Through gameplay and research, I have discovered 25 enemies that are fun to encounter on Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) campaigns. Read on to find out more about these common enemies and why they are a blast to battle!
25. Bugbear
Don't let this creature give you a "bear" hug!
First on the list is the Bugbear! This foul goblinoid is evil and greedy; if you are lucky, you may encounter a Bugbear Chief. They tend to travel in packs and will eat almost anything (including each other). Read on to find out more about the Bugbear and why it is a fun enemy!
Why Bugbear Is Fun
- Bugbears are fun enemies to defeat because they are bullies and prey on creatures weaker than they are. (Who doesn’t want to take down a bully?)
- The Bugbear speaks Common and Goblin, so PCs can communicate with them. This may make an encounter more interesting.
Bugbear details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/bugbear
24. Carrion Crawler
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out...
These putrid roamers are commonly found in places where they can find death to feed on such as battlefields, cemeteries, and dungeons. Carrion crawlers have a poisonous bite, and they gnaw on both bones and flesh. Read more to find out why these creatures are good enemies to battle in adventures!
Why Carrion Crawler Is Fun
- They are dexterous, hardy, strong, and wise. Carrion crawlers are also hard to surprise, as they have darkvision (up to 60 feet).
- Not only do Carrion Crawlers have multi attacks, but they can also Spider Climb surfaces.
Carrion Crawler details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/search?q=Carrion%20Crawler
23. Cyclops
This creature has an eye on you!
Cyclops are important monsters found in Greek mythology. In D&D, the Cyclops are the introverts of the giant world. These one-eyed creatures, found in caverns and stone lairs, are distrusting, simplistic, and wish to be left alone. Read on to find out more about Cyclops!
Why Cyclops Is Fun
- Cyclops do not care for currency; rather they enjoy gems and jewels and other shiny objects to collect and make jewelry. They are also easily amused by magic, so Cyclops do not necessarily have to be defeated by battle; they can be bribed or distracted.
- If PCs end up battling a Cyclops, they are strong and have a hardy constitution. They use Greatclub attacks and throw rocks at opponents.
22. Dire Wolf
Howlin' Wolf!
The Dire Wolf is hardy, quick, strong, and difficult to surprise. Their perception is +3 and stealth is +4; they also have acute hearing and smell. Also, in battle, they have Pack Tactics, so if there is an unharmed ally nearby, Dire Wolves can attack with advantage. Read on to find out more about Dire Wolves!
Why Dire Wolf Is Fun
- Dire Wolves can knock their opponents over when they attack with their powerful bite!
- Since Dire Wolves are unaligned, they can be charmed; PCs can also make an Animal Handling check and attempt to befriend the animal(s).
Dire Wolf details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/dire-wolf
21. Diseased Giant Rat
Oh, Rats!
Rats can be commonly found in places like castles, caves, cities, and graveyards. They prefer to lurk in darkness and have both darkvision (60 feet) and passive perception. Diseased Giant Rats also have Keen Smell and Pack Tactics. Read more to find out how these rodents are great enemies to battle!
Why Diseased Giant Rat Is Fun
- This monster can be used for beginner or advanced level PCs. One or two Diseased Giant Rats may be challenging for 1st level PCs, ten Diseased Giant Rats may be threatening to higher level adventurers!
- Not only can the Diseased Giant Rat inflict damage through its bite, the bitten party must make a Constitution saving throw or contract a disease.
Diseased Giant Rat details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/diseased-giant-rat
20. Doppelganger
You may be seeing double!
Shapechangers can make an adventure fun and interesting. These masters of deception can morph into a humanoid to cause havoc, manipulate, and steal. As true neutrals in alignment, Doppelgangers are out for themselves as they pilfer secrets, personify others to steal riches, and charm women to raise their young. Read on to find out more about Doppelgangers!
Why Doppelganger Is Fun
- Doppelgangers can speak and understand Common, so a conversation with these creatures would make for an interesting encounter!
- This creature has the ability to Read Thoughts, so Doppelgangers can have wisdom and charisma advantages as long as its concentration is not interrupted.
Doppelganger details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/doppelganger
19. Dragon (Red, Adult)
Not your typical friendly dragon!
