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.

 

[SlyFlourish]

@SlyFlourish, I asked this earlier, but if you responded I missed it. I am truly curious what you mean be this. I only did a quick look, but I did spend some time with the TotV dragons and they don't hit any harder than the 2014 dragons that I can see. So can you point me into the direction the TotV monters that hit harder? Just interested to see what they are doing. Thank you in advance!

CR 1s and 2s in ToV hit hard compared to their CR. It normalizes out across the rest.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

CR 1s and 2s in ToV hit hard compared to their CR. It normalizes out across the rest.

Interesting, I’ve never heard that low CR monsters needed to hit harder. Do you think that is a good adjustment by ToV? Seems counterintuitive to me.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

1st level characters are at least a feat stronger now.

 

[dave2008]

1st level characters are at least a feat stronger now.

More like a half feat, but I get your point. Counterpoint: That feat has almost 0 effect on making the PCs hardier.

Also, does ToV included the 1st level feat in character creation.

 

[Chaltab]

More like a half feat, but I get your point. Counterpoint: That feat has almost 0 effect on making the PCs hardier.

Also, does ToV included the 1st level feat in character creation.

Each background gets has a choice between three different Talents (TOTV's feats). They're not even nerfed compared to 5.24's Origin Feats.

 

[Queer Venger]

huzzah!!! Can't wait!

 

[ECMO3]

Much needed. I used the Mummy Lord stat block reskined when I needed a higher level hag. With some small changes it ain't half bad.

Is a Mummy Lord actually more powerful in play then the regular Hags?

I find Mummy Lords to be pushovers in play/