Monsters in the 2nd edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
The second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game featured both a higher number of books of monsters[4] – "many tied to their growing stable of campaign worlds"[5]: 221 - and more extensive monster descriptions than both earlier[1] and later editions, with usually one page in length.[6][7][8][9][10]: 106–107 Next to a description, monster entries in this edition contained standardized sections covering combat, their habit and society, and their role in the eco-system.[6][7][11] While later editions gave the various creatures all the attributes which player characters had,[9][12] 2nd edition only listed intelligence[6][7] as a characteristic important for creating challenging encounters in the game.[13]
The 2nd edition also used a unique format in the form of Monstrous Compendiums of loose sheets that could be collected in a folder, and allowed the combination of monster books together with individual monster pages from boxed sets.[6][10]: 106–107 [1] This "unruly" format was abandoned again in 1993 in favor of bound books.[5]: 247 [7][14]: 83 In parallel with this change, the 2nd edition introduced colored images for each monster, which became standard in later editions of the game.[15]: 24 [7][9][16] Referencing Wizards of the Coast art director Dawn Murin, GameSpy author Allan Rausch found that until the 2nd edition the artwork depicting monsters was influenced by the popular culture of the late 1970s. As a result, creatures that were fearsome by description were not taken seriously due to ill-suited visuals. Likewise, humanoid monsters too closely resembled humans to be compelling. In the view of Rausch as well as Backstab reviewer Michaël Croitoriu, the Planescape setting marked a turning point for these shortcomings, which also had a significant impact on the presentation of the 3rd edition.[17][18]
The second edition's monsters were based on original inventions, fantasy literature, and mythologies from various cultures.[1][14]: 27, 29 Many monsters were updated from earlier editions, but the 2nd edition also introduced a great number of new creatures.[7][8]
Some types, such as devils and demons, were initially removed by TSR in response to a moral panic promoted by Patricia Pulling's advocacy group Bothered About Dungeons and Dragons (BADD).[19]: 129–130 [20][5]: 223 These were later reintroduced, sometimes with different names to avoid complaints.[14]: 83–84 [21]
TSR 2102 – MC1 – Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989)
TSR 2102 – MC1 – Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989) – ISBN0-88038-738-6
This was the initial volume in the Monstrous Compendium series, for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, published in 1989. Most of the monsters for Volume One were taken from previous first edition AD&D books; the monster entries were greatly expanded and in most cases each monster now filled an entire page and had an all-new illustration. The Monstrous Compendium series consisted of a pack of 5-hole punched loose-leaf pages rather than an actual book, designed to be arranged to the player's preference. Volume One of the Monstrous Compendium was packaged in a box, which contained the pack of monster sheets as well as a binder intended to store the sheets for Volumes One, Two, and Three. The pack consisted of 144 pages, unnumbered, and included a "How To Use This Book" page, with an alphabetical index to Volume One on the back, four pages of monster summoning and random encounter charts, and a blank monster sheet to be photocopied, with the remainder consisting of the monster descriptions. Also included were eight full-page illustrations on heavier card stock.
Note: All monsters from MC1 appeared in the Monstrous Manual (1993), though some had slightly altered headings.
Creature
Other appearances
Variants
Description
Aerial servant
Monster Manual (1977), Guide to the Ethereal Plane (1998)
A form of invisible air kin elemental that can be summoned by a cleric; it is very strong and usually attacks by strangling an opponent
The giant bat is exactly what its name would suggest—a giant form of bat with a 6' wingspan. White Dwarf reviewer Jamie Thomson commented on the giant bat, noting that it "seems an obvious choice for D&D".[22]
Bear
Monster Manual (1977) (Black, brown, cave bear), Monster Manual II (1983) (Polar bear as Northern bear)
A large orb protected by chitinous plates,[23]: 137 dominated by a central eye and a large toothy maw, with 10 smaller eyes on stalks sprouting from the top of the orb; the large eye negates all magic and the smaller eyes cause a variety of magical effects. A "creature that looks at you and is destroying you by the power of its magical eyes".[24] A terrible beast, but depicted as "a cuddly rosy ball with too many eyes".[25] Designed to counter magic-using characters while being a formidable opponent for a whole party due to its versatility.[1] Considered one of "the game's signature monsters" by Philip J. Clements.[26]: 133 A "classic"[27] "iconic", as well as "one of the most feared and fearsome monsters of the game", present through all editions.[5]: 5, 40–41, 65
A 2-foot-tall (0.61 m), benign humanoid relative of the halfling that is difficult to surprise, and can blend into its surroundings. The brownie was written up as a player character race in White Dwarf No. 29 (Feb. 1982) for AD&D 1st Edition by Bob Lock in 1982.[28]
A bizarre creature that inhabits swamps, the large bloodshot eyes of its unusually heavy head emanate a ray that causes other creatures to simply die. David M. Ewalt described it as "an overweight buffalo with stumpy legs, a giraffe-like neck, and a warthog's head".[23]: 138 An "old personal favorite" of reviewer Mark Theurer,[30]Black Gate editor Howard Andrew Jones remarked on their presence throughout the game's history.[31]
A woodland being with the upper half of a human and the lower body of a large powerful horse, it is a sociable tribal creature. Based on the creature from Greek mythology.[1][3][32]
The chimera is based on the chimera of Greek mythology as found in the Iliad by Homer,[33][34] "stronger than a centaur but weaker than a sphinx".[32] Present in the game since the earliest edition.[5]: 45
A 12-foot-long (3.7 m) feathered serpent native to jungle regions, of lawful good alignment, with great magical and psionic power. Based on the creature from Mesoamerican religion.[35]
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 alien Coeurl from the short story Black Destroyer by A. E. van Vogt.[1][5]: 71 David M. Ewalt, in his book Of Dice and Men, discussed several monsters appearing in the original Monster Manual, describing displacer beasts as looking like "pumas with thorn-covered tentacles growing out of their shoulders".[23]: 138 Rob Bricken from io9 named the displacer beast as the 2nd most memorable D&D monster.[36]
Powerful and intelligent, usually winged reptiles with magical abilities and breath weapon.[37] The different subraces, distinguished by their colouring, vary in power.[38] The dragon has been referred to as the "iconic creature for D&D adventurers to conquer".[39]: 34 [40]
-- Dragon, Black
Dungeons & Dragons set (1974), D&D Basic Set (1977, 1981, 1983), Monster Manual (1977), D&D Companion Rules (1984), Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), Monster Manual (2000), Monster Manual v.3.5 (2003), D&D Miniatures: Dragoneye set #44 (2004), D&D Icons: Gargantuan Black Dragon (2006), D&D Miniatures: Unhallowed set #55 (2007)
Evil[41] chaotic-aligned dragons that spit acid.[37] They have horns projecting forward, a long body and thin tail.[25]
Evil[41] lawful-aligned dragons that discharge a bolt of lightning.[37] They have a distinctive horn on their snout.[25]
-- Dragon, Brass
Greyhawk set (1974), Monster Manual (1977), D&D Basic Set (1997), Monster Manual (2000), Monster Manual v.3.5 (2003), D&D Miniatures: Dragoneye set #14 (2004), D&D Miniatures: Unhallowed set #19 (2007)
Benevolent and talkative good-aligned[41] desert-dwelling dragons that can breathe sleep gas[37] or fear-causing gas. An example of content misrepresented by the game's detractors.[19]: xii
-- Dragon, Bronze
Greyhawk set (1974), Monster Manual (1977), Monster Manual (2000), Monster Manual v.3.5 (2003), D&D Miniatures: War Drums set #7 (2006)
Good[41] and lawful-aligned dragons that breathe a bolt of lightning or a repulsion gas cloud.[37]
-- Dragon, Copper
Greyhawk set (1974), Monster Manual (1977), Monster Manual (2000), Monster Manual v.3.5 (2003), D&D Miniatures: Angelfire set #21 (2005), D&D Miniatures: Desert of Desolation #23 (2007)
Good[41] and chaotic-aligned dragons that breathe a discharge of acid or a cloud of gas that slows creatures.[37]
-- Dragon, Gold
Dungeons & Dragons set (1974), Monster Manual (1977), D&D Basic Set (1981, 1983), D&D Companion Rules (1984), Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), Monster Manual (2000), Monster Manual v.3.5 (2003), D&D Miniatures: Giants of Legend set #61 (2004), D&D Miniatures: Deathknell set #7 (2005)
Good[41] and lawful-aligned dragons that breathe fire[37] or chlorine gas.
-- Dragon, Green
Dungeons & Dragons set (1974), Monster Manual (1977), D&D Basic Set (1981, 1983), D&D Companion Rules (1984), Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), Monster Manual (2000), Monster Manual v.3.5 (2003). D&D Miniatures: War of the Dragon Queen set #38 (2005)
Evil[41] lawful-aligned dragons that breathe a cloud of poisonous[37] chlorine gas.[42]
-- Dragon, Red
Dungeons & Dragons set (1974), D&D Basic Set (1977, 1981, 1983), Monster Manual (1977), D&D Companion Rules (1984), Dragon No. 134 "The Ecology of the Red Dragon" (1988), Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), Monster Manual (2000), Monster Manual v.3.5 (2003), D&D Miniatures: Dragoneye set #55 (2004), D&D Miniatures: Giants of Legend set #71 (2004), D&D Icons: Colossal Red Dragon (2006)
Evil[41] chaotic-aligned dragons that breathe a cone of fire.[37] According to Dant et al. "one of the most fearsome and classic monsters" in role-playing games.[43]
-- Dragon, Silver
Greyhawk set (1974), Monster Manual (1977), Monster Manual (2000), Monster Manual v.3.5 (2003), D&D Miniatures: Archfiends set #5 (2004)
Good[41] and lawful-aligned dragons that breathe a cone of frost or a cloud of paralyzing gas.[37]
-- Dragon, White
Dungeons & Dragons set (1974), D&D Basic Set (1977, 1981, 1983), Monster Manual (1977), D&D Companion Rules (1984), Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), Monster Manual (2000), Monster Manual v.3.5 (2003), D&D Miniatures: Night Below #58 (2007), D&D Icons: Legend of Drizzt Scenario Pack (2007) ("Icingdeath, Gargantuan White Dragon")
Evil[41] chaotic-aligned dragons that breathe a cone of cold.[37]
Based on Tolkien's version of the elf,[3] "quick but fragile", with senses surpassing a human's, often depicted as "effeminate" and "predisposed towards a "good" moral alignment".[26]: 14, 26, 68
Based on notions from Middle Eastern culture,[2][5]: 244 genies in the game are powerful elemental spirits from the Inner Planes, each of the four classical elements having its own subspecies of genie: djinn for air, dao for earth, efreet for fire. The djinn and efreet have namesakes from Arabic folklore also associated with air and fire, respectively. The dao were newly invented for the game altogether to fill the gap for the remaining element.[45]: 485–493 A depiction of an "evil [...] efreet" already appeared in the original Dungeons & Dragons (1974) edition, another "enormous, devilish red" one was the main feature of the cover of the 1st edition Dungeon Master's Guide. Within the game's cosmology they were based on the Plane of Fire, centered around the "fabled City of Brass". They feature especially in the Al-Qadim setting.[5]: 20–21, 85, 87, 244–245
Ghost
Inspired by Gothic fiction, a typical denizen of the Ravenloft setting.[35]
Overlarge powerful humanoids with a self-involved social focus,[45]: 8 usually presented as the "bad guys".[46] Based on mythological figures and Tolkien, their stone-throwing ability indicates their creative roots in wargaming.[33][1]
Vicious humanoids with hyena-like heads. Richard W. Forest assumed them to be inspired from but not resembling the gnoles conceived by Lord Dunsany,[1] 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.[47] Gnolls were considered one of the "five main "humanoid" races" in AD&D by Paul Karczag and Lawrence Schick.[10]: 92
Player character race "often stereotyped as buffoons, illusionists, mad inventors, and many characters play them as intentionally "wacky" or anachronistic"; often conforms to the trickster archetype. "predisposed towards a "good" moral alignment".[26]: 23, 31, 67
Based primarily on the goblins portrayed in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth.[48] Considered one of the "five main "humanoid" races" in AD&D by Paul Karczag and Lawrence Schick.[10]: 92 Presented as "evil" and "predisposed towards a society of brutal regimes where the strongest rule" in the game.[26]: 48, 66, 134 Suitable opponent for characters of lowest level.[49]
The clay golem is based on the golem of Medieval Jewish folklore, though changed from "a cherished defender to an unthinking hulk"[50][33] while the flesh golem is related to Frankenstein's monster as Universal's 1931 film, seen in e.g. being empowered by electricity,[1] as well as Gothic fiction more generally; a typical denizen of the Ravenloft setting,[35] and "classic" monster of the game.[27] The influence of Dungeons & Dragons has led to the inclusion of golems in other tabletop role-playing as well as in video games.[51]
Golem, greater
Stone and Iron
Inspired by Gothic fiction, a typical denizen of the Ravenloft setting,[35] and "classic" monster of the game.[27]
Muscular humanoids somewhat taller than humans with reddish skin and canine teeth.[23]: 215 Koalinth are an undersea variation.[54] Reviewer Declan Lowthian included them among the "15 Best Monsters For Coastal D&D Adventures", because the provide a more organized and tactical opponent than most other coastal creatures of the game, and also could be negotiated with rather than providing purely combat encounters.[55]
Based on the creature from classical sources,[1][34] with Heracles' famed method of slaying it adapted into a vulnerability against fire, but not with the less well-known venomous bite, showing how the game mostly focusses on the well-known traits of mythological creatures.[32] Present in the game since its inception.[5]: 26
Minor fiends which could be created from larvae.[56] Reviewer Philippe Tessier found the quasit "very nice" and interesting when made available as a familiar.[27][5]: 4
"[S]hort subterranean lizard-men",[23]: 66 considered one of the "five main "humanoid" races" in AD&D by Paul Karczag and Lawrence Schick,[10]: 92 and ranked among the weakest monsters in the game by Scott Baird from Screen Rant.[57]
Lich: Emaciated[27]undead spellcaster,[59] a "classic" monster of the game.[27]Demilich: Evolved beyond status as a lich. Creature of enormous powers, where only the skull remains.[60] Tyler Linn of Cracked.com identified the demi-lich as one of "15 Idiotic Dungeons and Dragons Monsters" in 2009, stating: "Besides looking like a Pirates of the Caribbean alarm clock, the Demi-lich seems to possess no tactical advantages of any kind. It just kind of floats around, waiting for a party of heroes to smack it out of the air like a pinata. We suppose it could try to bite you, but the illustration above kind of makes it look like the jaw is fused in place. Man, now we just feel sorry for it."[61] Ranked among the strongest in Screen Rant's "10 Most Powerful (And 10 Weakest) Monsters, Ranked", saying "You might think that a floating skull would be easy to smash to pieces, but you would be wrong, as demiliches are some of the most resilient creatures in the game."[57]
Lizardfolk are primitive reptilian humanoids typically standing from six to seven feet tall. A player character race in some settings.[62][63] Reviewer Chris Gigoux described them by saying "Lizard Men aren't bad, [...] they're just a simple folks, struggling to survive."[64] In 2020, Comic Book Resources counted the lizardfolk as # 1 on the list of "10 Powerful Monster Species That You Should Play As", stating that "Along with the ability to manufacture their own weapons from the natural environment around them, they provide an excellent role-playing experience and have some pretty awesome tricks up their sleeve."[65] An image of a lizard man by Greg Bell functioned as the logo in the early phase of TSR Hobbies,[5]: 42–43, 47, 81 while "the bloodied bodies of lizard men" overcome by a group of adventurers featured on the cover of the 1st edition Player's Handbook, considered "arguably the most iconic piece of art in all of RPGdom" by Reactor magazine commentator Saladin Ahmed.[66]
Afflicted shapechangers, whose condition could be transmitted like a disease;[67] some available as player character races. Depiction of the werewolf is related to those in 1930s and 1940s Hollywood movies like The Wolf Man.[1] Ranked sixth among the ten best low-level monsters by the authors of Dungeons & 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."[68]: 373 The presence of lycanthropes in the gaming system is one of the elements that has led Christian fundamentalists to condemn Dungeons & Dragons and to associate it with the occult.[69]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". It notes that "[i]n exchange for learning how to control your condition, you gain Damage Reduction, +2 to your Wisdom stat, the Scent ability, Low-Light Vision, a new Hit Dice, the Iron Will feat, and the ability to transform into a more powerful form".[70] An illustration in one edition of the Monster Manual implied that the beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast was a lycanthrope, with a creature having a resemblance to the Beast attacking a human resembling that film's antagonist, Gaston.[71] 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 original D&D.[5]: 26–27
Based on the creature from classical sources[1][3][34] but translated into species of monsters[29][34] originated from "humans seeking eternal youth".[32] Reviewer Allan Rausch found their portrayal as "a woman with snakes for hair" up to 2nd edition less compelling than their less human-like depiction in 3rd edition.[17] Part of the game from its very beginning, a medusa was already depicted in the playtest material from 1973 for the original edition.[5]: 21
Human variants. The game aims to present humans with the same diversity found in the real world and more, but in most cases they are statistically comparatively homogeneous, and depictions have often suffered from Eurocentrism. As the players are humans, in the game humans are the standard against which other playable races are compared,[12] and often promoted "as the best or most versatile characters".[74] Berserkers are based on the berserkir, "men of Odin, whom the god made strong like wild beasts", from Icelandic sagas and Snorri Sturluson's history of the kings of Norway.[75]
