The Strongest Beast Monsters In DnD

Not many people really need to keep track of what animals exist in Dungeons & Dragons, much less which ones are the most powerful. It’s always a focus on the monsters and which monsters are the most deadly.

This is all fine and dandy until you realize that there are still things that are just as deadly and dangerous that are much “tamer” than your typical monsters. If you’re a druid, chances are that you’ll be keeping track of animals so you can wildshape into them, and if you’re a wizard, they’re a great option to polymorph into so you can stay healthy and alive.

Updated on February 12, 2025, by Tallis Spalding: The release of the 2025 Monster Manual not only introduced new monsters but also reworked quite a few stat blocks – including some that belonged to animals and giant animals. By and large the most powerful animals in the Monster Manual still remain relatively powerful and dangerous, but the fine-tuning of their stats makes them more dangerous or more manageable if you happen to get into an encounter with them. If you’re running a druid who can summon animals, it’s important to know and keep track of these updated stats so you’re not caught off guard in the midst of battle.

16

Wolf

Wolves are not the most formidable beasts in Dungeons & Dragons, but at the CR of 1/4, and with features such as Pack Tactics – which gives them an advantage on their attack rolls when another ally is within five feet of them – they are certainly underrated.

Wolves are one of the best options for spells such as Conjure Animals. With this spell, you can summon eight beasts with a challenge rating of 1/4 or lower, and with the action economy and the decent damage output that a pack of eight wolves provides, they can change the tides of combat in low to mid-level games.

15

Crocodile

With a challenge rating of 1/2, no beast can be as effective in the water as crocodiles, making them fearsome to people and animals alike. Their bite attack will grapple and restrain any target that they hit without an initial saving throw, giving all other allies an advantage on attack rolls against the target until they spend an action to try and break free.

A crocodile is a decent option for low-level druids to shapeshift into or other conjuration spells. They can be especially effective in biomes such as swamps where they can take full advantage of all their features.

14

Lion

With a challenge rating of one, the lion may not seem like an overly vicious foe, but it can attack quickly and, if it’s with its pride, it gains an advantage on all of its attacks. One lion alone is not much of a challenge to a well-equipped adventurer, but together, they can be exceedingly dangerous.

As a summon or a polymorph, they’re beneficial because they move incredibly quickly and can catch your enemies off guard should you play your cards right. They can get your wizard out of melee range and to safety or they can knock enemies prone so your attackers gain advantage.

13

Giant Eagle

One of the most iconic beasts that Circle of the Moon druids and casters with the polymorph spell love to change into is a giant eagle. Because of their size, they can easily carry one medium or two small creatures while flying, making them one of the best options for traveling long distances.

With the keen sight feature that gives them an advantage on perception checks and their decent intelligence score of eight, they also make for great scouts. While not the best option for combat encounters, they more than make up for it with their utility capabilities.

12

Brown Bear

Brown Bears are a formidable foe, able to make multiple strong attacks that have the potential to wipe out a lone adventurer. While it’s not an especially challenging foe, we all know the old wisdom: don’t get between a mother bear and her cubs (or a shape-shifting druid and their party).

The Bear makes a lot of sense in a campaign with a lot of forests; it can climb almost as fast as it can walk on the ground, making getting to high ground an easy job. Plus, it would be an excellent mount for other party members.

11

Rhinoceros

The large and tanky rhinoceros have to potential to deal the most damage out of all CR two beasts. With the combination of charge ability and their gore attack, they can even knock their target prone. No one is going to recover very well after having the wind knocked out of them by this deadly creature.

Their high strength and damage can make them great options for breaking through most barriers. Rhinoceros is a great ally in most situations, especially if the party lacks a strong and tanky front-liner.

10

Giant Scorpion

The Giant Scorpion is a deadly familiar if you’re a Circle of the Moon Druid, and you should be certain to keep them on deck. They’re a great combat form for mid-level druids and excellently helpful companions, so long as they aren’t attacking you.

Their sting attack is exceedingly dangerous, and you would hate to be on the wrong end of it lest it take out a hefty chunk of your health, regardless of what level you are. Plus, its ability to grapple its targets makes it a great support on the battlefield for other heavy-hitting party members.

9

Archelon

This huge dinosaur-like creature is reminiscent of a turtle and, aside from wanting to feed itself, is a mostly passive creature. It has a fairly basic set of skills and attack, but it has a hard shell and makes itself a fierce foe should your party dare to attack.

