Creature type (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, creature types are rough categories of creatures which determine the way game mechanics
affect the creature. In the 3rd edition and related games, there are between thirteen and seventeen creature types. Creature type is determined by the designer of a monster, based upon its nature or physical attributes. The choice of type is important, as all creatures which have a given type will share certain characteristics (with some exceptions). In 3rd and 3.5 editions, type determines features such as hit dice, base attack bonus, saving throw
s, and skill points.
Certain magic items and special abilities, such as the ranger
's favored enemy ability (prior to 4th edition) and bane weapons (in 3rd and 3.5 editions) interact with creature type.
, illithid
(mind flayer) and rust monster
. The rules state that all aberrations have darkvision out to 60 feet. As a group, they have no other special abilities or immunities.
Some real world animals are not given the animal type in the game. Examples include humans and presumably related races such as elves and goblins, which are classified as humanoids but not animals. Other examples include arthropods (insects, spiders, etc.) and worms, which the game classifies as "vermin" (see below) and not animals. Mollusks, such as octopuses, are often classified as animals despite their real-world bases being more closely related to vermin type creatures. Creatures deemed inconsequential by DMs or designers are not given any creature type at all, instead being treated as "set dressing" unless a specific game effect targets such non-creatures. Examples include actual-sized spiders, sparrows, fleas, worms, shellfish, and mice. "Swarm" type creatures are occasionally written to represent such otherwise nonthreatening creatures if they were to group together by some force of magic within the game world.
Under the rules of D&D, animal type creatures do not have an Intelligence score higher than 2. When a designer makes a change to an animal creature that increases its Intelligence or grants it additional abilities, the designer is encouraged to also change the creature's type, usually from animal to magical beast.
When real world animals are rendered as vermin (see below) in D&D, they have no Intelligence scores at all.
Most construct are mindless automatons, obeying their creator's commands absolutely. This makes them immune to bribery and absolutely trustworthy, although some take their orders literally and fail to consider their intent. A few constructs, however, such as Inevitables, are as intelligent as living creatures.
As they lack a metabolism or internal organs, constructs are immune to many effects, such as poison, fatigue, exhaustion, disease, ability drain, level drain, death effects and critical hit
s.
Constructs are almost always created by wizards
, sorcerers
or clerics
, though some are created by other character classes or spell-casting monsters. The first step in making a construct, sometimes performed by a non-spellcaster, is building the body; the second is a ritual requiring the casting of specific spells to bind a spirit of some kind (typically an elemental drawn from the Inner Planes) into the body and imbue it motion and special abilities. Most constructs are made of metal, but other materials — including bone and corpses — can be used.
The creation methods for certain constructs are unknown, or might have much more stringent requirements. Warforged, for example, can only be created with the help of specific artifacts, the creation forges.
Golems
are the best-known type of construct.
are native to the elemental planes, however genies are outsiders.
Dryad
: The dryad is a tree-spirit with the form of a beautiful female
humanoid. A dryad who leaves the vicinity of her tree for too long dies.
Grig: A tiny creature with the lower body of a cricket
and the upper body of a miniature humanoid
. Grigs are mischievous and lighthearted, and can play a tune on their fiddle
s that causes other creatures to dance uncontrollably.
Nixie
: A water-spirit with green skin and webbed appendages. It can charm other creatures to become its friends. Nixies are guardians of freshwater pools and streams and are most commonly found alone. They love music and make instruments from reeds on the banks of streams. Occasionally a nixie will lure a human into the water, but they are usually more interested in company rather than drowning a visitor.
Nymph
: A creature of unearthly beauty, with the form of a female humanoid. A creature who sees her may become permanently blind.
Pixie
: A small, winged creature with a knack for pranks and mischief. Pixies can become invisible at will, and carry special arrows that can put victims to sleep or cause amnesia
. They are commonly found in groups of 3 to 5, but sometimes can be found alone. Pixies are particularly known for knotting hair, leading people astray, and pinching skin black and blue.
Satyr
: A hedonistic creature that frolics in the wild places of the world. It has the hind legs of a goat
and horns on its head but otherwise looks human. It can play magical tunes on its pan pipes that cause varying effects of its choice.
