Monsters are at the root of nearly every encounter in Dungeons & Dragons, whether they be humanoid orcs raging for the sake of violence or epic ancient black dragons unleashing their corrosive acid breath to dissolve the armor of adventurers where they stand. One of the greatest tools a Dungeon Master (DM) can turn to for setting up battle and encounters is the 5e Monster Manual – and now that 2025 is finally upon us, the epic tome of beasts is getting a major overhaul.
D&D fans had an epic year in 2024, as the world’s most popular TTRPG celebrated its 50th anniversary. Not only did D&D bring Vecna back in a full adventure module, but fans also got a stellar adventure collection in Quests from the Infinite Staircase. Updated versions of the 5e Player’s Handbook and Dungeon Master’s Guide hit shelves in fall, closing out the year in unforgettable fashion. In fact, the numbers are in, and more players than ever are bringing characters to the table, both online and offline. According to Dungeons & Dragons‘ Franchise and Product Vice President, Jess Lanzillo, the 2024 Player’s Handbook sold more copies in the last four months of 2024 than the 2014 edition sold during its first three years on the market.
2024 may be over, but the celebrations and adventures don’t have to stop. In fact, 2025 is just getting started – and so is Wizards of the Coast. With the 2024 Monster Manual arriving in just a few short weeks, D&D 5e is kicking off the new year in spectacular fashion, and CBR’s got the inside scoop on what to expect from the largest collection of monsters in the game’s history.
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The 2024 Monster Manual is the Biggest Monster Resource to Date
5e Monster Manual Project Co-Leads: Jeremy Crawford and Wes Schneider
When hearing the word “monster,” a lot of things come to mind. Dragons, vampires like Strahd Von Zarovich, liches Vecna and Acererak, oozes, dire wolves, and mimics are just the tip of the iceberg, but the word monster is subjective when it comes to D&D, and it always has been. Some monsters are humanoids, like pirates or bandits, while others more easily slot themselves into the expected category. The one thing they all have in common (other than a stat block,) is the interactions the player characters have with them.
Every game is stocked with NPCs (non-player characters) but not all NPCs are monsters. Monsters are creatures, humanoid or otherwise, that pose a potential challenge to the players. Without monsters, there would be no challenges for players, and the Dungeon Master wouldn’t have a lot beyond basic roleplaying scenarios to keep a game going for long.
Wizards of the Coast is claiming the upcoming 2024 D&D 5e Monster Manual is the biggest one to date. With over 500 monsters cataloged in the new edition, game designers have added 85 brand-new monsters to the game. Several of the 2014 manual’s monsters were also updated to make them more clearcut and easier to incorporate into the game, including even more high tier monsters for those epic battles designed to challenge higher level players.
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The Monster Manual’s Table of Contents Makes It Easy to Use
It’s Easier Than Ever to Find the Perfect Challenge
Launching into the book, the very first chapter provides a breakdown on how monsters work, what stat blocks contain and how they can be used in encounters. The 2024 DM’s Guide has the tools necessary to build and tweak monsters, and combining that information with the massive collection of actual monsters is the perfect setup for unforgettable challenges.
Monster Manual Chapter Breakdown
- How to Use a Monster
- Monsters A-Z
- Appendix A: Animals
- Appendix B: Monster Lists
One neat addition to the 2025 version of the 5e MM is the incorporation of monster lists. These lists break monsters down by categories like species, terrain and type, making it easier than ever to pinpoint the types of monsters that might pop up in the type of regions an adventuring party might be exploring. It’s also a great resource for quickly looking up a stat block mid-battle, if needed, making combat encounters so much easier for the DM to run.
Stat blocks include associated lore about the monsters, along with tables to help DMs generate ideas that build on the adventure and tie things together. For example, if the DM is searching for a list of items found inside a defeated Gelatinous Cube, maybe the players discover a key. Where would this key lead them, and how can that be used to move the story forward in ways that feel natural and organic? Paired with the tooks found in the 2024 DM’s Guide, encounters and story can be merged in ways that make the game unforgettable for everyone at the table.
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What to Expect from Monsters In the 2024 D&D 5e MM
Even the Most Familiar Monsters Are Getting a Facelift
When it comes to D&D, dragons are almost always at the forefront of everyone’s minds. In fact, a lot of players get into the game because they can’t wait to encounter a dragon, and the updated Monster Manual went all out to ensure that every type of dragon is represented in all its glory. Elements of every dragon type have been updated and refined, making these epic monsters even more terrifying to encounter, including some major improvements to lair actions designed to make encounters even trickier. Their frightening presence has also been altered and will now be different for each dragon type.
Along with dragons, even more apex predators and epic monsters were designed to pose a threat to higher-leveled adventurers, as well as to ramp up story elements in even more creative ways. The Elemental Cataclysm and Blob of Annihilation are just two examples of epic monsters with incredibly mind-blowing abilities. Within the Blob of Annihilation is the skull of an old dead god, and with their ability to pull creatures into another dimension, combat itself becomes trickier, requiring a level of strategy DMs should expect from an experienced party of adventurers.
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With so many outstanding monsters, players can’t help but wonder if the approach to legendary actions will change. In the past, the point system for using legendary actions could make things complicated, but this system has now been refined for easier use during combat. With so many things to take into consideration in an epic battle, not having to worry so much about proper point utilization when it comes to legendary actions will definitely make encounters a little easier on the DM.
The artwork is another major improvement over the 2014 Monster Manual. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with the imagery in the first rendition of 5e’s MM, the vibrant art in the updated manual is much more vibrant and active. Seeing these creatures in action brings them to life, often in the most menacing fashion, making them look epic and terrifying when they are meant to and adding fuel to the fire of the imagination.
When Will the 2024 Monster Manual Be Available?
February 2025 Will be a Big Month for D&D Fans
For those who haven’t ordered their 2024 D&D 5e Monster Manual yet, pre-orders are still open across the board for both digital and physical copies, but when can we expect to get our hands on it? D&D Beyond Master Tier Subscribers will gain access to the 2024 MM on February 4, 2025, with Hero Tier subscribers unlocking access the following Tuesday, February 11, 2025.
Global release is set for February 18, 2025. That means those purchasing from the official D&D Marketplace, online sites like Amazon.com, or local brick & mortar bookstores and game stores will have the book in their hands in the third week of February.
Dungeons and Dragons
A fantasy roleplaying tabletop game designed for adventure-seekers, the original incarnation of Dungeons & Dragons was created by Gary Gygax in 1974.
- Franchise
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Dungeons & Dragons
- Original Release Date
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January 26, 1974
- Publisher
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Wizards of the Coast, TSR Inc.
- Designer
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E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson
- Age Recommendation
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12+
- Length per Game
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3 hours +
