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The Monster Manual is a core sourcebook for the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.

This book provides a complete alphabetical listing of all "monsters" encountered in the various works which comprise the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game system. It is an invaluable aid to players and Dungeon Masters alike!
— First edition, 1977
"this is the original source used by Dungeon Masters and players to create challenges and combat scenarios" Within the covers of this book lurk the monsters that made the AD&D® game famous. Elves, dwarves, dragons, orcs, ghosts, and werewolves come to life as you read their detailed descriptions. In fact, each individual listing has all the necessary information to perform special attacks, defenses and magical resistance. No adventurer can be without it!
— "Orange Spine" edition, 1983

Description[]

Monster Manual was the first hardcover book for any D&D game and the first of the core manuals published for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. The Monster Manual was a supplement to the game, intended to describe the standard monsters used in AD&D. The book was a compendium of more than 350 monsters. Some monsters were new—others were compiled and revised from older sources such as Monsters and Treasure, Greyhawk, Blackmoor, Eldritch Wizardry, The Strategic Review and Dragon magazine. Each monster was listed alphabetically with a comprehensive description and full statistics and was, in many cases, supported by an illustration. It included topless portrayals of some of its female monsters, such as the succubus, Type V demons, lamia, and sylph. It was also the first appearance of the mimic.

The cover of the original printing was illustrated by David C. Sutherland III. A softcover version of the Monster Manual was printed in the United Kingdom by Games Workshop in 1978. When the book was reprinted in 1985 it featured new cover art by Jeff Easley. The book remained relatively unchanged throughout its fifteen printings up to 1989. Minor changes during the print run included a cover art change to match a new logo and house style, and some minor corrections introduced in the 1978 printings.

Index[]

Click here for page index

Characters[]

AsmodeusBaalzebulBahamutDemogorgonDispaterGeryonJuiblexOrcusTiamatYeenoghu

Creatures[]

Aerial servantAir elementalAndrosphinxAnhkhegAntelopeAnt, giantAntrodemusApatosaurusApeApe, carnivorousAquatic elfArchelon ischyrasAxe beakBaboonBadgerBalorBaluchitheriumBarbed devilBarracudaBasiliskBearBeaver, giantBeetle, giant (bombardier beetle, boring beetle, fire beetle, rhinoceros beetle, stag beetle, water beetle)BeholderBlack dragonBlack puddingBlink dogBlue dragonBoarBoar, giantBone devilBrachiosaurusBrain moleBrass dragonBronze dragonBrownieBrown moldBuffaloBugbearBuletteBullCamarasaurusCamel,wildCarrion crawlerCatoblepasCattleCentaurCeratosaurusCetiosaurusCentipede, giantCerebral parasiteChimeraClay golemCloud giantCockatriceCopper dragonCouatlCrab, giantCrayfish, giantCriosphinxCrocodileCrocodile, giantDinichthysDiplodocusDisplacer beastDjinniDogDolphinDopplegangerDragonneDragon turtleDrowDryadDwarfEagle, giantEar seekerEarth elementalEelEel, giantEfreetiElasmosaurusElectric eelElephantElfErinyesEttinEye, floatingEye of the deepFire elementalFire giantFlesh golem • Flightless bird (Emu, Ostrich, Rhea)Frog, giant (Killer frog, Poisonous frog)Frost giantFungi, violetGar, giantGargoyleGas sporeGelatinous cubeGhastGhostGhoulGiraffeGlabrezuGnollGnomeGoat, giantGoblinGold dragonGorgonGorgosaurusGray oozeGreen dragonGreen slimeGrey elfGriffonGroaning spiritGuardian nagaGynosphinxHalf-elfHalf-orcHalflingHarpyHell houndHezrouHieracosphinxHill giantHippocampusHippogriffHippopotamusHobgoblinHomonculousHorned devilHorseHuge spiderHydra (Lernaean, Pyro)HyenaHyena, giantIce devilIguanadonImpIntellect devourerInvisible stalkerIrish deerIron golemIxitxachitlJackalJackalwereJaguarKi-rinKoboldLambeosaurusLamiaLammasuLampreyLamprey, giantLarge spiderLarvaLeech, giantLemureLeopardLeprechaunLeucrottaLichLionLizard, giant (Fire lizard, Minotaur lizard, Subterranean lizard)Lizard manLocathahLurker aboveLynx, giantMammothManManeManta rayManticoreMarilithMasherMastodonMedusaMegalodonMegalosaurusMermanMimicMind flayerMinotaurMonocloniusMorkothMosasaurusMountain lionMuleMummyMusk oxNalfeshneeNeo-otyughNight hagNightmareNixieNymphOchre jellyOctopus, giantOgreOgre mageOrcOsyluthOtyughOtter, giantOwlbearOwl, giantPaleoscincusPegasusPentaceratopsPerytonPhase spiderPiercerPike, giantPit fiendPixiePlateosaurusPlesiosaurusPorcupine, giantPortuguese man-o-war, giantPseudo-dragonPteranodonPungi rayPurple worm (Mottled)QuasitRakshasaRam, giantRat, giantRed dragonReindeerRemorhazRhinocerosRocRoperRot grubRust monsterSabre-tooth tigerSahuaginSalamanderSatyrScorpion, giantSea hagSea horse, giantSea lionShadowShambling moundSharkSheduShriekerSilver dragonSkeletonSkunk, giantSlithering trackerSlug, giantsnake, giant (Amphisbaena, Constrictor snake, Sea snake, Spitting snake)SpectreSpider, giantSpirit nagaSpotted lionSpriteSquid, giantStagStag, giantStegosaurusSting rayStirgeStrangle weedStone giantStone golemStorm giantStout HalflingStyracosaurusSuccubusSu-monsterSylphTallfellow halflingTeratosaurusThought eaterTick, giantTigerTitanTitanothereToad, giant (Ice toad, Poisonous toad)TrapperTreantTriceratopsTritonTroglodyteTrollTurtle, sea, giantTurtle, snapping, giantTyrannosaurus RexUmber hulkUnicornVampireVrockWasp, giantWater elementalWater, giant, spiderWater nagaWater weirdWeasel, giantWeed eelWerebearWereboarWereratWeretigerWerewolfWhaleWhite dragonWightWill-o'-wispWind walkerWolfWolf, direWolf, winterWolverineWood elfWooly rhinocerosWorgWraithWyvernXornYellow moldYetiZombie

NPC Classes
BanditBerserkerBuccaneerCavemanDervishMerchantPilgrimPirate

Miscellaneous[]

Armor & Clothing
leather armorscale armortrousers

Gallery[]

Appendix[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 1. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Tome of Treasures - 1st edition Monster Manual. Archived from the original on 2018-05-09. Retrieved on 2018-05-09.

Connections[]


Core Sourcebooks
5th edition
Player's HandbookDungeon Master's GuideMonster Manual
4th edition
Player's HandbookDungeon Master's GuideMonster Manual
v.3.5
Player's HandbookDungeon Master's GuideMonster Manual
3rd edition
Player's HandbookDungeon Master's GuideMonster Manual
2nd edition
Player's HandbookPlayer's Handbook (revised)Dungeon Master's GuideDungeon Master Guide (revised)Monstrous Manual
1st edition
Player's HandbookDungeon Masters GuideMonster Manual
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