The idea for this post comes from my son Evan, who DMs a weekly game for his friends. He noticed that the gem stalker from Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons has a Protective Link feature that enables the creature to absorb damage meant for another target. The ability means that a challenge rating 5 gem stalker can serve a protective role much like a CR 7 shield guardian. DMs writing adventures with a part for a less-powerful bodyguard could cast a gem stalker in place of a shield guardian. Evan suggested an article listing different creatures, at different power levels, able to fill the same game role.
This led me to think of other monster jobs that a dungeon master could fill for a particular adventure. Many campaigns need masterminds to plot evil schemes, guards to defend hoards, and perhaps assassins to attack when the meddling do-gooders become a nuisance. DMs creating dungeons often need undying foes that can survive a vault for a 1,000 years until foolhardy treasure hunters invade.
These lists come from the Monster Manual and Monsters of the Multiverse and all the categories that I thought would prove useful. But I consider them a work in progress. What other jobs deserve lists? Each monster includes a short list of aspects, including types, terrain, and typical allegiances. For now, I’ve omitted most humanoid type monsters.
Agents
Creatures that carry messages or conduct strikes and other missions for masterminds and other leaders.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 0 | Homunculus (Construct wizard) |
| 1/4 | Pseudodragon (Dragon wizard) |
| 1/2 | Jackalwere (Shapechanger lamia Graz’zt) |
| 1/2 | Magmin (Elemental fire) |
| 1 | Imp (Devil) |
| 1 | Quasit (Demon) |
| 2 | Spined devil (Devil) |
| 3 | Deep Scion (Monstrosity aquatic) |
| 3 | Redcap (Fey hags mages) |
| 3 | Wight (Undead) |
| 4 | Deathlock (Undead warlock) |
| 4 | Succubus/Incubus (Fiend shapechanger) |
| 5 | Banderhobb (Monstrosity hags) |
| 5 | Cambion (Fiend) |
| 5 | Mindwitness (Aberration telepathic) |
| 7 | Draegloth (Demon Lolth) |
| 7 | Oni (Giant) |
| 9 | Hydroloth (Yugoloth aquatic) |
| 10 | Yochlol (Demon Lolth) |
| 12 | Boneclaw (Undead) |
| 12 | Death Knight (Undead) |
| 13 | Devourer (Undead Orcus) |
| 13 | Narzugon (Devil) |
| 17 | Dragon Turtle (Dragon aquatic) |
Ambushers
Creatures that attack from hiding to gain surprise.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 1/2 | Darkmantle (Monstrosity Subterranean Shadowfell) |
| 1/2 | Piercer (Monstrosity Subterranean) |
| 1 | Choker (Aberration) |
| 2 | Ankheg (Monstrosity) |
| 2 | Mimic (Monstrosity) |
| 3 | Cave Fisher (Monstrosity Subterranean) |
| 3 | Grell (Aberration Subterranean) |
| 3 | Trapper (Monstrosity) |
| 5 | Bulette (Monstrosity) |
| 5 | Otyugh (Aberration Garbage) |
| 5 | Roper (Monstrosity Subterranean) |
| 5 | Shambling Mound (Plant Forst Swamp) |
| 11 | Remorhaz (Monstrosity Cold) |
Bodyguards
Protectors of other creatures.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 2 | Shadow Mastiff (Monstrosity) |
| 3 | Displacer Beast (Monstrosity) |
| 4 | Clockwork Stone Defender (Construct) |
