Using This Book

The multiverse of Dungeons and Dragons brims with peril, and many of the greatest dangers are monsters. A companion to the Monster Manual, this book collects monsters from many different planes of existence, each creature ready to imperil D&D heroes of different levels. The book also includes game statistics for nonplayer characters, who may assist or oppose the heroes, and an array of fantastical races for players to consider for their characters. The monsters and fantastical races in the following chapters are accompanied by the occasional comments of the mighty wizard Mordenkainen, one of the most learned mages of the D&D world of Greyhawk. The archmage Tasha, Mordenkainen's friendly rival, interjects as well. All together, the monsters, nonplayer characters, and fantastical races herein provide a host of new friends and foes to populate your D&D worlds.

What You'll Find Within

Chapter 1, "Fantastical Races," presents over 30 race options for player characters, complementing the options in the Player's Handbook and other D&D books. These races debuted elsewhere and appear all together for the first time here, each of them revised to fit into the current state of the game.
Chapter 2, "Bestiary," contains over 250 monsters and NPCs, each one represented by a stat block and story text. When you're preparing to run an adventure as the DM, consider sprinkling these creatures into your games, mixing them with the monsters and NPCs from the Monster Manual. The creatures in this chapter fit seamlessly with the ones you use from other D&D books.
Appendix, "Monster Lists," makes it easy for you to find the right stat blocks for your adventures. This appendix lists the book's monsters and NPCs by creature type, challenge rating, and environment.

Fantastical Races

Gathering together fantastical races from throughout the D&D multiverse, this chapter offers the following races for player characters, supplementing the race options in the Player's Handbook:

Aarakocra
Aasimar
Bugbear
Centaur
Changeling
Deep Gnome
Duergar
Eladrin
Fairy
Firbolg
Genasi, Air
Genasi, Earth
Genasi, Fire
Genasi, Water
Githyanki
Githzerai
Goblin
Goliath
Harengon
Hobgoblin
Kenku
Kobold
Lizardfolk
Minotaur
Orc
Satyr
Sea Elf
Shadar-kai
Shifter
Tabaxi
Tortle
Triton
Yuan-ti

Many of these races are based on creatures that appear in the Monster Manual or the bestiary of this book. Consult with your DM to see whether an option here is appropriate for your campaign. If you do use a race in this chapter, first read the "Creating Your Character" section below.

Creating Your Character

At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical race in this chapter, follow these additional rules during character creation.

Ability Score Increases

When determining your character's ability scores, increase one score by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. Follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The "Quick Build" section for your character's class offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You can follow those suggestions or ignore them, but you can't raise any of your scores above 20.

Languages

Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character. The Player's Handbook offers a list of languages to choose from. The DM is free to modify that list for a campaign.

Creature Type

Every creature in D&D, including each player character, has a special tag in the rules that identifies the type of creature they are. Most player characters are of the Humanoid type. A race in this chapter tells you what your character's creature type is. Here's a list of the game's creature types in alphabetical order: Aberration, Beast, Celestial, Construct, Dragon, Elemental, Fey, Fiend, Giant, Humanoid, Monstrosity, Ooze, Plant, Undead. These types don't have rules themselves, but some rules in the game affect creatures of certain types in different ways. For example, the cure wounds spell doesn't work on a Construct or an Undead.

Life Span

The typical life span of a player character in the D&D multiverse is about a century, assuming the character doesn't meet a violent end on an adventure. Members of some races, such as dwarves and elves, can live for centuries. If typical members of a race in this book can live longer than a century, that fact is mentioned in the race's description.

Height and Weight

Player characters, regardless of race, typically fall into the same ranges of height and weight that humans have in our world. If you'd like to determine your character's height or weight randomly, consult the Random Height and Weight table in the Player's Handbook, and choose the row in the table that best represents the build you imagine for your character.

Bestiary

This bestiary provides game statistics and lore for more than 250 monsters, which are suitable for any D&D campaign. The chapter includes old favorites from past editions of the game as well as creatures created for the current edition.

This chapter is a companion to the Monster Manual and adopts a similar presentation. If you are unfamiliar with the monster stat block format, read the introduction of the Monster Manual before proceeding further. It explains stat block terminology and gives rules for various monster traits—information that isn't repeated here.

The creatures in this bestiary are organized alphabetically. A few are gathered under a group heading; for example, the "Dinosaurs" section contains stat blocks for various dinosaurs.

Herein you will find some weapons that deal unusual damage types and spellcasting that functions in atypical ways. Such an exception is a special feature of a monster and represents how it uses the weapon or casts its spells; the exception has no affect on how a weapon or a spell functions for someone else.

Finally, if a stat block contains the name of a class in the monster's name or in parentheses under the name, the monster is considered a member of that class for the purpose of meeting prerequisites for magic items.

