| Gelatinous cube | |
|---|---|
| Dungeons & Dragons race | |
 An illustration of a gelatinous cube | |
| First appearance | the originalDungeons & Dragons "white box" set (1974) |
| In-universe information | |
| Type | Ooze |
| Alignment | Neutral |
Agelatinous cube is a fictionalmonster from theDungeons & Dragonsfantasyrole-playing game. It is described as a ten-foot cube of transparentgelatinousooze, which is able to absorb and digest organic matter.
Oozes are relatively common antagonists infantasy fiction; in addition to the oozes ofDungeons & Dragons, examples include the monster from the filmThe Blob (1958),[1]slime inDragon Quest, and flan inFinal Fantasy. These fictional oozes may have been inspired by microscopic organisms such asamoebae, which, like oozes, can consume organic matter by engulfing it (phagocytosis).[2]
The gelatinous cube is an original invention ofGary Gygax, rather than being inspired by outside sources and adapted to the roleplaying setting, as were manymythological monsters such as theminotaur anddryad,[1] all of which appeared in the 1974 Monsters & Treasure book of the original boxed set.
Being a cube that is a perfect ten feet on each side, it is specifically and perfectly "adapted" to its native environment, the standard, 10-foot (3.0 m) by 10-foot (3.0 m) dungeon corridors which were ubiquitous in the earliestDungeons & Dragons modules.[1]
The gelatinous cube first appeared in the originalDungeons & Dragons "white box" set (1974),[3] and its first supplement,Greyhawk (1975).[4]
The gelatinous cube appeared in theDungeons & Dragons Basic Set (1977, 1981, 1983). The gelatinous cube also appeared in theDungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991).[5]
The gelatinous cube appeared in first editionAdvanced Dungeons & Dragons in the originalMonster Manual (1977).[6] The creature was further developed inDragon #124 (August 1987).[7] Published first editionAdvanced Dungeons & Dragons adventures which included gelatinous cubes as adversaries that theplayer characters encounter included "The Ruins of Andril", published inDragon #81.[8]
The gelatinous cube appeared in second edition inMonstrous Compendium Volume One (1989),[9] and theMonstrous Manual (1993) under the "ooze/slime/jelly" heading.[10] The gelatinous cube was featured on anAD&D Trading Card in 1991.[11]: 236
Under theooze entry, the gelatinous cube appears in the third editionMonster Manual (2000),[12] the 3.5 revisedMonster Manual (2003),[13] the fourth editionMonster Manual (2008),[14] theMonster Vault (2010),[15] and the fifth editionMonster Manual (2014).[16] Witweret al. viewed its artistic rendering in 5th edition as "redesigned from prior editions to entice more Dungeon Master use."[11]: 402–403
The gelatinous cube is fully detailed inPaizo Publishing's bookDungeon Denizens Revisited (2009), on pages 16–21.[17]
A gelatinous cube looks like a transparentooze of mindless, gelatinous matter in the shape of acube. The cube's transparency coupled with a dimly-lit dungeon gives it the element of surprise to engulf unsuspecting beings, and only an alert adventurer will notice the cube. The cube slides through dungeon corridors, being able to mold its body to flow around objects and fit through narrow passages and then returning to its original shape once enough space is available. A cube will absorb everything in its path, with its acidic digestive juices dissolving everything organic and secreting non-digestible matter in its wake.David M. Ewalt, in his bookOf Dice and Men, describes the gelatinous cube as "a dungeon scavenger, a living mound of transparent jelly",[18]The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters called it a "dungeon clean up crew", well adapted to this unique fictitious ecosystem.[1]
Rob Bricken fromio9 named the gelatinous cube as one of the 10 most memorable D&D monsters.[19]
Chris Sims of the on-line magazineComicsAlliance stated of the gelatinous cube that "there can be no question of what is the greatest monster" inD&D, calling the gelatinous cube "amazing".[20]
The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters called the gelatinous cube one of the "iconic monsters" of theD&D game.[21]
Levi R. Bryant calls the gelatinous cube "irksome and dangerous", "populating many a dungeon".[22]