D&D 5E Keeping track of monster abilities

[Kithys]

I've been having this trouble as well, especially with legendary creatures, it can be quite frustrating. Just stick with it and it'll get easier

 

[Gecko85]

Another vote for index cards. A simple 3x5 (or 4x6) card with only the most important info. I like to highlight the really good stuff I might forget (like dispel magic that you mentioned in your example...)

 

[Syntallah]

I recreate the monster's stat block in an excel spreadsheet I have prepared. It is a bit more prep work, but:

- I have everything right there
- multiple sheets lay flat behind the screen, so no need to flip through the book
- this gives me the ability to create a unique stat block (great for spellcasters, I list the spells they'll be using or used [e.g. shield under Reactions, or Mage
Armor under AC])
- the stat block is not that big, I have lots of room for notes

 

[TarionzCousin]

3rd edition and it's legacies trained me to print out B&W pages of monster stats for any adventure because of the little abilities and defenses that were hidden amidst the numbers, skills and the like. I then go through each stat block with my handy-dandy rainbow set of highlighter pens and (using no particular color, just a different one for each) mark each ability or defense I feel needs to catch my eye at the table.

I was surprised to find this happening sometimes even in 5e, where the stat blocks are SO simple I think sometimes we've been reconditioned to think they're easy to remember. They're not, still need those highlighters!

I am running Pathfinder now. I print out every monster I'm going to use and highlight stuff I want to remember. It really helps.

The other suggestion about putting post-it notes on the pages in the MM seems like a good idea to me, too.

 

[Sunseeker]

This is partly why I custom build my monsters and usually give them one or two abilities that cover a number of situations.

 

[Tormyr]

I am running the Age of Worms AP, so I have a bit more foreknowledge of which monsters I will be using. I also have to convert a bunch of monsters from 3.5. I type all the monsters into a bestiary, and then have individual pages printed out for each encounter. Spellcasters have their spell cards in a plastic trading card sheet to the left of the encounter page. All of this is in a binder, so I have everything laid out to use. This would not work for most people, but it is what I am using to make sure I don't miss anything. Eventually, I want to pull back on some of this and become a bit more agile with my tools and what I use at the table. I imagine this will happen when this AP wraps up and we move on to something else.

 

[77IM]

Pause during combat to give yourself time to think.

When I do this I'll say out loud, "Now if I was a super-smart arcanaloth what would I do here..." This sets the players' expectations that the monster is about to disrupt their plans (e.g. dispelling a summoned elemental) and lets you blame that setback on the monster instead of making it feel like a DM vs player skirmish game.