Dungeons and Dragons Reveals What’s New In the 2024 Monster Manual

Dungeons and Dragons has officially previewed the contents of the 2024 Monster Manual. The last core rulebook of the Dungeons and Dragons 2024 revamp releases on February 18, though D&D Beyond subscribers can access it as early as February 4.

Over the last few years, Dungeons and Dragons has been working towards an evergreen rules refresh for 5th Edition’s 10th anniversary. Originally dubbed One D&D, the 2024 facelift of Dungeons and Dragons began with the new Player’s Handbook on September 17 and continued with the Dungeon Master’s Guide on November 12.

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Now, ahead of the new Monster Manual’s release on February 18, Dungeons and Dragons has teased the contents of the third and final core rulebook. Over 500 stat blocks, streamlined for ease of use, are available in the book, including 85 brand-new creatures, 40 humanoid NPCs, and variations of familiar monsters, such as the primeval owlbear and the vampire umbral lord and their nightbringer minions. The new Dungeons and Dragons book powers up high-level creatures as well, with streamlined attacks, revamped Legendary Actions, and terrifying bosses like the CR 21 arch-hag and the CR 22 elemental cataclysm.

Dungeons and Dragons 2024 Monster Manual Contents

• Over 500 new monsters, including:
  • 85 new creatures
  • 40 humanoid NPCs
  • High-level monsters like the elemental cataclysm or arch-hag
  • Variant monsters like the primeval owlbear, vampire nighbringer, and vampire umbral lord
• Rebalanced, easier-to-use stat blocks featuring habitat, treasure, and gear
• Tables that sort monsters by habitat, creature type, and CR
• Guides for understanding and using monster stat blocks
• Hundreds of new pieces of artwork

Beyond the statblocks themselves, fans will find tools to help them use these new monsters in games. Most monster listings now contain information about the habitat these creatures are found in, as well as treasure players might find after defeating them. Additionally, the gear used by certain stat blocks is now included, allowing characters to upgrade their own equipment with that of their adversaries. Lists of monsters by habitat, creature type, and Challenge Rating are now found in the Monster Manual, rather than the Dungeon Master’s Guide, giving DMs everything they need to populate an encounter in a single book.

New “How to Use a Monster” and “Running a Monster” sections at the start of the book will also help players understand every part of a stat block, and offer practical advice about how the monsters might act. These sections will help DMs of any skill level make the most out of the creatures in the 2024 Monster Manual.

One thing that was not mentioned as being in this book is detailed information about how to create a custom creature. The 2014 Dungeon Master’s Guide had tables that helped fans figure out the HP, damage, and other statistics of homebrewed monsters, but its 2024 counterpart had no such thing. Fans who hope to see this information in the last core rulebook won’t have to wait long to find out – though the 2024 Monster Manual releases on February 18, Hero and Master Tier D&D Beyond subscribers gain digital access on February 11 and 4 respectively, so the full contents of the book will be revealed in less than a month.

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Dungeons and Dragons

Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.

Franchise

Dungeons & Dragons

Original Release Date

1974-00-00

Designer

E. Gary Gygax
, Dave Arneson