| 4 | Flameskull (Undead) |
| 5 | Gem Stalker (Monstrosity Gem Dragon) |
| 5 | Unicorn (Celestial Forest) |
| 7 | Shield Guardian (Construct) |
| 12 | Gray Render (Monstrosity) |
Collectors of secrets and lore
Creatures that find and hoard secrets and magical lore.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 2 | Berbalang (Aberration) |
| 2 | Nothic (Aberration) |
| 4 | Bone Naga (Undead) |
| 8 | Spirit Naga (Monstrosity) |
| 10 | Guardian Naga (Monstrosity) |
| 11 | Gynosphinx (Monstrosity) |
| 17 | Blue Abishai (Devil Tiamat) |
| 17 | Androsphinx (Monstrosity) |
| 17 | Nagpa (Monstrosity) |
| 18 | Sibriex (Demon) |
| 20 | Morkoth (Aberration) |
Commanders
Creatures that lead groups into battle.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 3 | Chordrith (Monstrosity Lolth) |
| 5 | Wraith (Undead) |
| 7 | Mind Flayer (Aberration Illithid) |
| 9 | Flind (Fiend Gnoll) |
| 9 | Drow House Captain (Humanoid Lolth) |
| 12 | Death Knight (Undead) |
| 13 | Nalfeshnee (Demon) |
| 14 | Ice Devil (Devil) |
| 16 | Marilith (Demon) |
| 18 | Aminzu (Devil), |
| 19 | Balor (Demon) |
| 19 | Red Abishai (Devil Tiamat) |
| 20 | Pit Fiend (Devil) |
Controllers
Creatures that support other fighters with tricks or magic.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 1/4 | Kobold Inventer (Dragon) |
| 1/4 | Kobold Scale Sorcerer (Dragon) |
| 1 | Firenewt Warlock Of Imix (Elemental Imix) |
| 5 | Kraken Priest (Monstrosity Aquatic Kraken) |
| 8 | Green Slaad (Aberration) |
| 9 | Gray Slaad (Aberration) |
| 10 | Death Slaad (Aberration) |
| 12 | Arcanaloth (Yugoloth) |
| 12 | Oinoloth (Yugoloth) |
| 15 | Skull Lord (Undead) |
Enforcers
Brutish thugs and enforcers for masterminds and other leaders.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 6 | Chasme (Demon) |
| 7 | Elemental Myrmidons (Elemental) |
| 8 | Chain Devil (Devil) |
| 9 | Bone Devil (Devil) |
| 14 | Cadaver Collector (Construct) |
Friends, guides, and patrons
Creatures likely to help or guide adventurers.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 1/8 | Flumph (Aberration Underdark) |
| 1/4 | Pixie (Fey Forest) |
| 1/4 | Sprite (Fey Forest) |
| 2 | Centaur (Monstrosity) |
| 2 | Pegasus (Celestial) |
| 3 | Dolphin Delighter (Fey Aquatic) |
| 4 | Couatl (Celestial) |
| 5 | Unicorn (Celestial Forest) |
| 5 | Werebear (Shapechanger Forest) |
| 9 | Treant (Plant Forest) |
| 10 | Deva (Celestial) |
| 10 | Guardian Naga (Monstrosity) |
| 10 | Stone Giant Dreamwalker (Giant) |
| 11 | Gynosphinx (Monstrosity) |
| 12 | Ki-Rin (Celestial) |
| 16 | Planetar (Celestial) |
| 17 | Androsphinx (Monstrosity) |
| 21 | Solar (Celestial) |
| 23 | Empyrean (Celestial) |
Guards
Protectors of treasure or locations.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 0 | Shrieker (Plant Underdark) |
| 1/4 | Flying Sword (Construct) |
| 1/4 | Skeleton (Undead) |
| 1/4 | Zombie (Undead) |
| 1 | Animated Armor (Construct) |
| 1 | Scarecrow (Construct) |
| 1 | Stone Cursed (Construct) |
| 2 | Gargoyle (Elemental) |
| 2 | Guard Drake (Dragon) |
| 2 | Rug Of Smothering (Construct) |
| 2 | Shadow Mastiff (Monstrosity) |
