Since its inception back in the 1970s, Dungeons and Dragons (DND) has continued to enthrall worldwide audiences and players with its narrative quest storylines and immersive world. Thanks to TV shows like StrangerThings,D&D is now more popular and accessible than ever as plenty of new players and dungeon masters delve into the material. With the 6th edition currently in the works and due for a release, players can only wait with bated breath to see what new changes and fixes are on the horizon.
The world of D&D features multiple settings, quests, and opportunities to roleplay. Fans of horror can also appreciate the amount of terrifying and horrific creatures that are present within the core world of D&D. The universe pays homage to several genres of horror including cosmic horror (Lovecraftian), and body horror, whilst retaining classic tropes. Throughout various campaigns, players can encounter entire menageries of terrifying beasts and supernatural entities that will haunt their dreams long after the die has been cast.
6 Aboleths
Large leviathans that lurk in water and sometimes on land, Aboleths are lawful evil aberrations that remind players of the terrifying Lovecraftian creatures that condemn one to madness. Able to telepathically probe sentient creatures and enslave any who spend too much time with them, the Aboleths are exceptionally dangerous creatures to come up against.
Aboleths are also large, powerful creatures with glowing red eyes that can secrete a poisonous mucus that will impair and infect unfortunate victims. It’s no wonder players unfortunate enough to encounter these creatures, will often attempt to escape first and engage as a last resort.
5 The Bagman
Reminiscent of a bogeyman and essentially D&D’s take on Slender Man, the Bagman is a creature that appears out of an essential tool of any adventuring party, the bag of holding (not to be confused with the bag of devouring). It is said that the entity will unveil itself and materialize out from any bag of holding when parties are at their most vulnerable.
Legends say that the Bagman was once an adventurer who abandoned their allies in great peril, seeking refuge in their bag of holding. In their cowardice and shame, the Bagman became a pitiful and decrepit creature who thirsts for companionship and company by dragging unsuspecting travelers into the bag of holding itself, only to vanish completely.
The Bagman became a huge hit amongst avid D&D players for its chilling appearance and mysterious behavior, making traveling adventurers wary of such a potential encounter.
4 Boneless
Imagine a lumbering or floating sack of skin inching ever closer to a potential victim. Whilst most people may not flinch at the mention of a skeleton or zombie, the Boneless illicit an unsettling feeling in many of the D&D community. Fumbling and struggling to find a source of life, these hovering meat sacks are the result of unholy magic, serving under a dark master of the arts.
The Boneless are thought to be victims who encountered a violent and painful death (via flaying or having been crushed to death). Though slow and clumsy, these entities smell pretty bad and can slip through most openings, which may mean that any attempt to escape these creatures in tight spaces is impossible.
3 Oblex
Introduced in the 5th edition, Oblexes are intelligent sacs of ooze created by the Mind Flayers that feed on and yearn for the memories of other creatures. These oozes have the terrifying ability to use the memories of those they have consumed to fashion replicas of their former victims. These replicas would be a perfect copy of their original hosts and be used to lure in other hapless prey to the Oblex.
Only the most astute of adventurers will be able to identify an Oblex trap - via a faint smell of sulfur or by the fact that the replica is tethered to the main Oblex body. Though not a particularly powerful creature, the Oblex is a terrifying creature not only in its appearance but in its deceptive ability to ensnare victims.
2 Sibriex
Speaking of terrifying oozes, the Sibriex is a demon from the Abyss capable of warping and manipulating flesh on itself and is thought to be the result of unholy experiments of demons known as the Tanar’ri. The creature is horrible in every aspect from its decaying body that spews out rotting blood and bile to its deformed head that is held to the ground with rusted chains.
Those unfortunate or brave to come into contact with the Sibriex will be overwhelmed by its toxic aura and stench. However, that's not all. The Sibriex has eldritch and mystical abilities that can invade a person’s mind, draining their mental strength and morale. Creatures unable to withstand the Sibriex’s mind assault can succumb to its power and be morphed into abyssal wretches, deformed fleshy monstrosities.
1 Mind Flayer
As 1 of the most iconic creatures in the entire D&D universe, these devious Cthulu-looking entities are perhaps unsurpassable in evil and intelligence. The D&D lore and world are littered with the evil exhibited by the Mind Flayers, as they have enslaved and brought ruin to countless worlds in past ages.
Mind Flayers are particularly known to inflict many maladies of the mind and deal an insane amount of damage to even the most worthy of heroes. Responsible for creating the fearsome Oblexes and other terrifying horrors, the Mind Flayers will stop at nothing to ensure that their nefarious designs are carried out. Featured extensively in Baldur’s Gate 3 and showcased (sort of) in Stranger Things, these devious creatures have made their mark not only in the D&D franchise but in modern media.