The 10 Scariest Monsters in Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Let’s creatures lurking in the shadows can be as diverse as terrifying. Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse brings some of the most spine-chilling and fearsome monsters to the forefront, each with its unique blend of horror and danger. Buckle up as we journey through the ten scariest monsters this compendium has to offer, ranked from the scary to the downright nasty.

10. Frost Salamander

Imagine you’re trudging through an arctic wasteland, the air so cold it burns your lungs. Suddenly, a tremor runs through the ice beneath your feet. From the swirling snow emerges the frost salamander, a six-legged titan with scales that shimmer like frozen steel. Its breath is a weaponized blizzard, capable of turning flesh to ice in the blink of an eye. This beast isn’t just a predator; it’s the embodiment of the tundra’s fury. The frost salamander’s ferocity is matched only by its territoriality, making it a relentless defender of its frozen domain. The very environment around it becomes a deadly ally, transforming the cold from an inconvenience into a lethal adversary. Battling a frost salamander isn’t just a test of strength—it’s a race against the elements, where every second spent in its icy lair brings you closer to becoming a permanent part of the landscape.

9. Death Kiss

Picture this: you’re in a dark, cavernous space, and suddenly you feel something watching you. A single, malevolent red eye glows in the shadows, followed by a swarm of tentacles tipped with blood-draining mouths. This is the death kiss, a vampiric horror derived from the beholder. Unlike its eye-tyrant kin, the death kiss doesn’t disintegrate or petrify; it drains the very lifeblood from its victims. Each tentacle latches onto its prey, sucking out their life force and leaving them pale and lifeless. The terror of the death kiss lies in its predatory stealth and its method of feeding, which is as gruesome as it is deadly. The sight of those needle-like mouths approaching in the dark is enough to paralyze even the bravest adventurer with fear. The death kiss isn’t just hunting for food; it’s seeking to extinguish the vitality of anything unfortunate enough to cross its path.

8. Mindwitness

Take the eerie presence of a beholder and infuse it with the psionic terror of a mind flayer, and you get the mindwitness. This floating monstrosity combines the worst traits of both creatures, making it a master of mental domination and psychic attacks. The mindwitness’s many eyes aren’t just for show; each can unleash a devastating psychic blast that can incapacitate, control, or outright destroy. It’s not just the physical danger that makes the mindwitness terrifying—it’s the psychological warfare. This creature invades your mind, bending your will to its own twisted desires. The thought of losing control over your thoughts and actions to this abomination is horrifying. In battle, the mindwitness uses its psionics to turn allies against each other, creating chaos and confusion. Its mere presence can induce panic, making it a formidable foe that preys on both the body and the mind.

7. Bodak

A bodak is a tragic embodiment of pure evil, a soul twisted by dark magic into a wraith-like monstrosity. Its most terrifying feature is its hollow, lifeless eyes that emit a deadly gaze capable of killing with a single look. Imagine standing face to face with a creature that can end your existence without lifting a finger. Bodaks wander the world as harbingers of death, serving powerful necromancers or dark lords, and leaving trails of lifeless victims in their wake. Their presence is an omen, a sign that greater evil is on the horizon. The bodak’s silence and relentless pursuit add to its dread, as it silently stalks its prey with unerring precision. Facing a bodak means confronting death incarnate—a spectral figure that embodies the finality of mortality, always lurking, always watching, ready to extinguish life with a mere glance.

6. Yuan-ti Anathema

Yuan-ti anathemas are the apex of serpent-like malevolence, gods among their kind. These multi-headed horrors command both fear and worship from lesser yuan-ti. Each head hisses deadly spells while their coiled bodies can crush the life out of any opponent. Imagine standing before a creature that combines the lethal grace of a serpent with the arcane power of a high mage. In battle, an anathema is a whirlwind of scales and magic, anticipating and countering every move with terrifying efficiency. These beings don’t just fight; they manipulate, using their cunning to outwit and outmaneuver their enemies. The yuan-ti anathema represents the zenith of yuan-ti power and cruelty, embodying their dark ambitions and insidious intelligence. Confronting an anathema is like battling a god, a test of will and strength against a creature that views you as nothing more than a pawn in its grand designs.

5. Nightwalker

Emerging from the Negative Plane, nightwalkers are towering undead that radiate pure destruction. These colossal figures, over 20 feet tall, draw life energy from everything around them, leaving only desolation in their wake. The nightwalker’s touch is death, draining vitality and reducing living beings to lifeless husks. Imagine a being so imbued with negative energy that its mere presence extinguishes life. They are drawn to areas teeming with life, seeking to obliterate all they encounter. Their advance is unstoppable, a slow, inevitable march that brings doom to all in their path. Nightwalkers are the embodiment of annihilation, their presence turning vibrant lands into barren wastelands. Facing a nightwalker is to confront the end itself, an inexorable force that snuffs out life with cold, uncaring finality. The sheer power and inevitability of a nightwalker make it a terrifying opponent, a living testament to the destructive power of the Negative Plane.