| 3 | Basilisk (Monstrosity) |
| 3 | Displacer Beast (Monstrosity) |
| 3 | Hell Hound (Fiend Fire) |
| 3 | Owlbear (Monstrosity) |
| 3 | Spectator (Aberration) |
| 3 | Water Wierd (Elemental) |
| 3 | Wight (Undead) |
| 4 | Chuul (Aberration Aquatic) |
| 4 | Clockwork Iron Cobra (Construct) |
| 4 | Flameskull (Undead) |
| 4 | Girallon (Monstrosity) |
| 4 | Helmed Horror (Construct) |
| 5 | Barbed Devil (Devil) |
| 5+ | Golem (Construct) |
| 5 | Clockwork Oaken Bolter (Construct) |
| 6 | Galub Duhr (Elemental) |
| 8 | Canoloth (Yugoloth) |
| 10 | Guardian Naga (Monstrosity) |
| 10 | Yochlol (Demon Lolth) |
| 11 | Gynosphinx (Monstrosity) |
| 12 | Eidolon (Undead) |
| 16 | Stone Giant Quintessent (Giant) |
| 17 | Androsphinx (Monstrosity) |
| 18 | Demilich (Undead Tomb) |
Haunts and corruptions
Creatures that bring chaos or corruption to locations and people.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 1/8 | Boggle (Fey) |
| 1/2 | Skulk (Monstosity Shadowfell) |
| 4 | Dybbuk (Demon) |
| 4 | Succubus/Incubus (Fiend Shapechanger) |
| 5 | Allip (Undead) |
| 7 | Bheur Hag (Fey) |
| 6 | Annis Hag (Fey) |
| 9 | Glabrezu (Demon) |
| 11 | Alkilith (Demon) |
| 11 | Balhannoth (Abberation) |
| 13 | Wastrilith (Demon Aquatic) |
Impersonators
Creatures that can disguise to infiltrate.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 3 | Doppelganger (Monstrosity) |
| 4 | Succubus/Incubus (Fiend Shapechanger) |
| 7 | Maurezhi (Demon Gnoll) |
| 7 | Oni (Giant) |
| 8 | Green Slaad (Aberration) |
| 9 | Gray Slaad (Aberration) |
| 10 | Death Slaad (Aberration) |
| 10 | Yochlol (Demon Lolth) |
| 13 | Rakshasa (Fiend) |
| 15 | Green Abishai (Devil Tiamat) |
Masterminds and arch-villians
Creatures that lead and plot, often while avoiding direct action.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 2 | Sea Hag (Fey Aquatic) |
| 4 | Deathlock Mastermind (Undead Warlock) |
| 4 | Lamia (Monstrosity Desert Graz’Zt) |
| 5 | Night Hag (Fiend Planes) |
| 7 | Mind Flayer (Aberration Illithid) |
| 7 | Oni (Giant) |
| 8 | Spirit Naga (Monstrosity) |
| 10 | Aboleth (Aberration) |
| 10 | Alhoon (Aberration Illithid Wizard) |
| 10 | Death Slaad (Aberration) |
| 11 | Genie (Elemental) |
| 12 | Death Knight (Undead) |
| 13 | Beholder (Aberration) |
| 13 | Rakshasa (Fiend) |
| 13 | Vampire (Undead) |
| 13 | Ultoloth (Yugoloth) |
| 14 | Death Tyrant (Undead) |
| 14 | Elder Brain (Aberration Illithid) |
| 15 | Mummy Lord (Undead Tomb) |
| 15 | Skull Lord (Undead) |
| 17 | Nagpa (Monstrosity) |
| 18 | Sibriex (Demon) |
| 19 | Balor (Demon) |
| 20 | Pit Fiend (Devil) |
| 21 | Lich (Undead Wizard) |
| 23 | Empyrean (Celestial) |
| 23 | Kraken (Monstrosity) |
| V | Dracolich (Undead Wizard) |
| V | Dragon (Dragon) |
Mounts
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hippogriff (Monstrosity) |
| 1 | Steeder (Monstrosity) |
| 2 | Griffon (Monstrosity Cliffs) |
| 2 | Pegasus (Celestial) |
| 3 | Nightmare (Fiend) |
| 6 | Wyvern (Dragon) |
| 11 | Roc (Monstrosity Mountain) |
Protectors of nature
Creatures that defend natural places.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 1/4 | Sprite (Fey Forest) |
