One Edition Monsters

[the Jester]

No, not first edition monsters... one addition monsters. Monsters that have appeared in only one edition so far. What are they? Are any of them any good? Let's put together a list and find out!

I'll keep a master list in this post, divided by edition. Here's what I can think of off the top of my head; if I am wrong about any of them, please correct me!

If the name has changed but the monster remains the same, I'm going to consider them the same creature. If two monsters are similar but notably different and have different names, I won't consider them to the be the same.

Finally, as to what sources I'll consider for this list- anything by TSR, WotC, Dragon/Dungeon or licensed projects (such as when 3rd parties did DL, RL, etc.).

OD&D
Ulik
Yag-Kosha
Yaksha
Zebra
Zzonga-Bush


BEMCI/Rules Cyclopedia
Faedorne
Faenare
Feathered Serpent
Ferret, Giant
Feywing
Flapsail
Flicker
Flitterling
Fungoid
Jellyfish, Death's Head
Jellyfish, Galley
Juggernaut, Wood
Oard
Ubue
Undine*
Yak


1st Edition
Dire corby
Feral Slasher
Fireball Fly
Flailtail
Flamewing
Flard
Flitte
Flolite
Forchoreai
Forlarren
Fox, Hoar
Frigidarch
Frog, Giant Vampire
Fungus, Explodestool
Nilbog
Quagmire
Quatsch
Quezzer
Screaming devilkin
Uintatherium
Ukuyatangi
Undine*
Unthlatu
Urisk
Utoyasukata
Vision
Werecamel
Weredire
Werelagomorph
Weremice
Wereram
Weresabre
Weresloth
Wereweasel
Yau-Mor


2nd Edition
Astereater
Bzastra
Chososion
Darklight
Devete
Dharum Suhn
Egarus
Entrope
Facet
Fael
Faerie Fiddler
Faerie Phiz
Faerie, Seelie
Faerie, Unseelie
Fainil
Falmadaraatha
Faux Faerie
Feeblestar
Feesu
Feliquine
Fenette
Feylaar
Fiery Face
Figment
Figure, Diamond
Fire Falcon
Firebird
Firelich
Firethorn
Fireweed
Flailer
Flame Spirit
Flame Swallow
Flareeater
Flawder
Fleas of Madness
Flitterling
Floater
Flow Barnacle
Flowfiend
Focoid
Fogwarden
Fractine
Frelon
Frog, Archer
Frog, Ghoul
Fungus, Cushion
Fungus, Friendly
Fungus, Vermeil
Fungus Hulk
Fyrefly
Garmorm
Homonculus, Elemental, Breather
Homonculur, Elemental, Skin
Klyndes
Living steel
Maenad
Magran
Nathri
Ooze Sprite
Phirblas
Q'nidar
Quakedancer
Quelzarn
Quickbiter
Quill
Ruvkova
Scile
Shad
Sislan
Spanner
Suisseen
Tsnng
Ungulosin
Unicow
Unnskrajir
Ur-Histachii
Urd
Vacuous
Wavefire
Weremole
Xador's Fluid
Xerichon
Yahoo
Yeshom
Yihn-Eflan
Yitsan
Yphoz
Yugoloth- Altraloth
Yugoloth- Baernaloth
Yugoloth- Gacholoth
Zard
Zat
Zombie Plant
Zoveri
Zurchin