4. Neothelid

Neothelids are gargantuan, worm-like aberrations born from the remnants of illithid colonies. These creatures, over 100 feet long, embody primal horror and insatiable hunger. Picture a massive worm with an acidic breath capable of melting flesh and bone in seconds. Neothelids are relentless hunters, using their powerful psionics to track and devastate their prey. The terror of a neothelid lies not just in its size, but in its origins—the twisted remnants of a failed illithid empire, driven by a singular purpose: to consume. Encountering a neothelid is like facing a force of nature, a creature that represents the collapse of a once-great civilization now reduced to a monstrous hunger. Its sheer physical might combined with its psionic abilities make it a nightmare on the battlefield, an overwhelming presence that few can stand against. The neothelid’s relentless pursuit and devastating power make it a truly horrifying foe.

3. Sibriex

Sibriexes are demonic beings of corruption, floating masses of flesh and eyes that ooze filth and decay. These creatures revel in spreading their influence, warping the bodies and minds of those they touch. Imagine a creature that can turn the strongest heroes into grotesque abominations with a single touch. The sibriex’s aura of corruption spreads a miasma of decay, weakening and sickening all who come near. The sight of a sibriex is enough to induce terror, as it’s many eyes and grotesque form twist the very fabric of reality around it. Their ability to inflict mutations is not just physical—it’s psychological, turning allies into horrors and sowing fear and despair. A sibriex doesn’t just kill; it transforms, warping the world into a reflection of its own twisted nature. Facing a sibriex means confronting the very essence of corruption, a battle against an entity that embodies decay and madness.

2. Astral Dreadnought

The astral dreadnought is a colossal terror from the Astral Plane, a behemoth whose presence turns any astral journey into a fight for survival. This creature, over 30 feet long, can swallow giants whole with its massive maw and crush anything in its path with its enormous pincers. But its most terrifying feature is its antimagic eye, which nullifies all magic within its gaze. Imagine your party’s spells rendered useless as this unstoppable behemoth charges. The astral dreadnought’s size and power make it a living nightmare, an embodiment of brute force that few can withstand. It’s not just a monster; it’s a living disaster, a force that brings ruin to everything it encounters. The astral dreadnought’s relentless advance and ability to negate magic turn any encounter into a desperate struggle for survival against an overwhelming force. It represents the ultimate in physical and magical terror, a creature that brings destruction on a massive scale.

1. Demogorgon

The Demogorgon, Prince of Demons, stands at the pinnacle of terror. This two-headed fiend embodies chaos and destruction, with each head possessing its own distinct personality and deadly abilities. Its tentacle arms rot flesh with a mere touch, and its very presence can drive creatures mad. Imagine facing a creature that seeks to annihilate everything in its path, a living apocalypse with no equal. The demogorgon’s power is unparalleled, its unpredictability making it a terrifying opponent. Each head can cast powerful spells and unleash devastating attacks, turning the battlefield into a scene of utter chaos. The sight of the Demogorgon, with its constantly arguing heads and malevolent gaze, is enough to break the spirit of even the most seasoned adventurers. Battling the Demogorgon is like facing an unstoppable force of nature, a harbinger of doom that seeks to consume all in its path. The Demogorgon isn’t just a monster; it’s the embodiment of chaos, a nightmare given form that brings ruin and madness wherever it goes.

Braving the multiverse of Dungeons & Dragons means confronting horrors that test the limits of courage and sanity. Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse delivers on its promise of spine-chilling encounters with creatures that push adventurers to their breaking points. From the icy fury of the frost salamander to the mind-warping terror of the Demogorgon, each monster in this compendium brings a unique blend of physical and psychological horror. Each one transforms the battlefield into a theater of dread, where every decision and action could be your last. Whether you’re a seasoned Dungeon Master looking to challenge your players or an intrepid adventurer seeking the ultimate test, these monsters promise encounters that will be remembered long after the dice have stopped rolling. As you close the book and prepare for your next campaign, remember: in the multiverse, terror lurks around every corner, waiting to turn your greatest triumphs into your darkest nightmares. Happy adventuring, and may your wits be as sharp as your swords.

Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse is now available at your Local Game Shop!

If you can’t find one at your LGS, pick it up on Amazon. Also available digitally on D&D Beyond.

Just because Harvey writes about D&D doesn’t mean he knows what he’s talking about. Most of his good ideas end up as silly songs he sings for his kids once before being lost forever. Whatever’s left, well, ends up here!