D&D Monster Spotlight: Grungs & Other Frogs
From run of the mill real world frogs to humanoid frog-esque creatures, Dungeons and Dragons has always pulled inspiration from these humble amphibians.
One of the most charming aspects of Dungeons and Dragons is it’s habit of taking not only well-known creatures from mythology, but mundane animals and adding them into this world of magic and high fantasy while calling them “monsters.” Sometimes there seems to be a one-for-one rendition of the beast in the monster manual with entries such as “crab” and its fearsome +0 to hit, 1 hit point damage claw attack. Other times these monsters have drawn inspiration from real animals but manage to be fantastical and distinct. Frogs are one D&D creature that fall into both of these categories, appearing as tiny creatures, frog-shaped monsters, and humanoid frog-inspired creatures.
Frog
It’s a frog. That’s it. the 5E version of the most mundane variety of frog has one hit point, a speed of thirty feet – ten feet less than most playable creatures in D&D – and “no effective attacks.” Why does the frog exist in Dungeons and Dragons at all? Perhaps for ambiance and world building. Perhaps to ground this otherwise magical world in a setting that’s somewhat recognizable. Perhaps to remind your players that they can derail the entire session to spend a day filling the least favorite NPC’s water skin with tadpoles.
Monstrous Frogs
As early as First Edition, the idea of monster frogs has existed in Dungeons and Dragons with the Giant Frog, the Poisonous Frog, and the Killer Frog, who I can only assume have similar coloring as orcas. Poisonous Frogs are still pretty similar to the amphibians we could find in our real world, secreting poison from their skin as well as a bite that could be fatal to an especially unlucky or weakened adventurer. Killer Frogs on the other hand may remind you of a certain very foul-tempered bunny with talons and teeth and a taste for humanoid flesh. The giant frogs are, you guessed it, pretty big. Ranging from two to six feet long they can leap up to eighteen feet to attack with a sticky tongue they can attack with from three times their body length away.
Grungs
These small humanoid frogs look cute, but are described by Volo as evidence that “the gods hate us.” They live in a caste society where their colors dictate their job and level in Grung society. Red Grungs are scholars while Green Grungs are warriors, Orange Grungs are elite warriors, and so on. They are also naturally poisonous and venomous. They may be small with relatively few hit points when compared to other monsters, but their aggression and tenacity as well as their numbers and organizational skills would still make for a challenging battle.
Have you encountered any frog or frog-like creatures in D&D? Which ones did you meet and how did the encounter pan out for you? Which mundane creature that appears in the Monster Manuals is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
Happy Adventuring!
