The Dungeons & Dragons universe has seen countless creatures over the years, but not all of them have made their way into the 2024 ruleset. Some monsters, despite their deep lore and unique abilities, remain absent from Fifth Edition.

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Whether they hail from forgotten planes, ancient myths, or chaotic battlefields, these creatures could bring fresh challenges and dynamic encounters to modern campaigns. From fearsome lycanthropes to eldritch titans, these monsters deserve a revival. Updating them with the refined mechanics of the 2025 Monster Manual would introduce exciting new threats to adventurers everywhere.

8 Wereshark

Terror Of The Deep

Art by David Auden Nash

Few creatures strike as much fear into the hearts of sailors as the wereshark. A terrifying fusion of human and shark, this lycanthrope is an apex predator of the seas, capable of shifting between humanoid, hybrid, and full shark forms. Unlike traditional werewolves, weresharks thrive in aquatic environments, making them formidable foes in naval or coastal campaigns.

They are often found in pirate fleets, cursed island civilizations, or deep-sea trenches. Their powerful bite, enhanced swimming speed, and keen hunting instincts make them a thrilling addition to any Dungeons & Dragons game that explores the mysteries beneath the waves.

7 Craa'Ghoran Giant

Masters Of The Earth

Art by Wayne England

The Craa’Ghoran giants are a corrupted offshoot of stone giants, infused with elemental energy that allows them to manipulate the surrounding earth. Unlike their peaceful stone giant cousins, these beings are aggressive and territorial, viewing other races as intruders in their sacred lands.

Craa’Ghoran giants can glide through stone as easily as water, launch boulders with devastating force, and reshape terrain to trap enemies. Bringing them into the 2024 ruleset would create opportunities for tactical encounters where the battlefield itself is a weapon wielded by these massive earth-wielders.

6 Ferrous Dragons

Metallic Beasts Of War

Art by Caio Monteiro

Not all dragons fit into the chromatic or metallic categories. Ferrous dragons, such as iron, cobalt, and tungsten dragons, once roamed the lands, each embodying the traits of their respective metals. Unlike traditional dragons, they are often neutral in alignment and highly territorial, making them unpredictable allies or adversaries.

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Their possible breath weapons—such as magnetic waves, rust-inducing gouts, or seismic shockwaves—could easily set them apart from their more well-known kin. Adding ferrous dragons to the 2024 ruleset would introduce an exciting new category of draconic creatures that challenge the assumptions of even the most seasoned adventurers.

5 White Slaad

Agents Of Unpredictable Chaos

Art by Nestor Ossandon Leal

Slaadi are chaotic entities from the plane of Limbo, but among them, the White Slaad is particularly terrifying. These creatures are powerful evolutions of their lesser kin, embodying pure chaos and unpredictability. Unlike their red and blue brethren, White Slaadi wield powerful psionic abilities and can manipulate the very fabric of reality around them.

They are nearly unstoppable forces of destruction, capable of warping their surroundings and summoning unpredictable magical effects. Bringing White Slaadi into the 2024 ruleset would introduce a truly chaotic force, perfect for campaigns that embrace uncertainty and raw, untamed magic.

4 Demodands

Corruptors Of Carceri

Art by Taras Susak

Neither demons, devils, nor yugoloths, the demodands—also known as gehreleths—are the fiendish denizens of Carceri, a plane of despair and treachery. These grotesque creatures serve their dark purposes by spreading corruption and deceit, often taking contracts from desperate mortals who don’t realize the true cost of their bargains.

Demodands come in various forms, from tar-like shapes to shaggy and brutish-looking, each with unique abilities. Their return to D&D would add new layers of intrigue, as their manipulative nature makes them excellent schemers, capable of weaving long-term chaos into any campaign.

3 Eldritch Giant

Masters Of Arcane Arts

Art by Lucio Parrillo

Unlike their more physical kin, eldritch giants dedicate themselves to the pursuit of arcane mastery, carving magical runes into their own skin to enhance their power. These towering spellcasters wield powerful rituals that can warp reality itself, making them some of the most dangerous foes in existence.

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Eldritch giants could serve as ancient scholars, unwilling to share their vast knowledge with lesser beings, or as vengeful sorcerers seeking dominion over the world. By integrating them into the 2024 ruleset, Dungeon Masters could create epic battles where magic itself is a weapon as deadly as any blade.

2 Hecatoncheires

The Hundred-Armed Behemoth

Art by Wayne Reynolds

Straight from myth and legend, the hecatoncheires are colossal entities with a hundred arms and fifty heads, embodying pure destruction. These ancient titans were imprisoned long ago, feared even by the gods themselves, and their release would spell disaster for any civilization.

Capable of striking dozens of times in a single turn and resisting nearly all forms of magical control, the hecatoncheires would make an unforgettable boss encounter. Their presence in the 2024 ruleset would introduce a truly legendary foe for high-level adventurers, one that tests both their combat prowess and strategic planning.

1 Catastrophic Dragons

Forces Of Natural Destruction

Art by Johan Grenier

Unlike their chromatic and metallic cousins, catastrophic dragons embody the raw power of nature’s most devastating disasters. From volcanic dragons that unleash rivers of molten rock to tornado dragons that summon devastating cyclones, these beings leave destruction in their wake wherever they roam.

Unlike traditional dragons, catastrophic dragons are more primal in nature, often lacking the intelligence of their counterparts but making up for it with sheer force. Adding them to the 2024 ruleset would offer Dungeon Masters new, larger-than-life threats that force adventurers to contend with the forces of nature itself, and they could even combine several of these dragons to form an elemental cataclysm.

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Dungeons & Dragons

9.5/10 Original Release Date 1974 Player Count 2+ Age Recommendation 12+ (though younger can play and enjoy) Length per Game From 60 minutes to hours on end. Franchise Name Dungeons & Dragons Publishing Co Wizards of the Coast Brand Dungeons & Dragons Expand Collapse