Cloud giant: A giant race that believes itself superior to all other giants (save for storm giants). Usually neutral good or neutral evil.
Fire giant: A militaristic giant that looks somewhat like a huge dwarf. Based on Jotun and Surtr
. Usually lawful evil.
Frost giant: A giant who lives in areas frozen year-round and participates in raids. Based on rime (frost) giant. Usually chaotic evil.
Hill giant: A selfish giant inhabiting hilly regions. Usually chaotic evil.
Stone giant: A shy giant that is nevertheless dangerous when aroused to anger. Usually neutral.
Storm giant: A gentle giant that lives mainly on cloud islands. Usually chaotic good.
Verbeeg: A giant humanoid that is usually neutral evil. Verbeeg are typically smarter than most other types of giants, and are often found leading (bullying) hill giants and ogres. They primarily worship the god Karontor.
Other large bipeds, such as trolls
, ogres
and cyclops, also have the giant type.
Dwarves
have a bonus to their armor class against attacks from creatures of the giant type, due to their experience with fighting these oversized foes.
races (humans, dwarves
, elves
, gnomes
, halfling
s, half-elves, half-orc
s) are all humanoids.
Prior to 3rd edition, humanoid referred exclusively to orc
s, goblinoid
s and similar creatures, while more advanced creatures such as Elves and Dwarves were referred to as demihumans and humans were outside of both categories.
and pegasi
. All magical beasts have darkvision out to 60 feet as well as low-light vision; as a group, they have no other special abilities or immunities.
and minotaurs
. All monstrous humanoids have darkvision out to 60 feet; many have supernatural abilities as well.
. Many oozes dwell underground, and most secrete an acid from their skin that dissolves flesh and other materials rapidly. Oozes are essentially blind, but an ability called "blindsight", which allows them to discern nearby objects and creatures without needing to see them, more than compensates for this.
, demons
, devils
and most genies
) have the extraplanar subtype and are native to another Plane
, such one of the Outer Planes or Elemental Planes; the rest (such as aasimar
s, tiefling
s and couatl
s) have the native subtype and are native to the Prime Material Plane
. All outsiders have darkvision out to 60 feet. As a group, they have no other special abilities or immunities.
are mortal creatures whose ancestors were extraplanar creatures such as celestials
, fiends
, or elementals
. Aasimar
(humans with celestial blood), tiefling
s (humans with fiendish blood) and genasi
(humans with elemental blood) are the primary planetouched races. Other examples include tanarukk (orcs descended from demons) and celadrin (elves descended from celestials).
s and vampire
s, have Intelligence scores; others, such as zombie
s, do not. All undead have darkvision out to 60 feet and immunity to mind-affecting effects, poison, sleep effects, paralysis, stunning, disease, death effects, critical hits, nonlethal damage, ability drain, or energy drain. In general, cleric spells that heal other creatures damage undead, and vice-versa. Most undead can be "turned" (destroyed or driven away) by a Paladin
or good Cleric
or "rebuked" (controlled or made to cower in awe) by an evil Cleric.
).
, zombies
and shambling mound
s. Animates generally possess the construct, plant or undead keyword. Intelligent undead and plant creatures generally belong to the humanoid or magical beast type rather than the animate type, and the Warforged are humanoids with the living construct keyword rather than animates.
, hydras
, owlbear
s and purple worm
s, and non-intelligent non-humanoids which do not fit into another category, such as oozes
.
, dryders, giants
, vampires
and warforged.
s, dragons
and treant
s.
s, beholders and illithid
s.
(unrelated to the archons of earlier editions) genies
and the tarrasque
.
s, owlbear
s, cyclopses and treant
s.
, nightmares
, specters and wraiths
.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, creature types are rough categories of creatures which determine the way game mechanics
Game mechanics (Dungeons & Dragons)
Since the 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, game mechanics and die rolls determine much of what happens. These include:* Ability scores, the most basic statistics of a character, which influence all other statistics...
affect the creature. In the 3rd edition and related games, there are between thirteen and seventeen creature types. Creature type is determined by the designer of a monster, based upon its nature or physical attributes. The choice of type is important, as all creatures which have a given type will share certain characteristics (with some exceptions). In 3rd and 3.5 editions, type determines features such as hit dice, base attack bonus, saving throw
Saving throw
In role-playing games, a saving throw is a roll of dice used to determine whether magic, poison, or various other types of attacks are effective against a character or monster....
s, and skill points.
