Modern Cryptids You Can Homebrew Into D&D Monsters In Your Next Campaign

Summary

• Consider using real-world cryptids to add mystery and excitement to your D&D campaign (especially if it's in a homebrewed setting).
• Customize actual game features traits to enhance encounters with creatures like the Thunderbird or the Chupacabra.
• You can incoporate folklore-inspired beings like Bigfoot or a Wendigo into your narrative in order to create tense and thrilling moments for your players.

There are so many ways to develop a combat encounter in a game of Dungeons & Dragons. You have to keep in mind player level, setting, and, of course, what monsters you want them to fight. While many books made for D&D have plenty of monstrous choices, it never hurts to look at the real world for inspiration.

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Or, well, maybe not the real world so much as the world of the supernatural. Cryptids are the modern folkloric creatures that people talk about today. Whether they're caught on camera, or just whispered about, they can make for quite an addition to your next D&D adventure...or maybe your characters' eyes are just playing tricks on them...

9 Fresno Nightcrawler

A peculiar cryptid, but one that might bring joy and fear in equal amounts to your next game. The Fresno Nightcrawler is a roughly humanoid creature with a pale white body and large black eyes, and not to forget, no arms.

These creatures are often sighted in small groups, which may lead to believe they have some sort of pack mentality. While there are no stories of them being necessarily evil or bad-spirited, it still would be quite a thing for your adventuring party to come across a small group of these in a dark environment.

Possible D&D Game Features

If you want to include Nightcrawlers in your campaign, some features you could give them could be Blindsight (or Darkvision), to help them navigate in the dark, and Pack Tactics, which will give them advantage when they attack in a group.

8 Mothman

A cryptid legend that started in West Virginia and quickly gained popularity to become a pop culture icon. Mothman sightings occurred in the late 60s, but its simplicity as a cryptid has kept it relevant for decades now.

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D&D-wise, you have a pretty open-ended plan when it comes to designing Mothman as a creature and an encounter. There’s the classic version seen in statues and art that’s more humanoid with large wings and glowing eyes, or Fallout 76 had an interesting concept that made Mothman far more insectoid. Is he friend? Is he foe? It’s up to you, but seeing him usually marks a calamity for someone.

Possible D&D Game Features

Traits like Flyby or Nimble Escape will allow you to take advantage of Mothman's flight and mysterious nature. Even that out with a feature like Sunlight Sensitivity and you have a well-balanced encounter to wow your players with.

7 Thunderbird

A crytpid of indigenous North American legend, the Thunderbird is usually depicted as an incredibly large hawk or eagle-shaped bird with the ability to create thunder with each beat of its wings.

Your party could meet it while in the wide open plains, on an airship headed for a different land, or maybe even in the mountains aligned with some local storm giants. Whether a boss or a friendly druidic companion, the Thunderbird would make quite an addition to nearly any adventure.

Possible D&D Game Features

Lightning-Blood traits would be a great option in addition to thunder resistance or even immunity and to be able to dole out thunder damage as well. You may even add magic damage resistance too for an added challenge.

6 The Jersey Devil

A terror of the East coast, the Jersey Devil is one that many will probably heard of but maybe not know the history behind. Supposedly birthed out of a pact with the devil, the Jersey Devil is a creature that resembles a winged goat or sometimes lizard-like creature.

There’s not much known about the Jersey Devil other than the sight and sound of the creature may drive people to madness. Which, could be a cool lair effect or bonus action in D&D. Maybe this is some monster the party must face in the nine hells even? You just may need to get creative with the name.

Possible D&D Game Features

Any sort of traits or abilities that are commonly seen in fiends or devils would be a potentially good fit for the Jersey Devil. That being said, Infernal Despair would be a great trait for the creature, especially in addition to being able to cast spells like Fear.

5 Bigfoot

A classic, Bigfoot pervades society at so many levels even non-fans of cryptids know the legend behind this one. Is he a lycan? A random humanoid? Or maybe even something far darker? Bigfoot is a creature that can fit into so many boxes and settings as well.

No matter the tone, from humorous to horror, Bigfoot is a solid creature addition to any of them. Maybe he has aligned himself with some local druids, or asks your party to complete a quest to help the forest? Either way, make sure you roll high on your Perception checks.

Possible D&D Game Features

You may consider Powerful Build or other giant traits, although this specific one may not have much in the way of combat ability. If you want your players to fight a Bigfoot, then try out Friend Of The Forest or Outsized Strength for some extra punch.

4 Chupacabra

One of the most well-known cryptids to date, the Chupacabra is a creature of the Southern U.S. and Mexico and means “goat sucker” for its penchant for draining livestock of their blood. Which should give you plenty of ideas for a monster encounter.

Whether you use them as a standalone creature or maybe even a part of a vampiric or fiendish encounter, walking up to a village whose livestock has been drained of their blood is sure to get your players interest piqued.

Possible D&D Game Features

Any feature that can be used for vampiric monsters would be a good fit for the Chupacabra. Blood Frenzy and Life Hunger especially so, but consider any mechanic that allows for it to drain life in turn for gaining HP of its own.

3 Yeti

Similar to Bigfoot, the Yeti are a large bipedal humanoid monster often sighted in frozen or mountainous regions.

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Which makes them perfect for arctic adventures. Need to add a little danger to a blizzard? Why not make a Yeti jump out of the snow? Combine it with other creatures like frost giants or some ice mephits and you have quite an encounter ready to go.

Possible D&D Game Features

Any trait or feature that works for Bigfoot would also work for a Yeti. In addition, In Their Element or even Freeze/Partial Freeze would be a perfect fit for this frosty version of the giant creature.

2 The Loveland Frogman

One of the least serious and more odd cryptids on this list, The Loveland Frog is well-named, considering it’s a large humanoid frog creature that has been sighted in Ohio and surrounding areas.

While it may not be the most horrific cryptid you’ve ever seen, it would be a fun addition to a D&D campaign, especially in the courts of the Feywild. In fact, seeing a large frog-man wandering about the court of spring or even summer seems like it would feel right in line with the usual fey oddness.

Possible D&D Game Features

Like any good frog-based creature, you want them to have traits like Standing Leap and even Pounce could make for good ways for them to move throughout their terrain. Some things to consider as well are Amphibious and Poison Skin (like the Grung).

1 Wendigo

Another indigenous North American legend, and perhaps the creepiest one on this list. The Wendigo, or skinwalker, is surely something that no adventuring party wants to run in to, horror campaign or not.

Tall, emaciated, and often shown as having a dear skull for a head; the Wendigo is a creature that hunts and eats humans. Often sighted in wooded areas, they are often said to be able to mimic humans to some extent. Which really makes it a perfect encounter for when you want to scare your players.

Possible D&D Game Features

Shapechanger is an obvious choice for a Wendigo, as well as Sunlight sensitivity being good for them just like it would Mothman. From there you can build the monster like you want. Any ominous features, traits, or spells, whether they be vampiric or soul-sucking, would be a solid choice.

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