D&D 5E 5e Hardcore: Monster Manual

In another thread, When Fiends Attack , @CapnZapp suggested WotC make a monster manual for advanced players (feat using, multiclassing, optimizing type players) that are not challenged by the monsters in the MM and VGtM. I thought that was an interesting idea so I have decided to start a thread for just that.

Introduction
This compendium of monsters and threats is intended to address an issue that some DMs and players have with the current monsters offered by WotC. The monsters in the Monster Manual and Volo’s Guide to Monsters seem to be intentionally designed to be compatible with the free basic rules. This is fine, and probably a good decision; however, it leaves some DMs and players that engage the full resources available (feats, magic items, multi-classing, etc.) with opponents that hit a little below their CR. This guide and compendium of monsters is meant to help these “Hardcore (Advanced)" DMs and players by offering them another option to the basic threats provided in the Monster Manual and Volo’s Guide to Monsters.

What is Hardcore?
A hardcore D&D game is one where players are not only using the full suite of subsystems the game offers, but are also experienced with those systems. Though every hardcore group is not the same, for the purposes of this guide, hardcore players have one or more of the following attributes:

• They use the all the subsystems of the game: feats, magic items, multiclassing, etc.
• They have some degree of system mastery. They know how to, and chose to, build characters that excel in combat.
• They are experienced and have good understanding of how the games tactics work and can use them effectively.

If a DM has to keep up with hardcore players, his or her job would be a lot easier if they had some hardcore monsters to challenge them with. That is the purpose of this guide and compendium of hardcore monsters. Hardcore monsters generally have a more complex design and access to more traits, abilities, and options than basic monsters. The hardcore monster should have one or more of the following attributes, and the higher the CR of the monster, the more important it is to incorporate these concepts:

• Proficiencies. A hardcore monster should have more and/or higher proficiencies to deal with player buffs and magic items.
• Traits. A hardcore monster should have traits and abilities that can help it compete with player feats and features.
• Movement. A hardcore monster must be able to keep up or counter player movement. This is more important for higher CR and solo monsters.
• Clear Roles. If a hardcore monster is intended to have a specific role, their stat block needs to support that role. If it is a “leader,” it needs to be able to fulfill that role without the DM improvising all the traits and abilities.
• True Solos. If a hardcore monster is intended to be a solo threat it needs have the hit points, actions, traits, and movement to fulfill that role.
• Creative abilities. A hardcore monster should have traits and actions that interesting and fun to play, without relying on the DM to improvise all the action.

To achieve some of these goals we need to break out from some of the constraints of the current CR driven monster design. To prevent ever escalating challenge ratings and stay within the concept of bounded accuracy I propose we borrow a concept from 4e – the elite monster.

What is an Elite Monster?
An elite monster is a greater challenge than a typical basic or hardcore monster of the same CR. An elite monster has more hit points and does greater damage than a basic or hardcore monster of the same CR, but it is also worth more experience points. This allows an elite monster to be more of a threat without making it trivially easy for it to hit targets or inordinately difficult for it to be hit.

An elite monster is built around the general premise of having 1.5 times the hit points and inflicting 1.5 times as much damage as a basic or hardcore monster of the same CR. To compensate, they also provide 2x the experience points. These increased thresholds allow for more action options (legendary actions) and defensive capabilities that help us fulfill the tenants of hardcore monsters. Especially if we are looking at high level and solo type monsters.

To aid my fellow hardcore collaborators I have made the following Hardcore Monster Statistics by Challenge Rating table. This table is used in the same manner as described for the Monster Statistics by Challenge Rating table in the DMG. The only difference is, when you want to make an elite monster you use the Elite Hit Points and Elite DPR columns. The monster design process is otherwise the same, and don’t forget to adjust for resistances, immunities, and monster features.

Now, that you have the resources, go makes some monsters!


These monsters, tables, and templates are now available to download in the 5e downloads section here: http://www.enworld.org/forum/rpgdownloads.php?do=download&downloadid=1395 I hope to update the PDF compendium on monsters monthly.

Now, on to the fun!

