Every experienced DM knows that there is a certain group of monsters that players tend to call 'XP Banks' or 'Cannon Fodder,' or a personal favorite 'Trash Mobs.' But few players know that the little things that seem like a low threat at higher levels of the campaign could be the last thing they face in the Realms.
Some of these nasty critters escalate in difficulty when attacking in groups; others form entire warbands that can level an entire city if underestimated. Others are a guaranteed character reroll for the overconfident Bards and Sorcerers of the group. This is a list of 8 common monsters in Dungeons & Dragons that become total nightmares at higher levels.
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8 Spiders
That Slithery Sound, Crawling Down The Cave Walls, Spelled Doom For The Unwary Adventurers
Everyone hates Spiders: They trigger a primordial rejection response in our organism, which is a clear sign that they are beings that should be avoided at any cost. They can be poisonous, incredibly resilient, and they spew that sticky net that knits the frames of nightmares. Now, Spiders in D&D are CR0 creatures, which, all things considered, shouldn't be a threat for experienced adventurers. What's more, they barely have hit points, and they're just a swat away from being squashed. But that's a regular, single spider, and here's where swarm mechanics come into play.
Experienced DMs know that swarms of critters, especially poisonous, deadly ones, are an absolute nightmare for even the most experienced of players. Plus, diving into a Spider nest will make players face not only a swarm of millions of lower-level spiderlings, but the humongous, nightmarish beings pledged to Lolth that can sometimes be the leaders of these little houses of horror. Plus, the webs are considered one of the most extreme difficult terrains, and spiders can sense when someone drops in their web, move freely inside and across it, without the need for ability checks. Do not underestimate spiders; they could be your next TPK.
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7 Kobolds
A Pack Of Kobolds? That Will Be The Easiest Job Ever! — Famous Last Words
Kobolds are one of the most popular Trash Mobs in D&D culture, a creature that has been highly underestimated, nerfed, and revamped until turning it into a popular joke. Old school DMs will remember about the deep link between Kobold lore and draconids, and that most of the time these creatures not only worship but serve Chromatic Dragons.
But that's not the main issue that makes Kobolds such a fearsome foe to face in higher levels (and in greater numbers). When Kobolds are led by a Chieftan or a Shaman, or worse, a Kobold King, they become more than just a senseless bunch of rable rousers. Organized, tactical, and powerful, making use of some of the most vicious combat tricks, traps, and taking full advantage of their reduced size and high mobility, Kobolds turn into a tide of sharp claws and teeth, after a well-placed rock slide in the middle of an unaware party trying to reach the summit where they nest.
6 Wolves
A Sea Of Embers Emerged From The Depths Of Darkness; Gnawing Teeth, Frothing Mouths, Ready To Devour Them
Wolves are considered a classic encounter in D&D, and in every good old-fashioned travel across the wildlands, they form part of the random encounter pool that every good DM should have prepared. But what happens when that same encounter is translated into a high-level campaign, where the CR budget allows for a little bit of flair?
The answer is simple: Pure carnage. Wolves are not only hard to deal with in numbers, but when they hunt in larger packs, especially those where Worgs and Dire Wolves are involved. Wolves change abruptly from opportunistic predators into a barrage of opportunity attacks, that always roll with advantage (Pack Tactics) and can make adventurers fall prone with every attack. There's an old rule for adventuring: When wolves are twice the number of hands, it's time to run, or prepare to die.
5 Shadows
Did You See That Shadow Move? — It Was Probably That Sneaky Rogue — Hey! I'm Here, You Know
Shadows are undead creatures, born of pure malice and hatred for all living things. They haunt crypts, cemeteries, and the darkest corners of the world, where the influence of the benign Gods wanes, and Necromancers run rampant with their unholy rituals. It is said that a single Shadow is a fearsome foe for a low-level party, but an army of Shadows can wipe out an entire group of max-level characters just as easily.
In places where daylight doesn't reach, these enemies are in their element, and players should never underestimate an encounter with them. They can squeeze through the narrowest of places, crevices, and the like, and they not only cause Necrotic Damage (which is harder to heal than other types of damage) but also damage the Strength attribute by 1d4. Everyone knows what happens when main attributes are lowered to 0; now imagine dealing with ten, maybe even twenty of these annoying undead at the same time.
