4e Monsters that scare the crap out of characters

[Rechan]

My players wet their pants when they met shadow demons (they negate the use of healing surges under certain conditions).

Incidentally, my players hated the hell out of your Whisper Demon, Jack!

 

[Inyssius]

I find that swarms scare my PCs.

On the other hand, my players have always blown wonderful holes in anything with either swarm traits or vulnerability to fire.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Yup. Two games ago, the foe started yelling out "The warforged. Kill the warforged first." And every bad guy concentrated their fire on that PC until they dropped. "The dragonborn. Drop the dragonborn next." This scares the players, and makes for a fun tactical challenge: how do the defenders stop them from hitting a known target?

I have got to start doing this in my game. The Hobgoblins were OK at it, and they really worked over the party a couple of times, but I think the duregar in Thunderspire Labyrinthe are going to have to get really organised and deal out some focussed damage.

"The Eladrin! Take down that damn Eladrin Paladin!"

Problem is, it's easier said than done.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I have got to start doing this in my game. The Hobgoblins were OK at it, and they really worked over the party a couple of times, but I think the duregar in Thunderspire Labyrinthe are going to have to get really organised and deal out some focussed damage.

"The Eladrin! Take down that damn Eladrin Paladin!"

Problem is, it's easier said than done.

Of course - the enemies shouldn't focus fire on the Defender - that's the only character that is supposed to be able to survive this for some time! They should target the Leader, Striker or Controller! The Defenders job is to make sure they fail at that.

 

[Somebloke]

Deathjump spiders.

They do nasty damage + ongoing damage, they can shift to anywhere on the battlefield, and they can ignore terrain.

 

[Herschel]

As others have said: focus fire and tactics. Stun/daze is also good.

I don't want to kill characters but that doesn't mean I don't try. ;v)