagas.[43] Rob Bricken ofio9 identified the wight as one of "The 12 Most Obnoxious Dungeons & Dragons Monsters".[44] |  |
| Wraiths | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Wraith | High-class wights with more mobility. Inspired by and renamed from theNazgul from J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium,[45] as well as by Gothic fiction.[23] | |
| Wyverns | Basic 1981:Expert Set; Basic 1983:Expert Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume Two,Monstrous Manual,Dragon Annual #1; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Wyvern | Smaller relatives of dragons with poisonous sting in tail.[9] | |
| Yellow Mold | Deadly underground fungus that attacks wood and flesh. In the artificial dungeon environment of the game, molds function as a "clean up crew".[2] | |||
| Zombies | Basic 1977:Basic Set; Basic 1981:Basic Set; Basic 1983:Basic Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual,Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Zombie | Acts under the instructions of their motivator, be it Magic-User or Cleric (Chaos). Based on thezombie from folklore as well as more contemporary entertainment.[34] |
Thisfirst supplement to the Gygax/Arneson boxed set is byGary Gygax andRob Kuntz and was printed in 1974. Information is presented in a similar manner as that in the boxed set booklet. Page 33 contains an index of the monsters presented in the book, and pages 34–40 contain descriptions of each monster. Additions and corrections to Vampires and Elementals from the boxed set are included in this book on page 34.
| Creature | Other Appearances | Versions Included | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beholders | Basic 1983:Companion Set; Basic 1991:Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition:Monster Manual,Dragon #76; 2nd Edition:Monstrous Compendium Volume One,Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition:Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition:Monster Manual,Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations; 4th Edition:Monster Manual | Beholder | "Spheres of Many Eyes" or "Eye Tyrants", a levitating globe with ten magical eye stalks. A "creature that looks at you and is destroying you by the power of its magical eyes".[46] A terrible beast, but depicted as "a cuddly rosy ball with too many eyes".[47] Designed to counter magic-using characters while being a formidable opponent for a whole party due to its versatility.[2] Considered one of "the game's signature monsters" by Philip J. Clements.[14]: 133 A "classic",[41] "iconic", as well as "one of the most feared and fearsome monsters of the game", present through all editions.[4]: 5, 40–41, 65 |
| Blink Dogs | Resemble African wild dogs, with high intelligence and an ability of limited teleportation | ||
| Bugbears | Great hairy goblin-giants,[32] for the most part presented as inherently evil before the 5th edition of the game,[48] | ||
| Carrion Crawlers | Worm-shaped scavengers whose touch causes paralyzation | ||
| Displacer Beasts | Puma-like creature with six legs and two tentacles growing from its shoulders. A magical creature resembling a puma with a tentacle growing from each shoulder, it hates all forms of life, and always appears 3 feet from its actual position. Based on the alienCoeurl from the short storyBlack Destroyer byA. E. van Vogt.[2][4]: 71 Rob Bricken fromio9 named the displacer beast as the 2nd most memorableD&D monster.[49] | ||
| Doppelgangers | Creatures with mutable form, able to shape themselves into doubles of any person they observe | ||
| Dragons | Brass, copper, bronze, and silver dragons, the Platinum Dragon (The King of Lawful (and Neutral) Dragons) and the Chromatic Dragon (The Queen of the Chaotic Dragons) | Powerful and intelligent winged reptiles with magical abilities and breath weapon. | |
| Druids | Priests of a neutral-type religion | ||
| Gelatinous Cubes | Cubic creatures that sweep clean the floor and walls of dungeon passages. In the artificial dungeon environment of the game, they function as a "clean up crew". The gelatinous cube, "a living mound of gelatinous jelly",[16]: 138 was considered especially suited for that role, as it fi exactly in the standard grid for tactical combat. Considered an "iconic monster".[2] | ||
| Giants, Storm | Intelligent giants found only in out-of-the-way places | ||
| Giant Tick | Overgrown arachnids which live on the blood of other living things and carry disease | ||
| Giant Slugs | Giant beasts that spit a highly acid saliva with considerable accuracy at great distances | ||