Also known as illithids, these "Squid-headed humanoids" were considered one of "the game's signature monsters" by Philip J. Clements.[26]: 133 Reviewer Julien Blondel described them as vile brain-eating creatures full of psionic energy. He found them delightful creatures for a sadistic Dungeon Master to use, and a useful bridge between classic game worlds and the planes, as illithids abound in both.[76]
Based on the creature from Greek mythology,[1][3][32][78] but translated from a singular creature into a species.[34] In 2021, Comic Book Resources counted the minotaur as one of the "7 Underused Monster Races in Dungeons & Dragons", stating that "far from just brutal monsters. Many are lawful by nature, which means, surprisingly, Minotaurs make for some good Paladins. They also, obviously, make for some good Barbarians, Monks and Fighters. There's a lot of potential with Minotaurs. People hate and fear them, but you might be able to play that to your advantage...or fight against the stereotypes."[79] The minotaur was among the monsters featured as trading cards on the back of Amurol Products candy figure boxes.[5]: 161, 163
Mud-man
Screen Rant compiled a list of the game's "10 Most Powerful (And 10 Weakest) Monsters, Ranked" in 2018, calling this one of the weakest, saying "The mudmen are magically bound to their pool of mud, which means that the only way they can defeat an enemy is if they walk right into the middle of a dirty puddle. They will then have to score numerous hits in order to prevent the enemy from running away."[57]
Powerful undead usually from desert areas, wrapped in bandages. Based on the creature from Gothic fiction and appearances in more contemporary entertainment, a typical denizen of the Ravenloft setting.[35][80] In his review of the Monster Manual in the British magazine White Dwarf No. 8 (August/September 1978), Don Turnbull noted that the mummy was revised from its previous statistics, and could now cause paralysis on sight (as a result of fear).[81]
Based on the nymph from Greek mythology,[1][3] also an instance of the sexist tropes the game draws on which presented female sexuality as inherently dangerous.[26]: 94 Appeared in the movie Futurama: Bender's Game.[82]
Large, powerful humanoid creatures, with slightly below average intelligence.[45]: 249, 257 [83] Typical bad guys in the game,[46] who can be used to teach "players about fighting big, powerful, stupid monsters, which is an iconic D&D experience".[68]: 356
Ochre Jelly, Gray Ooze, Crystal Ooze, Gelatinous cube and Green Slime
"D&D's large variety of monstrous oozes and slimes took their original inspiration from Irvin S. Yeathworth Jr's The Blob" movie. In the artificial dungeon environment of the game, they function as a "clean up crew". The gelatinous cube, "a living mound of gelatinous jelly",[23]: 138 was considered especially suited for that role, as it fit exactly in the standard grid for tactical combat. Considered an "iconic monster".[1]SyFy Wire contributor Lisa Granshaw counted oozes among "The 9 Scariest, Most Unforgettable Monsters From Dungeons & Dragons" and found them "extremely disturbing because everything may seem fine one minute and then the next you're on the way to death."[84]D&D's slimes have served as inspiration for appearances of this kind of monster in many video games.[85]
Directly adapted from the orc in J.R.R. Tolkien's works.[1] Considered one of the "five main "humanoid" races" in AD&D by Paul Karczag and Lawrence Schick.[10]: 92 Presented as "evil" and "savage raiders" in the game.[26]: 48, 95
Newly created for the game early on inspired by a Hong Kong–made plastic toy,[86][5]: 66 the owlbear was well-received as a useful and memorable monster.[36][87][88]
Winged horse. Taken from greek mythology, an example of the diverse cultures amalgamated into D&D.[32][89] Part of the game from its very beginning, a pegasus was already depicted in the playtest material from 1973 for the original edition.[5]: 21
"a miniature dragon that also has a tail stinger"[37] Reviewer Philippe Tessier found it "very nice" and interesting when made available as a familiar.[27]
Puddings, deadly
Black, White, Dun and Brown
"D&D's large variety of monstrous oozes and slimes took their original inspiration from Irvin S. Yeathworth Jr's The Blob" movie.[1]
Based on the creature from Hindu mythology.[35] Humanoid fiends with tigerlike-features, Reactor magazine commentator Saladin Ahmed rated them as "ultimate badass monsters". He found a depiction sitting with pipe and smoking-jacket fitting on second thought, as the creature is so powerful it has no need to prove its dangerousness.[66]
Rat
Common and Giant
Example of a monster posing little threat to the characters in the game,[23]: 22 suitable for play at lowest level.[49]
Scorpions have the distinction of having been the very first combat encounter in the first playtest, run by Gary Gygax, of the original version of the game.[23]: 65–66 Giant: Scorpion the size of a horse, its stinger carries a deadly poison.[39]: 148–149
In his review of the Monster Manual in the British magazine White Dwarf No. 8 (August/September 1978), Don Turnbull noted his disappointment that the shadow is of the undead class and thus subject to a cleric's turn undead ability. Turnbull commented, "I used to enjoy seeing clerics vainly trying to turn what wouldn't turn, when Shadows were first met".[81] Rob Bricken of io9 identified the shadow as one of "The 12 Most Obnoxious Dungeons & Dragons Monsters".[90]
Skeleton of a deceased creature animated as an undead. The skeleton was ranked second among the ten best low-level monsters by the authors of Dungeons & Dragons For Dummies: "introduces players to the special advantages and weaknesses of undead monsters". They also thank Ray Harryhausen for people knowing what fighting skeletons ought to look like.[68]Screen Rant ranked the tiny skeleton one of the weakest D&D creatures, saying "[skeletons] go all the way down to Tiny-sized creatures, which means that it is possible for your party of adventurers to fight a group of skeletons that are the same size as action figures."[57]
Troll, Two-Headed Troll, Freshwater and Saltwater Scrag
Tall green-skinned[43] evil gaunt humanoids. A characteristic denizen of AD&D worlds.[2] Their appearance and powerful regenerative ability is taken from Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson rather than from their mythological or Tolkienesque counterparts.[1][33][75] Considered one of the "five main "humanoid" races" in AD&D by Paul Karczag and Lawrence Schick.[10]: 92
Umber hulk
Umber Hulk and Vodyanoi
They are a type of humanoid insect. They have long mandible arms with powerful claws. Anyone looking into their eyes can be driven mad. Present in the game since the earliest edition.[5]: 45
Depiction is related to those in 1930s and 1940s Hollywood Dracula movies,[1] as well as folklore[80] and Gothic fiction; a typical denizen of the Ravenloft setting[35][2] and "classic" monster of the game.[27]
Thin humanoid undead.[92] Directly adapted from the barrow-wight in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings,[1][14]: 27 while the concept is inspired by Icelandic sagas.[75] Rob Bricken of io9 identified the wight as one of "The 12 Most Obnoxious Dungeons & Dragons Monsters".[90]
Worgs are giant wolves inspired by the wargs in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien; the name was changed for legal reasons, while both the word and concept ultimately go back to Old Norse idea of varg, which can refer to wolves in their violent aspect.[75]
Wolfwere
A reverse of a werewolf, that transforms from a wolf to either a humanoid or an humanoid-wolf hybrid instead of from a human to a humanoid wolf.
Dragon-like in overall appearance, the wyvern features a serpentine head, wings, scales, but only two legs and no breath weapon. Its tail is equipped with a poisonous tail stinger.[37]
A species of "cult-like snake people"[93] and among "D&D's most popular and iconic monsters".[94] The original yuan-ti castes were the abominations, the halfbreeds, and the purebloods, which first appeared in the module Dwellers of the Forbidden City (1981),[95][96][97] In the adventure, the characters are hired to find an object taken to a lost oriental-style city, which has been taken over by a cult of snake-worshipers, the yuan-ti, and their servants, the mongrelmen and tasloi.[10]: 101 The types have been summarized by A.V. Club as "a human-eating snake, or human-snake hybrid eater of humans and snakes, or other human-snake hybrids."[98] Snakes and snake-worship used in fiction have been criticized as characteristic of Orientalism.[99] The publication history, digital and print, of yuan-ti falls into this pattern as they serve as uncomplicated antagonists in "exotic" settings.[45][100][101] Graeme Barber, a game designer noted for his critique of racism in Dungeons & Dragons,[102] used yuan-ti in his contribution to the book Candlekeep Mysteries. Controversy arose after Wizards of the Coast, according to Barber, altered his depiction of yuan-ti.[103] Summarizing his critique of the simplistic portrayal, Barber wrote, "Yuan-ti are evil because evil."[104] Keith Ammann, in his 2019 book The Monsters Know What They're Doing, commented of the yuan-ti purebloods that "Yuan-ti have had hundreds of generations to live and adapt on their own, so they'll have the same self-preservation instinct as any evolved species."[45] TheGamer.com in April 2021 listed the yuan-ti pureblood as No. 2 on their list of "10 Most Underrated Races That Are Better Than You Think".[105]CBR.com listed the yuan-ti pure blood as No. 5 on their list of "Top 10 Playable Species In D&D".[106]
Based on the zombie from folklore as well as more contemporary entertainment.[80]
TSR 2103 – MC2 – Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989)
TSR 2103 – MC2 – Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989) – ISBN0-88038-753-X
This was the second volume in the Monstrous Compendium series, for the second edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, published in 1989. As with Volume One, most of the monsters for Volume Two were taken from previous first edition AD&D books, with greatly expanded entries that now filled an entire page and had an all-new illustration. Volume Two was packaged in a wraparound cover, and the pages were designed to fit in the binder that came with Volume One of the Monstrous Compendium. The pack consisted of 144 pages, unnumbered, and included a 2-page alphabetical index to Volume One and Volume Two, 10 pages of monster summoning and random encounter charts, and a blank monster sheet to be photocopied with a sheet of instructions for the blank monster form, with the remainder consisting of the monster descriptions. Also included were 8 full-page illustrations on heavier card stock.
Note: All monsters from MC2 appeared in the Monstrous Manual (1993), though some had slightly altered headings.
Creature
Other appearances
Variants
Description
Aarakocra
In 2020, Comic Book Resources counted the aarakocra as # 9 on the list of "10 Powerful Monster Species That You Should Play As", stating that "As long as they're not wearing heavy or medium armor you have a flying sniper, essentially."[65]
Based on the creature from medieval bestiaries.[1] In the original Monster Manual it is described as a reptilian monster whose gaze can turn creatures to stone.[107]
Also called land shark, inspired by a plastic toy from Hong Kong.[1] In his 2019 book The Monsters Know What They're Doing, author Keith Ammann called bulettes "brutes tailor-made to give your players jump scares" and found its preferences and aversions for the meat of different humanoid races "ludicrous".[45]: 157–158
Lion-headed dragon-like creature, it was "Originally described as 'a weird cross between a brass dragon and a giant lion'". Present "in every edition of the game", James Wyatt stated it was "probably the oldest manifestation in the game of the idea of a half-dragon". Renamed to liondrake in 5th edition.[108][5]: 164–165
Based on the dryad from classical sources.[1] The dryad appears as a player character class in Tall Tales of the Wee Folk in the "DM's booklet" (1989).[10]: 146
Based on Tolkien's version of the dwarf.[3][26]: 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".[26]: 58, 67, 78, 165
"the infamous dark dwarves",[109] an "evil and avaricious" dwarven subrace[110]: 152 with psionic powers. ComicBook.com contributor Christian Hoffer considered the struggle of the duergar with their dwarven cousins one "of the great conflicts that make up the D&D multiverse".[111]Backstab reviewer Michaël Croitoriu found the duergar interesting as a player character option.[46]
Made famous by R. A. Salvatore's Drizzt novels, these dark elves from the game influenced subsequent works of fantasy.[1] Drow have a gender-based caste system that says "a great deal about attitudes towards gender roles in the real world".[26]: 34 A drider is a "monster that looks like a centaur only with the bottom half of a spider instead of a horse."[112]
Author Ben Woodard called D&D's fungi horrific in their variety, not only due to their poisonous nature but their creepy ability to move.[113] Scott Baird from Screen Rant ranked the man-sized shrieker among the weakest monsters in the game, at "the bottom of the mushroom monster food chain": They "can be used as cheap alarm systems for Underdark societies, but they possess no combat abilities of their own. The only thing a shrieker can do is shriek".[57]
Based on notions from Middle Eastern culture,[2] genies in the game are powerful elemental spirits from the Inner Planes, each of the four classical elements having its own subspecies of genie. Marids were largely changed from their mythological namesakes to fit to the element of water. Keith Ammann assumes the game's creators were inspired by the syllable mar- meaning "sea" in Latin, even though there is no such connection in Arabic.[45]: 485–493
One-eyed giants[114] based on Greek mythology.[33] Ranked tenth among the ten best mid-level 4th Edition monsters by the authors of Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition For Dummies.[114]
Bleeding Cool found the firbolg one "of the more distinctive race options in the D&D multiverse".[94]Comic Book Resources counted them as one of the "7 Underused Monster Races in Dungeons & Dragons", stating that "Firbolgs are a blend of strength and magic, making them useful for classes that blend the two. Firbolgs work well as Clerics and Druids, but they can also make for a good Ranger. Your harmony with nature will leave you definitely wanting to have a nature focus, but you'll also stand out in a crowd. As a naturally shy race, be sure to consider that when playing your character. Typically speaking, Firbolgs aren't aggressive."[79]
Immortal wicked and ugly powerful females with magical abilities for deception. Based on the pervasive figure from folklore, with "different interpretations of the monster around the world" being worked into different variants in the game, allowing each "a little more personality".[80] In the view of Stang and Trammel, hags in D&D represent misogynistic and ageist tendencies in their authors.[56][115]SyFy Wire in 2018 called it one of "The 9 Scariest, Most Unforgettable Monsters From Dungeons & Dragons", saying that "There are endless horrific possibilities when it comes to hags."[84]
In his review of the Monster Manual, Don Turnbull noted in the British magazine White Dwarf No. 8 (August/September 1978) that the breath weapon of the "much-feared" hell hound had been altered from its previous appearance.[81]
Based on medieval bestiaries. "Depicted as the front half of a horse and the rear half of a fish or sea-serpent."[33] Tyler Linn of Cracked.com listed it among the "15 Most Idiotic Monsters In Dungeons & Dragons History". He did not think " it would pose much of a threat" "and was intended to be one of the good guys", but found the depiction "douchey".[61]
Originally based on the creature from Persian mythology[35] the adapted hippogriff "was among the earliest fantasy beasts introduced into the Dungeons & Dragons universe":[72] An artistic representation drawing inspiration from real eagles and horses was used for the cover of the third booklet of the original Dungeons & Dragons (1974) edition and became one of "the game's earlies ambassadors" through use of that cover in advertisements.[5]: 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.[116]
Golden-scaled flying equine exemplar of good with one horn. Based on the kirin from Japanese mythology,[3] an example of the diverse cultures amalgamated into D&D.[89]Black Gate reviewer Howard Andrew Jones called them "old stalwarts" of the game.[31]
An original creation for the game's artificial underground environment, this monster was designed as a trap for unwary player characters; the trapper camouflages as a piece of floor, engulfing a victim stepping on it.[1] Rob Bricken of io9 identified the lurker and the trapper as two of "The 12 Most Obnoxious Dungeons & Dragons Monsters".[90]
Reviewer Philippe Tessier described the rabbit, when made available as a familiar, as little and "doesn't look like much", but valued it as cute, interesting and useful for detecting traps.[27]
An original creation for the game's artificial underground environment, this "iconic monster" looks like a treasure chest and is designed as a trap for unwary player characters.[1]
In the artificial dungeon environment of the game, molds function as a "clean up crew".[1]
Mongrelman
Morkoth
Paste magazine reviewer Cameron Kunzelmann found the morkoth an inventive and "super weird" monster beyond the game's staples.[118]
Muckdweller
Myconid (fungus man)
A "race of [man-sized] sentient fungus creatures", "some of which pack a mean punch", and which have the "ability to spray poisons that can disable their foes".[57]
A black moss that steals memories and forms a tiny version of the robbed person which can use the memories to fight. The obliviax appeared on Geek.com's list of "The most underrated monsters of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons", because ingesting the moss can transfer the memories, an "interesting" concept which lends itself to "Christopher Nolan-esque adventures that will be both universally applauded and terribly confusing at the same time."[119]
A dangerous inhabitant of the Underdark[122] with "murderous behavior".[123] One of the original creations for the game, Witwer et al. rated them among the "iconic D&D monsters".[5]: 39, 45
Rot grub
An original creation for the game's artificial underground environment, this monster was designed as a trap for unwary player characters: living in corpses, they infect those who disturb these dead searching for riches.[1]
Large armored tick-like monster which devours metals. 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.[124] 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.[1][36][90][5]: 91, 93 [23]: 138 Chris Sims of the on-line magazine Comics Alliance referred to the rust monster as "the most feared D&D monster".[125]
Sahuagin
Also called 'Sea Devils', these fishperson eschewers of magic with two or four arms domesticate sharks and are in frequent conflict and intrigue with sea-elves.
