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With Dungeons & Dragons 5e, source books have always been nice – especially for newer players – but never necessary. Generally, they prove to be more beneficial for Dungeon Masters than they do for players, especially with things like the Dungeon Master’s Guide or the Monster Manual.
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Dungeons & Dragons: 10 Deadliest Monsters In The 2025 Monster Manual
These monsters in the 2025 Monster Manual are no joke.
With the updated 2025 rules, it only makes sense that we would receive a brand new Monster Manual too, with updated artwork, some new creatures, and some updated Stat Blocks. Of course, these rule books and manuals don’t come cheap, which may make some of you hesitant to invest your money in a digital or physical copy.
Review
Our Evergreen Editor, Jerel Levy, reviewed the 2025 Monster Manual, as it wraps up the new core rulebooks releases. Levy noted that one of the first things you notice when flipping through the new Monster Manual is the artwork, and that “the art itself can provide enough of a story to help a DM quickly get a feel for the monster, its story and habitat and more.”
True enough, there is plenty of artwork to be seen and shared in the 2025 Monster Manual, providing an at-a-glance insight into the monsters and the stories that they can offer Dungeon Masters. But the artwork isn’t the only change that was made for the better.
Monsters are now in alphabetical order based on their actual name, not their types.
The better organization makes it easier for people to flip through the Monster Manual and find their desired creature. However, if so desired, the digital version does offer a section separating monsters by creature type and by CR.
You also don’t need to roll initiative for all your enemies anymore, given that there is a pre-provided initiative for all of your monsters. There are a lot of small quality-of-life adjustments in the monster manual that, overall, just make it a much more friendly experience for Dungeon Masters, be they veterans for first-timers. This stands true even when looking at the adjustments to terminology and cultural implications in the Monster Manual.
Jeremy Crawford, the lead designer of the Monster Manual, explained that the entire book was worked on in collaboration with several cultural consultants to help ensure that unwelcome, awkward references to specific cultures could be tweaked.
Old monsters aren’t the only things that have been born anew in the 2025 Monster Manual, as 85 new monsters grace the pages. There are brand new legendary monsters, an increased CR scale, and entirely new mechanics. High-level campaigns are suddenly a lot more feasible and need to rely less on homebrew to be fun and exciting.
Levy does note that this is the least necessary core rulebook to have. Homebrewing is really easy and the Monster Manual isn’t all that integral. However, if you’re going to use the rulebook or find yourself needing the support from the Monster Manual, the fact that the 2025 Monster Manual has been made easy to use may be exactly what you need.
Cost
If you do decide that you want to buy the 2025 Monster Manual, you can find a physical edition for $59.99, which is no small amount. You can get it through just about any online retailer or at your local gaming store. If you want it a little bit cheaper, you can buy a digital copy through D&D Beyond for $29.99, however, you can only access the digital copy through D&D Beyond.
What Are Dungeon Masters Saying?
Only For The Collection – Branden Lizardi
The 2025 Monster Manual does make some improvements on the last one, and some of the additions are nice. But it doesn’t provide enough game-changing content to be called ‘necessary.’ If you have the other core 2024 rulebooks, then it’s a good one to round out the set. But if you have the 2014 book or are content to search for stat blocks online, then this is an easy one to skip.
Not Necessary, But Worth It – Alfredo Robelo
Monsters are the main thing you can make up as you go in Dungeons & Dragons, with a single stat block serving many functions with the slightest of changes. Therefore, if you are looking for a book to skip from the 2024 rulebooks, this would be it. However, the changes made to the monsters makes nearly all of them more enticing to use (particularly the dragons), so if you are the tiniest bit tempted to get the Monster Manual, then you should.
Kind Of, But Not Really? – Jerel Levy
I’ve mentioned before that the Monster Manual is one of the three core rulebooks you’ll be most comfortable skipping. The amount of quality of life changes and the tons of additional monsters are great for any upcoming campaign you have planned. The thing is, this book really does tie all three core rulebooks together, emphasizing they were made to be used together.
It’s greatly beneficial in every way, from the art to the included tables to even its organization, and yet it’s still not completely necessary for your collection.
So Much Easier To Use – Tallis Spalding
No, you really don’t need the 2025 Monster Manual just like you really don’t need any Dungeons & Dragons rulebook. Dungeons & Dragons is something that can easily be homebrewed and made up as you go, as is the nature of theater of the mind.
However, it is a tool that makes your job as a Dungeon Master all the easier, and by Wizards of the Coast, have they made the Monster Manual so much easier to use (the great artwork throughout the book really helps too).
Dungeons & Dragons
- Original Release Date
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1974
- Player Count
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2+
- Age Recommendation
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12+ (though younger can play and enjoy)
- Length per Game
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From 60 minutes to hours on end.
- Franchise Name
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Dungeons & Dragons
- Publishing Co
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Wizards of the Coast
- Brand
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Dungeons & Dragons