| Golems | Flesh, stone, and iron golems are described. The flesh golem is related toFrankenstein's monster asUniversal's1931 film, seen in e.g. being empowered by electricity,[2] and all golems are inspired by Gothic fiction more generally,[23] and "classic" monster of the game.[41] The influence ofDungeons & Dragons has led to the inclusion of golems in othertabletop role-playing as well as invideo games.[50] | ||
| Harpies | Have the lower bodies of eagles and the upper bodies of human females. Based on the creature from Greek mythology.[5] Witweret al. viewed its artistic rendering in 5th edition as "redesigned from prior editions to entice more Dungeon Master use."[4]: 402–403 | ||
| Hell Hounds | Reddish-brown evil hounds that can breathe fire | ||
| Lammasu | Human-headed, winged lions which are very lawful and very magical. The lammasu was introduced to the game in its first supplement,Greyhawk (1975).[51] They are alsolawful, although they have little interest in the conflict between law and chaos. Their innate magical powers let them cast spells as a 7th-levelcleric. | ||
| Liches | Skeletal monsters that were formerly Magic-Users or Magic-User/Clerics in life. Emaciated[41]undead spellcaster,[52] a "classic" monster of the game.[41] | ||
| Lizard Men | Aquatic monsters with a rude intelligence, fond of human flesh. Reviewer Chris Gigoux described them by saying "Lizard Men aren't bad, [...] they're just a simple folks, struggling to survive."[53] An image of a lizard man by Greg Bell functioned as the logo in the early phase ofTSR Hobbies,[4]: 42–43, 47, 81 while "the bloodied bodies of lizard men" overcome by a group of adventurers featured on the cover of the 1st editionPlayer's Handbook, considered "arguably the most iconic piece of art in all of RPGdom" byReactor magazine commentator Saladin Ahmed.[54] | ||
| Lycanthropes (Wererat or Rat Man) | Extremely intelligent lycanthropes that will capture humans and hold them for ransom | ||
| Ogre magi | Japanese Ogres, far more powerful than their Western cousins | ||
| Owl Bears | Horrid creatures which "hug" like a bear and deal damage with a beak. Newly created for the game early on inspired by a Hong Kong–made plastic toy,[55][4]: 66 the owlbear was well-received as a useful and memorable monster.[49][56][57] | ||
| Phase Spiders | Giant spiders that can shift out of phase with its surroundings. Arachnid as big as a medium-large dog that can shift between dimensions and bite with fangs of deadly poison.[11]: 148–149 | ||
| Rust Monsters | Creatures are the bane of metal with a ferrous content, which they rust instantaneously. An original invention for the game and its artificial underground world, the appearance of the rust monster was inspired by a plastic toy from Hong Kong.[58] It was ranked among the most memorable as well as obnoxious creatures in the game, terrifying to certain characters and their players not due to their ability to fight but to destroy their items.[2][49][44][4][16] Chris Sims of the on-line magazineComics Alliance referred to the rust monster as "the most feared D&D monster".[59] | ||
| Salamanders | Free-willed, highly intelligent Fire Elementals | ||
| Shadows | Non-corporeal intelligent creatures that hunger after the life energy of living things. Rob Bricken ofio9 identified the shadow as one of "The 12 Most Obnoxious Dungeons & Dragons Monsters".[44] | ||
| Stirges | Large, bird-like monsters with long probuscuses which suck blood from living creatures.[32] "[P]esky" because while small they are dangerous to characters as a swarm. Present in the game since its earliest edition.[4]: 44 | ||
| Titans | Similar to giants, but far more handsome and intelligent, even more so than humans. Based on thepowerful beings from Greek mythology.[5] Ranked among the strongest creatures in the game by Scott Baird fromScreen Rant, as they "stand above giants and possess even more power in terms of their physical and magical capabilities".[27]Backstab [fr] reviewer Michaël Croitoriu thought them truly interesting for powergamers when made available as player characters.[18] | ||
| Tritons | Similar to Mermen in appearance, and can use spells. An aquatic race[60] based on themerman in Greek mythology.[7] | ||
| Umber Hulks | Human-shaped creatures with gaping maws flanked by pairs of exceedingly sharp mandibles. Present in the game since the earliest edition.[4]: 45 | ||
| Will O'Wisp | Highly clever creatures that lure foes to feed upon their life force |
Thissecond supplement to the original boxed set is byDave Arneson and was printed in 1975. Information is presented in a similar manner as that in the boxed set booklet. Page 14 contains an index of the monsters presented in the book, and pages 15–24 contain descriptions of each monster.
