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.

 

[Reynard]

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.

Here's a thing though: for the average user, it is easier to ignore a feature than invent one. There isn't really a downside to including options in the stat blocks.

 

[Chaltab]

Also, I hate that book.

Due to the lore being truncated or because of the monster design?

 

[Reynard]

Due to the lore being truncated or because of the monster design?

The promise of monster design overhaul that was completely false. I only have myself to blame. I did not read through it at the store before I bought it. I believed the hype instead.

 

[Chaltab]

The promise of monster design overhaul that was completely false. I only have myself to blame. I did not read through it at the store before I bought it. I believed the hype instead.

Huh? The monsters were redesigned.

 

[AlViking]

Here's a thing though: for the average user, it is easier to ignore a feature than invent one. There isn't really a downside to including options in the stat blocks.

If you include options most GMs will assume you should use them. I'd probably assume the special features were part of the calculation for CR even though I have no idea if they are or not.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

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

Had the 2024 edition even been announced when it was released?

They have said since that it's compatible with 2024, which is broadly true, as they're using a very expansive version of "compatible."

In any case, they're 100% going to be replacing Xanathar's, Tasha's and Monsters of the Multiverse over the next few years, no matter what someone who may no longer be at the company might have said in the past. The artificer now being in UA suggests that we'll see a bunch of 2014 edition conversions in a book in early 2026.

 

[Reynard]

Huh? The monsters were redesigned.

Maybe with an eye toward balance, but not with an eye toward making them actually interesting to run. I ended up with the impression that they were aiming for something closer to, say, A5E's monster book.

Like I said: my fault for not investigating further. But nothing they did made it worth buying those monsters over again.

 

[Reynard]

If you include options most GMs will assume you should use them. I'd probably assume the special features were part of the calculation for CR even though I have no idea if they are or not.

I'm not sure there is any sort of solid enough math behind CR to account for that sort of thing. If there is any math, it is about damage output and hit points.

But, again, GM's ignore abilities all the time. That is not a reason to not include options.

For the record, I am pro "system wide options" generally -- maneuvers and stuff that are not gated behind feats or big penalties, then with specific creatures having bespoke thematic abilities.

 

[AlViking]

I'm not sure there is any sort of solid enough math behind CR to account for that sort of thing. If there is any math, it is about damage output and hit points.

But, again, GM's ignore abilities all the time. That is not a reason to not include options.

For the record, I am pro "system wide options" generally -- maneuvers and stuff that are not gated behind feats or big penalties, then with specific creatures having bespoke thematic abilities.

For me I'd like to see templates I can throw on various monsters if I want something unique.

 

[Imaro]

Here's a thing though: for the average user, it is easier to ignore a feature than invent one. There isn't really a downside to including options in the stat blocks.

The average user is going to try and use the stat block as is... probably feel they are doing something wrong if they can't and feel they aren't skilled enough to make modifications without it messing the game up.