D&D 5E (2024) Skeleton Entry and Stat Blocks from New Monster Manual

Posted by Christian Hoffer on Twitter, here's a third stat block from 2025's Monster Manual!

Also don't forget check out the ancient green dragon and the kuo-toa.

 

[MarkB]

I like the idea of minotaur skeletons being accumulations of bones of several beings put together into a larger-scale creature, rather than necromancers just seemingly having a predilection for re-animating minotaurs.

 

[TravDoc42]

Remains ossified to Evil
I love these taglines for the monsters!

 

[dave2008]

And the minotaur skellie? It just seems inconsistent to me.....also, I'm sure you are correct. Doesn't mean I have to like it

The minotaur doesn't have any gear (just gore and slam) in the statblock, so what would you take? The mention of a great axe in the description to probably from an earlier version?

 

[Quickleaf]

I just don't get the need for all those boxes by the stats.....what percent of monsters won't just be the modifier? Anyway, nothing surprising here good or bad.

Other than I have NO IDEA how an undead skeleton has an alignment......I had hoped alignment was mostly dead (ducks, and is not going to engage in this conversation in this thread).

That was my first thought too. The color choice makes those boxed numbers less readable, and I don't need to see all of them smushed together like that - it just makes it harder for me to sort out what's what. It's the opposite of what I'd hope for in evolving a monster design.

Kudos for the d6 skeleton shenanigans table though. Nice little OSR-ish touch.

 

[MarkB]

That was my first thought too. The color choice makes those boxed numbers less readable, and I don't need to see all of them smushed together like that - it just makes it harder for me to sort out what's what. It's the opposite of what I'd hope for in evolving a monster design.

I like it. I frequently miss a monster having a higher modifier for a saving throw because I'm just defaulting to looking at the stats.

 

[Quickleaf]

I like it. I frequently miss a monster having a higher modifier for a saving throw because I'm just defaulting to looking at the stats.

They could have made a decision choice to both make the save mod visible (good for you!) and also not overclutter it (good for me). Alack and alas.

 

[Zaukrie]

They could have made a decision choice to both make the save mod visible (good for you!) and also not overclutter it (good for me). Alack and alas.

I thumbs up because I agree, and you typed alack and alas!

 

[Zaukrie]

The minotaur doesn't have any gear (just gore and slam) in the statblock, so what would you take? The mention of a great axe in the description to probably from an earlier version?

Great, now my mini is useless

 

[Theory of Games]

LE skeletons? With 2d8+4 HP? 10 STR, 16 DEX?

 

[JEB]

The minotaur doesn't have any gear (just gore and slam) in the statblock, so what would you take? The mention of a great axe in the description to probably from an earlier version?

That's a pretty big error on their part, if so.