D&D 5E (2014) Overused monsters currently

[Retreater]

Orcs, Goblins, Skeletons, Zombies, Gnolls, Kobolds, Wolves, Bears

 

[cbwjm]

I do feel like I've seen a few hags show up, I'm even using them in a campaign of my own creation. Wasn't sure though if I was just taking more note of them when they appeared because I have them in my own game or if they were really just popping up all over.

 

[Weiley31]

Bandits. Say what ya will but Bandits are always somehow, in someway or another, the intro to a group of wacky PCs doing crazy crap.

 

[abirdcall]

Hags.

Though it looks like the ones in Witchlight actually have some personality to them and aren't just 'ugly woman is evil'.

I want their minis coming out in the new Icons set.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Cultists. Every plot seems to come down to cultists.

 

[Guest 7030100]

Clowns.

 

[MarkB]

The hags in Rime of the Frostmaiden are odd. The one you can encounter early in a low-level mission is nicely thematic, you can make a deal with her, and the outcome can have a lot of effect on at least one of the locales.

But the bonus late-game coven is pretty much a throwaway encounter tucked awkwardly away, with no build-up, precious little personality and not a great deal of threat to characters at that level.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Gnolls, in the arctic Icewind Dales!

Well, to be fair, it is a Gnoll Vampire, which isn't exactly the same thing. Makes more sense for an undead creature to live in Icewind Dale than just a normal Gnoll.

 

[aco175]

I was going to say drow, but they are not monsters anymore, like orcs.

My players are sick of cultists after playing PotA.

I also think that overusing monsters depends on what tier you are in. Low levels tend to have goblins, kobolds, and blights. Mid levels start to have trolls and giants, while high level PCs encounter demons and dragons.

I always found it strange that goblins morph into giants as the PCs gain levels, since they never encounter them anymore. At least 4e had goblin minions that could be 8th level.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Well, to be fair, it is a Gnoll Vampire, which isn't exactly the same thing. Makes more sense for an undead creature to live in Icewind Dale than just a normal Gnoll.

There's an entire Gnoll clan in a cave in RotFM.