Certain magic items and special abilities, such as the ranger
Ranger (Dungeons & Dragons)
The ranger is one of the standard playable character class in most editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. They are protectors of nature, skilled woodsmen, and often live reclusive lives as hermits....
's favored enemy ability (prior to 4th edition) and bane weapons (in 3rd and 3.5 editions) interact with creature type.
Aberration
An aberration can have a bizarre anatomy, strange abilities, alien mindset, or any combination thereof. Examples include the beholderBeholder
The beholder is a fictional monster in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It resembles a floating orb of flesh with a large mouth, single central eye, and lots of smaller eyestalks on top with deadly magical powers....
, illithid
Illithid
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, illithids are monstrous humanoid aberrations with psionic powers. In a typical Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, they live in the moist caverns and cities of the enormous Underdark...
(mind flayer) and rust monster
Rust monster
A rust monster is a fictional creature from the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game that seeks out and consumes metal, often the armor and weaponry of players' characters...
. The rules state that all aberrations have darkvision out to 60 feet. As a group, they have no other special abilities or immunities.
Animal
The game classifies "Animals" as living, nonhuman vertebrate creatures, with no innate magical abilities or capacity for language or culture. Virtually all animal type monsters are based on real world animals. Creature entries based on mythological, fictional, or nonexistent animals are usually classified as magical beasts (see below). Besides ordinary fish, birds, reptiles and mammals, the animal type is also applied to depictions of dinosaurs, prehistoric animals, and "dire" or specially modified, often larger and scarier, versions of real world animals.Some real world animals are not given the animal type in the game. Examples include humans and presumably related races such as elves and goblins, which are classified as humanoids but not animals. Other examples include arthropods (insects, spiders, etc.) and worms, which the game classifies as "vermin" (see below) and not animals. Mollusks, such as octopuses, are often classified as animals despite their real-world bases being more closely related to vermin type creatures. Creatures deemed inconsequential by DMs or designers are not given any creature type at all, instead being treated as "set dressing" unless a specific game effect targets such non-creatures. Examples include actual-sized spiders, sparrows, fleas, worms, shellfish, and mice. "Swarm" type creatures are occasionally written to represent such otherwise nonthreatening creatures if they were to group together by some force of magic within the game world.
Under the rules of D&D, animal type creatures do not have an Intelligence score higher than 2. When a designer makes a change to an animal creature that increases its Intelligence or grants it additional abilities, the designer is encouraged to also change the creature's type, usually from animal to magical beast.
When real world animals are rendered as vermin (see below) in D&D, they have no Intelligence scores at all.
Beast
In 3rd edition, the beast type was used for nonhistoric and fantastic, but not necessarily magical vertebrates. The beast type was merged into the animal type in 3.5 edition.Construct
A construct is either an animated object of some sort, or an artificially crafted creature.Most construct are mindless automatons, obeying their creator's commands absolutely. This makes them immune to bribery and absolutely trustworthy, although some take their orders literally and fail to consider their intent. A few constructs, however, such as Inevitables, are as intelligent as living creatures.
As they lack a metabolism or internal organs, constructs are immune to many effects, such as poison, fatigue, exhaustion, disease, ability drain, level drain, death effects and critical hit
Critical hit
In many role-playing games and video games, a critical hit is a successful attack that deals more damage than a normal blow.-Origin:The 1975 role-playing game Empire of the Petal Throne introduced the concept of critical hits...
s.
Constructs are almost always created by wizards
Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)
The wizard is one of the standard character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A wizard uses arcane magic, and is considered less effective in melee combat than other classes.-Creative origins:...
, sorcerers
Sorcerer (Dungeons & Dragons)
The sorcerer is a playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A sorcerer is weak in melee combat, but a master of arcane magic, the most generally powerful form of D&D magic. Sorcerers' magical ability is innate rather than studied...
or clerics
Cleric (Dungeons & Dragons)
The cleric is one of the standard playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. In the game, clerics are versatile figures, both capable in combat and skilled in the use of divine magic. Clerics are powerful healers due to the large number of healing and curative...