Intelligent stealthy jelly creature. Either evolved from simpler relatives, or persons magically transfigured[7] "by hags and liches into a blobby puddle of remains" motivated by revenge. Reviewer Zack Furniss saw the monster on the "more horrific side of D&D" and observed: "even once they've found their vengeance, they're still a nasty blob and often go insane because they can't find satiation or communicate. Grim stuff."[126]
Flying and blood-sucking[29] bird-like creatures. "[P]esky" because while small they are dangerous to characters as a swarm. Present in the game since its earliest edition.[5]: 44
Ranked among the strongest monsters in the game by Scott Baird from Screen Rant, "the ultimate challenge for many players".[57] Rob Bricken from io9 named the tarrasque as the 10th most memorable D&D monster.[36] The tarrasque appeared on the 2018 Screen Rant top list at No. 5 on " Dungeons & Dragons: The 20 Most Powerful Creatures, Ranked", and Scott Baird highlighted that "The tarrasque is currently the most powerful creature in the 5th edition of Dungeons & Dragons, where it is matched only by Tiamat in terms of its combat prowess."[127]
Based on the stock character of the primitive caveman, Gary Gygax portrayed the troglodyte in the game as more monstrous, with chaotic and evil behaviour, offensive smell and lizard-like characteristics.[128] The troglodyte was among the monsters featured as trading cards on the back of Amurol Products candy figure boxes.[5]: 161, 163
First published in White Dwarf No. 9 (October/November 1978), submitted by Nick Louth.[129] It was voted among the top ten monsters from the magazine's "Fiend Factory" column and reprinted in Best of White Dwarf Articles (1980).[130][131][132]
The "dread purple worm" attacks with both ends,[73]: 268 maw and stinger. This "iconic monster" and original creation of Dungeons & Dragons is present all editions of the game.[5]: 26, 28–29
Creeping plant that drains the intelligence of its victims, possibly turning them into "zombies" under the plant's control. Ben Woodard found it an expression of the "seemingly endless morphology of fungal creep and toxicological capacity" within the game.[113]
This appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series was designed for use with the Forgotten Realmscampaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. The pack consisted of 64 5-hole punched unnumbered loose-leaf pages.
Fiend Folio (1981), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
Burbur
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
Claw, Crawling
Monstrous Manual (1993)
Screen Rant ranked the crawling claw among the 10 weakest monsters in 2018: "At best, you can use a bunch of them to act as a distraction or as a screen while another villain prepares a spell or trap."[57]
Cloaker
Monstrous Manual (1993)
An original creation for the game's artificial underground environment, this monster was designed as a trap for unwary player characters; it looks like a living cloak with teeth.[1]
Considered among the "standard repertoire of "Monsters"",[3] and among the 12 most underrated monsters, "a creature as large and fearsome as a dragon but without all the hype".[119]
Dracolich
Monstrous Manual (1993)
A dragon made even more powerful by transforming into an undead version of itself, which can only be destroyed if "its phylactery is taken to another dimension". Ranked among the strongest monsters in the game by Scott Baird from Screen Rant.[57] It was also one of the first new creatures introduced for the Forgotten Realmscampaign setting.[41]
Thessalmonsters, an original invention from the D&D game, were created rather than born, by hybridizing different creatures. A thessalhydra combines elements of a hydra and a lizard, but with its eight heads surrounding a great maw. It also features a thoothed tail, toxic breath, and regenerative ability. It appeared in the TV series Stranger Things.[134][135] Reviewer matseric observed that the chances to overcome this creature only as a team hearken back to Hercules and Iolaus working together to defeat the original hydra.[135]
Thri-kreen (Mantis Warrior)
Monstrous Manual (1993)
"Praying mantis man" with four arms and a poisonous bite,[136] "invented by Paul Reiche III for the AD&D Monster Cards Set 2 (1982)",[137] reviewer Mark Theurer considered them an "old personal favorite".[30] With their additional limbs and specialized chatkcha and gythka weapons, thri-kreen were infamous as player characters optimized to do extreme amounts of damage. J.R. Zambrano found them "an interesting race" and preferred their "2nd Edition aesthetic" to others.[138]
This appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series was designed for use with the Dragonlancecampaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. The pack consisted of 96 5-hole punched loose-leaf pages, unnumbered, and included a "How To Use This Book" page, a page with alphabetical index, 4 pages of random encounter charts, and 2 pages with the compiled game statistics, with the remainder consisting of the descriptions of the fictional monsters. Also included were 4 full-page illustrations on heavier card stock.
A "dragon-like humanoid species",[139]: 167 born from embryos of good dragons corrupted by evil magic, are "cast as beings of pure horror",[140] and "abominations"; "added to further support the world's foundational themes."[5]: 173
-- Draconian, Aurak
-- Draconian, Baaz
-- Draconian, Bozak
Barton and Stacks described this draconian as the "ever-popular bozak whose bones explode upon death".[139]: 166
A "tiny, dirty, unorganized folk", but having heart;[141] known for their limited ability to count.[142] Gully dwarves could be used as player characters in the D&D game. They were by design weaker than other character options, and so only appealing to few players who "enjoy the underdog status" they provided.[143]
A "diminutive and highly playful race that resembles Tolkien's hobbit", with the ability to drive enemies into a rage by taunting them.[139]: 166 Witwer et al. considered kender "lovable" characters "added to further support the world's foundational themes."[5]: 173
Knight, Death
Monstrous Manual (1993)
A death knight is a "powerful undead warrior",[139]: 167 Shannon Applecline considered this creature created by Charles Stross one of the game's especially notable monsters.[14]: 38
This appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series was designed for use with the Greyhawkcampaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. The pack consisted of 64 5-hole punched loose-leaf pages, unnumbered, and included a "How To Use This Book" page with an alphabetical index, 4 pages of random encounter charts, with the remainder consisting of the descriptions of the fictional monsters. Also included were 4 full-page illustrations on heavier card stock.
"terrifying beaked, tentacled monsters that populate the realm of Underdark".[59] Tyler Linn of Cracked.com listed the grell among the "15 Most Idiotic Monsters In Dungeons & Dragons History" and found that it's movement by floating contributed to it looking ridiculous.[61]
"humanoid tree-frogs" forming "a society of "uncommonly intelligent" humanoid amphibians who were quick to adapt and acquire new skills"; J.R. Zambrano thought of them as a good choice to create a player character race.[145]
A bipedal, subterranean monster that looks like a vulture-like humanoid with bony hooks in place of hands. The hook horror was first published in White Dwarf No. 12 (April–May 1979), and was originally submitted by Ian Livingstone.[146] It was voted among the top ten monsters from the magazine's "Fiend Factory" column and reprinted in Best of White Dwarf Articles (1980).[130][131][132]Ed Greenwood, in his review of the Fiend Folio for Dragon magazine, considered the hook horror as one of the creatures with "strange appearances and little else; there is no depth to their listings" and that it was one of the creatures which "seem incomplete".[147]
Undead consisting of a humanoid skull and giant snake vertebrae, "looks like the skeleton of a Guardian Naga", with venomous bite and mesmerizing powers; first published in White Dwarf No. 7 (June/July 1978), submitted by Simon Tilbrook.[148] In 1980 it was voted the best monster from the magazine's "Fiend Factory" column.[130]
Needleman
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
First published in White Dwarf No. 6 (April 1978), submitted by Trevor Graver.[149] It was voted among the top ten monsters from the magazine's "Fiend Factory" column and reprinted in Best of White Dwarf Articles (1980).[130][131][132]
Plant, Carnivorous
Vampire Cactus, Kampfult and Giant Polyp
Author and gardener Charles Elliott considered D&D's plant species numerous but "not-very-ingenious".[121]
Shannon Applecline considered the flail snail one of the "silly monsters" of the game.[14]: 38 CJ Miozzi included the flail snail on The Escapist's list of "The Dumbest Dungeons & Dragons Monsters Ever (And How To Use Them)".[150] Cameron Kunzelmann found it an inventive and "super weird" monster beyond the game's staples.[118]
Sprite
Monstrous Manual (1993)
Atomie, Grig and Sea Sprite
Taer
Monstrous Manual (1993) (as Mammal)
Tentamort
Turtle
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two (1995) (as Turtle, Giant)
This appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series was designed for use with the Oriental Adventurescampaign setting called Kara-Tur for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. The pack consisted of 64 5-hole punched loose-leaf pages, unnumbered, and included a "How To Use This Book" page with an alphabetical index and 4 pages of random encounter charts, with the remainder consisting of the descriptions of the fictional monsters. Also included were 4 full-page illustrations on heavier card stock.
Race of sentient shapeshifting animals able to adopt humanoid, beast, and hybrid forms.
Hsing-sing
Ape-like creatures naturally peaceful outside of "war-season", during which they become more aggressive.
Hu Hsien
Appears to be an oriental female human with long fox tail. These are magically enchanted, evil women with spell-abilities and an endless hunger for human life energy. They are type vampire capable of shapeshifting.
Primitive, cone-headed humanoids. Cave kala could inject paralyzing venom by biting enemies and Earth kala could infect creatures with diseases through their breath.
Kaluk
Humanoid elephants with an insatiable greed for wealth.
Kraken-headed humanoids that wielded weapons in their tentacles. Reviewer Michael Mullen described the krakentua as "a really nasty new monster" in its first appearance in Night of the Seven Swords.[151]
Kuei
Ghosts of those killed before fulfilling a goal or purpose, similar to a revenant.
This appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series was designed for use with the Spelljammercampaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. The pack consisted of 64 5-hole punched loose-leaf pages, unnumbered, providing the descriptions of the fictional monsters. Also included were 4 full-page illustrations on heavier card stock.
Reviewer Alex Lucard counted the beholder-kin among the "cool monsters" in MC7.[152]
Blazozoid
Chattur
Monstrous Manual (1993) (as Mammal)
Clockwork Horror
1993 Trading Card No. 222, Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (1998), Monster Manual II (2002) (Adamantine, Electrum, Gold, Platinum), Dragon No. 350 "The Ecology of the Clockwork Horror" (2006) (Copper)
Copper, Silver, Electrum, Gold, Platinum and Adamantite
Colossus
Delphinid
Dizantar
Esthetic
Focoid
Fractine
Giant, Spacesea
Golem, Furnace
Reviewer Alex Lucard considered the furnace golem one of the "cool monsters" in MC7.[152]
Golem, Radiant
Gravislayer
Grommam
Hadozee
Critically described by Aaron Trammell as "a simian race of humanoids reminiscent of old minstrel shows", subject of criticism when translated into 5th edition.[74][153]
Hamster, Giant Space
Subterranean, Sabre-Toothed, Rather Wild, Invisible, Sylvan, Jungle, Miniature, Armor-Plated, Yellow Musk, Ethereal, Carnivorous Flying, Two-Headed Lernaean Bombardier, Fire-Breathing Phase Doppelganger, Great Horned, Abominable, Tyrannohamsterus Rex, and Giant Space Hamster of Ill-Omen
Reviewer Alex Lucard considered the various giant space hamsters "the most infamous race of creatures TSR ever put out" and "enough to make the curious pick this [the Spelljammer Monstrous Compendium MC7] up". He found the concept of a tyrannohamsterus rex laughable – until one had to fight one.[152]
Jammer Leech
Lakshu
Lumineaux
Lutum (Mud-Woman)
Mimic, Space
Misi
Moon, Rogue
Mortiss
Murderoid
Nay-Churr
Phlog-Crawler
Pirate of Gith
Monstrous Manual (1993) (as Gith, Pirate)
Plasman
Plasmoid, General
Plasmoid, DeGleash
Plasmoid, DelNoric
Plasmoid, Ontalak
Puffer
Q'nidar
Rastipede
Reviewer Alex Lucard liked the rastipede and considered it awesome that it later became a player character race.[152]
Reigar
Rock Hopper
Slinker
Spider, Asteroid
Spiritjam
Survivor
Syllix
Symbiont
Vine, Infinity
Reviewer Alex Lucard considered the infinity vine one of the "cool monsters" in MC7.[152]
The zodar appeared on the 2018 Screen Rant top list at No. 13 on " Dungeons & Dragons: The 20 Most Powerful Creatures, Ranked", and Scott Baird highlighted that "One of the most mysterious and powerful creatures in the Spelljammer universe are the Zodar, who resemble giant suits of armor. In their Advanced Dungeons & Dragons appearance, they had the maximum Strength score that was allowed in the game and they were immune to almost all forms of damage."[127]
This appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game added additional creatures from the Outer Planes. The pack consisted of 96 double-sided, 5-hole-punched loose-leaf pages, unnumbered, providing the descriptions of the fictional monsters, as well as a 2-page "How to use this book" section, and a 4-page section providing background information on the Outer Planes.