In a pirate campaign, an Archelon could be a fun sight or a concerning encounter – though, perhaps, with an easy spell like Speak With Animals, any issues can be resolved before it comes to blows (though if it does, you might want to homebrew some attacks to change things up a bit).

8

Elephant

The elephant is one beast on this list that ought to be accessible to every Dungeons and Dragons group. It’s listed as an exotic mount in the sourcebooks, and it’s a powerful one, at that.

The elephant’s trampling charge ability requires any creature that it attacks after moving 20 feet straight toward them to make a DC 12 Strength saving throw or fall prone. If this charge knocks a creature prone, the elephant can make a stomp attack against the target as a bonus action. Needless to say, you should be thankful for the elephant’s normally docile nature.

7

Triceratops

The triceratops essentially amounts to an upgraded elephant. Their offensive abilities are mostly the same, but triceratops are faster and even more durable than elephants. They’re also a little dumber, though, with a grand total of two intelligence, compared to the elephant’s whopping three.

In the Tomb of Annihilation campaign module, a triceratops mount can be purchased for 500 gold pieces. It’s a considerable investment, but a mount that can protect itself and your belongings is a valuable addition to any party assuming that you can keep it friendly and playing along (Speak with Animals and Animal Friendship are going to be your favorite spells).

6

Giant Crocodile

It’s everything you loved about the regular crocodile, in a bigger, stronger package! Like the smaller version, the giant crocodile can attack with its tail, potentially knocking its victim prone, or with its enormous jaws, meaning the victim might become grappled.

Plus, it’s surprisingly stealthy. It has Stealth +6 and can hold its breath for up to one hour, meaning it might be following someone for a long time underwater without being noticed. This is, realistically, the perfect creature for a swamp or bayou encounter.

5

Giant Squid

If you kind of want to introduce a Kraken into your campaign but you’re worried that it’s too powerful for your players, just opt for Giant Squid instead. With a challenge rating of six, they’re much more manageable, and they have a variety of attacks and evasive maneuvers that make them fun to use.

Perhaps if your party does run into a Kraken later, it might inspire one of them to summon or become a giant squid so they can take on the ultimate giant squid in the water (though that, admittedly, might be a terrible idea).

4

Mammoth

The mammoth is the final upgraded stat block of its elephant descendants. It has the same abilities as both the elephant and triceratops but with even more hit points and additional dice tacked on to its attacks.

These hairy beasts are a force to be reckoned with, and, to be entirely honest, it might be best if your campaign has already seen them face extinction. We often picture them as frozen in ice, dying of a few spear-wounds to the chest, but it would take a lot more than that to take down this behemoth.

3

Giant Ape

The Giant Ape is one of the most popular choices for high-level casters to polymorph into. With a high constitution score, the caster can keep concentration on their form more easily, giving them the ability to become a durable and deadly tank.

In addition to a hard-hitting melee attack, the giant ape is the only beast with a ranged attack. It can pick up and throw a nearby rock up to 90 feet, requiring the target(s) to make a dexterity saving throw with a DC of 17. The rock deals 7d6 bludgeoning damage on a hit, which is the equivalent of a single target fireball. In short, don’t mess with the big monkey.

2

Sperm Whale

The Sperm Whale is a special creature added in the Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden sourcebook. These glorious creatures tend to travel in packs and are natural carnivores. Some say they can even dive as far as 5,000 feet (1.5 kilometers), which makes them excellent (and deadly) aquatic encounters.

In general, they’re known to be curious about people who walk on the land, but they are also cautious since they know that they can be hunted by whalers. Other than them, the sperm whales’ predators include other immense sea creatures, like kraken and dragon turtles – you are likely neither, so you should be careful if you find your ship under attack.

1

Tyrannosaurus Rex

The most powerful beast in Dungeons and Dragons is none other than the tyrant king of the jungle: the tyrannosaurus rex. The T-rex has a +4 to its perception checks, so sneaking past it isn’t always an option. On top of that, the tyrant also has a speed of 50 feet.

The most dangerous ability of this beast is that it can quickly make a meal out of one of your party members and continue on its way. Like all beasts, though, the T-rex has one fatal flaw. Its intelligence amounts to a total of two, so outsmarting it shouldn’t be too difficult.