D&D 5E (2024) Skeleton Entry and Stat Blocks from New Monster Manual

Posted by Christian Hoffer on Twitter, here's a third stat block from 2025's Monster Manual!

Also don't forget check out the ancient green dragon and the kuo-toa.

 

[Zaukrie]

What is weird to me is that the Languages for most of the skeletons here have the "Understands all languages it knew in life but can't speak" but the minotaur skeleton has "Understands Abyssal but can't speak." This is something also in 2014 MM.

Edited to add: Ah. I see now. The base 2014 minotaur only speaks Abyssal. I never noticed that before.

This is why I largely ignore languages.

 

[Argyle King]

What makes you say that. They look essentially the same as the 5E stat block.

The general vibe of the layout and how rules options (including keywords) are highlighted...

I'm not saying it's a bad thing. My first impressions are simply that a little bit of 4E influence made it into the updated version of the rules.

If I could pick something else to add from 4E, I think ability score increases should be divorced from feats and were something built-in to reaching certain character levels. But that's a different conversation.

 

[Reynard]

The general vibe of the layout and how rules options (including keywords) are highlighted...

I'm not saying it's a bad thing. My first impressions are simply that a little bit of 4E influence made it into the updated version of the rules.

If I could pick something else to add from 4E, I think ability score increases should be divorced from feats and were something built-in to reaching certain character levels. But that's a different conversation.

I'm just not seeing it, i guess. i don't see highlighted keywords or rules options. It just looks like the 5E stat block to me.

 

[the Jester]

Overall 4e monsters are more dynamic, but the whole system was as well. 4e monsters also had their problems, particularly at higher levels and solos. 5e legendary monsters are generally (and in particularly past MM) all on par or better than their 4e equivalents IMO. Legendary actions / resistance alone (though that is changing some in 2024) improved solos immensely.

In my opinion-

By the MM3, 4e monster design reached what I feel is the apex of DnD monster design. The solos were well-designed, they had gotten past a bunch of the early issues, rejiggered the math to make them more fun and less of a slog, and rewrote the classics to be in line with the new design principles in the Monster Vault. That book should be the standard that all other monster books strive to live up to; and 5e monster design really hasn't quite managed it. We'll see if the 2024 MM does.

 

[Charlaquin]

The bones of real skeletons don't remain connected. Jawbones for example. I think it would be easy to notice something odd about bones that remain connected without connective tissue holding them together.

Yeah, which is why I say they should need to also be prone, not just motionless.

I grant you the idea of loose bones clattering together and rejoining as the skeleton moves into action is quite evocative, and something I may employ...

That’s what I picture, yeah. There’s no actual connective tissue or muscle, do must be held together and animated by pure magical energy. I figure if they’re prone and motionless they wouldn’t need that magic to keep the bones together or move them. It’s when they stand and move that you can tell they’re not a normal skeleton.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I think the Kuo-Toa was more interesting than the Skeletons.

 

[dave2008]

In my opinion-

By the MM3, 4e monster design reached what I feel is the apex of DnD monster design. The solos were well-designed, they had gotten past a bunch of the early issues, rejiggered the math to make them more fun and less of a slog, and rewrote the classics to be in line with the new design principles in the Monster Vault. That book should be the standard that all other monster books strive to live up to; and 5e monster design really hasn't quite managed it. We'll see if the 2024 MM does.

I actually like Threats to the Nentir Vale more than Monster Vault, but that is a close 2nd.

MM3+ solos were better, but they didn't really fix the damage issue. Relative to PCs a lvl 30 solo (even after MM3) was weaker than a level 1 solo by quite a bit. That is not working as intended IMO.

 

[Weiley31]

I like all the box breakdown of the modifiers. Also, I like it seems like, things change depending on certain factors. For the Ancient Green Dragon, ya get more if you fight it in its lair. (But then, so too does the dragon by getting an extra legendary resistance).

 

[Dizlag]

I’m so annoyed that they didn’t give skeletons false appearance. They should be indistinguishable from inanimate skeletons while prone and motionless, and get advantage on initiative if no one notices they’re animate before the start of combat!

Who says you can't do that anyways? Great idea!!! =)

 

[Charlaquin]

Who says you can't do that anyways? Great idea!!! =)

Yeah, I mean, I’ve been running them that way for a while now. I just hoped they’d have come up with something similar in the MM revision.