Creature
Other appearances
Variants
Description
Aasimon
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Celestials from the Outer Planes, "charming creatures protecting the universe against evil".[154]
Aasimon, Agathinon
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Aasimon, Deva
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Astral, Monadic and Movanic
Aasimon, Light
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Aasimon, Planetar
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Aasimon, Solar
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Very powerful winged angelic humanoids. Backstab reviewer Michaël Croitoriu thought them truly interesting for powergamers when made available as player characters.[46]
Don Turnbull considered the devils the most prominent among the new monsters introduced in the Monster Manual: "they are all pretty strong and compare not unfavourably in this respect with the Demons we already know".[81] Renamed from devils in response to moral panic.[14]: 83–84 [21] Many were based on figures from Christian demonology.[155]
Among lowest of fiends, these "living piles of rotting flesh that look like puddles of pink skin" are one initial incarnation of evil souls when arriving at the lower planes. Screen Rant reviewer Scott Baird ranked them among the weakest monsters in the game.[57]
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II (1995)
Bariaur
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Centaur-like creature, a player character race in the Planescape setting, where reviewer Johnny L. Wilson found they fill a similar niche than dwarves. They are "fierce fighters and congenial sojourners – as long as you don't serve meat or befriend any giants".[156]
Bebilith
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Bodak
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Celestial Lammasu
Dragon, Adamantite
Einheriar
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Based on the "Einheriar" of Norse mythology but expanded from their cultural background to mean "any humanoid spirit employed by the powers or deities of the outer planes as servants, warriors, patrollers or guards", not only by the fictionalized version of the Norse pantheon; thus an example how "game authors and designers transform and adapt references from various sources, not hesitating to articulate or even merge them into new forms."[75]
Xenophobic humanoids[26]: 20–21 with gaunt stature, leathery yellow skin and fangs. Inhabitants of the Astral Plane, and ancient enemies of the githzerai, githyanki are considered to "boast some excellent twists" as non-player characters, but "little more than dextrous, not to mention ugly, egg layers" as PCs by reviewer Trenton Webb[157][156][158] Introduced by Charles Stross[155][14]: 38 in White Dwarf No. 12, and officially included in the game in Fiend Folio (1981) and featured on its cover.[5]: 127–129 The name was borrowed the name from a fictional race in George R. R. Martin's Dying of the Light. The githyanki/illithid relationship was inspired by Larry Niven's World of Ptavvs.[159][146] The githyanki were voted among the top ten best monsters from that White Dwarf's "Fiend Factory" column.[130] Shannon Applecline considered the githyanki one of the game's especially notable monsters.[14]: 38 Scott Baird of the website TheGamer commented on the nature of the relationship of the githyanki to the mind flayers, to whom they were formerly enslaved: "Despite their wicked reputation, the Githyanki have an important role to play in protecting the Prime Material Plane. The Githyanki despise Mind Flayers and their armies might be the only thing holding them back. The trailer for Baldur's Gate 3 shows just how scary a single Mind Flayer ship can be, and that could happen a thousand times over if the Githyanki aren't around."[160][158]ComicBook.com contributor Christian Hoffer considered "the conflict between the otherworldly githzerai and githyanki" one "of the great conflicts that make up the D&D multiverse".[111]
Designed by Charles Stross,[155][14]: 38 these humanoids are the ancient and fervent enemies of mind flayers, to whom they were formerly enslaved, and the githyanki; they are based on the plane of Limbo. A playable species in the Planescape campaign setting, reviewer Johnny L. Wilson found them a new take on the niche usually occupied by elves.[156][161][158] Shannon Applecline considered the githzerai one of the game's especially notable monsters,[14]: 38 while ComicBook.com contributor Christian Hoffer counted "the conflict between the otherworldly githzerai and githyanki" among "the great conflicts that make up the D&D multiverse".[111]
Hordling
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Larva
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Evil mortal transformed into comparatively harmless larva-like creature by a night hag and used as a currency on the lower planes.[56][26]: 69
Maelephant
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Marut
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Mediator
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Moon Dog
Monstrous Manual (1993) (as Dog, Moon), Monster Manual II (1983)
Powerful hag from Hades, propagating evil by creating larvae.[56]Don Turnbull referred to the night hag as "splendid" and notes that the illustration of the night hag is the best drawing in the book.[81] It has been described as comparable to the Alp of folklore, although "considered a more Judeo-Christian demonic influence".[52]: 33
Monstrous Manual (1993) (Gray and Death by reference only), Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Red, Blue, Green, Gray and Death
Ed Greenwood considered the slaadi "worthy additions to any campaign".[147]GameSpy author Allan Rausch described the slaadi as "remorseless reptilian killing machines", but "For many years, slaad were a joke – because of their artwork", which showed them as "six-foot tall carnivorous frogs". With the Planescape setting they "were reinterpreted artistically to be less frog-like and much more fearsome".[17] Shannon Applecline considered the slaad one of the game's especially notable monsters.[14]: 38
Renamed from demons in response to moral panic,[14]: 83–84 [21] many were based on figures from Christian demonology.[155] Considered among the "standard repertoire of "Monsters"" by Fabian Perlini-Pfister.[3] In a review of Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II for Arcane magazine, the reviewer cites the culture of the tanar'ri as helping "give the Planes a solid base of peoples".[162]
Monster Manual II (1983, as alu-demon), Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Tanar'ri, Lesser – Bar-Lgura
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Tanar'ri, Lesser – Cambion
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Tanar'ri, Lesser – Succubus
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Typical example of a demon, belonging to the "standard repertoire of "Monsters""[3] and one of those contributing to the moral panic;[23]: 106 [14]: 83–84 also an instance of the sexist tropes the game draws on which presented female sexuality as inherently dangerous.[26]: 17, 94 Rob Bricken of io9 identified the succubus as one of "The 12 Most Obnoxious Dungeons & Dragons Monsters".[90]
Featuring a highly-muscled man-like body and bat wings, whip and jagged sword,[5]: 53 it is based on and renamed from the Balrog from J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium due to copyright reasons,[1][5]: 71 also called type VI demon.[73]: 271
Tanar'ri, True – Glabrezu
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Has a composite appearance, broad and strong-looking, with a head like a goat-horned dog, pincers instead of hands, and human arms protruding from its chest.[5]: 53 Called type III demon in earlier editions.
Tanar'ri, True – Hezrou
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Looks like a gross toad with human arms in place of forelegs.[5]: 53 Called type II demon in earlier editions
Combines features of ape and boar.[5]: 53 Called type IV demon in earlier editions
Tanar'ri, True – Vrock
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
Resembles a cross between human and vulture.[5]: 53 Called type I demon in earlier editions.
Titan
Monstrous Manual (1993)
Based on the powerful beings from Greek mythology.[3] Ranked among the strongest creatures in the game by Scott Baird from Screen Rant, as they "stand above giants and possess even more power in terms of their physical and magical capabilities".[57]Backstab reviewer Michaël Croitoriu thought them truly interesting for powergamers when made available as player characters.[46]
This appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series was designed for use with the Spelljammercampaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. The pack consisted of 64 5-hole punched loose-leaf pages, unnumbered, providing the descriptions of the fictional monsters, and a single-page index of the creatures in the Spelljammer campaign setting (including sources).
"terrifying beaked, tentacled monsters that populate the realm of Underdark".[59] Tyler Linn of Cracked.com listed the grell among the "15 Most Idiotic Monsters In Dungeons & Dragons History" and found that it's movement by floating contributed to it looking ridiculous.[61]
Gullion
Insectare
Lhee
Common, Lesser, Greater
Mercurial Slime
Meteorspawn
Monitor
Owl, Space
Pristatic
Scro
Selkie, Star
Silatic
Platinum, Gold, Iron
Skullbird
Sleek
Monstrous Manual (1993) (as Mammal)
Sluk
Space Swine
Spirit Warrior
Spirit Warrior, Zwarth
Sphinx, Astro
Starfly Plant
Stargazer
Undead, Stellar
Witchlight Marauders
Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Space and Remote
Xixchil
Monstrous Manual (1993) (as Thri-Kreen variant)
Intelligent insectoid creatures, xixchil are a variant of thri-kreen for the Spelljammer setting. "They are spacefarers and innovaters and masterful surgeons" willing to "upgrade" individuals by modification of body-parts. For J.R. Zambrano they have a cyberpunk feel to them: "So, cybernetically augmented insectmen. In space."[138]
This appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series was designed for use with the Ravenloftcampaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. The pack consisted of 32 5-hole punched loose-leaf pages, unnumbered, and included a 1-page "How To Use This Book" section, a 1-page set of tables for Ravenloft random encounters, and a 2-page section on developing and describing encounters to fit the Ravenloft genre, with the remainder of the set consisting of the descriptions of the fictional monsters. Also included were 4 full-page illustrations on heavier card stock. The contents were republished in 1996 in paperback format within the Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendices I & II.
Luis Javier Flores Arvizu named the continuous presence of supernatural beings as one of the factors that made Ravenloft a very well received role-playing game setting during the 33 years of its existence.[35]
Creature
Other appearances
Variants
Description
Bastellus
Also called a nightmare or a dream stalker, but not identical to either of the other creatures with those names.
Bat, Ravenloft
Sentinel and Skeletal Bat
Bowlyn
Broken Ones
Monstrous Manual (1993)
Common and Greater
Bussengeist
Darkling
Doom Guard
Doppelganger Plant
Doppelganger Plant and Podling
Elemental, Ravenloft
Blood, Grave, Mist and Pyre
Ermordenung
Ghoul Lord
Goblyn
Golem, Ravenloft
Monstrous Manual (1993)
Bone, Doll, Gargoyle, Glass, Mechanical and Zombie
Powerful and subtle undead sustained by drinking blood or draining life force. Inspired by Bram Stoker, as well as Gothic fiction more generally, a typical monster for the horror-setting of Ravenloft.[2][35]
-- Vampire, Dwarf
-- Vampire, Elf
-- Vampire, Gnome
-- Vampire, Halfling
-- Vampire, Kender
Vampyre
Widow, Red
Wolfwere, Greater
Zombie Lord
Monstrous Manual (1993)
TSR 2125 – MC11 – Monstrous Compendium – Forgotten Realms Appendix II (1991)
TSR 2125 – MC11 – Monstrous Compendium – Forgotten Realms Appendix II (1991) – ISBN1-56076-111-3
This appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series was designed for use with the Forgotten Realmscampaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. The pack consisted of 32 5-hole punched unnumbered loose-leaf pages, and 4 full-page illustrations on heavier card stock. It included a single-page table of contents but did not incorporate the usual "How to Use this Book" section or random encounter charts. Page numbers below are taken from the table of contents.
Creature
Other appearances
Variants
Description
Alaghi
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
Normal, Sedentary and Hermetic
Alguduir
Avian
Monstrous Manual (1993)
Flightless, Boobrie and Eblis
Bat, Deep
Dragon No. 90 (1984), D&D Master Rules (1985) (Werebat), Monstrous Compendium Ravenloft Appendix (1991) (Werebat), Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991) (Werebat), Drow of the Underdark (1991), 1991 Trading Cards Set No. 383 (Werebat), Night Howlers (1992) (Werebat), Monstrous Manual (1993), Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendices I & II (1996) (Werebat), Monsters of Faerûn (2001) (Night Hunter, Sinister)
Azmyth, Night Hunter, Sinister and Werebat
Beguiler
Cantobele
Cat
Monstrous Manual (1993) (Domestic, Wild, Elven)
Domestic, Wild, Elven, Luck Eater and Change Cat
Chitine
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Dragon No. 223 "The Ecology of the Chitine" (1995), Monsters of Faerûn (2001), Underdark (2003), D&D Miniatures: Dragoneye set #47 (2004)
Cildabrin
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
Dimensional Warper
Dragon, Deep
Drow of the Underdark (1991), Monstrous Manual (1993), Monsters of Faerûn (2001), D&D Miniatures: Underdark set #52 (2005), Drow of the Underdark (2007), Draconomicon (2008) (as "Purple Dragon")
Malenti are actually sahuagin but through a mutation "born with the appearance of a Sea-Elf", their "ancient enemies"; while despised by their kin, they are "raised by the clan's leadership to serve as spies inside Sea-Elf society."[163]
Fachan
Savage Coast Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1996)
Feyr
Monstrous Manual (1993)
Normal and Great
Firetail
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
Lesser and Tshala
Frost
Gaund
Frost Gaund
Giant, Mountain
Monstrous Manual (1993)
Gloomwing
Monstrous Manual (1993)
Golden Ammonite
Dragon No. 48 (1981), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (1998)
TSR 2405 – MC12 – Monstrous Compendium – Dark Sun Appendix: Terrors of the Desert (1992)
TSR 2405 – MC12 – Monstrous Compendium – Dark Sun Appendix: Terrors of the Desert (1992) – ISBN1-56076-272-1
This appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series was designed for use with the Dark Suncampaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. The pack consisted of 96 5-hole punched loose-leaf pages, unnumbered, and included a 4-page "How To Use This Book" section with random encounter charts, with the remainder consisting of the descriptions of the fictional monsters. Also included were 4 full-page illustrations on heavier card stock.
Creature
Other appearances
Variants
Description
Animal, Household
Hurrum, critic, Renk and Ock'n
Animal, Herd
Kip, Z'tal and Jankz
Antloid, Desert
Dynamis, soldier, Queen and Worker
B'rohg
Banshee, Dwarf
Beetle, Agony
Bog Wader
Brambleweed
Brambleweed and Bramble Tree
Burnflower
Cat, Psionic
Tagster and Tigone
Cha'thrang
Cistern Fiend
Cloud Ray
Drake, Athasian – General Information
-- Drake, Air
-- Drake, Earth
-- Drake, Fire
-- Drake, Water
Dune Runner
Dune Trapper
Elemental, Athasian – General Information
-- Elemental, Greater Air
-- Elemental, Greater Earth
-- Elemental, Greater Fire
-- Elemental, Greater Water
-- Elemental, Lesser Air/Earth
Leasser Air and Lesser Earth Elemental
-- Elemental, Lesser Fire/Water
Lesser Fire and Lesser Water Elemental
Erdland
Esperweed
Flailer
Floater
Giant, Athasian
Dark Sun Campaign Setting (1995)
Desert, Plains and Beasthead Giant
Desert: 25ft-tall giant living on desert islands; 25ft-tall giant raising herds on islands with scrub plains terrain; beasthead: 20ft-tall hostile giant with an animal head
Blossomkiller, Dew Fronds, Poisonweed and Strangling Vines
Author and gardener Charles Elliott considered D&D's plant species numerous but "not-very-ingenious".[121]
Pterran
Pterrax
Pulp Bee
Pyreen (Peace-bringers)
Rasclinn
Razorwing
Roc, Athasian
Sand Bride
Sand Bride and Sand Mother
Sand Cactus
Sand Vortex
Scrab
Silt Horror
White, Brown and Gray Horror
Silt Runner
Sink Worm
Sloth, Athasian
So-ut (Rampager)
Spider Cactus
Spider, Crystal
Spirit of the Land
Air, Earth, Fire and Water Spirits
T'Chowb
Thrax
Tohr-kreen (Mantis Noble)
Monstrous Manual (1993) (under Thri-kreen)
"The tohr-kreen are larger, more cultured, civilized version of the thri-kreen", they are also "more intelligent and deadly" and "have a taste for the finer things in live". They "make excellent allies".[138]
This appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series was designed for use with the Arabian Nights-themed Al-Qadimcampaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. The pack consisted of 64 5-hole punched loose-leaf pages, unnumbered, and included a "How To Use This Book" page with an alphabetical index, a one-page index of appropriate monsters for the Al-Qadim setting from other books of the Monstrous Compendium-series, 2 pages of random encounter charts, and a sheet with the compiled game statistics, with the remainder consisting of the descriptions of the fictional monsters. Also included were 4 full-page illustrations on heavier card stock.