, though some are created by other character classes or spell-casting monsters. The first step in making a construct, sometimes performed by a non-spellcaster, is building the body; the second is a ritual requiring the casting of specific spells to bind a spirit of some kind (typically an elemental drawn from the Inner Planes) into the body and imbue it motion and special abilities. Most constructs are made of metal, but other materials — including bone and corpses — can be used.
The creation methods for certain constructs are unknown, or might have much more stringent requirements. Warforged, for example, can only be created with the help of specific artifacts, the creation forges.
Golems
Golem (Dungeons & Dragons)
A golem is a type of construct, a magically created monster in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.- Publication history :The Dungeons & Dragons golems are based upon the Golems of Jewish mythology.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
are the best-known type of construct.
Deathless
Deathless are cadavers animated or empowered by Positive energy (whereas Undead are animated or empowered by Negative energy).Dragon
A dragon is a reptile-like creature, usually winged, and tends to have magical or unusual abilities.Elemental
An elemental is composed of one or more of the four classical elementals of air, earth, fire, or water. Elementals almost always have the extraplanar subtype. Most natives of the elemental planes are elementals, however there are some exceptions, for example most types of geniesGenie (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, genies are outsiders composed in part of the element of their native Elemental Planes.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
are native to the elemental planes, however genies are outsiders.
Fey
A fey is a creature which usually has supernatural abilities and a human-shaped form. A fey also usually connected to nature, or some other force or place. Many are based on faeries from mythology. Fey share a common native language called Sylvan. The six fey from the 3.5 Edition Monster Manual are:Dryad
Dryad (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the dryad is a fey creature based upon the dryad of Greek mythology. They are tree spirits with the forms of beautiful women who benevolently protect forests and woodlands...
: The dryad is a tree-spirit with the form of a beautiful female
Female
Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces non-mobile ova .- Defining characteristics :The ova are defined as the larger gametes in a heterogamous reproduction system, while the smaller, usually motile gamete, the spermatozoon, is produced by the male...
humanoid. A dryad who leaves the vicinity of her tree for too long dies.
Grig: A tiny creature with the lower body of a cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and the upper body of a miniature humanoid
Humanoid
A humanoid is something that has an appearance resembling a human being. The term first appeared in 1912 to refer to fossils which were morphologically similar to, but not identical with, those of the human skeleton. Although this usage was common in the sciences for much of the 20th century, it...
. Grigs are mischievous and lighthearted, and can play a tune on their fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
s that causes other creatures to dance uncontrollably.
Nixie
Nixie (Dungeons & Dragons)
A nixie is a fictional creature from the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. They are a form of a Fey water spirit who safeguard freshwater pools and streams, and tend to be reclusive and suspicious.-Publication history:...
: A water-spirit with green skin and webbed appendages. It can charm other creatures to become its friends. Nixies are guardians of freshwater pools and streams and are most commonly found alone. They love music and make instruments from reeds on the banks of streams. Occasionally a nixie will lure a human into the water, but they are usually more interested in company rather than drowning a visitor.
Nymph
Nymph (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the nymph is a Fey. Nature's embodiment of physical beauty, they are so unbearably lovely that even a glimpse can blind or kill onlookers...
: A creature of unearthly beauty, with the form of a female humanoid. A creature who sees her may become permanently blind.
Pixie
Pixie (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the Pixie is a Fey. Based upon the faeries and pixies of myth, they are merry and carefree pranksters who inhabit forests and woodlands.-Publication history:...
: A small, winged creature with a knack for pranks and mischief. Pixies can become invisible at will, and carry special arrows that can put victims to sleep or cause amnesia
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
. They are commonly found in groups of 3 to 5, but sometimes can be found alone. Pixies are particularly known for knotting hair, leading people astray, and pinching skin black and blue.
Satyr
Satyr (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the satyr is a fey creature. Satyrs started as standard D&D creatures, and later became a player character class. Satyrs are the children of a satyr and dryad union, while half-satyrs are the result of a satyr and human woman union. Satyrs are...