My friend Mordenkainen constantly fights monsters and makes notes about them. I love notes as much as the next wizard, but fighting gets old. Why not sit down and have a drink with the monster? I've learned the most delicious secrets from my monstrous drinking companions. The other monsters? I disintegrated them.— Tasha

Black Abishai
Blue Abishai
Green Abishai
Red Abishai
White Abishai
Alhoon
Alkilith
Allip
Amnizu
Annis Hag
Archdruid
Archer
Armanite
Astral Dreadnought
Babau
Bael
Balhannoth
Banderhobb
Baphomet
Bard
Barghest
Berbalang
Bheur Hag
Blackguard
Bodak
Boggle
Boneclaw
Bulezau
Cadaver Collector
Canoloth
Catoblepas
Aurochs
Deep Rothé
Ox
Stench Kow
Cave Fisher
Champion
Chitine
Choker
Choldrith
Clockwork Bronze Scout
Clockwork Iron Cobra
Clockwork Oaken Bolter
Clockwork Stone Defender
Cloud Giant Smiling One
Corpse Flower
Cranium Rat
Swarm of Cranium Rats
Darkling
Darkling Elder
Death Kiss
Deathlock
Deathlock Mastermind
Deathlock Wight
Deep Scion
Demogorgon
Derro
Derro Savant
Devourer
Dhergoloth
Brontosaurus
Deinonychus
Dimetrodon
Hadrosaurus
Quetzalcoatlus
Stegosaurus
Velociraptor
Dolphin
Dolphin Delighter
Draegloth
Drow Arachnomancer
Drow Favored Consort
Drow House Captain
Drow Inquisitor
Drow Matron Mother
Drow Shadowblade
Duergar Despot
Duergar Kavalrachni
Duergar Mind Master
Duergar Soulblade
Duergar Stone Guard
Duergar Screamer
Duergar Warlord
Duergar Xarrorn
Duergar Hammerer
Dybbuk
Eidolon
Sacred Statue
Autumn Eladrin
Spring Eladrin
Summer Eladrin
Winter Eladrin
Elder Brain
Elder Tempest
Air Elemental Myrmidon
Earth Elemental Myrmidon
Fire Elemental Myrmidon
Water Elemental Myrmidon
Fire Giant Dreadnought
Firenewt Warlock of Imix
Firenewt Warrior
Flail Snail
Flind
Fraz-Urb'luu
Froghemoth
Frost Giant Everlasting One
Frost Salamander
Gauth
Gazer
Geryon
Giant Strider
Giff
Girallon
Githyanki Gish
Githyanki Kith'rak
Githyanki Supreme Commander
Githzerai Anarch
Githzerai Enlightened
Gnoll Flesh Gnawer
Gnoll Hunter
Gnoll Witherling
Gray Render
Graz'zt
Grung
Grung Elite Warrior
Grung Wildling
Guard Drake
Hellfire Engine
Hobgoblin Devastator
Hobgoblin Iron Shadow
Howler
Hutijin
Hydroloth
Juiblex
Ki-rin
Kobold Dragonshield
Kobold Inventor
Kobold Scale Sorcerer
Korred
Kraken Priest
Young Kruthik
Adult Kruthik
Kruthik Hive Lord
Leucrotta
Leviathan
Martial Arts Adept
Marut
Master Thief
Maurezhi
Maw Demon
Meazel
Meenlock
Merregon
Merrenoloth
Mindwitness
Moloch
Molydeus
Morkoth
Mouth of Grolantor
Nabassu
Nagpa
Narzugon
Neogi Hatchling
Neogi
Neogi Master
Neothelid
Nightwalker
Nilbog
Nupperibo
Oblex Spawn
Adult Oblex
Elder Oblex
Ogre Battering Ram
Ogre Bolt Launcher
Ogre Chain Brute
Ogre Howdah
Oinoloth
Orcus
Orthon
Phoenix
Quickling
Redcap
Retriever
Rutterkin
Sea Spawn
Shadar-kai Gloom Weaver
Shadar-kai Shadow Dancer
Shadar-kai Soul Monger
Shadow Mastiff
Shadow Mastiff Alpha
Shoosuva
Sibriex
Skulk
Skull Lord
Slithering Tracker
Angry Sorrowsworn
Hungry Sorrowsworn
Lonely Sorrowsworn
Lost Sorrowsworn
Wretched Sorrowsworn
Spawn of Kyuss
Star Spawn Grue
Star Spawn Hulk
Star Spawn Larva Mage
Star Spawn Mangler
Star Spawn Seer
Female Steeder
Male Steeder
Steel Predator
Stone Cursed
Stone Giant Dreamwalker
Storm Giant Quintessent
Swarm of Rot Grubs
Swashbuckler
Sword Wraith Commander
Sword Wraith Warrior
Tanarukk
Titivilus
Tlincalli
Tortle
Tortle Druid
Trapper
Dire Troll
Rot Troll
Spirit Troll
Venom Troll
Ulitharid
Vampiric Mist
Vargouille
Vegepygmy
Thorny Vegepygmy
Vegepygmy Chief
War Priest
Warlock of the Archfey
Warlock of the Fiend
Warlock of the Great Old One
Warlord
Wastrilith
Apprentice Wizard
Abjurer Wizard
Conjurer Wizard
Diviner Wizard
Enchanter Wizard
Evoker Wizard
Illusionist Wizard
Necromancer Wizard
Transmuter Wizard
Wood Woad
Xvart
Xvart Warlock of Raxivort
Yagnoloth
Yeenoghu
Yeth Hound
Yuan-ti Anathema
Yuan-ti Broodguard
Yuan-ti Mind Whisperer
Yuan-ti Nightmare Speaker
Yuan-ti Pit Master
Zaratan
Zariel
Zuggtmoy

