OpenTube

Reviewing the New 2025 Monster Manual

Dungeon Dudes

95,648 views

We take a deeper look through the new monster manual and discuss what we like and what we don't like. This video is SPONSORED by World Anvil. Use the code DUNGEONDUDES for 51% off yearly subscriptions : https://www.worldanvil.com/?c=dungeon

TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Intro
00:28 - Sponsor
01:53 - First Impressions
04:44 - Monster Stat Block Refinements
11:18 - Monster Variety
17:27 - Legendary Monsters
18:45 - Resistances
21:50 - Low CR Monsters
23:16 - High CR Monsters
27:01 - Encounter Building Suggestion
28:55 - Gripes
33:41 - Monster Creation
37:29 - Final Thoughts

____________________________
Purchase our adventures and player options for D&D 5e here:
https://ghostfiregaming.com/dungeons-...

MONSTERS OF DRAKKENHEIM is 300+ pages of eldritch horror inspired monsters for 5e by the Dungeon Dudes. Coming to Kickstarter March 26th: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...

Join our Patreon community:
Patreon: dungeon_dudes

Get our custom t-shirts:
http://bit.ly/dungeondudesmerch

20 Comments

@BonusReaction 1 year ago

"Take any Bandit or Pirate. They have skeletons too, just take their flesh off and they're good to go" is my favourite Dungeon Dudes quote ever.

@PJRZ1 1 year ago (edited)

I felt the same about the loss of lair actions, but noticed that the lair’s environmental effects, which used to be mostly fluff, now have mechanical effects. Effects that can be pretty rough on a party trying to even get close to the lair!

@saldiven2009 1 year ago

One of the advantages, historically, of having monster types like Dragon or Demon being put into one section is that all the universal rules and traits that apply to everything in the class are in one place right next to all the monsters of that type.

@javahikage 1 year ago

23:47 this literally happened to my party. My DM used a reflavored Lich as the BBEG and by turn 2 our Foresight-boosted Paladin nuked it out of existence with a Lv5 Smite Crit 😂 our poor DM told us later that he had to improvise the rest of the fight for it to make sense to not die instantly.

@quillogist2875 1 year ago

They simlified monster creation for new DMs. They basically said to reflavor amonster that has the traits, abs gave some guidance on how to do it. It's not as detailed as the 2014 5e rules, it is adequate for most of us who just need a quick monster. I'm a very experienced dm, and I never used the monster creation in the 2014 5e dmg. On the other hand, my son really liked them. Different crunch for different groups.

@petec9467 1 year ago

Monty's face when Kelly got his maths wrong and he drew breath to correct him then probably thought nope, don't want to reshoot this.

@GabbyJFS_02 1 year ago

We came across a couple assassins earlier in my current campaign, and we dispatched them fairly easily. Last session, DM used the new stat block. My fighter got downed in one single hit, nearly killing me outright. An epic fight ensued. I’ve never DM’ed before, but so far, as a player, I love it

@Ronnieo2127 1 year ago

Great video guys! Big fan by the way! Long time youtube watcher first time commenter, I know, and I am sorry.

I agree with you both regarding the grouping of the monsters. I do like the alphabetical approach because it was easier to remember the monster name instead of what category it belonged to. In fact most of the time I only knew the name and was mistaken on the kind of monster it is. I do not know about the hard copy but the PDF(DND BEYOND) does have grouping by habitat and by type as well. So it is a tool that is still available.

@andrewprice8820 1 year ago

For new monsters the arch hag I think is quite fun. In my head I already envisioned a level 20 party fighting Baba Yaga, with her familiar as an ancient black dragon, her hut as a a Haunting Revenant, and some more side baddies as final boss battle in her swampy demiplane.

@EpicRandomness555 1 year ago

9:25 What I like about this is now you can also have the Rend be a horn attack or a wing attack that was a legendary action. The dragon can do literally anything.

@HLR4th 1 year ago

Very helpful video; thanks for confirming the “…non-magical weapon” absence/change. The damage resistances that do persist will make weapon choices meaningful, which in the context of weapon masteries, now has mechanical consequences.

@shredderrrrrrrr 1 year ago

"Take their flesh off and you're good to go" is one of the funniest phrases I've heard in a while LOL

@mikecarson7769 1 year ago

14:14 - good advice about re-skinning or de0skinning your monsters

@blarghonk9360 1 year ago (edited)

You guys are awesome!!! I'm part of a group of brand new players, and have never gotten to play, just DM, but you guys have helped me figure all of this out. Also you both have turned all of my group into lifers.

@kamerongunnell9107 1 year ago

I completely understand both sides of the argument they're presenting on lore vs number of statblocks- that's where I see myself going back to the 2014 Monster Manual and Volvo's Guide to pick more at the lore there. They also mentioned the artwork, which will definitely give DM's a mental picture to work with when describing the monsters mannerisms, habits, strengths, weaknesses, etc. Honestly, I'm excited to work with a book that gives my monsters more openness to interpretation for me- but I'll miss lore dumps!!!!

@Toaster_Weevil 1 year ago

I generally agree with the benefits of removing the magical vs non-magical weapon damage, though I am sad about what it’s done to lycanthropes. They’re now just bipedal beasts with no immunities or even resistances.

@DoingMyBest_Steph 1 year ago

Hey Dudes! Thanks for the thoughtful review. I appreciate your recognition of the importance of audience. Also, your positioning of yourself as one type of audience. Doing this provides a more nuanced, and therefore, broadly applicable review of material. Awesome as always. ❤

@AndyReichert0 1 year ago

wotc was very clear that they were intentionally not changing any of the monster CRs in order to make sure that adventure modules stayed backwards compatible.

@mooduck101 1 year ago

27:35 this is the first positive thing I’ve heard about 4th edition ever

@taliesinllanfair4338 1 year ago

I think your point about lore is a good one. I loved the lore section in Volo's Guide to Monsters. If you're using a beholder you don't just want it in some random room. All the lore about their jealousy greed and their lairs helps to build a better encounter with this iconic monster. Loved your vid on beholders too.