: A hedonistic creature that frolics in the wild places of the world. It has the hind legs of a goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
and horns on its head but otherwise looks human. It can play magical tunes on its pan pipes that cause varying effects of its choice.
Giant
A giant is a humanoid-shaped creature of great strength and size. All giants have low-light vision. As a group, they have no other special abilities or immunities. Six core types of true giants exist:Cloud giant: A giant race that believes itself superior to all other giants (save for storm giants). Usually neutral good or neutral evil.
Fire giant: A militaristic giant that looks somewhat like a huge dwarf. Based on Jotun and Surtr
Surtr
In Norse mythology, Surtr or Surt is an eldjötunn. Surtr is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson...
. Usually lawful evil.
Frost giant: A giant who lives in areas frozen year-round and participates in raids. Based on rime (frost) giant. Usually chaotic evil.
Hill giant: A selfish giant inhabiting hilly regions. Usually chaotic evil.
Stone giant: A shy giant that is nevertheless dangerous when aroused to anger. Usually neutral.
Storm giant: A gentle giant that lives mainly on cloud islands. Usually chaotic good.
Giantkin
In the 2nd Edition rules Giantkin was used to refer to Giant humanoids that were not "true" Giants. This designation has been dropped from the 3.x versions of the game but still useful in terms of describing other types of giants.Verbeeg: A giant humanoid that is usually neutral evil. Verbeeg are typically smarter than most other types of giants, and are often found leading (bullying) hill giants and ogres. They primarily worship the god Karontor.
Other large bipeds, such as trolls
Troll (Dungeons & Dragons)
Trolls are fictional monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Dungeon Masters can use them as enemies or allies of the player characters.-Publication history:...
, ogres
Ogre (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, ogres are a lesser race of giants, rather being simply large brutes with clubs. An aquatic subrace of ogres is known as "merrow." D&D ogres are also closely related to the race of ogre magi, a smarter race with blue skin and great magical abilities...
and cyclops, also have the giant type.
Dwarves
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
have a bonus to their armor class against attacks from creatures of the giant type, due to their experience with fighting these oversized foes.
Humanoid
Humanoids are bipeds of Small or Medium size with few or no supernatural or extraordinary abilities. Most humanoids can speak, and usually have well-developed societies. Larger bipeds are giants (see above), and bipeds with more special abilities are fey, monstrous humanoids or outsiders. In 3.0 and 3.5 editions, the Player's HandbookPlayer's Handbook
The Player's Handbook is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons . It does not contain the complete set of rules, but only those for use by players of the game...
races (humans, dwarves
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
, elves
Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...
, gnomes
Gnome (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, gnomes are one of the core races available for play as player characters. Some speculate that they are closely related to dwarves; however, gnomes are more tolerant of other races and of magic, and are skilled with illusions...
, halfling
Halfling
Halfling is another name for J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit which can be a fictional race sometimes found in fantasy novels and games. In many settings, they are similar to humans except about half the size. Dungeons & Dragons began using the name halfling as an alternative to hobbit for legal reasons...
s, half-elves, half-orc
Half-orc
The half-orc is a creature born to mixed orc and human parentage in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The half-orc is a playable race for D&D player characters. Half-orcs are typically born in wild frontiers where human and orc tribes come into contact. Half-orcs are between six and seven...
s) are all humanoids.
Prior to 3rd edition, humanoid referred exclusively to orc
Orc
An orc is one of a race of mythical human-like creatures, generally described as fierce and combative, with grotesque features and often black, grey or greenish skin. This mythology has its origins in the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien....
s, goblinoid
Goblinoid
Goblinoids are a category of humanoid legendary creatures related to the goblin. The term originated in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, in which goblins and related creatures are a staple of random encounters. Goblinoids are typically barbaric foes of the various human and...
s and similar creatures, while more advanced creatures such as Elves and Dwarves were referred to as demihumans and humans were outside of both categories.
Magical beast
A magical beast is similar to an animal in many ways, but usually has a higher intelligence, and possesses supernatural or extraordinary abilities. Examples include manticoresManticore (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the manticore is a large magical beast with the body of a lion, dragon wings, and a somewhat humanoid head...
and pegasi
Pegasus (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, a pegasus is a magical beast based upon the creature of Greek mythology and Roman mythology.-Publication history:The pegasus first appeared in the Dungeons & Dragons "white box" set ....
