2024 was a massive year for Dungeons & Dragons. Fans went wild when Wizards of the Coast announced a new 2024 variation of the Player’s Handbook. This updated version of the Player’s Handbook is 384 pages full of various builds, rules, mechanics, and just about everything else a player would need to know about Dungeons & Dragons. In addition, Wizards of the Coast also released a 2024 Monster Manual. Technically, this manual wasn’t released until Feb. 18, 2025, but it is the final book in the 2024 D&D core rulebook trilogy.
The new and improved Monster Manual is full of long-time fan-favorite D&D monsters and a plethora of new and exciting monsters for adventurers to come across. Wizards of the Coast promises that the 2024/2025 Monster Manual is the “mightiest” manual yet. With the new Monster Manual comes new monsters and stat blocks for new and old monsters alike, so let’s talk about some of the best, strongest, and most interesting new additions.
10
Haunting Revenant May Not Be the Strongest Monster on This List
But it is One of the Coolest Monsters in the 2024 Monster Manual
The Haunting Revenant is the weakest monster on this list, but it’s still a challenging monster that players will have fun facing. In comparison to every other creature that has a challenge rating (CR) of at least 20, the Haunting Revenant is only a CR 10. This monster is too cool not to add to the list, though. Many die-hard D&D fans and players have claimed that the Haunting Revenant is one of, if not the best monster in the 2024/2025 Monster Manual.
- Resistances Necrotic, Psychic
- Immunities Poison; Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Grappled, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned, Prone, Restrained, Unconscious
It’s hard to deny that this monster is extremely cool. It’s a larger and more powerful version of a normal Revenant, but it takes on the form of a haunted house. The house itself is possessed, similarly to how a mimic “possesses” a treasure chest or other seemingly normal object. This monster has a lot of interesting traits, like being able to completely cancel a spellcaster’s spells with its Haunted Zone ability. The Haunted Revenant can also revive itself after 24 hours.
9
Animal Lords are Versatile Celestials
Powerful Nature Spirits that Embody Their Animal Form
An Animal Lord takes on the form of an animal, but it doesn’t just look like that specific animal. Animal Lords are said to embody that animal’s divine potential. These creatures are extremely powerful and harbor abilities including spell-casting, summoning animal spirits, shape-shifting, and more. All Animal Lords fall into one of three categories; Foragers, Hunters, and Sages.
“An Animal Lord is an immortal spirit associated with a particular type of animal. They are Celestials that are paragons of their kin, making them closer to demigods than Beasts.” – DnDBeyond
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These creatures are fast and agile, making them difficult to pin down. Perhaps most importantly, Animal Lords are perceptive creatures, so they notice almost everything. An Animal Lord has a challenge rating of 20, which isn’t the highest CR out there, but it is definitely more sophisticated than most monsters. Any party unlucky enough to end up on an Animal Lord’s bad side has a ruthless fight ahead of them.
8
Arch-Hag is the Pinnacle Hags Aspire To
The Most Infamous Arch-Hag is Baba Yaga
Arch-Hags have a CR of 21, making them a tough challenge for even high-level players. Arch-Hags are clever schemers who often rely on manipulation tactics to get their way, so players must be cautious not to fall victim to a cunning scheme. This is especially crucial because Hags don’t immediately jump into combat. They will avoid battle if they can, often preferring to rely on wits. If they can’t avoid battle, they often send minions to do their dirty work for them.
“A hag is a proverbial witch of the wilds who masterfully manipulates those they catch in their schemes. Once these malicious magic users reach the pinnacle of their power, they become an arch-hag. Arch-hags are everything a regular hag is, just worse. Immortal, capricious, ill-tempered, self-interested, and dangerously cunning, they trade in secrets and pursue their plots with magical bargains.” – DnDBeyond
Arch-Hags are difficult to defeat and even harder to kill thanks to their anathema mechanic. An anathema is like an antithesis to the Arch-Hag’s magic. To kill one, they must be close to their anathema when their HP hits 0. Arch-Hags also have devastating effects on spellcasters and are crafty with a wide variety of curses.