Maps

![Mind Flayer Colony](https://5e.tools/img/book/MPMM/Mind Flayer Colony.webp)![Player Version](https://5e.tools/img/book/MPMM/Mind Flayer Colony.webp)![Yuan-ti Temple](https://5e.tools/img/book/MPMM/Yuan-ti Temple.webp)![Player Version](https://5e.tools/img/book/MPMM/Yuan-ti Temple (Player Version).webp)

Credits

Lead Designer. Jeremy Crawford
Art Directors. Emi Tanji, Kate Irwin
Original Design. Jeremy Crawford, Adam Lee, Mike Mearls, Christopher Perkins, Ben Petrisor, Sean K Reynolds, Robert J. Schwalb, Matt Sernett, Chris Sims, Nolan Whale, Steve Winter
Revision Design. Sydney Adams, Judy Bauer, Jeremy Crawford, Makenzie De Armas, Dan Dillon, Ari Levitch, Ben Petrisor, Taymoor Rehman
Editing. Judy Bauer, Michele Carter, Kim Mohan, Christopher Perkins
Graphic Designers. Trystan Falcone, Emi Tanji
Cover Illustrator. Grzegorz Rutkowski
Interior Illustrators. Dave Allsop, Tom Babbey, John-Paul Balmet, Thomas M. Baxa, Mark Behm, Eric Belisle, Michael Berube, Mike Bierek, Jared Blando, Zoltan Boros, Christopher Bradley, Alix Branwyn, Aleksi Briclot, IP Dmitry Burmak, Filip Burburan, Christopher Burdett, Sidharth Chaturvedi, Jedd Chevrier, Conceptopolis, Daarken, Nikki Dawes, Eric Deschamps, Simon Dominic, Dave Dorman, Nicholas Elias, Wayne England, Jason Felix, Justin Gerard, Justyna Gil, Lars Grant-West, Jon Hodgson, Ralph Horsley, Tyler Jacobson, Mike Jordana, Vance Kelly, Julian Kok, Michael Komarck, Daniel Landerman, Olly Lawson, Daniel Ljunggren, Valera Lutfullina, Warren Mahy, Lorenzo Mastroianni, Brynn Metheney, Aaron Miller, Francisco Miyara, Caio Monteiro, Scott Murphy, Marta Nael, Marco Nelor, Jim Nelson, Adam Paquette, PINDURSKI, Claudio Pozas, April Prime, Grzegorz Rutkowski, Marc Sasso, Chris Seaman, Ilya Shkipin, Rudy Siswanto, David Sladek, Craig J Spearing, Bryan Sola, Zack Stella, Sarah Stone, Philip Straub, Arnie Swekel, Thom Tenery, David A. Trampier, Cory Trego-Erdner, Beth Trott, Brian Valeza, Randy Vargas, Franz Vohwinkel, Anthony S. Waters, Campbell White, Richard Whitters, Eva Widermann, Sam Wood, Shawn Wood, Ben Wootten, Zuzanna Wuuyk, Min Yum
Project Engineer. Cynda Callaway
Imaging Technician. Kevin Yee
Prepress Specialist. Jefferson Dunlap
D&D Studio.
- Executive Producer. Ray Winninger
- Principal Designers. Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins
- Design Manager. Steve Scott
- Design Department. Sydney Adams, Judy Bauer, Makenzie De Armas, Dan Dillon, Amanda Hamon, Ari Levitch, Ben Petrisor, Taymoor Rehman, F. Wesley Schneider, James Wyatt
- Senior Art Director. Richard Whitters
- Art Department. Trystan Falcone, Kate Irwin, Emi Tanji, Shawn Wood, Trish Yochum
- Senior Producer. Dan Tovar
- Producers. Bill Benham, Robert Hawkey, Lea Heleotis
- Director of Product Management. Liz Schuh
- Product Managers. Natalie Egan, Chris Lindsay, Hilary Ross
D&D Marketing.
- Director of Global Brand Marketing. Brian Perry
- Global Brand Manager. Shelly Mazzanoble
- Senior Marketing Communications Manager. Greg Tito
- Community Manager. Brandy Camel
D&D Beyond.
- Digital Design Manager. Faith Elisabeth Lilley
- Digital Design Team. Jay Jani, Adam Walton

This book is a revision of content that originally appeared in the books Volo's Guide to Monsters (2016) and Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (2018). It also includes revised options from Princes of the Apocalypse (2015), Eberron: Rising from the Last War (2019), and Mythic Odysseys of Theros (2020).

On the Cover: The wizard Mordenkainen soars through the Astral Plane astride a ki-rin—unaware of the astral dreadnought slinking toward them—in this painting by Grzegorz Rutkowski.