D&D (2024) Another D&D 2024 Monster Preview: The Kuo-Toa!

Following the ancient green dragon preview, here's a look at another iconic D&D monster from the 2025 Monster Manual!

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I’ll be disappointed if they have removed the kua-toa whips and monitors (assassins and monks)

Pretty sure they are just on the next page.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Would have preferred it being more explicit that the Kua-toa are making gods, not just bizarre paranoid conspiracy monsters who might have made up grievances. Read some Eberron lore for them which made them pop as a race to my mind's eye in a way they never had before by leaning into that reality altering ability.

Still, nice statblock.

 

[Parmandur]

Would have preferred it being more explicit that the Kua-toa are making gods, not just bizarre paranoid conspiracy monsters who might have made up grievances. Read some Eberron lore for them which made them pop as a race to my mind's eye in a way they never had before by leaning into that reality altering ability.

Still, nice statblock.

I mean, the paranoid conspiracy monstere angle works either way: maybe they are right?

 

[Chaosmancer]

I mean, the paranoid conspiracy monstere angle works either way: maybe they are right?

True, I guess I just like my monster lore books to be more definitive on "yes, they are right". But I fully understand why they don't in light of the multiverse.

 

[Parmandur]

True, I guess I just like my monster lore books to be more definitive on "yes, they are right". But I fully understand why they don't in light of the multiverse.

2014 definitely seems to have leaned more towards defined Trvth for each Monster type, which frankly became a ticking time bomb for WotC with stuff like Orcs. Leaving more of a range of possibilities is probably wiser from that angle.

 

[Micah Sweet]

True, I guess I just like my monster lore books to be more definitive on "yes, they are right". But I fully understand why they don't in light of the multiverse.

I suspect they are intentionally unclear to avoid potentially offending someone with a specific opinion into not paying them, just like every other time they sit on the fence.

 

[Moonsoon]

Fun stats, gorgeous art, i like this direction! Can't wait for more reveals.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I suspect they are intentionally unclear to avoid potentially offending someone with a specific opinion into not paying them, just like every other time they sit on the fence.

Mod Note:

Again with the dog whistles? Take a vacation. Consider whether you want to continue posting here while you’re away.

 

[BB Shockwave]

Nice new art. Not that different from the 5E designs before, but different skin color, back to the 3E grey-green from the pale purple.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

2014 definitely seems to have leaned more towards defined Trvth for each Monster type, which frankly became a ticking time bomb for WotC with stuff like Orcs. Leaving more of a range of possibilities is probably wiser from that angle.

IMO gnolls where a bigger foul-up.

I'm a great believer in the Babel Fish argument when it comes to religion in D&D. Uncertainty is essential to religion. Without uncertainty there is no faith, and with no faith it's just a hierarchical dictatorship with a very powerful but perfectly understandable being at the top.

Keith Baker is clearly a great believer in the power of creative uncertainty when it comes to world building.