Regularly summoned by sha'irs,[164] these minor elemental spirits were these wizards' main source of spells.
Genie, Noble Dao
Genie, Noble Djinni
Genie, Noble Efreeti
Al-Qadim – Caravans (1994)
Genie, Noble Marid
Genie, Tasked
-- Genie, Tasked, Architect/Builder
-- Genie, Tasked, artist
-- Genie, Tasked, Guardian
-- Genie, Tasked, Herdsman
-- Genie, Tasked, Slayer
-- Genie, Tasked, Warmonger
-- Genie, Tasked, Winemaker
Ghost Mount
Ghul, Great
Al-Qadim – Caravans (1994), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two (1995)
Giants, Zakharan
-- Giant, Desert
-- Giant, Jungle
-- Giant, Reef
Hama
Heway
Monstrous Manual (1993) (under Snake)
Living Idol
Animal, Death, Elemental and Healing Living Idol
Lycanthrope, Werehyena
Lycanthrope, Werelion
Markeen
Maskhi
Mason-Wasp, Giant
Nasnas
Monster that appears like only one half (left or right) of a human; first published in White Dwarf No. 9 (October/November 1978), submitted by Roger Musson.[129] Already suggested to be used humorously by editor Don Turnbull then, it was voted as the worst of monsters from the magazine's "Fiend Factory" column.[130]
This appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series updated and reprinted creatures from the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Fiend Folio published in 1981. It contained 64 unnumbered loose leaf pages and 4 pages of illustrations on heavier card stock.
Creature
Other appearances
Variants
Description
Aballin
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (1993), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Monsters of Faerûn (2001)
Achaierai
Planes of Law (1995)
CJ Miozzi included the achaierai on The Escapist's list of "The Dumbest Dungeons & Dragons Monsters Ever (And How To Use Them)".[150]
Based on Al-mi'raj "in Islamic poetry, a yellow hare with a single black horn on its head."[33] Counted among the saddest, lamest creatures in Fiend Folio by artist Sean McCarthy, a hybrid creature with physiology resulting from maladaptation rather than evil.[165]
Apparition
Caterwaul
Coffer Corpse
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
Crabman
Monstrous Manual (1993)
Dark Creeper
Dark Stalker
Darter
Denzelian
Dragon, Gem
Dragons of neutral alignment.[166] Reviewer Mark Theurer remarked that "They have some interesting breath weapons".[30]
Dragon, Amethyst
Monstrous Manual (1993)
Dragon, Crystal
Monstrous Manual (1993)
Dragon, Emerald
Monstrous Manual (1993)
Dragon, Sapphire
Monstrous Manual (1993)
Dragon, Topaz
Monstrous Manual (1993)
Dune Stalker
Falcon, Fire
Faux Faerie
Firedrake
Monstrous Manual (1993) (as Dragonet, Firedrake)
Flawder
Fyrefly
Monstrous Manual (1993) (under Insect)
Gambado
Fiend Folio (1981), Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (1993), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Tome of Horrors (2002)
Garbug
Fiend Folio (1981), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994)
Humanoid "hairy screaming monsters that attack in large groups and seek to devour everything in their path", "little more than mindless beasts". Screen Rant reviewer Scott Baird ranked them among the weakest monsters in the game, which have a scary description, but lack the stats to back up this impression.[57]
Gorbel
Monstrous Manual (1993) (under Beholder; by reference only)
Grimlock
Monstrous Manual (1993)
Hellcat
Planes of Law (1995) (as Bezekira)
Ice Lizard
Iron Cobra
Khargra
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix III (1998)
First published in White Dwarf No. 13 (June/July 1979) under the names of fire imp, molten imp, smoke imp and steam imp, respectively (not including ice and mist mephits), originally submitted by M. Stollery.[167] These "imps" were voted among the top ten monsters from the magazine's "Fiend Factory" column in 1980.[130]
Penanggalan
Pernicon
Monstrous Manual (1993) (under Insect)
Phantom Stalker
Quaggoth
Fiend Folio (1981), Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (1993), Monstrous Manual (1993), Dragon No. 265 (1999), Monsters of Faerûn (2001), D&D Miniatures: War Drums set #57 (2006), Drow of the Underdark (2007)
Retriever
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II (1995)
Ruve
Scathe
Scathe and Larvae
Sheet Ghoul, Sheet Phantom
Shocker
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix III (1998)
Spanner
Stwinger
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994) (under Faerie, Petty), Savage Coast Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1996) (under Na‰ruk)
As a fairy creature considered among the "standard repertoire of "Monsters"" by Fabian Perlini-Pfister.[3]
Sussurus
Symbiotic Jelly
Terithran
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix III (1998)
Thunder Children
Troll, Ice
Monstrous Manual (1993)
Tween
Umpleby
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two (1995)
Trenton Webb, in his review of Monstrous Compendium Annual Two for British RPG magazine Arcane, called the shambling umpleby "without a shadow of a doubt" the star of the book: "Effectively a Bigfoot whose wooly hair generates shocking levels of static electricity, these hulking eccentric simpletons will test any parties patience and ability to save against cuteness." Webb also added that even without the umpleby the book "would be a necessary resource for all mainstream refs. With the shaggy-haired one, though, it rapidly approaches the essential."[168]
Urdunnir
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996) (as Dwarf, Urdunnir)
Volt
First published in White Dwarf No. 7 (June/July 1978), originally submitted by Jonathan Jones.[148] The volt was voted among the top ten monsters from the magazine's "Fiend Factory" column in 1980.[130]
Xill
Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix III (1998)
Xvart
Bald, blue-skinned humanoids with orange eyes that stand only 3 feet tall. First published in White Dwarf No. 9 (October/November 1978) under the name of "svart", submitted by Cricky Hitchcock and "taken from The Weirdstone of Brisingamon by Alan Garner",[129] who in turn took inspiration from the Norse myth of the svartálfar.[147] It was voted among the top ten monsters from the magazine's "Fiend Factory" column and reprinted in Best of White Dwarf Articles (1980).[130][131][132] Forgotten Realms author Ed Greenwood considered xvarts to be redundant creatures with no unique or interesting characteristics.[147]
Zygraat
TSR 2139 – MC15 – Monstrous Compendium – Ravenloft Appendix II: Children of the Night (1993)
TSR 2139 – MC15 – Monstrous Compendium – Ravenloft Appendix II: Children of the Night (1993) – ISBN1-56076-586-0
This appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series was designed for use with the Ravenloftcampaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. The pack consisted of 32 5-hole punched loose-leaf pages, unnumbered, and included a 2-page "How To Use This Book" section, a 1-page description of the purpose of the "Children of the Night" supplement, a 1-page set of tables for Ravenloft random encounters, and a 1-page section updating the tables for calculation of experience points awarded for defeating any given creature. The remainder of the set consisted of the descriptions of specific fictional monsters and personalities in the Ravenloft campaign setting. Also included were 4 full-page illustrations on heavier card stock. The contents were republished in 1996 in paperback format within the Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendices I & II.
Luis Javier Flores Arvizu named the continuous presence of supernatural beings as one of the factors that made Ravenloft a very well received role-playing game setting during the 33 years of its existence.[35]
Creature
Other appearances
Variants
Description
Brain, Living (Rudolph Von Aubrecker)
AD&D's version of a brain in a vat, a functioning and aware brain removed from its body. Tyler Linn of Cracked.com included the idea among the "15 Most Idiotic Monsters In Dungeons & Dragons History", humorously commenting: "just kick it over, who's going to know?"[61]
The Monstrous Manual was printed after the completion of the loose-leaf Monstrous Compendium series, in 1993. This book was "created in response to the many requests to gather monsters into a single, durable volume which would be convenient to carry." The Monstrous Manual compiled all of the monsters from Monstrous Compendium Volumes One and Two, as well as many creatures from subsequent volumes and other sources, and revised, updated, and in some cases condensed the entries; these are not duplicated here. The book is 384 pages.
Stone variants (caryatid column, juggernaut, and stone guardian)
Inspired by Gothic fiction, a typical denizen of the Ravenloft setting.[35] The influence of Dungeons & Dragons has led to the inclusion of golems in other tabletop role-playing as well as in video games.[51]
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."[84]
Ixitxachitl
An "old personal favorite" of reviewer Mark Theurer.[30]
Living wall
Book of Crypts (1991), Dragon No. 343 (May 2006)
Created by a powerful wizard, a living wall is built from living beings, which are absorbed into the surface of the wall itself, helping to enhance its collective powers. The living wall appeared on Geek.com's list of "The most underrated monsters of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons".[119]
Lawrence Schick described the stench kow as "a monstrous bison that smells real bad".[10]: 106–107 CJ Miozzi included the stench kow on The Escapist's list of "The Dumbest Dungeons & Dragons Monsters Ever (And How To Use Them)".[150]
Mold man (vegepygmy)
CJ Miozzi included the vegepygmy on The Escapist's list of "The Dumbest Dungeons & Dragons Monsters Ever (And How To Use Them)".[150]
Mudman
Vaguely humanoid creature bound to and formed from a puddle of mud. Ranked among the weakest monsters in the game by Scott Baird from Screen Rant, as it can only attack by preventing a closeby creature from running away.[57]
"D&D's large variety of monstrous oozes and slimes took their original inspiration from Irvin S. Yeathworth Jr's The Blob" movie. In the artificial dungeon environment of the game, they function as a "clean up crew".[1]
Plant, intelligent
Thorny
Author and gardener Charles Elliott considered D&D's plant species numerous but "not-very-ingenious".[121]
Desert, Spectral (Troll Wraith), Giant, and Spirit Troll
Tall gaunt humanoids with powerful regenerative ability. A characteristic denizen of AD&D worlds.[2]
Worm
Mottled Worm, Thunderherder, Giant Bloodworm
Xorn
Xaren
Yugoloth, guardian
Least, Lesser and Greater
TSR 2602 – Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994)
TSR 2602 – Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994) – ISBN1-56076-862-2
This appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series was designed for use with the Planescapecampaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. The 128-page soft-bound book contains a two pages of explanation about the various entries and a page with a list of monsters from this and other sources by plane, with the remainder consisting of the descriptions of the fictional monsters. Many of them were republished from Monstrous Compendium – Outer Planes Appendix and other sources and are not repeated here.
Descendants of a union between a human and a demon or devil; popular as player characters, as they allow for "identity tourism" of a racial outsider.[26]: 35 Johnny L. Wilson called tieflings "the paranoid, loner obverse" of halflings, who "believe that life is out to get them". In the game they are "suited to be great thieves" and "point persons" due to favourable saving throw bonuses.[156]
TSR 2501 – Monstrous Compendium – Mystara Appendix (1994)
This appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series was designed for use with the Mystaracampaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. The 128-page soft-bound book contains a two-pages content list, a 4-pages "How To Use This Book" section and 5 pages of random encounter charts, with the remainder consisting of the descriptions of the fictional monsters.
The Mystara campaign setting began as the "Known World" in the D&D Basic and Expert rules, and as a result many of the entries below originated in the D&D Basic, Expert, Companion or Masters rulebooks, and the modules associated with them.
Creature Catalogue (1986), Dawn of the Emperors (1989), PC2: Top Ballista (1991), M2: Vengeance of Alphaks (1991), Creature Catalog (1993), Monstrous Compendium Annual V3 (1996)
Phanaton
D&D Expert Module X1 Isle of Dread (1981), Creature Catalogue (1986), D&D Master Module M5 Talons of Night (1987), Creature Catalog (1993), Dragon No. 339 (2006)
Savage Coast Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1996), D&D Expert Module X1 Isle of Dread (1981), D&D Expert Module X2 Castle Amber (1981), Creature Catalogue (1986), Champions of Mystara: Heroes of the Princess Ark (1993), Creature Catalog (1993), Rage of the Rakasta (1993), Red Steel (1994)
Rock Man
D&D Expert Module B8 Journey to the Rock (1984), Creature Catalogue (1986), Creature Catalog (1993)
D&D Expert Module X1 Isle of Dread (Aranea) (1981), D&D Expert Module X2 Castle Amber (Aranea) (1981), D&D Expert Rules (Rhagodessa) (1981, 1983), D&D Master Rules (Planar Spider),(1985), Creature Catalogue (1986), D&D Master Module M5 Talons of Night (1987), Rules Cyclopedia (Planar Spider, Rhagodessa) (1991), Wrath of the Immortals (Ploppéd) (1992), Champions of Mystara: Heroes of the Princess Ark (Aranea) (1993), Red Steel (Aranea) (1994), Monster Manual (Aranea) (2003)
Aranea, Planar Spider, Ploppéd and Rhagodessa
Aranea not to be confused with similar creature defined in Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996), Savage Coast Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1996)
Spirit
D&D Companion Rules (Druj and Odic) (1984), D&D Rules Cyclopedia (Druj and Odic) (1991)
TSR 2153 – Monstrous Compendium – Ravenloft Appendix III: Creatures of Darkness (1994)
TSR 2153 – Monstrous Compendium – Ravenloft Appendix III: Creatures of Darkness (1994) – ISBN1-56076-914-9
This 126-page soft-bound book contains additional creatures for the Ravenloftcampaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. The book also contains an introduction page, a 2-page "How to Use This Book" section, an updated table for the calculation of experience points awarded for new or modified creatures, and a single page listing of creatures from other sources appropriate to the Ravenloft setting.
