D&D (2024) Monster Manual 2025 Stat Block Compilation

This thread contains a compilation of the Monster Manual 2025 stat blocks which have been previewed publicly so far.

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I don't think there is any cause to list the weapons it uses for its attacks as part of its gear:

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When you also consider other creatures who obviously have gear but then no listing for it:
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(and I missed the entry for the Sticky Shield...)

Now, what is "strange" about the Strange Spear? The fact it lacks the versatile property but still does 1d8 unlike normal spears? Does that mean if I defeat a Kuo-toa I can pick up the spear and shield and use them, gaining the Sticky Shield feature for my PC?

Also, it is AC 13... but how? I guess it has a shield (given the Reaction feature), but no DEX mod. Does it have 11 AC naturally? Or 13? I have no idea if the shield is included or not.

At least with 2014 it was clearer:
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Frankly, I don't understand why they made half the changes they did.
 

Also, it is AC 13... but how? I guess it has a shield (given the Reaction feature), but no DEX mod. Does it have 11 AC naturally? Or 13? I have no idea if the shield is included or not.
It is possible that there is a general note in the stat block section. "Unless otherwise indicated, AC is based on natural armor and dexterity modifiers."
Probably not, but maybe.
 

I don't think there is any cause to list the weapons it uses for its attacks as part of its gear:

View attachment 393285

When you also consider other creatures who obviously have gear but then no listing for it:
View attachment 393286
(and I missed the entry for the Sticky Shield...)

Now, what is "strange" about the Strange Spear? The fact it lacks the versatile property but still does 1d8 unlike normal spears? Does that mean if I defeat a Kuo-toa I can pick up the spear and shield and use them, gaining the Sticky Shield feature for my PC?
You kind of answered your own question here. The skeleton has its shortsword and shortbow listed as gear because it’s meant to be actual gear the adventurers can loot after killing the skeleton. The Kuo-Toa doesn’t have its strange spear, sticky net, or sticky shield listed as gear because they’re only meant to exist as part of the Kuo-Toa’s stat block, not recoverable after killing the Kuo-Toa. This may strike you as kind of stupid (it certainly does me), but I do suspect that’s the intent nonetheless. If you don’t like that, I would recommend either making custom gear to represent these Kuo-Toa armaments, or deciding that they’re “strange” and “sticky” because they’re made of some exotic substance like Kuo-Toa mucous, which dissolves when the Kuo-Toa is killed.

EDIT: A third option might be to say the AC is all natural armor, the “sticky shield” reaction is not actually a shield at all but just the Kuo-Toa grabbing the weapon, and say it’s using a normal spear two-handed.

Also, it is AC 13... but how? I guess it has a shield (given the Reaction feature), but no DEX mod. Does it have 11 AC naturally? Or 13? I have no idea if the shield is included or not.
My interpretation would be that 2 AC is coming from the sticky shield and 11 AC is coming from natural armor (i.e. scales). But I agree I miss this actually being written out.
Frankly, I don't understand why they made half the changes they did.
Yeah, a lot of these choices are quite strange.
 
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I don't care why the AC is what it is. It has almost no bearing on play, and is more clutter.

I do mostly like what we've seen for the new monsters, in terms of play.
 

You kind of answered your own question here. The skeleton has its shortsword and shortbow listed as gear because it’s meant to be actual gear the adventurers can loot after killing the skeleton. The Kuo-Toa doesn’t have its strange spear, sticky net, or sticky shield listed as gear because they’re only meant to exist as part of the Kuo-Toa’s stat block, not recoverable after killing the Kuo-Toa. This may strike you as kind of stupid (it certainly does me), but I do suspect that’s the intent nonetheless. If you don’t like that, I would recommend either making custom gear to represent these Kuo-Toa armaments, or deciding that they’re “strange” and “sticky” because they’re made of some exotic substance like Kuo-Toa mucous, which dissolves when the Kuo-Toa is killed.

My interpretation would be that 2 AC is coming from the sticky shield and 11 AC is coming from natural armor (i.e. scales). But I agree I miss this actually being written out.

Yeah, a lot of these choices are quite strange.

If the spear is strange then it isn't a normal spear and likely not something anyone would normally have proficiency in. The sticky net may require special maintenance and care that is not well understood by a kuo-toa and could even require some kuo-toa magic. I don't normally worry about the equipment enemies are carrying because I don't want to hassle with the whole nickel an dime treasure tracking that it leads to so I may be biased thinking that it's not a big deal.
 

If the spear is strange then it isn't a normal spear and likely not something anyone would normally have proficiency in. The sticky net may require special maintenance and care that is not well understood by a kuo-toa and could even require some kuo-toa magic. I don't normally worry about the equipment enemies are carrying because I don't want to hassle with the whole nickel an dime treasure tracking that it leads to so I may be biased thinking that it's not a big deal.
My opinion is that the game part of D&D is fundamentally a resource management game, which nickel and dime treasure tracking is a huge part of. To each their own, of course, but for me it is important that enemy gear actually exists within the fictional world and can be interacted with by the players if they so desire. I do like the solution you’ve suggested here of the spear working as listed in the stat block but being sufficiently different from a spear to require separate proficiency. And the sticky trait of the shield and net could be from Kuo-Toa mucous as I suggested earlier, so it dries out and becomes just a normal shield/net after some amount of time; maybe a day or an hour or something. Or maybe the players can get exactly one use out of its sticky feature and then the sticky substance is expended.
 


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