D&D: Challenge Your Party With These Five Unusual Low-Level Monsters
Want to shake things up the next time you start an adventure? Reach for one of these five unusual D&D low level monsters.
The Monster Manual is full of low-level monsters. The majority of creatures within its pages are on the lower end of the power spectrum. Why do we keep seeing the same old low-level monsters then? Shake things up with some of these lesser-known low-level monsters. Here are five of our favorite low-level monsters in D&D. They might only be CR 1/2, but they’re worth twice the fun in our hearts.
Dust Mephit
Dust Mephits are a great foe for low-level encounters for a few good reasons. First of all, they’re surprisingly resilient for little imp guys. With an average of 17 hit points, they can take a good three or four hits. Also, they can fly.
This means they can swoop in from unexpected angles. Because in spite of all of this, they actually want to be up close and personal. Sure, they can cast sleep once per day, but they also have a cone of dust that will blind targets. Other than that they have claws that hit hard enough to be noticeable but not so bad that you’ll accidentally kill a level 1 wizard.
Kraul Warrior
Kraul were introduced in Guildmaster’s Guide to Ravnica. These insectoids are great as either individual warriors or as a pack. A single Kraul Warrior has 17 AC and 27 hit points on average. On top of that, they hit pretty hard with their spears.
Combo that with Darkvision and Spider Climb and top it with a dash of Pack Tactics, and you’ve got a great foe that keeps on giving.
Even higher-level characters will need to spend some resources to defeat these foes.
Tridrone
You know what’s great? Modrons. And at CR 1/2, a Tridrone is three times the fun. These upside-down d4 robots can hit surprisingly hard with a multi-attack that lets them make three attacks. They also have Truesight and can only speak Modron. But if you can somehow befriend one, what a pal.
Worg
Worgs are great. They aren’t encountered often enough. These are often depicted as mounts for goblins – and that’s a fantastic way to make goblins hit a little harder.
Worgs are tough and fast. With a speed of 50 ft, they’ll outpace PCs on foot. Plus they have a devastating bite attack that can potentially knock foes prone for their goblin riders to take advantage of.
Warhorse Skeleton
Speaking of mounts. Do you need a mount for your evil necromancer? Or an undead knight? Why not try a Warhorse Skeleton? They can even be encountered on their own or as part of a cadre of the undead. These unusual foes are fast and deal a surprising amount of damage.
Plus they make any encounter absolutely metal.
What are your favorite CR 1/2 monsters that don’t see a lot of spotlight?