Luis Javier Flores Arvizu named the continuous presence of supernatural beings as one of the factors that made Ravenloft a very well received role-playing game setting during the 33 years of its existence.[35]
Creature
Other appearances
Variants
Description
Akikage
Akikage and Anasasshia
Animator, General Information
--Animator, Minor
--Animator, Common
--Animator, Greater
Bakhna Rakhna
Baobhan Sith
Beetle, Scarab
Grave, Giant and Monstrous
Boneless
Boowray
Bruja
Carrion Stalker
Carrionette
The Created (1993), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Denizens of Darkness (2002), Denizens of Dread (2004), Dragon No. 339 (2006)
Cat, Midnight
Cat, Skeletal
Cloaker, Shadow
Cloaker, Resplendent
Cloaker, Undead
Corpse Candle
Death's Head Tree
Castles Forlorn (1993), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Dragon No. 292 (2002), Denizens of Darkness (2002), Denizens of Dread (2004), Dragon No. 339 (2006)
Doppleganger, Ravenloft
Furies
Alecto, Tisiphone and Megarea
Familiar, Pseudo-
Familiar, Undead
Feathered Serpent
Fenhound
Figurine, General Information
--Figurine, Ceramic
--Figurine, Crystal
Crystal and Diamond
--Figurine, Ivory
--Figurine, Obsidian
Smoothed
--Figurine, Porcelain
Flea of Madness
Geist
Intangible undead spirit of a person that died traumatically. Inspired by Gothic fiction, a fitting monster for the nightmarish domains of Ravenloft.[35][2]
Ghost, Animal
Bear, Wild Boar, Wild Horse, Mountain Lion, Stag and Wolf
Spirit of an animal turned to a malevolent undead. A characteristic monster for the horror-setting of Ravenloft.[2]
Golem, Flesh
Monstrous Manual (1993)
More powerful version of the Monstrous Manual flesh golem. Inspired by Gothic fiction, a typical denizen of the Ravenloft setting.[35]
Golem, Mist
Inspired by Gothic fiction, a typical denizen of the Ravenloft setting.[35]
Golem, Snow
Inspired by Gothic fiction, a typical denizen of the Ravenloft setting.[35]
Golem, Wax
Inspired by Gothic fiction, a typical denizen of the Ravenloft setting.[35]
Dragon No. 174 (1991), Van Richten's Guide to the Lich (1993), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium, Volume Two (1999), Ravenloft Dungeon Master's Guide (2003) (as "Psilich")
Living Tattoo
Dark Man, Living Spear, Panther, Raven and Winged Snake
Lycanthrope, Loup-Garou
Lowland and Mountain
An especially powerful version of a werewolf. The werewolf was considered a typical monster for the horror-setting of Ravenloft.[2]
Lycanthrope, Werejackal
Lycanthrope, Werejaguar
Dragon No. 40 (1980), Dragon No. 70 (1983), Imagine No. 28 (1985), Sons of Azca (1991), Night Howlers (1992), Creature Catalog (1993), Van Richten's Guide to Werebeasts (1993), Mystara Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Denizens of Darkness (2002), Denizens of Dread (2004)
Lycanthrope, Wereleopard
Lycanthrope, Wereray
Mist Ferryman
Moor Man
Obedient
Odem
Paka
Plant, Bloodrose
Plant, Fearweed
Radiant Spirit
Recluse
Remnant, Aquatic
Rushlight
Sea Spawn, Master
Sea Spawn, Minion
Shadow Asp
Shattered Brethren
Skeleton, Archer
(Skeleton), Insectoid
Giant Ant, Giant Tick and Stag Beetle
Skeleton, Strahd
Skin Thieves
Spirit, Psionic
Unicorn, Shadow
Vampire, Drow
Vampire, Nosferatu
Vampire, Oriental
Virus, General Information
--Virus, Combustion and Crystal
Combustion and Crystal
--Virus, Petrification and Phobia
Petrification and Phobia
--Virus, Psionic and Shadow
Psionic and Shadow
Vorlog
Will O'Dawn
Will O'Deep
Will O'Mist
Will O'Sea
Zombie, Cannibal
Zombie, Desert
Zombie Fog
Zombie Fog and Cadaver
Zombie, Strahd
Zombie, Wolf
Castles Forlorn (1993), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Ravenloft Gazetteer: Volume I (2002), Libris Mortis (2004)
Monstrous Compendium Annuals
Monstrous Compendium Annuals collected and updated monsters published in a variety of sources. Creatures listed under the heading of earlier publications are not repeated here.
TSR 2145 – Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994) – ISBN1-56076-838-X
This 128-page unnumbered soft-bound book primarily contains monster descriptions published in TSR's products for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons second edition game in 1993, fictional monsters of the same year from magazines affiliated with the game, as well as creatures from earlier sources. The book also contains a two-page How to Use This Book section, a revised table for calculating experience points, and two pages of tips on how to use monsters in the game in the section Beyond Random Encounters.
Reviewer Mark Theurer remarked about Linnorm dragons that these giant "dragon-like beings that might best be described as feral dragons" really piqued his interest, and characterized the Corpse Tearer as "old, smart, and vicious".[30]
Dragon, Linnorm, Dread
Dragon No. 182 (1992), Monster Manual II (2002)
The "largest [of the Linnorms] and has two frickin' heads".[30]
Dragon, Linnorm, Flame
Dragon No. 183 (1992)
Dragon, Linnorm, Forest
Dragon No. 182 (1992)
Dragon, Linnorm, Frost
Dragon No. 182 (1992)
Dragon, Linnorm, Gray
Dragon No. 183 (1992), Monster Manual II (2002)
"small [for a Linnorm dragon], that means HUGE, and very aggressive".[30]
Dragon, Linnorm, Land
Dragon No. 182 (1992)
Dragon, Linnorm, Midgard
Dragon No. 183 (1992)
Dragon, Linnorm, Rain
Dragon No. 183 (1992)
Dragon, Linnorm, Sea
Dragon No. 182 (1992), Dragon No. 356 (2007)
Dragon, Neutral, Jacinth
Dragon No. 158 (1990)
Dragon, Neutral, Jade
Dragon No. 158 (1990)
Note that this is not the same dragon as the Mystaran Jade Dragon.
Dragon, Neutral, Pearl
Dragon No. 158 (1990)
Dragon-kin
Dragon Mountain (1993), Cult of the Dragon (1998), Pool of Radiance: Attack on Myth Drannor (2000), Monsters of Faerûn (2001), Draconomicon (2003)
Elemental, Earth Weird
Dragon Mountain (1993), Monster Manual II (2002)
Faerie, Petty
Dragon Mountain (1993)
Squeaker
Fairy creatures were considered among the "standard repertoire of "Monsters"" by Fabian Perlini-Pfister.[3]
Dragon No. 193 (1993), City of the Spider Queen (2002)
Gorynych
Dragon No. 158 (1990), Lost Empires of Faerûn (2005)
Greelox
Dungeon No. 35 (1992)
Jarbo
Dungeon No. 35 (1992)
Laraken
Shining South (1993), Shining South (2004)
Living Steel
Dragon Mountain (1993)
Lycanthrope, Loup du Noir
Dark of the Moon (1993)
Lycanthrope, Werebadger
Dragon No. 40 (1980), Van Richten's Guide to Werebeasts (1993), Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium, Volume One (1999), Denizens of Darkness (2002), Denizens of Dread (2004)
Mimic, House Hunter
Dungeon No. 19 (1989)
Young, Adult and Ancient House Hunter
Rob Bricken of io9 identified the house hunter as one of "The 12 Most Obnoxious Dungeons & Dragons Monsters".[90]
Nautilus, Giant
Dragon No. 193 (1993)
Nightshade
Doom of Daggerdale (1993)
Also called a wood wose; not to be confused with the various Nightshades from the Plane of Shadow.
Noran
Dragon Mountain (1993)
Ophidian
Monster Manual II (1983), Dragon Mountain (1993), Fiend Folio (2003), Serpent Kingdoms (2004), D&D Miniatures: Angelfire set #57 (2005)
Plant, Vampire Moss
Dungeon No. 41 (1993)
Pteraman
Jungles of Chult (1993), Villains' Lorebook (1998), Monsters of Faerûn (2001) (from here on as pterafolk), Serpent Kingdoms (2004)
Dragon No. 163 (1990), Monster Manual II (2002), Dragon No. 338 "The Ecology of the Spell Weaver" (2005), Dragon: Monster Ecologies (2007)
Spider, Brain
Dragon Mountain (1993)
Suwyze
Dragon Mountain (1993)
Tick, Heart
None
Tree, Dark
Shining South (1993), Monsters of Faerûn (2001), Shining South (2004)
Troll, Snow
Dungeon No. 43 (1993)
Tuyewera
Dungeon No. 22 (1990)
Ulitharid (Noble Illithid)
Dungeon No. 24 (1990), The Illithiad (1998), Lords of Madness (2005)
Undead Dwarf
Dragon Mountain (1993)
Undead Lake Monster
Castles Forlorn (1993), Ravenloft Gazetteer: Volume I (2002)
Whipsting
Dragon No. 197 (1993)
Stingwings
Wolf, Dread
Dragon No. 174 (1991)
Wolf, Stone
Dragon No. 174 (1991)
Wolf, Vampiric
Dragon No. 174 (1991)
Wraith, Shimmering
Dungeon No. 26 (1990)
TSR 2158 – Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two (1995) – ISBN0-7869-0199-3
This 128-page soft-bound book contains creatures appearing in various TSR publications (magazines, game accessories, etc.) in the year 1994. It contains a 2-page "How to Use This Book" section, and a 1-page section updating the calculation of experience points awarded for defeating various creatures (including tables updating those in the AD&D Dungeon Master's Guide). The final 10 pages of the book provide tables for generating random encounters, summoned creatures and NPC parties.
"A flumph looks like a large jellyfish that propels itself through the air by sucking air into its body and expelling it." Ranked among the weakest monsters in the game by Scott Baird from Screen Rant: It only attacks with a stinking liquid, and helpless when turned on its back.[57] Shannon Applecline considered "the much-satirized flumph" one of the silly monsters introduced in Fiend Folio.[14]: 38
A "group of strange, nomadic people with great mystical power, especially in the areas of curses and prophecy" from the Ravenloft setting, matching harmful stereotypes of Romani people in a problematic way.[26]: 103–104 [35]
In the artificial dungeon environment of the game, molds function as a "clean up crew".[1]
Mummy, Creature
Animal and Monster
Based on the creature from Gothic fiction, a typical denizen of the Ravenloft setting.[35]
Plant, Dangerous
Bloodthorn, Twilight Bloom and Boring Grass
Pleistocene Animal
Irish Deer
Pudding, Subterranean
Ruins of Undermountain 2 (1994)
Stone, Gray and Dense
Snake, Serpent Vine
Ruins of Undermountain 2 (1994)
Sphinx, Draco-
Old Empires (1990)
Sprite, Seelie Faerie
Spellbound (1995)
Fairy creatures were considered among the "standard repertoire of "Monsters"" by Fabian Perlini-Pfister.[3]
Sprite, Unseelie Faerie
Spellbound (1995)
Fairy creatures were considered among the "standard repertoire of "Monsters"" by Fabian Perlini-Pfister.[3]
Squealer
Monster Manual II (1983)
Webbird
Monster Manual II (1983)
Wraith-Spider
Ruins of Undermountain 2 (1994)
Zorbo
Monster Manual II (1983)
TSR 2166 – Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996) – ISBN0-7869-0449-6
This 128-page soft-bound book contains creatures appearing in various TSR publications (magazines, game accessories, etc.) in the year 1995. It contains a 3-page "How to Use This Book" section, which includes an updated table for the calculation of experience points awarded for defeating various creatures. The final 8 pages of the book contain an index of the creatures presented in the Monstrous Manual and the first three Monstrous Compendium Annuals.
The Wanderer's Chronicle: Windriders of the Jagged Cliffs (1995)
Render
Ruins of Zhentil Keep (1995)
Scalamagdrion
Pages from the Mages (1995)
Snake, Messenger
Ruins of Zhentil Keep (1995)
Spirit, Forest – Uthraki
Spellbound (1995)
Spirit, Forest – Wood Man
Spellbound (1995)
Spirit, Ice – Orglash
Spellbound (1995)
Spirit, Rock – Thomil
Spellbound (1995)
Tomb Tapper – Thaalud
Anauroch (1991), Netheril: Empire of Magic (1996)
Undead Dragon Slayer
Dragon No. 205 (1994)
Unicorn, Black
Spellbound (1995)
Weredragon
Zhentarim Spirit
Ruins of Zhentil Keep (1995)
TSR 2173 – Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (1998) – ISBN0-7869-1212-X
This 96-page soft-bound book contains creatures appearing in various TSR publications (magazines, game accessories, etc.). Unlike the previous annuals, the included monsters are not primarily drawn from the previous year's publications, but span a wide variety of years, possibly because TSR's financial woes resulted in very few products being produced in 1997. Also in a departure from the first three annuals, Volume Four includes a reference to the original appearance of the creature on each page. The Annual also contains a 3-page "How to Use This Book" section, which includes updated tables for the calculation of experience points awarded for defeating various creatures, and a 2-page index.
The Gates of Firestorm Peak (1996), A Guide to the Ethereal Plane (1998), Planar Handbook (2004)
Dragon, Neutral – Moonstone
None
Dragon, Prismatic
Dungeon No. 51 (1995)
Ranked among the strongest monsters in the game by Scott Baird from Screen Rant: In its eldest version it "represents the ultimate challenge for any party of adventurers, though it would easily dispose of all but the most insanely overleveled groups."[57]
TSR 2433 – Dark Sun Monstrous Compendium Appendix II: Terrors Beyond Tyr (1995)
TSR 2433 – Dark Sun Monstrous Compendium Appendix II: Terrors Beyond Tyr (1995) – ISBN0-7869-0097-0
This 128-page soft-bound book is the second appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series designed for use with the Dark Suncampaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. It contains a page with a table of content, a 2-pages "How To Use This Book" section and 3 pages of random encounter charts, with the remainder consisting of the descriptions of the fictional monsters. Some entries also contain the descriptions of individual members of these monster types.
Race of tall, lean, draconic humanoids created from humans by Dregoth, the Undead Dragon King; kalin riders: elite templar troops of Dregoth; kalin mount: 12-foot-long (3.7 m) aggressive insectoid creatures used as mounts by kalin riders
Drik
Drik and High Drik
Dune Reaper
Drone, Warrior and Matron
Dwarf, Athasian
After early plans to exclude traditional fantasy races like the dwarves from Dark Sun, they were included "with dramatic aesthetic facelifts to properly mesh them with the setting's uniquely tenebrous tone."[5]: 240
Elemental Beast, General
-- Elemental Beast, Air
-- Elemental Beast, Earth
-- Elemental Beast, Fire
-- Elemental Beast, Water
Elf
Elf and Half-Elf of Athas
In the post-apocalyptic setting of Athas, elves are nomadic desert runners rather than the more common image of forest-dwellers.[75]
Fael
Feylaar
Fordorran
Giant, Shadow
Golem, General
-- Golem, Magma
-- Golem, Salt
Gorak
Gorak and Giant Gorak
Half-giant
Monstrous Compendum Annual Volume Two (1995)
Halfling
Human
Ex-slaves, Herdsmen, Dune Traders, Ex-gladiators, Nobles and Templars
9-foot-long (2.7 m) moderately intelligent insectoid creatures with four legs and two clawed arms, primitive relatives to thri-kreen
Tul'k
T'liz
Undead
Wraith, Athasian
Xerichon
Zombie, Thinking
TSR 2613 – Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II (1995)
TSR 2613 – Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II (1995) – ISBN0-7869-0173-X
This was the second appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series designed for use with the Planescapecampaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. The 128-page soft-bound book contains a two-page "How to use this book" section, two pages of encounter tables for the different planes of the game and a one-page alphabetical for all monsters entries published for the setting, with the remainder consisting of the descriptions of the fictional monsters.
Creature
Other appearances
Variants
Description
Aasimar
Humanoids "descended from ethereal beings"[98] from the Outer Planes, "charming creatures protecting the universe against evil".[154]A.V. Club reviewer Nick Wanserski found them an interesting player character race "for the chance to be unequivocally good in a way that's difficult to embody in real life".[98]
Abrian
Arcane
Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures In Space (1989), Monstrous Manual (1993)
Gargantuan creature with a single black eye, gaping maw, muscular forearms, which end in pincer-like claws and serpentine lower body. Arcane considered these monsters to "populate their periphery with true terror".[162] Originally called ethereal dreadnought.[5]: 198–199
Powerful neutral good celestials[171] from Elysium, each a humanoid with some animalistic characteristics. Arcane magazine cites the culture of the guardinals as helping "give the Planes a solid base of peoples".[162]
In a review of Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II for Arcane magazine, the reviewer described hollyphants as "mutant killer elephants with wings" and felt that they were introduced to "ensure that the planes maintain their very necessary bizarre flavour".[162]
Fiend distinguished by its sticky barbed tongue.[156]
TSR 2162 – Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendices I and II (1996)
TSR 2162 – Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendices I & II (1996) – ISBN0-7869-0392-9
This 128-page soft-bound book is a reprint of the loose-leaf Monstrous Compendium appendices MC10 and MC15 (Children of the Night), both designed for use with the Ravenloftcampaign setting for the second edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game with a new foreword. It also includes a two-page "How to use this book" section, revised rules for calculating experience points and two pages about encounters in Ravenloft. Appendix I consists of the descriptions of the fictional monsters. Appendix II varies the Monstrous Compendium format to describe individuals of already published monster races and includes a two-page introduction with a list of monsters from other sources suitable for the Ravenloft setting.
