2025 Monster Manual Will Contain Over 85 New Monsters

Next year's new Monster Manual will include over 85 new monsters, a sizable increase over what was previously believed. In a D&D Beyond post made to celebrate the year end, Wizards of the Coast confirmed that the 2025 Monster Manual would contain 85 "brand new monsters." Considering that the new Monster Manual includes approximately 500 monsters, it's not a surprise that there are a significant amount of new monster statblocks, but this is further confirmation that nearly 20% of the statblocks will be brand new. A description of the Monster Manual also confirms that there will be over 300 new images in the book.

Many of these new statblocks will be to add either high CR or low CR variants of existing popular monsters, so that they can be used in a wider variety of scenarios. For instance, vampires will have several low CR variants (representing freshly turned vampires) along with a high CR vampire nightbringer. Also present in the game are arch-hags and a blob of annihilation, which are classified as titan-level creatures representing different kinds of monster types.

The new Monster Manual will be released on February 18th, 2025.

 

[jasper]

It this NEW NEW monsters as not published before? Or moving monsters from adventures into the mm?

 

[Remathilis]

It this NEW NEW monsters as not published before? Or moving monsters from adventures into the mm?

Sounding like a combo of new monsters, variants of existing, and probably a few from other sources that were moved to the main book.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Sounding like a combo of new monsters, variants of existing, and probably a few from other sources that were moved to the main book.

Based on how many magic items from Xanathar's and Tasha's are in the 2024 DMG, I would expect a fair amount of Monsters of the Multiverse to make the jump into the 2025 MM.

 

[dave2008]

Three of my players have ADHD so 1-2 rounds can be up to 30 minutes at my table.

We have one, but that hasn't been a time issue for us.

 

[AlViking]

Given the amount of table time combat eats, I am legitimately confused why anyone would want to.spend it on rote combats.

Monsters don't always need special abilities to make a complex and interesting fight. Different goals, tactics and light RP can go a long way.

That and as others have said, what's boring to you is fun for others.

 

[Imaro]

Generally speaking it's because the monsters collectively have too much HP and too little damage output. It was something that happened often in early 4E due to the monster math being off, but still occasionally happens in 5E when DMs let the player take long rests frequently and then send them up against only Medium or Hard rated encounters.

So it's based on a DM allowing long rests too frequently ... along with only using Medium and Hard encounters... but also having monsters with high hp's and low damage output...

This doesn't sound right... why are characters who are at full power most of the time taking a long time to dispatch enemies in Medium and Hard encounters?? This just doesn't align with what I've seen in play at all. Even without frequently long rests my players aren't spending an excessive amount of time in most Medium or even Hard encounters. Especially at full power...

 

[Chaltab]

So it's based on a DM allowing long rests too frequently ... along with only using Medium and Hard encounters... but also having monsters with high hp's and low damage output...

This doesn't sound right... why are characters who are at full power most of the time taking a long time to dispatch enemies in Medium and Hard encounters?? This just doesn't align with what I've seen in play at all. Even without frequently long rests my players aren't spending an excessive amount of time in most Medium or even Hard encounters. Especially at full power...

Okay, good for you? I'm describing my experience with certain DMs. It's generally not a problem I've had when DMing 5e.

 

[Imaro]

Okay, good for you? I'm describing my experience with certain DMs. It's generally not a problem I've had when DMing 5e.

So do you believe its a problem with the system or a problem with choices certain DM's make when running the game? I got the impression you were presenting it as an inherent issue with the system but if not... Then I can accept it's possible to run 5e in a way that might cause this problem.

 

[Chaltab]

So do you believe its a problem with the system or a problem with choices certain DM's make when running the game? I got the impression you were presenting it as an inherent issue with the system but if not... Then I can accept it's possible to run 5e in a way that might cause this problem.

I believe it's a problem of encounter design. If you know what you're doing, it's not a problem... but not all DMs know what they're doing and it's not exactly a new thought to say 5E isn't the best at onboarding DMs.

I think the biggest help would be monster roles like those in 4E that describe the monster's basic function like Artillery, Brute, Soldier, which means you can take some of the guess work out of encounter building.

 

[Reynard]

Based on how many magic items from Xanathar's and Tasha's are in the 2024 DMG, I would expect a fair amount of Monsters of the Multiverse to make the jump into the 2025 MM.

Which would be kind of sus, given how that book was marketed.

Also, I hate that book.