Van Richten’s Guide To Ravenloft offers a fresh take on the horror domains of dread while providing a slew of new and terrifying monsters.
Ravenloft encompasses a seemingly infinite amount of horror domains. Infesting each of these realms are horrifying and dangerous monsters that will strike fear into players. Most classic horror monsters can be found across most other source materials, such as Volo’s Guide To Monsters.
Van Richten’s Guide To Ravenloft, though, provides a new slew of familiar horror monsters and some new ideas for DMs to use in their campaigns. While the book provides a strong in-depth guide on creating horror monsters, the guide provides a decently sized list of pre-generated monsters to use. Some of them are phenomenal additions to D&D.
10 The Boneless: Because Zombies Were not Scary Enough
The Boneless is an ingenious concept. It is a Zombie, just with no skeleton. It is just a husk of flesh and skin that can stealthy infiltrate any place by squeezing itself through and space 1 inch wide.
Another horrifying factor of this monster is the main grapple attack that wraps itself around the affected creature. That creature is now blinded and suffocating unless it frees itself from a strength check. Talk about a death grip.
9 The Nosferatu: Just An All-Around Terrifying And More Feral Version Of A Vampire
This monster is reminiscent of a German expressionist film of the same name. The monster is stated very similar to a vampire in 5E. The Differences lie that the Nosferatu cannot shape change. However, it has the blood disgorge ability where the Nosferatu vomits blood on their opponents, preventing the ability to be healed for 1 minute.
This is an excellent monster to throw at players as it provides that vampire-like battle but having it be more of a monster-like experience. The Nosferatu is meant to be this feral-like creature that would make an excellent introduction to the domains of dread.
8 The Carrionette: Got To Have Some Creepy Dolls In The Horror Book
If Pinocchio were evil, this would be his stat block. This monster is a lost soul trapped in the body of a toy. It can be any toy that fits the campaign. However, the monster takes on sinister, child-like personalities, which is horrifying.
The Carrionette also has a cursed weapon that, if hit by this attack, the target is cursed with less movement and must subtract 1d4 from their ability rolls. On top of this, the Carrionette can then swap bodies with the cursed target if they fail the charisma save. Truly scary
7 The Bodytaker Plant: Invasion Of The Body Snatchers In D&D
There are not many monsters in D&D that are planted, so it is refreshing to see this monster that embodies the alien plant trope in horror fiction. The Bodytaker plant is somewhat self-explanatory in that it is a massive plant that grabs a creature. If the creature dies, the plant produces a replica of the creature called a podling.
This monster could make an excellent BBEG and unraveling the mystery of where a plant is a true mastermind. Quite the horrifying experience to unravel in a D&D game.
6 The Necrichor: The Blood Of An Evil Being Always Finds A Way To Live
This is a unique monster in the roster. It is essentially just a vial of blood that contains the essence of an undead being. Often the Necrichor goal is to claim a new body of its own. It is a legendary creature with some minor pseudopod attacks.
What makes this monster terrifying, though, is its ability to attach to a creature of some kind and begin to control them telepathically. The Necrichor can jump from creature to creature to defend itself, making it hard to kill.
5 The Zombie Clot: What is Worse The A Bunch Of Zombies? A Bunch Of Zombies Forming Into A Giant Zombie
The Zombie Clot is the amalgamation of hunters of other Zombies all forming into this massive form. The Zombie Clout has a Deathly Stentch that can hurt creatures standing near it along with the undead properties. It Also can lob chunks of undead flesh that can entomb creatures.
This is a great Sub-Boss Monster to throw at players. Undead makes it hard to kill. It is massive to intimidate players. It is scary to think of being entombed by this massive being of undeath.
4 The Jiangshi: A Frightening Undead Creature That Is Often Referred To As The Hopping Vampire
The Jiangshi is an undead creature inspired by Chinese folklore. It is a relentless creature that drains the life of any creatures the Jiangshi can get its hands on. The Jiangshi can use their consume energy feature that drains targets. However, Jiangshi can increase its HP, Movement and gain a hover speed after using this.
Another factoid about the Jiangshi is that it is often portrayed as the undead body still bing in rigor mortis, so the Jiangshi movements are rigid and stiff. Imagining this monster running towards you at an unnatural gait would be terrifying.
3 The Dullahan: The New And Improved Headless Horsemen To Instill Fear Into Players
The Dullahan is the D&D version of the headless horseman. It was either a wicked knight or commander that has been resurrected as a headless spirit. The only monster in the book has Mytich actions that allow it to control flying heads to lob at other creatures.
This is another monster that could fit in the BBEG category. For high-level adventures, this would be a perfect mini-boss to the final one. The abilities of mythic actions, legendary actions, and a frightful presence make this monster a force to be reckoned with.
2 The Unspeakable Horror: A Lovecraftian Horroresque Monster To Traumatuize Players
Not sure if this can be talked about. In any case, this monster is one of the more varied monsters on the list. This monster varies depending on what the GM wants to go with. It has abilities ranging from an ability to squeeze into any space to blasting necrotic energy around it.
This is designed to be used to create any The Thing-like creature that can be used as either the main boos to a Lovecraftian horror adventure or a series of enemies to throw at players in a nightmare realm.
1 Vampiric Mind Flayer- An Iconic Monster That Has Become A New Terrifying Version
Mind Flayers have been a part of D&D Pop culture since its early editions. They are the formidable alien slaver race that all serve the elder brain that dictates their actions. These monsters result from a dying elder brain that created these Vampirc Mind Flayers to drain cerebral fluid from other creatures to give top the Elder Brain to stall its inevitable demise.
These Mind Flayers gain a spider climb ability, have an alternative psionic blast, and their drink sapience ability allows them to drain a target and force them to gain a level of exhaustion. This is an excellent revamp of an original monster and provides a new feral version of the mind flayer.
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