The Monster Manual is one of three core Dungeons & Dragons rulebooks alongside the Dungeon Master’s Guide and the Player’s Handbook. It features a wide array of iconic creatures like dragons, giants, mind flayers, and beholders, and serves as a guide to help create challenges for players and incorporate monsters into campaigns.
Book Overview
The original Monster Manual, published in 1977, was the first hardcover D&D book. The monsters found in the fifth edition of the Monster Manual are curated from across the history of the game, presented alongside easy-to-use statistics and stories to feed your imagination.
In the Monster Manual, learn the definition of “Monster” as well as the weird and wondrous places where they can be found and fought, including (but not limited to): Dungeons, the Underdark, and Towns and Cities. Browse the primary collection of Monsters organized by Name, Type, or Challenge Rating (a measure of how great a threat the monster is), as well information about various animals, vermin, and other critters – even humanoid non-player characters (NPCs) that adventurers might encounter during a campaign.
All rules in D&D are subject to the DM’s desires – so keep in mind that modifying monsters is a valid option for making a bespoke experience for your players!
The first hard cover Dungeons & Dragons book released in 1976, this bestiary included information and game-specific statistics about monsters. 38 years later, the version most often referenced today was released for D&D fifth edition.
Playing on Roll20
Roll20’s Monster Manual has been fully converted to digital to aid in your in-person and online games, and is designed to make your D&D journey as epic as possible! The Roll20 version of the book grants quick reference to included creatures and monsters, and comes with pre-statted sheets and tokens that make set up a breeze.
The digital Compendium allows you to drag and drop 300 classic monsters (including fan-favorites like the Mimic and Gelatinous Cube) onto your battlemaps to instantly clash with characters. Plus:
- Roll to hit in one click!
- Engage in combat with 300 pre-made tokens featuring dynamic artwork from Wizards of the Coast
- Drag & Drop 21 non-player characters and 101 animals, vermin, and critters, from the all-powerful Archmage to the beloved Giant Ape
- Combat and exploration rules can be dragged and dropped in-game for easy reference during play
You can access all of the rules, items, and creatures from the Player’s Handbook in and out of the virtual tabletop:
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The other two core Dungeons & Dragons rulebooks that best supplement the Monster Manual are the Dungeon Master’s Guide and Players Handbook. You can purchase both, along with the Monster Manual and the Essentials Kit in Roll20’s D&D DM Starter Bundle to save 15%.
- The Dungeon Master’s Guide provides the inspiration and guidance you need to spark your imagination and create worlds of adventure.
- The Players Handbook contains a collection of rules designed to guide players and GMs through every aspect of gameplay. From the basics of character creation to the intricacies of leveling up, this definitive player’s reference provides a deep delve into the vast expanse of the D&D universe.
Since 2006, Kobold Press has produced quality tabletop roleplaying game material. With over 50 published titles on Roll20, we recommend considering Tome of Beasts and Creatue Codex to supplement your 5E games:
- In Tome of Beasts, you’ll find over 400 ready-made monsters to drop into any of your 5E games! Each creature has been perfectly converted to work on the Roll20 platform, both in-game and out. All monsters come with richly illustrated handouts and tokens by some of the finest artists working in fantasy today.
- Creature Codex includes another 400 foes, including variants, for your 5th Edition game. Enjoy demons, angels, wasteland dragons, dinosaurs, golems like the altar flame golem and doom golem, elemental lords, animal lords, chieftains for various creatures, new undead like the heirophant lich, and much more, providing a plethora of options to surprise players in any setting.
There are a wealth of artists selling monster and creature tokens drawn in various styles on the Roll20 Marketplace. Browse thousands of tokens ready to use on the VTT now – including those from best-selling:
To support independent creators who publish through the Dungeon Masters’ Guild program, start by exploring titles From Dragonix, avilable in PDF, Print on Demand, and converted for use on the VTT:
- Monster Manual Expanded
A 320-page source of content that supplements the Monster Manual. It aims to provide Dungeon Masters more options and flexibility in designing adventures and dressing up their dungeons with a wider variety of creatures and characters that are based on the Monster Manual. Finally, it also adds variants that provide a nostalgic and classic feel that DMs experienced with the older editions are probably familiar with. Includes over 470 creature stat blocks!
- Monster Manual Expended II
Just like the first book, a wider variety of creatures and characters that are based on the Monster Manual, Volo’s Guide to Monsters, Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes, and many others. Includes over 390 creature stat blocks!
- Monster Manual Expanded III
The third in the MME trilogy, more than 320 statblocks (using the new Monsters of the Multiverse statblock style) spread across this 280+ page tome. Featuring new monsters, most of which come from earlier D&D editions. A large number of them have legendary actions, giving the dungeon master more boss options. Includes gorgeous, professionally commissioned art pieces that will inspire DMs and terrify players!!
Dragonix’s Deadly Denizens
This supplement offers 318 new monsters and 6 templates for your 5e games, featuring creatures like the Pestilence Druid and Dunkleosteus, alongside options such as Abyssal Dragons and Half-Dragons.
Additionally, it provides two sets of tokens and linked tables for efficient organization, facilitating quicker access to monsters based on type/name, challenge rating, and environment.
Conclusion
If you’ve ever been curious about Dungeons & Dragons, the Monster Manual provides easy access to a vast array of monsters, allowing DMs to quickly find and integrate creatures into their campaigns without the need for physical books. It features fully integrated stat blocks and drag-and-drop functionality, streamlining the process of adding monsters to encounters.
If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to sign up for a FREE Roll20 account and experience the ultimate platform for online tabletop gaming:
- Roll20 runs in your browser, eliminating the need to run a server
- Inviting your friends to play is only a click away
- Play D&D anywhere! Access your rules, character sheets, and one-click rolls online and in person
- Build and manage unlimited D&D characters on Roll20 Characters
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