I cannot write a D&D article about fun monsters and not include Dragons! Red Dragons are evil, fierce, and mountainous treasure hoarders. Their only weakness is Dexterity, and they are formidable opponents! This is a great creature to use for a high-level, end-of-campaign encounter. Read on to find out more about Red Dragons!
Why Red Dragon Is Fun
- Red Dragons speak Common as well as Draconic, so there will be interesting dialogue during the encounter.
- In addition to its attacks, the Red Dragon can take lair actions, such as making hot magma emerge, creating tremors, and emitting poisonous gases.
- Finally, water near the Red Dragon’s lair turns rancid from sulfur, earthquakes can erupt several miles away, and nearby elemental fire monsters can emerge.
- There are different age categories of the Red Dragon that DMs can create for PC encounters: Wyrmling, Young, Adult, and Ancient.
Red Dragon details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/adult-red-dragon
18. Flying Snake
Snakes! Why did it have to be snakes?
A flying snake is a much easier creature to encounter than a dragon! These cute, unaligned beings are commonly found in jungles. This would be a great creature to encounter on lower-level campaigns. Read on to find out more about Flying Snakes!
Why Flying Snake Is Fun
- They have blindsight of 30 feet, so they will be hard to surprise.
- A spell caster could attempt to befriend or charm this creature.
- Flying Snakes have both a piercing and a poisonous bite.
Flying Snake details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/flying-snake
17. Gargoyle
Gargoyles like to play statues!
A chaotic evil earth elemental, Gargoyles like to exist in high places, pretend to be statues, and enjoy ambushing, tormenting, and killing live creatures. They are commonly found as guards of the lairs of their masters. Read on to find out more about why Gargoyles are fun in gaming adventures!
Why Gargoyle is Fun
- Gargoyles are fun to have in adventures because they could swoop in (false appearance) and surprise the PCs!
- Also, Gargoyles have several damage resistances and immunities like bludgeoning, piercing, slashing, exhaustion, petrify, and poison. These creatures will pose a challenge for new and seasoned adventurers.
Gargoyle details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/gargoyle
16. Ghoul
Ghouls are hangry!
Ghouls are grotesque and commonly found in undead campaigns. Interestingly, the first ghoul was an elf who has transformed by Orcus. Ghouls are ravenous and travel in packs at night in search of flesh. Read more to find out why these common undead monsters are great enemies!
Why Ghoul Is Fun
- Ghouls are strong, dexterous, and have darkvision up to 60 feet. They will be challenging to fight in a battle!
- Their attacks consist of biting and clawing and are immune to charm, exhaustion, and poison spells.
Ghoul details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/ghoul
15. Giant (Frost)
This giant does not want to chill out!
Frost Giants are both evil creatures and natural athletes that dwell in the icy tundra. They do not care about diplomacy and politeness; all they want to do is fight and win! These hardy creatures, resilient and strong, will pose a challenge to any PC that crosses their path! Read more to learn about the Frost Giant!
Why Giant Is Fun
- I am confident that this Giant will give PCs a frosty reception; they attack with a Greataxe or with rocks.
- Although Frost Giants are immune to cold, they are vulnerable to fire and will literally shrink from heat-related attacks!
Giant details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/frost-giant
14. Giant Spider
Don't fall into its web!
This is not the itsy-bitsy spider you learned about in story time! Rather, the Giant Spider in D&D 5e is much more along the lines of Aragog from Harry Potter. They are commonly found in dark underground spaces and up high in ceilings. Read on to find out why Giant Spiders are common and fun to encounter in your next adventure!
Why Giant Spider Is Fun
- The dexterity and stealth of a Giant Spider will rival a rogue! They have a +7 on stealth and Darkvision up to 60 feet.
- Their two main weapons of attack are biting and entanglement in their web. If PCs handle this encounter correctly, they won’t end up as the Giant Spiders next meal.
Giant Spider details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/giant-spider
13. Gibbering Mouther
Quite the conversationalist!
The Gibbering Mouther, a brainchild of depraved sorcery, is an introvert’s nightmare, with its nonstop chatter. If a victim is bitten and killed by a Gibbering Mouther, its body is completely ingested and its eyes, mouth, and body itself are absorbed. Although the Gibbering Mouther moves slowly, it can easily navigate any kind of terrain. Read on to find out more about the Gibbering Mouther!
Why Gibbering Mouther Is Fun
- Its constitution is strong, so it may be a fun challenge to defeat in a battle.