4 Mimics
Cornered, The Bard Remembered He Had Found A Health Potion And Smiled. So Did The Potion
Mimics are nasty creatures, to say the least. They hide in plain sight, posing as doors, treasure chests, statues, and even piles of gold coins. No respectable adventurer goes into a dungeon delve without knowing about these monsters (meta roll aside) since they're the stuff that composes the best tavern tales, and the bane of all the curious Bards and crafty Rogues. Even if the party is aware of the possibility of encountering one, there's always that tiny slip of the mind, especially when treasure and loot await ahead.
At higher levels, Mimics are not only a mouth full of teeth, waiting for unaware party members to go near them: They can be the chandeliers hanging on the ceiling, or that old tapestry painting that looks expensive. Even the slats of the floor, where the party's healer just started her long rest, can be a Mimic waiting for its chance. Crafty DMs understand Mimics as semi-intelligent beings and ambush hunters, but very smart DMs will also know the tricks behind Mimic ecology that make them especially good for a high-level encounter, and a nightmare for every party that expects an easy run and money grab dungeon. Greater Mimics are the most fearsome exemplars of these monsters that have become a popular meme in D&D culture. But make no mistake: Mimics are no joke.
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3 Undead
Echoes Of Rattling Bones And The Smell Of Rotting Flesh — The Paladin Frowned
Lesser Undead (that is, Zombies and Skeletons) are a common trope in every D&D campaign. Be it that they appear in one of the many pre-cooked settings or in a homebrew run, these vile creatures often infest crypts, dungeons, and unholy places. Players often underestimate the power of a well-commanded army of Skeletons and Zombies, and if they do so, then they're foolish.
In the Forgotten Realms lore, Skeletons and Zombies are often associated with Liches, Demi Liches, or Necromancers. But that's not always the case. There are occasions when intelligent, cunning, and sometimes belligerent undead that are not Liches command these creatures by the hundreds. Such is the case of Wights, Mummy Lords, or Death Knights. When players face an army of Lesser Undead controlled by one of such creatures, and the CR is high, then it's the perfect recipe for a TPK.
2 Crows
Like A Dark Cloud Blocking The Sun, A Tide Of Beaks And Claws Descended Upon Them
Crows and Ravens are birds of a feather, but don't let this seemingly weak family of winged creatures trick you: They are a real threat, and not only for their beaks and sharp talons: They're quite smart too. Ravens and crows can be commanded by supernatural means to attack a party of travelers or be tied to certain main antagonists of campaigns, who use them as spies and messengers.
But the swarm of crows or ravens is the final form of these creatures, who attack en masse, threaten a wide area, obstruct the view, and cause players to panic, commit mistakes, and even, perhaps, fall to their death if they are stepping on unfavorable terrain. At higher levels, a murder of crows can obliterate a party of endgame characters in only four turns.
1 Goblins (& Hobgoblins)
First, You Hear Them Laugh, Then They Come For You
Goblins are not only fierce and sometimes even fearless, but they're also outright mad and pure evil. Don't let the size of these enemies play tricks on your minds; they're every inch worth of pain and mischief, and they will flay every member of the party alive if they can. But Goblins by themselves are lower CR threats that are often called Trash Mobs. However, players often see them as tiny, funny, and sometimes even cute companion material (the fools). Make no mistake: The only good goblin is a dead goblin.
These creatures often live in Warbands, often commanded by Shamans, Hobgoblins, and other nasty members of their species. They often nest in abandoned fortresses, caves, and even take over the villages they raid. When players face higher-level Goblins commanded by a chieftain, they are in trouble. These creatures dominate the forests, ruins, and sometimes even dungeons, and are a plague that has been ravaging the Realms for ages. Goblins can also 'domesticate' and mount Worgs, which makes them several times more lethal. A pack of Goblin Riders is impossible to shake off, and they'll pursue the party relentlessly to the edges of a cliff if necessary.
- Franchise
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Original Release Date
- 1974
- Publisher
- Wizards of the Coast
- Designer
- E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson