D&D General What is the Quintissential D&D Mascot Monster?

[Tonguez]

Owlbears have the advantage of looking both cool and cute

Beholders just look silly

 

[Reynard]

As with the first 1e MM, there should be a few monsters on the cover rather than just one (it's a compendium, after all); and those could include any of Beholder, Dragon, Owlbear, Troll, Unicorn, Umber Hulk, and-or similar distinctive critters.

This is not a question about what should be on the cover of a MM.

 

[Umbran]

If you had to pick a single monster that represents D&D -- to you, to the market, to the fandom, to the public, whatever you want -- what would it be? What is, in your opinion, the quintessential D&D mascot monster?

Rust Monster.

Never pick a mascot that wants to eat you.

 

[Reynard]

Rust Monster.

Never pick a mascot that wants to eat you.

Fair.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I personally think it’s the Red Dragon.

 

[Charlaquin]

Definitely beholder. Illithid is a close second. Owlbear and mimic would be good choices too, but they’ve had enough off-brand imitations to take them out of the running in my opinion.

 

[J.Quondam]

Classic answer, imo, is red dragon.
But to represent the glorious ridiculousness that makes the game not mere fantasy, but D&D? I vote beholder.

 

[cbwjm]

Dragons would be right up there, I also think the mimic represents DnD quite well, it seems to show up in various media based on the game in one form or another.

Beholder is a good choice as well, I feel like illithids might also be a good choice but they have a different feel to them that I'm not sure I'd want them to be the poster child of the MM

 

[overgeeked]

Tiamat. Dragon is in the name of the game. The most uniquely D&D dragon is Tiamat. So she is the mascot monster for the game and should be on the cover. She also ties in nicely to the ’80s and cartoon nostalgia of the other two regular covers.

 

[DrJawaPhD]

I was going to answer Mimics, but Red Dragon and Beholder are great answers too.