- Actions of a Gibbering Mouther include creating aberrant ground, gibbering (of course), biting, and blinding spittle. PCs will have to learn to navigate these kinds of attacks and resist the fear and paralysis that the gibbering causes.
Gibbering Mouther details: https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Gibbering%20Mouther#h-Gibbering%20Mouther
12. Gnoll
You would probably not ask a Gnoll to dinner!
Gnolls are vicious monsters that resemble hyenas. Demonic in origin, Gnolls have wanderlust and are on the constant search for blood and flesh and will seek to destroy anyone or anything (including each other) in its path. Even Orcs will steer clear of Gnolls! Read on to find out more about Gnolls!
Why Gnoll Is Fun
- Gnolls are savage fighters and uses a longbow, spear, or bite to attack! Since they are chaotic evil and do not appear to have magical resistances, clerics and spell casters would enjoy having Gnolls as opponents!
- For higher level PCs, there is the Gnoll Pack Lord and the Gnoll Fang of Yeenoghu to encounter.
Gnoll details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/gnoll
11. Golem (Stone)
Stone cold!
Golems are creatures found in both mythology and D&D adventures. Since Golems are created from a spirit of the Earth Plane, they are animated rather than having a mind of their own. They blindly obey the master that created them. There are several types of Golems commonly used in campaigns: clay, flesh, iron, and stone. Read more to find out about why Golems are fun to encounter in adventures!
Why Golem Is Fun
- Golems can be a spell caster’s nightmare because of their immunities and resistances to magic; also, its form cannot be altered in any way.
- In addition, Golems have a strength of 22 and a constitution of 20, so they will cause significant damage when they strike and cannot be defeated easily.
Golem details: https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Stone%20Golem#content
10. Gorgon
That's a lot of bull!
In Greek mythology, Gorgons are three sisters with snake-like tresses and looks that can literally kill (think Medusa). In D&D 5e, the Gorgon is a giant bull with iron plates and vile green breath. The gorgon’s breath can literally petrify its prey and turn it into stone. Read on to find out more about this fearsome and strong creature!
Why Gorgon Is Fun
- Gorgons are very strong (Strength of 20) and have several moves that can injure and kill opponents such as goring, hoof strikes, petrifying breath, and trampling,
- These creatures are very perceptive, so they are hard to surprise as well as destroy.
Gorgon details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/gorgon
9. Goblin
Bullies in D&D!
Goblins; smallish (3 foot tall) mean humanoids commonly found in lower-level dungeon adventures, are also a staple in gaming adventures. These cowardly creatures are power hungry bullies who rarely travel alone; in fact, you are more likely to find goblins in larger quantities. Read more to find out why goblins are fun enemies to conquer!
Why Goblin Is Fun
- Goblins will give rogues a run for their gold, as they are dexterous and rig their lairs with elaborate traps. (Talk about elaborate security systems!)
- These foul creatures are social and like to hang out with other foul creatures such as Rats and Wolf Riders, so you may encounter additional enemies as well!
Goblin details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/goblin
8. Grimlock
Grotesque Grimlocks!
Grimlocks are cannibalistic humanoids that were human long ago; their evil obsession and worship of mind flayers caused them to devolve from humanity. As they lost their light, Grimlocks also lost their vision; they have no eyeballs. Read on to find out more about these disgusting creatures.
Why Grimlock Is Fun
- Grimlocks cannot see, so visual spells will not work on them. However, they rely on earing, so a silencing spell would adversely affect them.
- Despite their visual impairments, Grimlocks are quite stealthy and perceptive. Not only is their hearing acute, but also have a strengthened sense of smell.
Grimlock details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/grimlock
7. Hobgoblin
Martial artists!
Hobgoblins are a larger and more militant version of their bugbear and goblin cousins. (All ree are referred to as goblinoids.) Bugbears tend to think about food, Goblins tend to be more dexterous, and Hobgoblins like to bully and lord over both. Hobgoblins are trained in animal husbandry and martial arts. Read on to find out more about Hobgoblins!
Why Hobgoblin Is Fun
- This creature is great for new and experienced PCs, because not only are there Hobgoblins to encounter, but there are Hobgoblin Captains and Hobgoblin Warlords to conquer as well!
- Hobgoblins worship Maglubiyet, the main god over goblinoids; Hobgoblins also love war and combat.