| 1 | Dryad (Fey Forest) |
| 5 | Unicorn (Celestial Forest) |
| 5 | Wood Woad (Plant Forest) |
| 9 | Treant (Plant Forest) |
Soldiers
Creatures who follow orders to fight in number.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 1/4 | Skeleton (Undead) |
| 1/2 | Chitine (Monstrosity Loth) |
| 1/2 | Nupperibo (Devil) |
| 1/4 | Zombie (Undead) |
| 1 | Firenewt Warrior (Elemental Imix) |
| 1 | Sea Spawn (Monstrosity Aquatic) |
| 3 | Bearded Devil (Devil) |
| 3 | Bulezau (Demon) |
| 3 | Wight (Undead) |
| 4 | Merregon (Devil) |
| 5 | Barlgura (Demon) |
| 5 | Mezzoloth (Yugoloth) |
| 5 | Red Slaad (Aberration) |
| 5 | Salamander (Elemental Fire Efreet) |
| 5 | Tanarukk (Demon) |
| 6 | White Abishai (Devil Tiamat) |
| 7 | Armanite (Demon) |
| 7 | Blue Slaad (Aberration) |
| 7 | Dhergoloth (Yugoloth) |
| 8 | Hezrou (Demon) |
| 8 | Howler (Fiend) |
| 11 | Horned Devil (Devil) |
| 14 | Fire Giant Dreadnought (Giant) |
| V | Giant (Giant) |
Spies and assassins
Creatures that spy or assassinate using stealth.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 0 | Cranium Rat (Aberration Illithid) |
| 0 | Homunculus (Construct) |
| 1/4 | Pseudodragon (Dragon Wizard) |
| 1/2 | Darkling (Fey) |
| 1 | Clockwork Bronze Scout (Construct) |
| 1 | Imp (Devil) |
| 1 | Quasit (Demon) |
| 2 | Darkling Elder (Fey) |
| 5 | Cambion (Fiend) |
| 5 | Oblex Adult (Ooze Illithid) |
| 7 | Black Abishai (Devil Tiamat) |
| 10 | Oblex Elder (Ooze Illithid) |
Support soldiers
Creatures that typically augment other troops.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 1 | Half-Ogre (Giant) |
| 2 | Ogre (Giant) |
| 2 | Ogre Bolt Launcher (Giant) |
| 2 | Ogre Howday (Giant) |
| 2 | Ogre Zombie (Undead) |
| 3 | Hell Hound (Fiend Fire) |
| 3 | Manticore (Monstrosity) |
| 3 | Ogre Chain Brute (Giant) |
| 4 | Ogre Battering Ram (Giant) |
| 5 | Troll (Giant) |
| 8 | Shoosuva (Demon) |
| 9 | Nycaloth (Yugoloth) |
| 11 | Horned Devil (Devil) |
| 12 | Erinyes (Devil) |
| 17 | Goristro (Demon) |
Stalkers
Creatures that seek targets for termination.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 3 | Slithering Tracker (Ooze) |
| 4 | Yeth Hound (Fey) |
| 5 | Revenant (Undead) |
| 6 | Chasme (Demon) |
| 6 | Invisible Stalker (Elemental) |
| 8 | Canoloth (Yugoloth) |
| 10 | Orthon (Devil) |
| 14 | Retriever (Construct Lolth) |
| 16 | Steel Predator (Construct) |
Story creatures
Creatures that work better as story elements than as combat foes.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 1/2 | Gas Spore (Plant) |
| 2 | Nothic (Aberration) |
| 4 | Ghost (Undead) |
| 25 | Marut (Construct Inevitable) |
Threats, subterranean
Dangers that lair underground.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 1/4 | Grimlock (Humanoid Illithid) |
| 1/2 | Gray Ooze (Ooze) |
| 2 | Quaggoth (Humanoid Lolth) |
| 3 | Hook Horror (Monstrosity) |
| 4 | Black Pudding (Ooze) |
| 5 | Umber Hulk (Monstrosity) |
Threats, undying
Creatures that can perpetually survive in a location until disturbed
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 1/4 | Mephit (Elemental) |
| 1/4 | Skeleton (Undead) |
| 1/2 | Shadow (Undead) |