| Creature | Other Appearances | Versions Included | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphins | |||
| Aquatic Elves | Also called sea elves, they are akin to mermen as land elves are to humans | ||
| Elasmosaurus | |||
| Fire Lizard | |||
| Floating Eyes | Small fish with a huge central eye that can hypnotize a victim | ||
| Giant Beaver | |||
| Giant Crabs | |||
| Giant Crocodile | |||
| Giant Eels | |||
| Giant frog | Blackmoor (1975);Monster Manual (1977);Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989);Dungeon #82 (September 2000);Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil (2001) | Dark green, covered in warts and boils and a foul-smelling ooze; 3 feet long and 2 feet tall. Attack by whipping poison at their prey with their tongues. | |
| Giant Leech | |||
| Giant Octopi | |||
| Giant Otter | |||
| Giant Sea Spider | |||
| Giant Shark | |||
| Giant Squid | |||
| Giant Toads | |||
| Giant Wasps | |||
| Giant Beetle | Five types are described: giant stag beetle, rhinoceros beetle, bombardier beetle, fire beetle, and boring beetle | ||
| Ixitxachitl | A race of Chaotic Clerical Philosophers that resemble manta rays. An "old personal favorite" of reviewer Mark Theurer.[61] | ||
| Lamprey | |||
| Locathah | Nomadic people that ride eels and roam the ocean depths | ||
| Manta Ray | |||
| Masher | Coral eaters, similar to large Purple Worms | ||
| Merfolk | More intelligent than lizardmen, these aquatic creatures use weapons as humans do | ||
| Minotaur Lizard | |||
| Morkoth or Morlock | This shrouded wraith of the deep makes its home in spiraling tunnels.Paste magazine reviewer Cameron Kunzelmann found the morkoth an inventive and "super weird" monster beyond the game's staples.[62] | ||
| Mososaurus | |||
| Plesiosaurus | |||
| Portuguese Man-Of-War | |||
| Pungi Ray | |||
| Sahuagin | "Devil-Men of the Deep", these voracious creatures are a constant threat to humans | ||
| Sea Horse | |||
| Strangle Weed | Looks like ordinary seaweed but crushes its victims like a tentacle (Note: stats arenot given on page 14) | ||
| Weed Eels | |||
| Whale |
Thisthird supplement to the Gygax/Arneson boxed set is byGary Gygax andBrian Blume and was printed in 1976. Information is presented in a similar manner as that in the boxed set booklet. Page 27 contains an index of the monsters presented in the book, and pages 27–40 contain descriptions of each monster. Additions and corrections to several monsters from previous books in the series are included in this book from pages 27–29.
