D&D 5E What are some monsters that have interesting abilities but fail spectacularly in lore or appearance?

[Xenonnonex]

As it says in the tin.

 

[aco175]

In my games it is the monsters that need magic weapons to damage normally. I tend to give out magic more than the 5e suggests and by the time the PCs are level 5 each PC has something. Things like elementals and such are good for levels 1-2 or 3, but after this they are not worth the CR. I have been thinking about making some resistant to +2 weapons to counter this.

 

[Prakriti]

A lot of people think Flumphs are silly, but they have some interesting mechanics in 5E. Knocking one prone has a chance of incapacitating it, and they have a skunk-like Stench Spray ability that can be humorous in play.

 

[Nebulous]

I don't hate flumphs one bit, I think they're kinda cute/weird. I think we had some wild magic once that summoned a flock of them that followed a PC around.

 

[generic]

Whether a monster 'fails' in lore or appearance is something which is completely based on your preferences.

There can be no definite answer.

 

[Xenonnonex]

Whether a monster 'fails' in lore or appearance is something which is completely based on your preferences.

There can be no definite answer.

Yes. These are completely preference based.

 

[Tonguez]

Destrachans and Yrthaks are the only two I can think of as being incomprehnsible appearance, I recast both as being more bat like (with Destrachans becoming Douglas Dixons Nightstalkers)

 

[Fenris-77]

The rust monster, at least some of the original art, was really goofy looking, which belied it's actual greatness.

 

[Wiseblood]

Giants. I just don’t like the art. Mechanics could be spiced up but they get the job done. I especially despise the firbolgs in 5e they departed from a much better look.
Kinda like Geralt in Witcher 3 when you have the cool looking armor and to stay relevant you have to wear a gambeson that looks like it belonged to a jester.

 

[Tonguez]

The rust monster, at least some of the original art, was really goofy looking, which belied it's actual greatness.

Thats what I loved most about the Rust Monster - its a big cockroach with a helicopter tail that absolutely ravages the armoured fighters!!!