Summary

The upcoming slate ofDungeons & Dragonsrulebooks is bring a newMonster Manualto the table , and it ’s formally going to be more grand than any released before . TheMonster Manualis a core creature for create combat confrontation inDnD , providing the most accessible resource for keep masters to draw fearsome foes from . Although bestiaries can be supplemented by plenty of additional tome , theMonster Manualcontains the bulk ofDnD ’s most iconic enemiesand dish up as a necessary reference when run prescribed cause risky venture .

In a press briefing for the 2025Monster Manual , leadDnDrules designer Jeremy Crawford affirm thatthe book will have " over 500 monsters,“a meaning advancement over the 300 or so featured in the 2014 version . Among these , over 75 are entirely newfangled gain . The newMonster Manualwill also boast an increased array of NPC stat block , flourish a previously svelte extract to let in performers , pirate ship , and more .

With the next version of D&D around the corner , thespian can expect changes , including those that will fix longstanding spellcasting problems .

Dungeons & Dragons spellcasters using magic.

D&D’s New Monster Manual Is Aiming For Bigger & Better

Adding More Monsters Isn’t The Only Meaningful Change

Having more monster to reference in one rule book should be medicine to most dungeon masters ' ears , as variety in a run is always a good thing . The expanded excerption includes new version among survive categories of monsters , like a fiery new skeleton enemy that could beat a stronger threat than the middling exercise set of clanking osseous tissue . This could be helpful for dungeon masters look to match iconic enemies into lower- or higher - storey play than they ’ve traditionally been become for , shaking things up through a more substantive method than just tweaking stats .

Things also are n’t stay the same among the repay monsters , which are getting their own updates while keeping the same challenge military rating that they receive in 2014 . Ideally , this should give monster that antecedently felt slow more interesting abilities , with any possible gain in force set off by tantamount weaknesses .

What started out as a path to hang up out with friends during the COVID lockdowns quick change by reversal into a regular hebdomadary meet - up playing D&D.

DnD 2024 player’s handbook and the 2014 player’s handbook artwork.

high - levelDnDplaywill receive some generalized hike through the addition of newfangled high-pitched CR monsters , with the Blob of Annihilation ooze and a mammoth construct help as two illustration of major foes . In theupcomingDungeon Master ’s Guide , revised guidelines for building encounters apportion a large syndicate of XP to distribute on high - level encounters , which could allow fights without single high CR foes to still become overwhelming in scale .

The 2025Monster Manualis set for a wide departure on February 18 with early access available on February 4 through purchases from local plot memory board and D&D Beyond pre - ordering of the digital and physical bundle . seize the young book of account might not be purely necessary for dungeon master already equipped with the 2014 version , but it ’s definitely promise some attractive improvement . 500 monsters is nothing to sneeze at , and even the most veteran adventurers might meet exciting newDungeons & Dragonstrials this yr .

Dungeons and Dragons is a popular tabletop game in the first place invented in 1974 by   Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson .   The phantasy role - playing game brings together players for a campaign with various element , include abilities , race , lineament class , ogre , and treasure . The game has drastically expanded since the ' 70s , with numerous update box bent and expansions .

A character holding a trunk in art from Eberron: Forge of the Artificer

A D&D party facing off against skeleton army including a fiery leader in the 2024 Monster Manual.

A dragon looking after a variety of baby dragons in art from the 2024 D&D Monster Manual.

Dungeons and Dragons Game Poster

Dungeons and Dragons is a popular tabletop game originally invented in 1974 by Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson. The fantasy role-playing game brings together players for a campaign with various components, including abilities, races, character classes, monsters, and treasures. The game has drastically expanded since the ’70s, with numerous updated box sets and expansions.

Dungeons and Dragons