. All magical beasts have darkvision out to 60 feet as well as low-light vision; as a group, they have no other special abilities or immunities.
Monstrous humanoid
A monstrous humanoid is similar to a humanoid (see above), but usually has monstrous or animalistic features. Examples include harpiesHarpy (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the harpy is a monstrous monstrous humanoid creature with the lower body, legs, and wings of a reptilian creature.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
and minotaurs
Minotaur (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, minotaurs are a race of monstrous humanoids, resembling bull-human hybrids. Many minotaurs worship the demon lord Baphomet.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
. All monstrous humanoids have darkvision out to 60 feet; many have supernatural abilities as well.
Ooze
An ooze is an amorphous or mutable creature without a single solid form. Oozes are usually mindless and homogeneous, and reproduce by simply splitting into two. The most famous ooze is the gelatinous cubeGelatinous cube
A gelatinous cube is a fictional monster from the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It is described as a ten-foot cube of transparent gelatinous ooze, which is able to absorb organic matter.-Creative origins:...
. Many oozes dwell underground, and most secrete an acid from their skin that dissolves flesh and other materials rapidly. Oozes are essentially blind, but an ability called "blindsight", which allows them to discern nearby objects and creatures without needing to see them, more than compensates for this.
Outsider
An outsider is at least partially composed of the essence (if not the material) of a plane other than the Material Plane. Most outsiders (including angelsAngel (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, angels are a type of celestial of any good alignment and hail from any of the Upper Planes. Angels are also known as aasimon...
, demons
Demon (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, demons are the most widespread race of fiends. The demons are chaotic evil by nature, and are native to the Abyss...
, devils
Devil (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, devils are a powerful group of monsters used as a high-level challenge for players of the game. Devils are Lawful Evil in alignment and originate from the Nine Hells of Baator. True to their Lawful Evil alignment, devils are locked in a strict and brutal...
and most genies
Genie (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, genies are outsiders composed in part of the element of their native Elemental Planes.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
) have the extraplanar subtype and are native to another Plane
Plane (Dungeons & Dragons)
The planes of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game constitutes the multiverse in which the game takes place.In the earliest versions of Dungeons & Dragons, the concept of the Inner, Ethereal, Prime Material, Astral and Outer Planes was introduced; at the time there were only four Inner Planes...
, such one of the Outer Planes or Elemental Planes; the rest (such as aasimar
Aasimar
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, aasimar are a fictional race of humanoid creatures who are descended from celestials, angels and other creatures of good alignment...
s, tiefling
Tiefling
Tieflings are a fictional race in the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy tabletop role-playing game.Tieflings were originally introduced as humans with demonic ancestry. A Tiefling is a being whose lineage can be traced back to some degree or another to that of a fiend or demon within the Dungeons &...
s and couatl
Couatl
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the couatl is a large serpentine creature, and in 3rd edition is considered a native outsider.-Publication history:...
s) have the native subtype and are native to the Prime Material Plane
Prime Material Plane
The Prime Material Plane is the central plane of existence in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...
. All outsiders have darkvision out to 60 feet. As a group, they have no other special abilities or immunities.
Planetouched
PlanetouchedPlanetouched
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the planetouched are mortal creatures whose ancestors were extraplanar creatures such as celestials, fiends, or elementals.Planetouched are considered native outsiders.-Publication history:...
are mortal creatures whose ancestors were extraplanar creatures such as celestials
Celestial (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, celestials are a class of creatures and monsters known as outsiders who are of wholly good alignment....
, fiends
Fiend (Dungeons & Dragons)
Fiends is a term used in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game to refer to any malicious otherworldly creatures within the Dungeons & Dragons universe. These include various races of demons and devils that are of an evil alignment and hail from the Lower Planes...
, or elementals
Elemental (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, an elemental is a type of creature. Elemental creatures are composed of one of the four classical elementals of air, earth, fire, or water.-Publication history:...
