D&D (2024) Monster Manual 2025 Aberrations & Oozes Video

[Clint_L]

Also, as a massive sucker for Planescape, I'm glad to hear that the slaadi have more Chaotic features in their stat blocks!!
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I agree - Slaadi have always been depicted as more evil than chaotic, even though most are supposed to be chaotic neutral. I want some fun-loving Slaadi!

 

[Lazybones]

I think an arch hag could make a good long-term adversary for a campaign, with the final confrontation not coming until the party is equipped to deal with them (maybe after a few teases where the arch hag toys with them a bit, always avoiding a straight-up fight). Or they could first appear as a potential ally, dropping clues and/or other forms of aid (always with a hidden cost), maybe some magic items embedded with subtle curses, and the like. Properly played, a BBEG like this could end up as hated a nemesis as Strahd, with an equal payoff once they are finally overcome.

 

[Zaukrie]

I love aberrations. There is no doubt they are alien and want things from humanoids that aren't good for their survival. Plus, I love tentacles and slime......

 

[Hexmage-EN]

I am curious what the new lore for the slaads will be in light of the Aberration category being explicitly tied to the Far Realm. There's a chance that they could just treat them the same as always, but it would be more interesting to see a new twist on them (afterall, slaads were already elementals for a short time during the 4E days).

 

[dave2008]

I just peaked on Beyond and that Arch Hag is CR 21. I wonder what that means as far as what level a group should be to battle them.

CR 21: 33,000 XP

Hard Encounter:
3 16th level PCs = 29,400 XP budget
4 15th level PCs = 31,200 XP budget
5 14th level PCs = 31,000 XP budget

 

[Chaltab]

As a sidenote, orcs do not have their own Monster Manual entry and instead can be represented by NPC statblocks. Most creatures that used to be humanoids but are still in the Monster Manual are now other types (like the goblin, kobold, and gnoll).

Uh... doesn't that break compatibility with any adventure that calls for an Orc?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

CR 21: 33,000 XP

Hard Encounter:
3 16th level PCs = 29,400 XP budget
4 15th level PCs = 31,200 XP budget
5 14th level PCs = 31,000 XP budget

I am not sure, looking exclusively at hard encounters is the way to go with the 2025 MM.

The Ancient Gold Dragon seems to actually be a hard (and especially annoying) enemy for a non-optimized standard party of 4.

In the test thread, a little bit of bad luck with saving throws actually shows how deadly it can get.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Uh... doesn't that break compatibility with any adventure that calls for an Orc?

Not really. NPC stat blocks might be useful.
I guess there will be a warrior that can be perfectly used as Orc warrior.

And since I always think that orcs need a less dangerous variation, NPC blocks might be handy.

 

[Zaukrie]

Uh... doesn't that break compatibility with any adventure that calls for an Orc?

I'm waiting for the book to come out before worrying about anything.....YMMV, of course.

 

[Reynard]

I am not sure, looking exclusively at hard encounters is the way to go with the 2025 MM.

The Ancient Gold Dragon seems to actually be a hard (and especially annoying) enemy for a non-optimized standard party of 4.

In the test thread, a little bit of bad luck with saving throws actually shows how deadly it can get.

I'm pretty sure they said that Hard was the new Deadly.