| Creature | Other Appearances | Versions Included | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brain moles | Small rodent-like creatures that are attracted by psionic activity | ||
| Cerebral Parasites | Tiny creatures that attack psionically endowed creatures | ||
| Couatl | Winged, feathered serpents found in jungles, with exceptional intelligence and powers. Based on the creature fromMesoamerican religion.[23] | ||
| Demons – | Demons are chaotic and evil. Many were based on figures from Christian demonology.[63] Considered among the "standard repertoire of "Monsters"" by Fabian Perlini-Pfister.[5] | ||
| --Demogorgon | This gigantic reptilian demon prince is powerful, has body and legs of a giant lizard, twin snake-like necks and two heads which bear the visages of evil baboons.[4]: 53 Inspired by itsreal-world mythological counterpart.[4]: 52 | ||
| --Orcus | Grossly fat demon lord with goat-like head and legs,[4]: 53 holds the wand of death (Orcus' Wand). Inspired by itsreal-world mythological counterpart.[4]: 52 | ||
| --Type I | Among the weakest of their kind, they resemble a cross between human and vulture[4]: 53 | ||
| --Type II | Looks like a gross toad with human arms in place of forelegs[4]: 53 | ||
| --Type III | Has a ghastly appearance, broad and strong-looking, with a head like a goat-horned dog, pincers instead of hands, and human arms protruding from its chest[4]: 53 | ||
| --Type IV | Combines the worst features of ape and boar,[4]: 53 with small wings for their ponderous bodies | ||
| --Succubus | Appears like a tall and very beautiful human woman, and drains energy by a kiss. Typical example of a demon, belonging to the "standard repertoire of "Monsters"",[5] and one of those contributing to the moral panic;[16]: 106 [38] also an instance of the sexist tropes the game draws on which presented female sexuality as inherently dangerous.[14]: 17, 94 Rob Bricken ofio9 identified the succubus as one of "The 12 Most ObnoxiousDungeons & Dragons Monsters".[44] | ||
| --Type V | Female demon with a multiarmed torso atop the body of a great snake | ||
| --Type VI | Featuring a highly-muscled man-like body and bat wings,[4]: 53 they are highly intelligent demons with great magical power. Based on and renamed from theBalrog from J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium,[2] also called type VI demon due to copyright reasons.[31]: 271 [2] | ||
| Intellect Devourers | Chaotic and evil monsters, highly malign with regard to sentient life.SyFy Wire in 2018 called it one of "The 9 Scariest, Most Unforgettable Monsters From Dungeons & Dragons", saying that "The idea of having your brain consumed and just becoming an evil puppet is truly terrible."[64] | ||
| Ki-rin | Aerial creatures that dwell amongst the clouds, of the highest intelligence and completely lawful (and good). Golden-scaled flying equine exemplar of good with one horn. Based on thekirin fromJapanese mythology,[5] an example of the diverse cultures amalgamated into D&D.[37]Black Gate reviewer Howard Andrew Jones called them "old stalwarts" of the game.[65] | ||
| Mind Flayers | Super-intelligent, man-shaped creatures of great (and lawful) evil, tentacles penetrate to the brain and draw it forth for food. "Squid-headed humanoids", considered one of "the game's signature monsters" by Philip J. Clements.[14]: 133 Reviewer Julien Blondel described them as vile brain-eating creatures full ofpsionic energy. He found them delightful creatures for a sadistic Dungeon Master to use, and a useful bridge between classic game worlds and theplanes, as illithids abound in both.[66] | ||
| Shedu | Similar in appearance to lammasu, human-headed winged creatures with bull-like bodies. Based on a creature fromMesopotamian mythology.[5] | ||
| Su-Monsters | Evil and chaotic beings resembling wasp-waisted, great chested hounds | ||
| Thought Eater | Unintelligent ether dwellers attracted by psionic-related energy use |
Thisfourth supplement to the Gygax/Arneson boxed set is written byRobert Kuntz andJames Ward and was printed in 1976.
| Creature | Other Appearances | Versions Included | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphinx | Monster Manual (1977),Dragon #81,Dungeons & Dragons Master Rules (1985),Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991),Monstrous Manual (1993),Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two (1995),Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix II (1991),Dragon #244 (February 1998),Monster Manual (2000),Monster Manual (2003),Sandstorm: Mastering the Perils of Fire and Sand (2005),Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic (2006),Monster Manual (2008) | Androsphinx, Criosphinx, Gynosphinx, Hieracophinx | Magical beasts, that appear as lions with the heads of various other human and animal creatures. Based onEgyptian and Classical mythology, an example of the diverse cultures amalgamated into D&D.[6][37] |
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