. Aasimar
Aasimar
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, aasimar are a fictional race of humanoid creatures who are descended from celestials, angels and other creatures of good alignment...
(humans with celestial blood), tiefling
Tiefling
Tieflings are a fictional race in the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy tabletop role-playing game.Tieflings were originally introduced as humans with demonic ancestry. A Tiefling is a being whose lineage can be traced back to some degree or another to that of a fiend or demon within the Dungeons &...
s (humans with fiendish blood) and genasi
Genasi
Genasi are creatures in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:The air genasi, the earth genasi, the fire genasi, and the water genasi first appeared in second edition as player character races for the Planescape setting in the Planewalker's Handbook .The air genasi,...
(humans with elemental blood) are the primary planetouched races. Other examples include tanarukk (orcs descended from demons) and celadrin (elves descended from celestials).
Plant
A plant is a vegetable creature that can perceive and affect the world in some way. Ordinary plants are considered objects rather than creatures.Shapechanger
Shapechanger was a type in 3rd edition. It was converted to a subtype in 3.5 edition.Undead
An undead is a once-living creature animated by spiritual or supernatural forces. Some, such as ghostGhost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
s and vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
s, have Intelligence scores; others, such as zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
s, do not. All undead have darkvision out to 60 feet and immunity to mind-affecting effects, poison, sleep effects, paralysis, stunning, disease, death effects, critical hits, nonlethal damage, ability drain, or energy drain. In general, cleric spells that heal other creatures damage undead, and vice-versa. Most undead can be "turned" (destroyed or driven away) by a Paladin
Paladin (Dungeons & Dragons)
The paladin is one of the standard playable character classes in most editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The paladin is a holy knight, crusading in the name of good and order, and is a divine spellcaster...
or good Cleric
Cleric (Dungeons & Dragons)
The cleric is one of the standard playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. In the game, clerics are versatile figures, both capable in combat and skilled in the use of divine magic. Clerics are powerful healers due to the large number of healing and curative...
or "rebuked" (controlled or made to cower in awe) by an evil Cleric.
Vermin
A vermin can be an insect, arachnid, arthropod, worm, or other invertebrate. Some have magical abilities, and others are giant versions of real insects. Most vermin are considered mindless individually. Since many vermin are too small to model individually, they are often represented as swarms (clusters that act like single creatures and sometimes have hive mindsEusociality
Eusociality is a term used for the highest level of social organization in a hierarchical classification....
).
4th edition types, origins and keywords
In 4th edition, type was split into types and origins. Many subtypes from earlier editions were converted to keywords, as were some types, such as undead and construct.Animate
Animates are magically animated creatures, such as golemsGolem (Dungeons & Dragons)
A golem is a type of construct, a magically created monster in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.- Publication history :The Dungeons & Dragons golems are based upon the Golems of Jewish mythology.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
, zombies
Zombie (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the zombie is an undead creature, usually created by applying a template to another creature.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
and shambling mound
Shambling mound
The shambling mound is a fictional plant-like creature in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. The shambling mound is also called shambler, a name which lends itself to the eponymious magic spell.-Publication history:...
s. Animates generally possess the construct, plant or undead keyword. Intelligent undead and plant creatures generally belong to the humanoid or magical beast type rather than the animate type, and the Warforged are humanoids with the living construct keyword rather than animates.
Beast
The beast type encompasses mundane animals, as well as unintelligent monstrous animals, such as basilisksBasilisk (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the basilisk is a reptilian magical beast that turns creatures to stone by meeting their gaze.-Publication history:...
, hydras
Hydra (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the hydra is a reptilian magical beast that has anywhere from five to twelve heads.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
, owlbear
Owlbear
The owlbear is a type of fictional monster for player characters to encounter in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.An owlbear is depicted as a cross between a bear and an owl, which "hugs" like a bear and attacks with its beak, and was considered a magical beast in the game's third...
s and purple worm
Purple worm
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the purple worm is a magical beast and a classic D&D monster.-Publication history:The purple worm was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
s, and non-intelligent non-humanoids which do not fit into another category, such as oozes
Ooze (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, an ooze is a type of creature. This category includes such monsters as slimes, jellies, deadly puddings, and similar mindless, amorphous blobs...
