D&D (2024) Deadliest Monsters in the 2025 Monster Manual

[dave2008]

Dungeon Duds have a review copy of the new MM and give their thoughts on the 5 most deadly monsters (youtube link):

Deadliest Monsters in the 2025 Monster Manual

Here is the list:

• Gas Spore
• Shadow
• Shadow Dragon
• Mummy Lord
• Solar

Most of the "deadliness" comes from attacks that can kill you at 0 HP or 0 ability score.

 

[GreatestHonor]

From what I’ve seen/heard, the Blob of Annihilation fits the bill too.

 

[Lazybones]

Pack Tactics and D&D Deep Dive also had preview vids of the new MM today. Both the Dungeon Dudes and Pack Tactics appreciated the increased toughness and lethality of monsters in the new book.

 

[Weiley31]

It pleases me that the Shadow Dragon is on that list.

 

[dave2008]

It pleases me that the Shadow Dragon is on that list.

They mention that if their breath weapon reduces you to 0 hit points you die. An AoE attack the kills you (at CR13 as well) and you return as Shadows is scary thought.

 

[Stalker0]

hehe dungeon "duds"

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

They mention that if their breath weapon reduces you to 0 hit points you die. An AoE attack the kills you (at CR13 as well) and you return as Shadows is scary thought.

Yeah, those types of abilities can be brutal. The Warforged Colossus has a powerful laser blast AOE that kills and disintegrates anything reduced to 0 hp by it. It very nearly TPK'ed my party in my last Eberron session.

 

[Stalker0]

I'm pleased to see the mummy lord to make the list, as the 2014 mummy lord I think is one of the most over-CRed monsters in the game. Its so insanely low hp for its CR that I have never seen it last a full round.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Sounds like they upped the Solar damage (from 2d8+6 + 6d8 radiant) to 4d8+6 + 8d8 radiant and increased the save DC (from 15) to 21 to avoid death at 100 HP or less.

A typical (2014) arrow of slaying adds +33 damage if the target fails the save. So 60 + 33 is close to 100.

But not entirely sure why the Dudes highlighted the Solar, since it has all these abilities in 2014 already, albeit slightly lower bow damage which is somewhat moot given it slays targets at 100 hp or less. Obviously the save DC is the BIG difference though.

With Dancing Swords only giving one attack on a Bonus Action they are not as good as in AD&D when the Solar had 4 attacks.

Its a bit of a weird one...Bow + Dancing Sword might be the highest DPR strategy...maybe.

2014 Solar did: 126 = 49 (Sword) + 49 (Sword) + 28 (Legendary Action) or 119 = 42 (Bow...potentially 100) + 49 (Sword, Dancing) + 28 (LA).

...if we assume the sword got upped equally with the bow...?

2025 Solar (presumably) does: 172 = 72 (Sword) + 72 (Sword) + 28 ? (Legendary Action) or 160 = 60 (Bow...potentially 100) + 72 (Sword, Dancing) + 28 ? (LA).

Personally I think the target DPR for CR 21 should be round 165, so 160-172 is more or less spot on (assuming they upped the sword to 8d6+8 + 8d8 radiant and retained the same Legendary Actions which they may not have done - I'm just speculating).

(Epic Tier) Saving Throw problems aside, I think the damage numbers are going in the right direction...with the Solar at least.

 

[Upper_Krust]

After watching Pack Tactic's review I am a bit more confident that the higher CR monsters have been given a decent boost. Although the Tarrasque's Breath Weapon only has a range of 150 ft...but at least it has one.