7
An Elemental Cataclysm Can Wipe Out an Entire World
A Living Creature of Pure Chaos
An Elemental Cataclysm has a CR of 22, which isn’t the strongest D&D monster around, but it’s pretty darn high. These creatures are chaos incarnate and have the power to destroy worlds with ease. An Elemental Cataclysm can only be summoned by a dark ritual or a catastrophic planar rift. Once summoned, an Elemental Cataclysm will take on the form of an element, usually flames, ice, or raging storms.
- Immunities: Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, Poison, Thunder; Blinded, Charmed, Deafened, Exhaustion, Frightened, Grappled, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned, Prone, Restrained, Stunned, Unconscious
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This monster has multiple advantages, including multi-attack, controlling the weather, and cataclysmic events that recharge over time. They also possess Truesight up to 150 feet and a passive perception of 12. Elemental Cataclysms also have a massive number of immunities, which makes it even harder for players to deal with.
6
Krakens Aren’t New to D&D
But the 2024/2025 Monster Manual Offers a Fresh Look
Most D&D players are at least familiar with Krakens, even if they’ve never faced one themselves. A kraken refers to a Chaotic Evil Gargantuan Monstrosity that has a CR of 23. Krakens are interesting creatures that can understand a number of languages but cannot speak verbally. They are telepathic and can communicate up to 120 feet with this ability.
- Immunities: Cold, Lightning; Frightened, Grappled, Paralyzed, Restrained
- Senses: Truesight 120 ft., Passive Perception 21
Krakens have a wide variety of attacks, from biting to utilizing their tentacles, and even throwing objects they can lift. Krakens can also create a lightning storm, which summons three bolts of lightning the Kraken can use against any opponent it can see up to 120 feet. It can also use the Ink Cloud ability to create a murky underwater area that only it can see in.
5
The Blob of Annihilation Absorbs Everything It Comes Across
The Corpse of a God Mixed With Astral Sludge
The Blob of Annihilation might sound like a hilarious monster by name, but it is as horrifying as it is powerful. This monster solves the riddle of a rock and a hard place because it will simply devour both. In fact, the Blob of Annihilation can consume just about anything in its path and its hunger pushes it onward, never sated, and always hungry for more. It is relentless in the worst possible way.
“A Blob of Annihilation is what happens when astral toxic sludge fuses with the corpse of a god while drifting through Wildspace, suddenly gaining sentience, hunger, and malice. The blob is a Gargantuan-sized creature, meaning there is no maximum to how big it can become. These colossal creatures are formed in the depths of Wildspace, and depending on how big it has grown, it could be the size of a building, mountain, or even a planet!
Whatever the size, a blob of annihilation absorbs everything it passes. In its slow, hungry journey, a blob of annihilation has likely absorbed powerful magic items–which don’t dissolve in its entropic body–leading many foolhardy treasure hunters to their deaths.” – DnDBeyond
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Everything about this creature is absolutely terrifying, but perhaps the most intimidating part about its stat block is its range. The Blob of Annihilation can throw sludge at an enemy up to 600 feet away. That is a massive range, especially when other massive creatures, like the Kraken, usually only reach up to 120 feet. If a creature is hit by the sludge, it will be restrained and each turn it remains trapped, it will be pulled closer and closer to the Blob and a horrific death.
4
Empyrean are the Children of Gods
The 2024/2025 Monster Manual Includes Two Unique Stat Blocks
Empyreans can be Celestials or Titans, and they are always children of the gods. When put like that, it’s not surprising that even one Empyrean can be an extremely powerful foe. A proper Empyrean has a CR of 23, making it one of the most powerful monsters in the Monster Manual. The newest addition to the Monster Manual actually includes two different versions of the Empyrean; the Empyrean proper and a creature called Empyrean Iota.
|
Empyrean |
Empyrean Iota |
|
|
Skills |
Insight +13, Perception +13 |
History +4, Insight +5, Perception +5 |
|
Resistances |
Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing |
Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing |
|
Immunities |
Necrotic, Radiant |
Prone |
|
Senses |
Truesight 120 ft.; Passive Perception 23 |
Truesight 30 ft.; Passive Perception 15 |
|
Languages |
All |
All |
The Empyrean Iota has a CR of only 1, making it a relatively basic creature, but they act as extensions of the Empyrean itself. Empyrean Iota are sort of like stray thoughts of the godly being, so they’re a great way to slowly introduce players to the idea of facing an Empyrean. The new version of the CR 23 Empyrean has also been buffed to sport more hit points (HP) and a Sacred Weapon that deals Force damage.
