D&D: It’s a Bug AND a Feature – Five Great Insectoid Enemies
With a new not-edition around the corner, WotC has a chance to work some bugs out of 5th Edition. But hopefully not these ones.
Bugs are part and parcel of games these days. But some go out of their way to make room for bugs. Especially since the pages of the D&D Monster Manuals throughout the editions have been positively abuzz with insects and insect-like monsters.
These bugs are fully intentional, though. And are some of D&D’s most fun villains.
Kruthik
Kruthiks are the best of both worlds, in that not only are they insects with a hivemind, but they are also reptilians. The bigger ones grow in power, developing chitinous spikes, acidic venom, and some even gain semi-magical abilities. A kruthik hive is a great way to shake up the low-level grind with something that plays well together.
Thri-Kreen
Three-armed bug guys originating in Dark Sun, or at least made popular there. Thri-Kreen are associated with psionics, special weapons designed to be used by three-armed insectoids, and in 3rd Edition, breaking the game wide open. Though they are much toned down in 5th Edition, these bugs still make for excellent foes.
Formians
A D&D blast from D&D’s past, Formians are ant monsters. Not to be confused with Fomorians, which are giants, Formians are a race of ants that are somewhat centaur-like in that they have a vaguely humanoid torso. But it’s an ant on top of an ant, mostly. These monsters use a lot of acid, and have a surprisingly developed caste system with Warriors and Myrmarchs working together to protect Workers and Taskmasters. Some had psionic powers. Some had hands.
Kraul
Introduced to D&D in the Guildmaster’s Guide to Ravnica, the Kraul are an insectoid race that is evil and also have a Hive Mind and Pack Tactics. As they are associated with the Golgari Swarms, they also feed on death, which means they will often eat the bodies of those they kill (sometimes gaining hit points when they fight). They lack magical abilities but still make for coordinated warriors.
Umber Hulk
Finally one of the ultimate classics, the Umber Hulk is a monster that has been around since before the beginning of D&D. First introduced in a bag of random plastic toys, the Umber Hulk has been a D&D mainstay with its confusing gaze and burrowing claws.
So many legs. So little time.