3rd Edition
Abeil
Anaxim
Aoa
Arcane Ballista
Arcane Ooze
Astral Kraken
Avatars of Elmental Evil
Bainligor
Bloodhulk
Blue
Bonesinger
Breathdrinker
Cadaver Collector
Carcass Crab
Catfolk
Chichimec
Darfellan
Deadly Dancer
Deathbringer
Defacer
Delver
Demon, Artaaglith
Demon, Deathdrinker
Demon, Jovoc
Demon, Myrmyxicus
Demon, Zovvut
Desmodu
Devastation Vermin
Devil, Advespa
Devil, Logokron
Devil, Paeliryon
Devil, Rammanon
Devil, Xerfilstyx
Digester
Dreal Larva
Dromite
Duskling
Ethergaunt
Famine Spirit
Faze
Feral Gargun
Feral Spirit
Feral Yowler
Feverclaw
Fey'ri
Feindwurm
Fiery Sandhog
Firesnake
Flesh Jelly
Flesh-Mulcher Tree
Flotsam Ooze
Folugub
Force of Nature
Foreigner
Forest Sloth
Forestfolk
Forlorn Husk
Fox, Dire
Fox, Arctic
Frog, Firetongue
Frost Worm
Frostwind Virago
Fungus, Fetid
Fungus, Gray
Fungus, Phantom
Fungus, Slaver
Giant, Bog
Giant, Dusk
Giant, Sand
Gloaming
Hagspawn
Hullathoin
Ibixian
Ineffable Horror
Kython
Leechwalker
Leshay
Lurking Strangler
Marruspawn
Maug
Mindshredder
Mooncalf
Moon Rat
Necronaut
Nerra
Nimblewright
Ocean Strider
Phaeton
Quanlos
Quaraphon
Quell
Quinametin
Quori
Quth-Maren
Ragewalker
Roach Thrall
Rune Hound
Scorrow
Shadow Beast
Summoning Ooze
Thorciasid
Thorn
Tshochar
Tojanida
Udoroot
Ulgurstasta
Uloriax
Umbral Gloom
Umbral Spy
Unbodied
Undying (all)
Ur'Epona
Urdark
Urskan
Usunag
Uvuudaum
Vanara
Verdant Prince
Vermin Lord
Vermiurge
Xenostelid
Xeph
Xilob
Xixecal
Xorbeast
Xtabay
Yallix
Yeshir
Yugoloth- Corrupter of Fate
Yugoloth- Echinoloth
Yugoloth- Skeroloth
Yugoloth- Voor
Zeitgeist
Zenythri
Zern
Zeugalak
Zezir
Zyern


4th Edition
Elemental, Chillfire Destroyer
Elemental, Earthwind Ravager
Elemental, Firelasher
Elemental, Flamespiker
Elemental, Geonid
Elemental, Mud Lasher
Elemental, Rockfire Dreadnought
Elemental, Rockfist Smasher
Elemental, Shardstorm
Elemental, Stormstone Fury
Elemental, Tempest Wisp
Elemental, Thunderblast Cyclone
Elemental, Windfiend Fury
Elemental, Windstriker
Fear Moth
Feaster
Fell Taint
Felljaw
Foul Gibberer
Lamia*
Unrisen
Zairtail

*Creature names marked with an asterisk appear in multiple editions as substantially different monsters.


I'm sure I am missing tons of creatures, but I couldn't tell you what and my books are still inaccessibly boxed up from a recent move. Also, a lot of creatures prolly get disqualified in books that I don't have. So we'll see what we put together over time.

My opinion: I think the screaming devilkin, vision and dire corby are awesome, though the corby needs a new name, given the connotation of "dire" in d&d monsterspeak. The rest are, ehhh at best.

Edit: And I'll vote tojanida for worst of the worst.

 

[pawsplay]

Rules Cyclopedia
Salamander, Frost
Nuckalavee (also mythological, but not described elsewhere)

Keep in mind, the Mystara Monster Compendium supplement and the basic creature book (forget what it's called) might mess up some of these items.

 

[Dragonbait]

4th Edition
Kruthik

Kruthik were in the 3ed miniatures handbook.

3ed's MM2 had a lot of monsters in there that I don't I ever saw before or since. I don't have the book with me, so I can't name them off at this time.

 

[Crothian]

Are you interested in setting specific monsters? Because I think 2e had a lot of creatures in all those settings that never got reprinted in later editions.

 

[the Jester]

Yeah, everything.

Frost salamander was in both 2e and 3e.

 

[Shroomy]

The Nuckalavee has appeared in multiple editions of D&D: the Master Set predecessor to the RC, then in 2e when Mystara was made into an AD&D setting, and finally in 3e via various sources (officially in Dragon 343, but also in a couple of OGL supplements).

 

[pawsplay]

Ok, what about the Gargantuan monsters? Were they converted for 2e Mystara?

 

[Shroomy]

Ok, what about the Gargantuan monsters? Were they converted for 2e Mystara?

The gargantua carrion crawler and troll appeared in BECMI, RC, and 2e. The gargantua gargoyle only appeared in BECMI and RC. There are three other gargantua monsters (insectoid, reptilian, and humanoid) that appeared in 1e and 2e OA. One could also argue that the kuji template from 3e was a continuation of the concept.

BTW, I'm searching this helpful index to search for pre-4e monsters.

 

[Alzrius]

The living steel was a 2E monster from Dragon Mountain and was later reprinted in the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One for the same edition.

It's never been seen before or since (notwithstanding EN World's own Creature Catalogue).

 

[Wik]

What about the Living Wall? I seem to only remember that for 2e, not counting a remake in Tome of Horrors.