TSR 2524 – Savage Coast Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1996)
TSR 2524 – Savage Coast Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1996)
This monstrous compendium was released as a fully online product as part of the revised Savage Coastcampaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. It was made freely available by Wizards of the Coast here[172] in two variants, as a rtf-file and a text file, with images presented as separate files. Several characters are misrepresented in these files, they are presented here as given. The monstrous compendium contains a table of contents, an introduction with explanations of the monster statistics and special rules and considerations for the Savage Coast setting.
Creature
Other appearances
Variants
Description
Aranea
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
Not to be confused with similar creature defined in Monstrous Compendium – Mystara Appendix (1994), D&D Expert Module X1 Isle of Dread, D&D Expert Module X2 Castle Amber
Arashaeem
Batracine
Caniquine
Cat, Marine
Cinnavixen
Critter, Temple
Cursed One
Deathmare
Dragon, Crimson
Dragon, Red Hawk
Echyan
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (1998) (as Sea Worm (Echyan))
Dungeon No. 62 (1996), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (1998)
Clockwork Swordsman and Rogue Automaton
Symbiont, Shadow
Tortle
Monstrous Compendium – Mystara Appendix (1994)
Tortle and Snapper
Troll, Legacy
Trosip
Tyminid
Utukku
Voat
Voat, Herathian
Vulturehound
Wallara
Wurmling
Wynzet
Yeshom
Zombie, Red
TSR 2635 – Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix III (1998)
TSR 2635 – Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix III (1998) – ISBN0-7869-0751-7
The third appendix to the Monstrous Compendium series designed for use with the Planescapecampaign setting for the second edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons focuses mainly on inhabitants of the inner planes in the game. The 128-page soft-bound book contains a two-page "How to use this book" section, ten pages about the fictional principles governing those planes and their ecology, a 3-page appendix about animal-like creatures there, a 3-page index with all second edition monsters suitable for the Planescape setting, with the remainder consisting of the descriptions of the fictional monsters.
A giant skeleton that is holding a small figure prisoner in their ribcage, this creature is highlighted by reviewer Kaneda for characters to steer away from.[173]
Dharum suhn
Egarus
Entrope
Monsters crazy enough to gradually destroy the borders between the different planes.[173]
Facet
Fire bat
Frost salamander
Monstrous Compendium – Mystara Appendix (1994)
Fundamental
D&D Expert Module X8 Drums on Fire Mountain, Creature Catalogue, Monstrous Compendium – Mystara Appendix (1994)
Gamorm
Reviewer Kaneda called the gamorm a curiosity not to be disturbed under any circumstances, a "pretty little worm" [8' long] that lives in the Astral plane and feeds on the spirit of living beings it meets; a horror all the more dangerous because it can use the powers of the people it has devoured.[173]
TSR 3140 – Birthright – Blood Spawn: Creatures of Light and Shadow (2000)
TSR 3140 – Birthright – Blood Spawn: Creatures of Light and Shadow (2000)
This bestiary was planned for use with the Birthrightcampaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. The Birthright product line was suspended in 1998 before its completion, so Blood Spawn was later published as an 83-page PDF-file and made freely available here.[174] The supplement focused mainly on monsters of the Shadow World, the fictional dark twin dimension of the setting's world. It contained a table of contents, a 10-page introduction with an explanation of the monster statistics and special rules for the Shadow World, descriptions of the fictional monsters which included tips for their use in a roleplaying campaign, two roleplaying adventures and a 4-page appendix listing monsters from other sources fitting into the Shadow World.
Creature
Other appearances
Variants
Description
Blood Hound
Changeling
Farie, Adult human and Child human changeling
Cwn Annwn
The Dispossessed
Faerie, Seelie
Seelie Faerie, Faerie Queen, Deceiver, Innocent, Helper, Protector and Trickster
Fairy creatures were considered among the "standard repertoire of "Monsters"" by Fabian Perlini-Pfister.[3]
Faerie, Unseelie
Dark Queen, Living Evil Faerie and Undead Faerie
Fairy creatures were considered among the "standard repertoire of "Monsters"" by Fabian Perlini-Pfister.[3]
This section lists fictional creatures for AD&D 2nd Edition from various sources not explicitly dedicated to presenting monsters. Primarily, these are the separate sourcebooks and expansions for the Forgotten Realms, Al-Qadim and other campaign settings produced by TSR.
Spelljammer
TSR1049 – Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures In Space (1989)
Monstrous Manual (1993) (Beholder and Hive Mother; Orbus by reference only)
Beholder, Orbus and Hive Mother
A large orb dominated by a central eye and a large toothy maw, with 10 smaller eyes on tops sprouting from the top of the orb; the large eye negates all magic and the smaller eyes cause a variety of magical effects. A "creature that looks at you and is destroying you by the power of its magical eyes".[24] A terrible beast, but depicted as "a cuddly rosy ball with too many eyes".[25]
Savage 19-foot-tall (5.8 m) giants native to the bogs of the fictional planet Chislev.
Giant, Swamp
16-foot-tall (4.9 m) giants living in hunter-gatherer villages in the swamps of Chislev.
Forgotten Realms
TSR1060 – Ruins of Undermountain (1991)
The Forgotten RealmsRuins of Undermountain boxed set included 8 unnumbered 5-hole punched loose-leaf pages of creature descriptions in Monstrous Compendium format.
Monstrous Manual (1993), Black Spine (1994), I, Tyrant (1996), Lords of Madness (2005)
Beholder-kin (Death Kiss)
Monstrous Manual (1993), Black Spine (1994), I, Tyrant (1996), Monsters of Faerûn (2001), Lords of Madness (2005), Dragon Compendium, Volume 1 (2005)
Darktentacles
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two (1995), Monster Manual II (2002)
Ibrandlin
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996), Priest's Spell Compendium, Volume One (1999), Monsters of Faerûn (2001)
Scaladar
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two (1995), City of Splendors: Waterdeep (2005)
Sharn
Netheril: Empire of Magic (1996), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996), Monsters of Faerûn (2001), Anauroch: The Empire of the Shade (2007), Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide (2008)
Also named blackclaws, fhaorn'quessir, shiftshades, simmershadows, or skulkingdeaths.
Slithermorph
None
Snakes, Flying
Races of Faerûn (2003)
Flying Fang and Deathfang
Steel Shadow
None
Watchghost
Wizard's Spell Compendium, Volume One (1996), Monsters of Faerûn (2001)
TSR1066 – Maztica Campaign Set (1991)
The Maztica Campaign Set boxed set contained 4 new creatures in the standard Monstrous Compendium format, on pages 59–62 of the Maztica Alive booklet.
This 128-page softbound book provided additional details on the history, culture and society of the dark elves, and included 9 additional creature descriptions in Monstrous Compendium format on pages 113–127.
Queen of the Demonweb Pits (1980), Monster Manual II (1983), Tome of Horrors (2002)
Large, Huge and Giant
Spider, Subterranean
Ruins of Undermountain (1991) (Hunting as "Spider, Flying", Watch), Monstrous Manual (1993), City of Splendors (1994) (Watch), Monsters of Faerûn (2001) (Hairy, Sword), Faiths and Pantheons (2002) (Hairy), City of Splendors: Waterdeep (2005) (Watch)
Hairy, Hunting, Sword and Watch
Spitting Crawler
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (2001)
Yochlol
Queen of the Demonweb Pits (1980), Monster Manual II (1983), Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II (1995), Villains' Lorebook (1998), Dungeon No. 84 (2001), Monsters of Faerûn (2001), Fiendish Codex I (2006), Demon Queen's Enclave (2008)
Dangerous intelligent alligator-like water monster in Maztica. This appearance differs significantly from the descriptions in both 3rd edition Fiend Folio and Aztec mythology.[175]
Tabaxi
Monstrous Manual (1993) (Jaguar Lord as Tabaxi Lord)
Jaguar Lord
Described as a "lithe feline" race[126] and "cat person".[98] In 2020, Comic Book Resources counted the tabaxi as # 4 on the list of "10 Powerful Monster Species That You Should Play As", stating that "a Tabaxi monk with Boots of Speed and a few other speed buffs can in theory cover anywhere between 320ft per round to 253,440ft per round. Your ability to do this and break the sound barrier in-game entirely depends on how much time and leniency the DM grants you though."[65] Again referring to the 5th edition presentation, A.V. Club praised the tabaxi as an interesting player character choice, calling that they "view money as a mere tool to be used in finding the real treasure—a good story" a "great character trait,[98] while Black Gate reviewer Howard Andrew Jones called them "perennially popular".[31]
Dragon, Maztican (Tlalocoatl, Rain Dragon)
TSR1083 – Menzoberranzan (1992)
The Forgotten RealmsMenzoberranzan boxed set included 7 pages of creature descriptions in Monstrous Compendium format, bound into the first book of the set (The City) on pages 88–94.
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996), The Illithiad (1998), Monsters of Faerûn (2001), Lords of Madness (2005), D&D Miniatures: Night Below #38 (2007)
Undead mind flayer. Even more powerful than other illithids because it has developed "powerful sorcery to augment their already fearsome psionic powers".[176]
Cloaker Lord
Monsters of Faerûn (2001)
Foulwing
Dragon No. 197 (1993), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Lost Empires of Faerûn (2005)
Dragon No. 40 (1980), Wizard's Spell Compendium, Volume Four (1998), Secrets of the Magister (2000)
True and Transformed
TSR1084 – Ruins of Myth Drannor (1993)
The Forgotten RealmsThe Ruins of Myth Drannor boxed set included 8 unnumbered 5-hole punched loose-leaf pages of creature descriptions in Monstrous Compendium format.
The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (2nd edition) boxed set included 8 unnumbered 5-hole punched loose-leaf pages of creature descriptions in Monstrous Compendium format.
Monstrous Compendium Fiend Folio Appendix (1992), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Monsters of Faerûn (2001)
Baneguard
Shadowdale (1989), Ruins of Undermountain (1991), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Monsters of Faerûn (2001), Lost Empires of Faerûn (2005)
Direguard
Bonebat
Halls of the High King (1990), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996), Monsters of Faerûn (2001)
Battlebat
Deepspawn
Dwarves Deep (1990), Monstrous Manual (1993), Pool of Radiance: Attack on Myth Drannor (2000), Monsters of Faerûn (2001), Lost Empires of Faerûn (2005)
Dracolich
Dragon No. 110 (1986), Waterdeep and the North (1987), Monstrous Compendium Volume Three: Forgotten Realms Appendix (1989), 1991 Trading Cards #251, Monstrous Manual (1993), 1993 Trading Cards #387, Cult of the Dragon (1998), Draconomicon (2003), Dragon #344 "The Ecology of the Dracolich" (2006), D&D Miniatures: War of the Dragon Queen set #31 (2006), Dragon: Monster Ecologies (2007), Monster Manual (2008)
Gambado
Fiend Folio (1981), Monstrous Compendium Fiend Folio Appendix (1992), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Tome of Horrors (2002)
Gibbering Mouther
Lost Tamoachan (1979), Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan (1979), Monster Manual II (1983), Dragon No. 160 "The Ecology of the Gibbering Mouther" (1990), Assassin Mountain (1993), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Monster Manual (2000, 2003), D&D Miniatures: Aberrations set #50 (2004), Lords of Madness (2005), Monster Manual (2008)
A creature with many eyes and mouths. Witwer et al. found Erol Otus' early depiction "perversely beautiful", the artist's surrealist style very suited for this bizarre monster.[5]: 94–97
Halls of the High King (1990), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Priest's Spell Compendium, Volume Three (2000), Monsters of Faerûn (2001), Dragon No. 302 (2002), Lost Empires of Faerûn (2005), D&D Miniatures: Underdark set #37 (2005), Monster Manual (2008)
Lock Lurker
Dragon No. 139 (1988), Haunted Halls of Evening Star (1992), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Priest's Spell Compendium, Volume Three (2000)
Naga, Dark
Dragon No. 89 (1984), Anauroch (1991), Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix (1991), Dragon No. 261 "The Ecology of the Dark Naga: Fool Me Twice" (1999), Monster Manual (2000, 2003), D&D Miniatures: Underdark set #33 (2005), Monster Manual (2008)
Nishruu
Halls of the High King (1990), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Monsters of Faerûn (2001), Lost Empires of Faerûn (2005)
Quaggoth
Fiend Folio (1981), Monstrous Compendium Fiend Folio Appendix (1992), Monstrous Manual (1993), Dragon No. 265 (1999), Monsters of Faerûn (2001), D&D Miniatures: War Drums set #57 (2006), Drow of the Underdark (2007)
Haunted Halls of Evening Star (1992), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (2001), Lost Empires of Faerûn (2005)
TSR1109 – City of Splendors (1994)
The Forgotten RealmsCity of Splendors boxed set included unnumbered 5-hole punched loose-leaf pages of creature descriptions in Monstrous Compendium format.
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (1998), Bestiary of Krynn (2004), Bestiary of Krynn, Revised (2007)
Child of the Sea and Accantus
Human-like aquatic race that reproduces with humans. Accanta are wild and aggressive versions of the children of the sea that possess additional powers.
Grain Nymph
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (1998)
Cultivated relatives of the nymph associated with farmland
Yrasda
Aphelka, Thanic and Ushama
Irda-like race closely linked to the sea with the ability to shapechange into a specific sea creature
TSR9382 – Flint's Axe (1992)
The Dragonlance adventure Flint's Axe by Tim Beach contained a new creature.
The Al-QadimGolden Voyages boxed set, by David "Zeb" Cook, contained 4 unnumbered 5-hole punched loose-leaf pages in Monstrous Compendium format, each with a full-page image of the creature described on the back.
Lost Tamoachan (1979), Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan (1979), Monster Manual II (1983), Dragon No. 160 "The Ecology of the Gibbering Mouther" (1990), Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (1993), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Monster Manual (2000, 2003), D&D Miniatures: Aberrations set #50 (2004), Lords of Madness (2005), Monster Manual (2008)
A creature with many eyes and mouths. Witwer et al. found Erol Otus' early depiction "perversely beautiful", the artist's surrealist style very suited for this bizarre monster.[5]: 94–97
Greyhound, Saluqi
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994) (as Dog, Saluqi)
Jungle Hounds
Marrashi
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994)
Sandman
White Dwarf No. 10 (1978), Fiend Folio (1981), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994) (under Elemental), Tome of Horrors (2002)
Wind Walker
Strategic Review No. 3 (1975), Monster Manual (1977), Monster Cards, Set 4 (1982), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994) (under Elemental), Tome of Horrors (2002)
TSR9433 – Secrets of the Lamp (1993)
The Al-QadimSecrets of the Lamp boxed set contained 4 unnumbered 5-hole punched loose-leaf pages in Monstrous Compendium format.
ISBN1-56076-647-6
Creature
Other appearances
Variants
Description
Elemental Kin, Earth, Crysmal
Monster Manual II (1983), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Psionics Handbook (2001), Expanded Psionics Handbook (2004)
Elemental Kin, Fire, Azer
Monster Manual II (1983), Practical Planetology (1991), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), Monster Manual (2000, 2003), Savage Species (2003), D&D Miniatures: Harbinger set #32 (2003) ("Azer Raider"), D&D Miniatures: War of the Dragon Queen set #19 (2006) ("Azer Fighter"), Monster Manual (2008), Draconomicon (2008) ("Azer Beastmaster")
Amaimon, Nobles
Genie, Tasked, Messenger
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994)
Genie, Tasked, Miner
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994)
Grue, Chaggrin (Soil beast)
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994) (as Grue, Earth)
White Dwarf reviewer Megan C. Evans referred to the grues as "a collection of terrifying beasties from the Elemental Planes".[22]
Grue, Harginn (Flame horror)
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994) (as Grue, Fire)
Grue, Ildriss (Wind terror)
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994) (as Grue, Air)
Grue, Varrdig (Fluid brute)
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994) (as Grue, Water)
TSR9440 – Ruined Kingdoms (1994)
The Al-QadimRuined Kingdoms boxed set, by Steven Kurtz, contained an 8-page booklet with non-player characters and monsters.
