D&D (2024) Another D&D 2024 Monster Preview: The Kuo-Toa!

Following the ancient green dragon preview, here's a look at another iconic D&D monster from the 2025 Monster Manual!

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

Boo I want my goofy Kuo Toa picture back, only updated with two thumbs up.  

I love that goofy pic, and mentally fill in the thumbs up. I've also thought of it as fish Beavis. "Water! Water!"

 

[Parmandur]

Treasure: relics

Not a fan? Give me a loot table like other designers give us!

I'm sure this ties into some table elsewhere.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Menzoberranzan is FR specific.

So is Underdark.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

So is Underdark.

Last I checked it exists in Greyhawk, Nentir Vale, and Eberron (Though in Eberron it's known as Khyber and crosses over with the Abyss)

 

[Micah Sweet]

T

Last I checked it exists in Greyhawk, Nentir Vale, and Eberron (Though in Eberron it's known as Khyber and crosses over with the Abyss)

He term Underdark comes from the Realms. Greyhawk never had a name for it (I xould be wrong).

 

[Charlaquin]

Is the kuo-toa’s spear strange because it deals 1d8 damage one-handed?

 

[Charlaquin]

A bit disappointed that monster AC no longer seems to specify the source; the kuo-toa has 13 AC and +0 dex, so I assume it must be getting 11 AC from natural armor and +2 from its (sticky) shield, but it would be nice if the stat block said so.

 

[Charlaquin]

I noticed that the “usually” is gone from both monsters’ alignments again. Though, I guess neither has the humanoid creature type, so that seems to be the line they’re drawing for who it’s ok to define as always evil.

 

[Veltharis ap Rylix]

T

He term Underdark comes from the Realms. Greyhawk never had a name for it (I xould be wrong).

Can't speak to pre-3e lore, as I've never been much of a Greyhawk lore or drow lore aficionado, and my 1e-era lore in particular is spotty at best, but WotC put out a "Drow of the Underdark" book in 3.5e that was modeled after Greyhawk lore - namely including a chapter on the city of Erelhei-Cinlu, which as I understand it is the "Menzoberranzan" equivalent for Greyhawk, introduced back in Against the Giants/Vault of the Drow.

The FR line had its own "Underdark" book during the 3e/3.5e era filling a similar role (though more broadly focused, rather than fixated specifically on drow), as well as a "City of the Spider Queen" adventure book.

So "Underdark" as a term has been treated as setting neutral since at least 3e/3.5e.

 

[Parmandur]

Can't speak to pre-3e lore, as I've never been much of a Greyhawk lore or drow lore aficionado, and my 1e-era lore in particular is spotty at best, but WotC put out a "Drow of the Underdark" book in 3.5e that was modeled after Greyhawk lore - namely including a chapter on the city of Erelhei-Cinlu, which as I understand it is the "Menzoberranzan" equivalent for Greyhawk, introduced back in Against the Giants/Vault of the Drow.

The FR line had its own "Underdark" book during the 3e/3.5e era filling a similar role (though more broadly focused, rather than fixated specifically on drow), as well as a "City of the Spider Queen" adventure book.

So "Underdark" as a term has been treated as setting neutral since at least 3e/3.5e.

Yeah Underdark is generic D&D.