| 1 | Specter (Undead) |
| 2 | Gibbering Mouther (Aberration) |
| 2 | Will-O’-Wisp (Undead Desolation) |
| 3 | Deathlock Wight (Undead Warlock) |
| 3 | Mummy (Undead Tomb) |
| 4 | Banshee (Undead) |
| 4 | Shadow Demon (Demon) |
| 5 | Spawn Of Kyuss (Undead Aquatic) |
| 5 | Wraith (Undead) |
| 6 | Medusa (Monstrosity Ruins) |
| 8 | Sword Wraith Warrior (Undead) |
| 6 | Bodak (Undead Orcus) |
| 8 | Sword Wraith Commander (Undead) |
| 14 | Cadaver Collector (Construct) |
Threats, urban
Creatures typically met in cities.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 2 | Wererat (Shapechanger) |
Threats, wandering or hunting
Creatures that roam, often seeking to slake their hunger.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 1/2 | Jackalwere (Shapechanger Lamia Graz’Zt) |
| 1/2 | Rust Monster (Monstrosity Subterranean) |
| 1 | Ghoul (Undead) |
| 1 | Meazel (Monstrosity) |
| 1 | Vargouille (Fiend) |
| 2 | Carrion Crawler (Monstrosity) |
| 2 | Gelatinous Cube (Ooze Subterranean) |
| 2 | Intellect Devourer (Aberration Subterranean Illithid) |
| 2 | Ochre Jelly (Ooze Subterranean) |
| 2 | Ogre (Giant) |
| 2 | Meenlock (Fey) |
| 2 | Merrow (Monstrosity Shore Aquatic) |
| 2 | Rutterkin (Demon Abyss) |
| 3 | Displacer Beast (Monstrosity) |
| 3 | Flail Snail (Elemental) |
| 3 | Vampiric Mist (Undead) |
| 3 | Yeti (Monstrosity Cold) |
| 5 | Xorn (Elemental Subterranean) |
| 5 | Tlincalli (Monstrosity Desert) |
| 6 | Drider (Monstrosity Underdark Spider) |
| 6 | Vrock (Demon) |
| 8 | Cloaker (Aberration Subterranean) |
| 8 | Hydra (Monstrosity Shore Aquatic) |
| 9 | Abominable Yeti (Monstrosity Cold) |
| 10 | Death Kiss (Aberration) |
| 11 | Roc (Monstrosity Mountain) |
| 13 | Devourer (Undead Orcus) |
| 13 | Neothelid (Aberration Subterranean) |
| 15 | Nabassu (Demon) |
| 15 | Purple Worm (Monstrosity Subterranean Mountain) |
| 17 | Dragon Turtle (Dragon Aquatic) |
| 20 | Leviathan (Elemental Aquatic) |
| 20 | Nightwalker (Undead) |
Threats, wild
Dangers that appear in wild places often in or near a lair.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 1/8 | Stirge (Beast) |
| 1/2 | Cockatrice (Monstrosity) |
| 1 | Harpy (Monstrosity Cliffs) |
| 1 | Hippogriff (Monstrosity) |
| 2 | Ettercap (Monstrosity Spider) |
| 2 | Giffon (Monstrosity Cliffs) |
| 2 | Merrow (Monstrosity Shore Aquatic) |
| 2 | Peryton (Monstrosity Mountain) |
| 3 | Basilisk (Monstrosity) |
| 3 | Manticore (Monstrosity Pack) |
| 3 | Owlbear (Monstrosity) |
| 3 | Werewolf (Shapechanger Pack) |
| 4 | Wereboar (Shapechanger Orc) |
| 4 | Ettin (Giant Solo) |
| 4 | Girallon (Monstrosity) |
| 4 | Weretiger (Shapechanger Jungle) |
| 5 | Catoblepas (Monstrosity Swamp) |
| 5 | Gorgon (Monstrosity) |
| 5 | Troll (Giant) |
| 6 | Chimera (Monstrosity) |
| 6 | Wyvern (Dragon) |
| 8 | Corpse Flower (Plant) |
| 9 | Frost Salamander (Elemental Cold) |
| 10 | Froghemoth (Monstrosity Swamp) |
| 11 | Behir (Monstrosity) |
| 11 | Remorhaz (Monstrosity Cold) |
Creatures that cause cataclysms
Creatures that cause unnatural disasters.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 16 | Phoenix (Elemental) |
| 23 | Elder Tempest (Elemental) |
