Of the monsters ofDungeons & Dragons, not all are made the same. Each monster has its own traits that make it suitable for different encounters, dependent on character level, number, tone, and overall theme of the surrounding setting. Still, not every DM uses monsters in the same way.
After decades of D&D content, some monsters may seem tough, but using them can be letting your players off easy. You want to hit that sweet spotbetween too difficult and too boring, so make sure to avoid these monsters, or change up how you approach them at least.
10Bandits
Hand It Over
Name a D&D campaign without bandits… It’s impossible. They are a classic D&D enemy for low-to-medium level encounters with the ability to be multiplied and modified as needed for more variability. Sadly, though, the hayday of the Bandit gang may have finally passed.
Other great enemies can be used in their stead, or even changing the name of the Bandits to better fit the theme of the encounter may work, but your average small group of Bandits will often be overlooked as fodder enemies used to take up time rather than a thrilling fight.
9Monodrones
Lawful Neutral
Modrons are a unique enemy type that doesn’t show up all that much in D&D encounters. They have some interesting lore behind them, and better stats than most of the go-to enemy types out there. You should consider adding them to your campaign, except if it’s only the Monodrone.
They are easily the weakest of the Modrons and don’t add up to much when in a group of their own. If you want to avoid letting your players off easy, add in some higher-level Modrons. A single high-level Modron, like a Quadrone or higher backed up by Monodrones and Duodrones is an encounter that allows for a lot of strategy and isn’t too easy to overcome.
8Skeletons
Rattle ‘Em
Dungeon delvers throughout the fantasy worlds of D&D are aware of the evil skeletons that haunt the narrow passageways. Whether set up as a defense mechanism or leftover from nefarious magic, they hold on to whatever weapons and armor haven’t rotted from their bones. Although creepy, they don’t add too much to a combat encounter.
Basic attacks are modified by a few resistances that can be quickly compensated for, meaning they don’t have much in terms of difficulty. Replacing them with a different undead or humanoid monster will probably be the better choice in the long run.
7Orcs
A Bygone Era
The enemy of a bygone age of fantasy. Whether a fan of older D&D campaigns,games like Skyrim, or movies like The Lord of the Rings, you’re sure to know the bad rap that Orcs have gotten over the years. New editions of D&D have done away with them being the evil, mindless fodder for your adventurers and done well at making them a species with their own culture for characters to encounter and play as.
A band of Orcs isn’t something you have to avoid entirely, but consider what they’re doing for your campaign, and why they’re attacking your characters in the first place before doubling down on the encounter. Like many humanoid creatures, they can be swapped out with others that have more variability or connections to the themes of your campaign.
6The Rogue
Sneaky-Like
A classic encounter: once your party enters an unfamiliar city, have themaccosted by a roguish individual. Whether there is a resounding chase or hunt through a dark alley, the resulting encounter is often rather lackluster.
This mostly comes from the low HP of roguish archetypes. Plus, it’s a bit of a cheesy trope nowadays. Regardless, avoiding this encounter at low levels will save your party the inevitable anguish of an encounter they have surely done before. There are better ways to get them acquainted with a new city’s underbelly.
5Gnolls (see also Goblins & Kobolds)
Dog Eat Dog
Gnolls are a bit better than the usual group enemies that are thrown at adventurers, but consider the Goblin and Kobold in this entry as well. All three of these, Gnolls especially, are rather overdone in their standard forms. True, Gnolls have Aura of Malice, Goblins have Nimble Escape, and Kobolds have Pack Tactics, but none of those abilities make for a truly challenging encounter, even at low levels.
By adding some variation to these encounters through other creatures, this can be remedied. Are they controlled by something deadlier? Are these Winged Kobolds, Gnoll Deathknights, or are the Goblins being aided by Bugbears? Do they have shamans and other magic abilities? Adding some variation to these enemies is the key to adding some challenge to them.
4Beholder
What Big Eyes
A D&D enemy that has been around from the very beginning. Beholders have plenty of inherent powers that come with the base stat block, which makes it not just a simple one-and-done fight. But if all your fielding is the classic Beholder, your party won’t have to try that hard. Especially at medium to high levels.
Consider the Director, Death Tyrant, Zombie Beholder, or even Death Kiss. These are not only newer versions that you players may not be able to metagame as much, but also deadlier and more unique. Making for an all-around fun and challenging experience.
3Wolves
Howling Mad
If you’verun a low-level campaign, you’ve probably thrown your party to the literal Wolves at some point. They’re a common enemy to pull from the Monster Manual that you can quickly set up and run. Sadly, that means your party is without a challenge. If you want to stay the nature route, there are more exotic enemies to use.
You could also go a more evil route, considering wolves attacking a fully-armed party of humanoids out of the blue probably isn’t too likely, even if they are hungry. Either way, Wolves are a common enemy that don’t add much to a combat experience.
2Hags
Not Evil Enough
In this day and age of D&D, Hags aren’t as big a challenge as they used to be. Anything but low-level enemies can take on a spellcasting Hag with some clever tactics and cohesion.
In the day of 5e, you have to go all-or-nothing and lean towards the Arch Hag or Hag Coven. Both are deadlier, wiser, and have a lot more spells in their arsenal. The Hag Coven especially has ways of making your party think, buffing one another as they fight the party.
1Human Zombies
Get Versatile
Everyone who has done a few horror adventures in D&D has ultimately run into a Zombie encounter. While there are various stat blocks for Zombies, each with their own infection mechanics, DMs have a common problem that makes even a zombie horde rather underwhelming.
It all comes down to what kind of Zombies you’re using. It’s D&D. Not all Zombies would be humans, and non-human Zombies would have different traits and abilities. Throw in some dragonborn, goliath, or even halfling Zombies for some extra excitement that won’t soon be forgotten.
