D&D: Five Monsters That Could Lurk in Every Shadow
In D&D the shadows should never be a safe place. And with these five monsters lurking in the shadows, they won’t be!
In D&D, shadow monsters loom out of the darkness ready to strike fear in the hearts of adventurers. But what makes a good lurker? Is it the ability to strike quickly? To strike from hiding? Or is it something else entirely?
Whether they’re actual literal shadow monsters, or just really good at assassinating, these five D&D “shadow monsters” are a good reminder to fear the shadows.
Dolgaunt
We don’t even have to get into what this monster does to realize it’s better off in the darkness where you can’t see it. Nevertheless, Dolgaunts make great D&D “shadow monsters” because they can see in absolute and magical darkness. They have blindsight out to 120 ft. and have grappling tentacles that can pull targets into the shadows where the dolgaunt can drain them of vitality and bludgeon them to death.
Fun!
Shadow
It wouldn’t be a list of D&D shadow monsters without the actual literal D&D shadow monster, the Shadow.
These undead might only be CR 1/2, but they remain deadly even to high-level characters for one reason in particular. Any creature they hit with an attack has their strength score reduced by 1d4, no save.
So Shadows make it harder and harder to hit and damage them as the fight goes on. They’re also resistant to a wide variety of damage.
As a result, they can quickly drain your strength to 0, and when that happens? You die immediately and become a new shadow 1d4 hours later.
Yuan-Ti Nightmare Speaker
A magical pact with Dendar, the Night Serpent, makes Yuan-ti Nightmare speakers perfect D&D shadow monsters. They can see in magical darkness, and on top of that, they can use fear and darkness as a weapon to attack their enemies.
Your greatest fear might come to life when you face one of these. And what’s more, they bring their own magical darkness with them. It’s a one-stop D&D shadow monster shop.
Ice Spider
It’s like a giant spider, but this one also deals cold damage. Sure it hangs out in regions of icy darkness, but that just makes it even worse. It’s cold in the shadows where these monsters live.
Shadow Horror
Finally, we have one of the newer Shadow Monsters on the block. The Shadow Horror has a pile of hit points and can step from shadow to shadow, hiding any time they’re in darkness or dim light. Then they’ll strike you with their claws, which cause fear and bite you.
Oh, and they will turn the shadows against you, to the tune of 6d8 points of necrotic damage.