3
Ancient Dragons Come in Multiple Shapes & Sizes
There Are Plenty to Pick From Because They Put the “Dragon” in Dungeons & Dragons
There are nearly a dozen different breeds of Ancient Dragons, easily identifiable by their color and behavior. Each dragon type has its own stat block, but they usually fall somewhere between CR 20 and CR 24. Not all Dragons are automatically enemies, though. There are plenty of Dragon races that can act as an ally or guide, like the Silver Dragons. This makes the Ancient Dragons a unique entry on this list because players don’t necessarily have to fight them. They can be companions, allies, and even friends.
“The Monster Manual has completely revamped the look and feel of each dragon to showcase their unique personalities and talents. This redesign is on full display in the Monster Manual with multiple pieces of art for each variation of dragon–including a full-page showcase of each dragon’s Gargantuan ancient form.” – DnDBeyond
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The 2024/2025 Monster Manual boasts a brand-new overhaul to all the iconic Dragons that helped make D&D famous. The manual includes new Dragon concept art and lore to help flesh out these magnificent beasts even more. It also improves their abilities, further separates what each Dragon specializes in, ups the ante of Dragon Liar encounters, and increases the value of a Dragon’s Legendary Actions. All-in-all, the D&D dragons have never looked or played better.
2
Colossus are Forged Constructs Decades in the Making
The “Big Bad” of the Constructs Category
A Colossus is a construct that takes decades or sometimes even centuries to craft. To put it bluntly, a Colossus is a giant animated statue. Usually, acolytes craft these massive monsters by infusing the statue with a god’s divine energy. Players will face a hard battle with this CR 25 monster because it is almost entirely indestructible. There is only one other monster in the 2024/2025 Monster Manual that stands above the Colossus.
A single Colossus has resistance to physical and magical attacks, which severely limits what someone opposing a Colossus can do. These animated statues are also incredibly powerful. It can utilize slam attacks, radiant rays, and Divine Beam to overwhelm its opponent. Due to a Colossus’ durability, strength, and Legendary Action that allows it to smite a foe, many players may crumble in the face of this creature’s ultimate power.
1
Tarrasque is the Most Powerful Monster in the New Monster Manual
Its CR is 5 Points Higher than the Colossus
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Tarrasque is the most powerful monster in the 2024/2025 Monster Manual. It has an impressive and intimidating CR of 30, which is 5 points higher than the second most powerful creature in the manual, the Colossus. Tarrasque is an unaligned Titan with many immunities and abilities that make facing it the most challenging and terrifying experience any modern D&D campaign could do.
- Saving Throws: INT +5, WIS +9, CHA +9
- Damage Immunities: Fire, Poison; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
- Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed, Poisoned
- Senses: Blindsight 120 ft., Passive Perception 10
Tarrasque has several Traits and Legendary Actions that make it particularly difficult to deal with. For example, one of its traits is Legendary Resistance, which allows Tarrasque to choose to succeed in a saving throw, even after it fails. It can do this three times per day. One of the most terrifying parts of Tarrasque’s stat block is its Swallow action, which literally allows this giant beast to swallow an enemy.
Dungeons and Dragons
- Franchise
-
Dungeons & Dragons
- Original Release Date
-
January 26, 1974
- Publisher
-
Wizards of the Coast, TSR Inc.
- Designer
-
E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson
- Player Count
-
4-8 Players Recommended
Summary
Dungeons & Dragons is the fantasy tabletop role-playing game that has persevered for nearly 50 years and continues to grow strong. Created by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, the game first made publication in 1974 and now falls under the Wizards of the Coast publishing wing. A typical game of DnD consists of 4-6 players, with one player acting as the Dungeon Master. Players can take a sheet and by consulting the various rule books and expansions, can create their own character with weapons, skills, and physical appearance. Once all characters are created, the Dungeon Master sets them off in a campaign of their choosing or design, where players will have to follow the rules of the DM as they roleplay their way through storylines. The characters will level up, find equipment, and experience permanent changes based on the way the story plays out. A roll of the dice can mean the difference between a successful hit, and a painful end. The most recent edition of Dungeons & Dragons is the 5th edition rule book.
