D&D (2024) D&D Monster Manual (2025)

[pukunui]

• Resistance to non-magical, silvered, or adamantine weapons is gone as a concept. Leads to some weird things like being able to hurt both a ghost and a powerful fiend with a mundane dagger or an improvised weapon. It is kind of just getting rid of a part of the game that got completely ignored the moment the party martials got magic weapons, though, and saving a ton of space across all stat blocks. I have mixed feelings but must admit in practice the weapon resistances never mattered much in-play.

Instead, silvered weapons are a common magic item in the DMG, and they do extra damage to shapeshifters on a crit.
(There is also the adamantine weapon magic item, but it only does extra damage to objects, not constructs.)

 

[TravDoc42]

I like the little lore bits in this book! The Marid entry mentions the City of Glass, for example, which I wasn't expecting! The boxes of flavour text are really cool, too!

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

I’m definitely including an Archaeopteryx Aarakocra in a future game.

 

[TravDoc42]

Weird thing I noticed: these art pieces for the Dire worg and the Lacedon Ghoul are on D&D Beyond, but not in the physical book!

 

[Parmandur]

View attachment 395373View attachment 395374
Weird thing I noticed: these art pieces for the Dire worg and the Lacedon Ghoul are on D&D Beyond, but not in the physical book!

There have been a few cases where WotC commissioned the art pieces, had to cut then for space...but put them in the Beyond version where that was an issue.

 

[TravDoc42]

There have been a few cases where WotC commissioned the art pieces, had to cut then for space...but put them in the Beyond version where that was an issue.

That would make sense! Thanks!!

 

[Queer Venger]

Personally I am not too concerned with sticking to a strict CR schedule between dragon ages and types. I would rather they design them well and the CRs fall where they fall.

This.
also picked up my early copy at my FLGS. Very happy for the changes, perusing Im struck by the overall improvement in layout and art; the stat blocks are organized to help the DM, and now everything being alphabetical. I wish this was the design 10 years ago but whatever, I have it now and 5.5 is what my group is playing. Beautiful book.

 

[dave2008]

This.
also picked up my early copy at my FLGS. Very happy for the changes, perusing Im struck by the overall improvement in layout and art; the stat blocks are organized to help the DM, and now everything being alphabetical. I wish this was the design 10 years ago but whatever, I have it now and 5.5 is what my group is playing. Beautiful book.

I am not sold on all of the changes (I prefer all demons. devils, and dragons being in one place, respectively, among other issues), but I think it is overall an improvement.

 

[dave2008]

That would make sense! Thanks!!

FYI, there is more art, more than the two you listed, in Beyond that is not in the book. Some of it was pointed out in another thread (or maybe even this thread - I've lost track).

 

[TravDoc42]

FYI, there is more art, more than the two you listed, in Beyond that is not in the book. Some of it was pointed out in another thread (or maybe even this thread - I've lost track).

Good to know! I'll keep my eye out for it! Thanks!!