HARDCORE DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: MONSTER MANUAL

Table of Contents:

ABERRATION
BEAST
CELESTIAL
CONSTRUCT
DRAGON
ELEMENTAL
FEY
FIENDS:

GIANT
HUMANOID

MONSTROSITY

OOZE
PLANT
UNDEAD


Schedule of Monsters Planned to be, but not yet, Updated:

ABERRATIONS:
Aboleth Savant (CR 13):
by dave2008
Aboleth Overseer (CR 10, elite):
by dave2008
Aboleth Lasher (CR 8):
by dave2008

Beholder Eye Tyrant (CR 13, elite)
by dave2008
Beholder Hive Mother (CR 20, elite)
by dave2008

BEASTS:

CELESTIALS:

Angels:
Archons:

CONSTRUCTS:

DRAGONS:

Ancient Black Dragon Savage (CR 21, elite):
by dave2008
Elder Black Dragon Savage (CR 17, elite):
by dave2008
Adult Black Dragon Savage (CR 14, elite):
by dave2008
Young Black Dragon Savage (CR 7, elite):
by dave2008

Ancient Green Dragon Duke (CR 21, elite):
by dave2008
Elder Green Dragon Earl (CR 18, elite):
by dave2008
Adult Green Dragon Viscount (CR 15, elite):
by dave2008
Young Green Dragon Baron (CR 8, elite):
by dave2008

Ancient Red Dragon Kahn (CR 24, elite):
by dave2008
Elder Red Dragon Kahn (CR 21, elite):
by dave2008
Adult Red Dragon Kahn (CR 17, elite):
by dave2008
Young Adult Red Dragon Kahn (CR 14, elite):
by dave2008
Young Red Dragon Kahn (CR 10, elite):
by dave2008

Dragon Hall of Fame
Niv-Mizzet, Parun (CR 26, elite)
by dave2008

ELEMENTALS:
Elder Air Elemental (CR 10):
by dave2008
Ancient Air Elemental (CR 16):
by dave2008
Primal Air Elemental (CR 20, elite):
by dave2008
Elder Earth Elemental (CR 10):
by dave2008
Ancient Earth Elemental (CR 17):
by dave2008
Primal Earth Elemental (CR 20, elite):
by dave2008

Elder Fire Elemental (CR 10):
by dave2008
Ancient Fire Elemental (CR 16):
by dave2008
Primal Fire Elemental (CR 20, elite):
by dave2008

FEY:

FIENDS:

Demons:
Devils:

Yugoloths:

GIANTS:

Cloud Giant Oathguard (CR 10, elite):
by Demetrios1453 w/ "elite" edits by dave2008
Cloud Giant Oman (CR 14, elite):
by Demetrios1453 w/ "elite" edits by dave2008
Cloud Giant Shaman (CR 12):
by Demetrios1453
Fire Giant Duke (CR 13, elite):
by Demetrios1453 w/ "elite" edits by dave2008
Fire Giant Pyromancer (CR 11):
by Demetrios1453
Frost Giant Reaver (CR 10):
by Demetrios1453
Frost Giant Jarl (CR 12, elite):
by Demetrios1453 w/ "elite" edits by dave2008
Frost Giant Wrathbringer(CR 11):
by Demetrios1453
Hill Giant Chief (CR 7, elite):
by Demetrios1453 w/ "elite" edits by dave2008
Hill Giant Priest of Grolantor (CR 5):
by Demetrios1453
Ogre Savage (CR 2):
by dave2008
Ogre Skirmisher (CR 2):
by dave2008
Ogre Collector (CR 2):
by dave2008 w/ inspiration from Quickleaf
Ogre Warhulk (CR 4):
by dave2008
Stone Giant Runecarver (CR 9):
by Demetrios1453
Stone Giant Thane (CR 11, elite):
by Demetrios1453 w/ "elite" edits by dave2008
Storm Giant Omen Reader (CR 15):
by Demetrios1453
Storm Giant Paramount (CR 18, elite):
by dave2008
Troll Ripper (CR 5):
by dave2008
Troll, Ice (CR 5):
by dave2008
Troll, Cave (CR 3):
by dave2008
Troll Matron (CR 6):
by dave2008
Troll, Mountain (CR 10):
by dave2008
Troll, Abyssal (CR 11, elite):
by dave2008