| 23 | Kraken (Monstrosity) |
| 30 | Tarrasque (Monstrosity) |
Tricksters and troublemakers
Creatures that favor mischief over battle.
| CR | Creature |
|---|---|
| 1/8 | Boggle (Fey) |
| 1/4 | Pixie (Fey Forest) |
| 1/4 | Mephit (Elemental) |
| 1/2 | Satyr (Fey) |
| 1 | Quickling (Fey) |
| 1+ | Faerie Dragon (Dragon) |
| 2 | Will-O’-Wisp (Undead Desolation) |
Holy crap, this is a fantastic idea and a fantastically useful list! Thanks.
This is neat – also, kind of helpful when thinking about what additional monsters might need for seeing where the gaps are. The urban monster list is interestingly short, and it’s interesting how protectors of nature tend to be very woodland-focused which may mean there are gaps for other biomes. Though I guess some things could appear on more lists than they do (I sort of think of Otyughs as almost an urban monster, but that might just be the sewers of Athkatla and Baldur’s Gate talking).
What an incredibly useful list — I love how you’ve broken down the categories too. Definitely adding this to my “DM resources” bookmark folder!
Really awesome.
I have some books that help me out: the Villains and Monster Codex from Pathfinder 1, and specially the 13th Age Bestiaries. They are organized not by mere alphabetical order, but thinking in plot devices or themes.
You made me think of something similar for spells. I am a DM with a TERRIBLE memory regarding lists, and spells are the worst for me. What I always wanted was a new way of getting to know them, and you give this idea.
The concept of utility spells may trigger for some traumatized 4e players… But it would be indeed good to organize spells by their purpose, specially spells that are really useful outside combat. Something like:
# Spells that improve skills
# Spells that manipulate characters
# Spells useful for travelers
Etc.
If only the writers of this game stopped writing pretending their rules are like magic cards, and start describing design notes, suggestions for DM, intentions and cautions…
Keep up the good work, and long as you enjoy!
Ah! Another point!
Remember in 3rd edition, when they usually create tables with the list of spells or feats, with a one sentence quickly explaining them?
I’s buy something like this on DM’s Guild. If anyone knows about it, please contact me on my Twitter @4ventos
Thank you for this! It will be a nice complement to my collected data on monster tactics.
This is great (as usual), thanks for this helpful cheat sheet!
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Fanfreakingtastic! Thanks.
I would love to see this in a print-friendly format that I could add to my DM’s Binder. Any chance of getting something like that?
This is going in my bookmarks! Thanks a lot for coming up with it!
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This is a really great list and a really great idea. I might copy it and go through my other monster books too. (Mainly Creature Codex and Tome of Beasts).
One thing I would add is the book and page number where a monster can be found. This to make things easier to look up. (I usually write it like MM 128 in my own notes)