6. Kobold
Eggcellent opponents!
Kobolds are evil egg-laying creatures that are dexterous and reptilian in nature. They are perfect opponents for 1st and 2nd level PCs, particularly fighter-types, because kobolds are physically weak and do not have the highest constitution. However, Kobolds prefer strength in numbers and usually overpower opponents in a group. What Kobolds lack in strength is made up in dexterity; they prefer to hide and trap their enemies. Read more to find out about Kobolds!
Why Kobold Is Fun
- Kobolds are hard to stalk, as they have Darkvision up to 60 feet.
- Also, these creatures prefer to fight in the dark; they battle at a disadvantage in light.
- Kobolds speak both Common and Draconian, so they can communicate with adventurers!
Kobold details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/kobold
5. Ogre
An Ogre meltdown would be a showdown!
When you think of ogres, you may think of the lovable green curmudgeon Shrek. However, in the D&D universe, ogres are evil giants weighing up to 1,000 pounds. They are hangry, irascible, and ruthless, eating just about anything but prefer to snack on dwarves, elves, and halflings. Keep reading to find out more about these gruesome creatures!
Why Ogre Is Fun
- Ogres are strong and sturdy in constitution, but they are not dexterous, wise, or witty at all. Therefore, PCs could possibly evade or trick ogres. These creatures are evil and have horrible tempers, though, so be careful with words.
- These creatures are avid collectors and are ruled by their massive stomachs, so they could be lured with food and/or treasure.
- PCs will have a fun challenge trying to sneak around ogres because they have Darkvision up to 60 feet.
Ogre details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/ogre
4. Orc
You do not want to cross the path of an orc!
You may have read about Orcs in Tolkien’s books or viewed them from the Lord of the Rings movies. (Personally, I first learned about Orcs from D&D 1e.) Orcs are chaotic evil, ruthless, strong, and exist in tribes. In lower-level dungeon crawls, you will most likely encounter a few Orcs, as they usually do not travel alone. Read on to find out more about why Orcs are great fun to battle in adventures!
Why Orc Is Fun
- Orcs are versatile monsters for DMs to use in any adventure because a few of them can be introduced in earlier level campaigns and a larger quantity of them, including Orc War Chiefs, could be incorporated in higher level adventures!
- Orcs have a long and complicated history in D&D (in fact they even worship a God named Gruumsh One-Eye).
Orc details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/orc
3. Skeleton
No bones about it, you probably wouldn’t invite a skeleton to dinner!
Skeletons are an undead staple in low-level dungeon crawls. I have fought many of them in adventures! Skeletons are lawful evil, so they usually follow the command of the evil entity that summoned them. These creatures are fast and have a high constitution for an undead monster. Read to find out more about these monsters!
Why Skeleton Is Fun
- Undead monsters are always a fun opponent for clerics and fighter-types: clerics because they have spells that negatively affect undead, and fighters because skeletons are vulnerable to bludgeoning damage.
- Other skeletons include Minotaur Skeletons and Warhorse Skeletons.
Skeleton details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/skeleton
2. Troglodyte
A Troglodyte family reunion would be an interesting and violent one!
Troglodytes are the epitome of nastiness. These filthy foul-smelling creatures ooze evil and think through their stomachs. They will eat anything, including each other, and show no mercy or remorse towards any living creature. Read on to find out why they are considered as one of the top common enemies!
Why Troglodyte Is Fun
- Troglodytes are like vampires in that they have light sensitivity. It would be interesting to battle them in daylight.
- Since they are not highly intelligent creatures, PCs could have a fun time outwitting them.
Troglodyte details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/search?q=Troglodyte
1. Troll
This is not your average internet troll!
Trolls top this list of awesome enemies! The trolls in D&D 5e may or may not be found under a bridge like in the classic tale The Three Billy Goats Gruff. They are strong, dexterous, and difficult to defeat because of their ability to regenerate. Their preferences are anything they can eat and obtaining treasure. Read more to find out why these chaotic evil creatures are fun to battle in adventures!
Why Troll Is Fun
- It would take a stealthy rogue to surprise a troll; they are perceptive, have darkvision up to 60 feet, and have a strong sense of smell.
- Trolls are a challenge to defeat because they can regenerate their limbs.
Troll details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/troll