Humanoid with the head and tail of a crocodile and the ability to assume human form; servants of the evil goddess Ragarra. Greater seggaran have additional magical powers and bat's wings.
Serpent
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two (1995)
Herald and Teak
Herald serpent: intelligent, good-aligned messengers of serpent lords. Teak serpent: a 30-ft long constrictor snake.
TSR9449 – Corsairs of the Great Sea (1994)
The Al-QadimCorsairs of the Great Sea boxed set, by Nicky Rea, contained an 8-page booklet with monsters.
ISBN1-56076-867-3
Creature
Other appearances
Variants
Description
Addazahr (Backbiter)
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two (1995)
Thin, blood-drinking flying insect that can cause disease.
Rats modified by mind flayers which show a "glowing brain". Ranked among the weakest monsters in the game by Scott Baird from Screen Rant.[57] Only in higher numbers do they become more intelligent, psionic, and dangerous.
Dabus
These "floating goat-men" are common within the fictional city of Sigil.[180]
Magman
Minion of Set
Powers & Pantheons (1997) (Divine Minion)
Minion of Set and Shadow Priest
Modron
Monodrone, Duodrone, Tridrone, Quadron, Pentadrone, Decaton, Nonaton, Octon, Septon, Hexton, Quinton, Quarton, Tertian, Secundus, Primus and Rogue Unit
In his review of the Planescape Campaign Setting boxed set, Gene Alloway mentioned the modrons as an example of "the old, tired and previously foolish" which the set "breathes new life and meaning into".[181] Reviewer Scott Haring found that the "once-silly Modrons" from 1st edition AD&D were "given a new background and purpose that makes a lot more sense" in 2nd edition Planescape.[182] Philippe Tessier praised the modrons as charming little critters.[183]
Nic'Epona
Spirit of the Air
Vortex
Yugoloth, Lesser – Marraenoloth
TSR2603 – Planes of Chaos (1994)
The PlanescapePlanes of Chaos boxed set contained a 32-page Monstrous Supplement booklet.
Powerful and evil demonic rulers, each controlling a section of the Abyss. CBR reviewer Daniel Colohan counted the abyssal lords among "the most feared enemies to encounter in any campaign". Among them, as an exception to the rule, Graz'zt appears humanoid rather than monstrous, and was ranked by Colohan number six among the "Top 10 Demon Lords Your Party Will Fear".[184]
Asrai
Bacchae
Chaos Beast
Chaos Imp
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
Fensir
Male, female and young Fensir, Fensir Mage and Rakka
The original Dark Sun Boxed Set for the Dark Sun campaign setting contains several pages of monster description in The Wanderer's Journal book, as well as in the A Little Knowledge adventure booklet.
Erdlu: large flightless scaled bird kept for meat and eggs; inix: 16-feet carnivorous lizard used for riding and transport; kank: 8-feet-long black insects kept as mounts and for honey; mekillot: 30-feet-long moundshaped foul-tempered lizards used as caravan beasts
Belgoi
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
Belgoi appear human, but with long claws, toothless mouths, and webbed feet. They have a taste for the flesh of intelligent races.
Braxat
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
It is difficult to tell whether the braxat are of mammalian or reptilian stock. Their backs are covered with shells and their heads have a lizard-like shape. But, they walk upright, can speak with a human-like voice, have opposable thumbs, and are warm-blooded.
Dragon of Tyr
Fortunately, there is only one dragon in the Tyr region.
Dune Freak (Anakore)
A race of dimwitted humanoids with bony, wedge-like heads, small ears, and beady eyes covered by clear membranes to prevent sand from scratching them.
Gaj
A psionic horror, though physically it appears as a reptilian beetle six feet long.
Giant, Athasian
Monstrous Compendium – Dark Sun Appendix: Terrors of the Desert (1992)
Beasthead, desert and plains giant
Beasthead: 20ft-tall hostile giants with an animal head; desert: 25ft-tall giants living on desert islands; plains: 25ft-tall giants raising herds on islands with scrub plains terrain
Gith
Monstrous Manual (1993)
A grotesque race that appear to be a mixture of elf and reptile.
Jorzhal
About four feet tall, the jozhal is a small, two-legged reptile with a skinny tail, a long flexible neck, and a narrow snout.
Silk Wyrm
A snake with a hard, chitinous shell that measure over 50 feet in length.
Tembo
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
A despicable, furless, tawny-colored beast covered with loose folds of scaly hide.
Kluzd
Snake-like reptiles that inhabit mudflats, ten feet long and two to three feet in diameter. They can swallow a grown man whole.
Wezer
worker, soldier, brood queen
Enormous flying insects that make underground hives in the desert.
TSR2432 – City by the Silt Sea (1994)
The City by the Silt Sea campaign expansion box for the Dark Suncampaign setting by Shane Lacy Hensley contains a 32-page Monstrous Supplement.
Erdlu: large flightless scaled bird kept for meat and eggs; inix: 16-feet carnivorous lizard used for riding and transport; kank: 8-feet-long black insects kept as mounts and for honey; mekillot: 30-feet-long moundshaped foul-tempered lizards used as caravan beasts
Monstrous Compendium – Dark Sun Appendix: Terrors of the Desert (1992)
Beasthead, desert and plains giant
Beasthead: 20ft-tall hostile giants with an animal head; desert: 25ft-tall giants living on desert islands; plains: 25ft-tall giants raising herds on islands with scrub plains terrain
TSR2444 – The Wanderer's Chronicle: Mind Lords of the Last Sea (1996)
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (as Fish, Athasian)
Lizard Man, Athasian
Puddingfish
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (as Fish, Athasian)
Shark, Athasian
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (as Fish, Athasian)
Skyfish
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (as Fish, Athasian)
Squark
Birthright
TSR3100 – Birthright Campaign Setting (1995)
Within the Birthright Campaign Setting box were a set of cardsheets, separate from the books. Beyond rules summaries and handy charts, several unique monsters were presented.
Creature
Other appearances
Variants
Description
Dragon, Cerilian
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
A dragon variant unique to this setting, with a breath weapon of a stream of burning venom.
Giant, Cerilian
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
Forest, Ice
Goblin, Cerilian
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
Orog
A subterranean race of miners and warriors that inhabit Cerilia's mountain ranges.
The Gorgon
One of the awnsheghlien ("Blood of Darkness" in Elven, champions of evil),[185] he is the regent of The Gorgon's Crown in North Anuire. A terribly powerful antagonist of humankind.[185]
Rhuobhe Manslayer
One of the awnsheghlien, an elf twisted by his hatred and pledge to exterminate all humanity.
The Seadrake
One of the awnsheghlien, a merchant who transformed into a massive sea serpent over centuries.
The Spider
One of the awnsheghlien, a goblin who became an arachnoid monster, and regent of The Spiderfell.
The Chronomancer game accessory, by Loren Coleman, contained 7 pages of monsters living on Temporal Prime, a fictitious dimension that allows time travel.
Undead trying to destroy creatures not native to Temporal Prime.
Tether Beast
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
Fierce, intelligent and evil predator that resembles a behir.
Time Dimensional
Monster Manual II (1983) (as Time elemental), Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
Common, Noble and Royal
Highly intelligent being composed of the essence of time and appearing as a sphere of silver light.
Vortex Spider
Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996)
12-feet long spider spinning invisible webs of temporal energy.
TSR9539 – The Sea Devils (1997)
The Sea Devils game accessory by Skip Williams, detailing the sahuagin in the Monstrous Arcana series, contained two pages detailing new aquatic monsters.
Tyler Linn of Cracked.com identified the anguillian as one of the "15 Most Idiotic Monsters In Dungeons & Dragons History", commenting that "Judging by the spear and the Sarlacc mouth, things down there aren't quite as whimsical as Sebastian the crab would have us believe." He adds: "Buddy, you've got a mouth lined with thousands of razor-sharp teeth and huge terrifying crab claws for hands. You do not need to try to jab people with a sharpened stick."[61]
Nawidnehr (sharkwere)
TSR9569 – The Illithiad (1998)
The Illithiad game accessory by Bruce R. Cordell, in the Monstrous Arcana series, contained 7 pages of monsters linked to the illithids.
10-foot-diameter (3.0 m) brain with immense psionic abilities; the center of an illithid community. A version of a brain in a jar, it was ranked among the strongest monsters in the game by Scott Baird from Screen Rant.[57][127]
Urophions
Lords of Madness (2005)
Cross between roper and illithid that looks like a rocky outcropping and has hidden tentacles.
Neothelid
Psionics Handbook (2001)
Worm-like creature 10 feet (3.0 m) in diameter and 100 feet (30 m) long with four long tentacles protruding from the lamprey-like maw.
Subterranean predator; a smaller, more intelligent relative of the bulette.
Dragon Magazine
Dragon Magazine introduced many new monsters to the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. It functioned as "a creative safe haven for a diverse stable of talents – creators, amateur and professional alike – to" among other things "envision exotic monsters".[5]: 58
Creature
Other appearances
Variants
Description
Duckbunny
The duckbunny is the result of a magical crossbreeding experiment. CJ Miozzi included the duckbunny on The Escapist's list of "The Dumbest Dungeons & Dragons Monsters Ever (And How To Use Them)".[150]
The duckbunny appeared in Dragon No. 243 (January 1998).
^ abcdefghijklmSchick, Lawrence (1991). Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games. Prometheus Books. ISBN0-87975-653-5.
^Collin, Olivier (November–December 1997). "La Bestiaire Monstrueux Planescape". Backstab (in French). No. 6. pp. 36, 40.
^ abHeine, Samuel; Prémont, Antoine (August 2021). The Human Fantasy: Exploring race and ethnicity through Dungeons & Dragons. The 16th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games (FDG) 2021. doi:10.1145/3472538.3472560.
^Croitoriu, Michaël (July–August 1998). "Aide au Maître de Donjon: Campagnes de haut niveau". Backstab (in French). No. 10. p. 44.
^ abcdefghijTessier, Philippe (November 2000). "Baldur's Gate II". Review. Backstab (in French). No. 24. pp. 90–91.
^Lock, Bob (February–March 1982). "The Brownie". White Dwarf. No. 29. p. 24.
^ abcdMarshall, C. W. (2019). "Classical Reception and the Half-Elf Cleric". In Rogers, Brett M.; Stevens, Benjamin Eldon (eds.). Once and Future Antiquities in Science Fiction and Fantasy. Bloomsbury Academic. pp. 149–171. ISBN978-1-3500-6894-0.
^ abcdefghTheurer, Mark (December 2002). "D20 Product Review: Monster Manual II"(PDF). Fictional Reality. No. 10. p. 52. Archived from the original on August 13, 2007. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
^Babb, Ruth (2014). "Dragons in Contemporary Fantasy Novels". In Weinstock, Jeffrey (ed.). The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters. Ashgate Publishing. p. 186.
^ abcMizer, Nicholas J. (November 22, 2019). Tabletop role-playing games and the experience of imagined worlds. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. ISBN978-3-030-29127-3. OCLC1129162802.
^Peterson, Jon (2012). Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People and Fantastic Adventures, from Chess to Role-Playing Games. San Diege, CA: Unreason Press. ISBN978-0615642048.
^Švelch, Jaroslav (2013). "Monsters by the numbers: Controlling monstrosity in video games". In Levina, Marina; T. Bui, Diem-My (eds.). Monster Culture in the 21st Century: A Reader. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 197. ISBN978-1-4411-9326-1.
^ abDant; Feldman; Lutters (1990). "Dungeons for Science: Mapping Belief Places and Spaces". arXiv:1904.05216 [cs.CY].
^Tessier, Philippe (November 2000). "Baldur's Gate 2". Game aid. Backstab (in French). No. 24. p. 34.
^Searsmith, Kelly (2014). "Goblin". In Weinstock, Jeffrey (ed.). The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters. Ashgate Publishing. p. 289.
^ abPasteau, Cyril (November 2000). "The Sunless Citadel". Backstab (in French). No. 24. p. 75.
^ abcdStang, Sarah; Trammel, Aaron (2019). "The Ludic Bestiary: Misogynistic Tropes of Female Monstrosity in Dungeons & Dragons". Games and Culture. 15 (6): 730–747. doi:10.1177/1555412019850059. S2CID181779195.
^Waldron, David (2005). "Role-Playing Games and the Christian Right: Community Formation in Response to a Moral Panic". The Journal of Religion and Popular Culture. 9 (1): 3. doi:10.3138/jrpc.9.1.003. hdl:1959.17/44257.
^ abWood, Juliette (2018). "When unicorns walked the earth: A brief history of the unicorn and its fellows". Fantastic Creatures in Mythology and Folklore. Bloomsbury. ISBN9781441166760.
^Gilsdorf, Ethan (2009). Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms. Globe Pequot. p. 300. ISBN9781599214801.
^Trammell, Aaron (2018), Taylor, Nicholas; Voorhees, Gerald (eds.), "Militarism and Masculinity in Dungeons & Dragons", Masculinities in Play, Palgrave Games in Context, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 129–147, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-90581-5_8, ISBN978-3-319-90581-5
^Fine, Gary Alan (1983). Shared Fantasy: Role Playing Games as Social Worlds. University of Chicago Press. p. 23.
^Robichaud, Christopher, ed. (2014). Dungeons and Dragons and Philosophy: Read and Gain Advantage on All Wisdom Checks. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN9781118397626.
^Higgins, David M. (2014). "Troglodyte". In Weinstock, Jeffrey (ed.). The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters. Ashgate Publishing. pp. 543–544.
^ abcdBarton, Matt; Stacks, Shane (2019). Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games (Second ed.). CRC Press. ISBN978-1-138-57464-9.
^Robert A. Collins; Robert Latham (eds.). Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Review Annual 1991. Meckler Corporation. p. 414. ISBN9780313283260.
^Muires, Stephen (October 13, 2018). The Game of Thinking: A Book for the Free Mind. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. p. 4. ISBN978-1721963041.
العلاقات اليابانية البولندية اليابان بولندا اليابان بولندا تعديل مصدري - تعديل العلاقات اليابانية البولندية هي العلاقات الثنائية التي تجمع بين اليابان وبولندا.[1][2][3][4][5] مقارنة بين البلدين هذه مقارنة عامة ومرجعية للدولتين: وجه المقا...
Public park in Queens, New York This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources.Find sources: Turtle Playground Queens – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2019)Turtle Playground, located at 138th Street and the south side of Horace Harding Expressway in Flushing, was acquired by the City of...
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A questa voce o sezione va aggiunto il template sinottico {{Libro}} Puoi aggiungere e riempire il template secondo le istruzioni e poi rimuovere questo avviso. Se non sei in grado di riempirlo in buona parte, non fare nulla; non inserire template vuoti. Copertina del libro di Koyo Gunkan La parola bushido in Koyo Gunkan (1616) Takeda Shingen, capo del clan Takeda di cui si narra nel Kōyō Gunkan, in una stampa di Utagawa Kuniyoshi. Kōyō Gunkan (甲陽軍鑑?) è un doc...
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