.
Humanoid
Intelligent living or undead creatures which are at least roughly humanoid generally belong to the humanoid type. Examples include humanHuman (Dungeons & Dragons)
Humans are a race available for player characters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. Although short-lived by comparison, humans are the most populous of all Dungeons & Dragons races. They are renowned for their diversity and ambition, and although they lack specializations like...
, dryders, giants
Giant (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, giant is a type of creature, or "creature type." Giants are humanoid-shaped creatures of great strength and size.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
, vampires
Vampire (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the vampire is an undead creature. A humanoid or monstrous humanoid can become a vampire, and looks as it did in life, with pale skin, haunting red eyes, and a feral cast to its features...
and warforged.
Magical Beast
The magical beast type encompasses intelligent non-humanoid living or undead creatures, such as beholderBeholder
The beholder is a fictional monster in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It resembles a floating orb of flesh with a large mouth, single central eye, and lots of smaller eyestalks on top with deadly magical powers....
s, dragons
Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game , dragons are an iconic type of monstrous creature used as adversaries or, less commonly, allies of player characters...
and treant
Treant
Treants are creatures found in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.Treants are sentient trees with human characteristics. They are typically portrayed as protectors of the forests and antagonists to industrialization and despoiling of nature...
s.
Aberrant
Aberrant creatures are native to or corrupted by the Far Realm. Examples of aberrants include abolethAboleth
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, aboleths are a fictive race of malevolent, eel-like aberrations with potent psionic abilities...
s, beholders and illithid
Illithid
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, illithids are monstrous humanoid aberrations with psionic powers. In a typical Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, they live in the moist caverns and cities of the enormous Underdark...
s.
Elemental
Elemental creatures are native to the Elemental Chaos. Many elementals from earlier editions have been converted to elemental humanoids or elemental magical beasts, as have many demons and yugoloths. Other examples of elementals include archonArchon (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, archons are a type of creature from the Dungeons & Dragons role playing game. In 1st and 2nd edition, they are powerful lawful good creatures from the upper planes, and in 3rd edition they are celestials. These creatures are sent by higher powers...
(unrelated to the archons of earlier editions) genies
Genie (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, genies are outsiders composed in part of the element of their native Elemental Planes.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
and the tarrasque
Tarrasque (Dungeons & Dragons)
The tarrasque is a magical beast in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.Tarrasques are gigantic lizard-like creatures which exist only to eat, kill and destroy. In most campaign settings, only one tarrasque is said to exist on each world. Tarrasques have low intelligence and cannot speak...
.
Fey
Fey creatures are native to the Feywild. Elves, Drow, and Eladrin are considered Fey in 4th Edition, other examples of Fey include displacer beastDisplacer beast
A displacer beast is a fictional creature from the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.-Publication history:The displacer beast was inspired by the coeurl, a feline-like creature from the 1939 science fiction story "Black Destroyer" by A. E...
s, owlbear
Owlbear
The owlbear is a type of fictional monster for player characters to encounter in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.An owlbear is depicted as a cross between a bear and an owl, which "hugs" like a bear and attacks with its beak, and was considered a magical beast in the game's third...
s, cyclopses and treant
Treant
Treants are creatures found in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.Treants are sentient trees with human characteristics. They are typically portrayed as protectors of the forests and antagonists to industrialization and despoiling of nature...
s.
Immortal
Immortal creatures are native to the Astral Sea. Many outsiders from earlier editions have been converted to immortal humanoids or immortal magical beasts. Examples of immortals include.Shadow
Shadow creatures are native to or otherwise connected to the Shadowfell. Examples include ghostsGhost (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the ghost is an undead creature. Like a Dungeons & Dragons vampire, it is achieved by applying a template to a base creature, of the races existing for playability within the canon.-Description:...
, nightmares
Nightmare (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the nightmare is an outsider that comes from the Gray Waste of Hades.-Publication history:The nightmare was introduced to the D&D game in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons....
, specters and wraiths
Wraith (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the wraith is an undead creature.-Dungeons & Dragons :The wraith was one of the first monsters introduced in the earliest edition of the game, in the Dungeons & Dragons "white box" set , where they were described as high-class wights with more...
.