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The next phase of D&D is coming in February 2025, and the Monster Manual is the last piece of the puzzle to drop. 

While the Player’s Handbook and Dungeon Master’s Guide are out this year, this delayed release has given Wizards of the Coast more time to work on what might be the biggest update to the Monster Manual ever.

But what is the biggest update to the Monster Manual, and what should you be on the lookout for in this new release? Let’s look at the latest rumors swirling around about the 2025 Monster Manual and what we might be expecting from Wizards of the Coast.

Rumors Are It’s A Monsterpalooza

The 2025 Monster Manual is going big with over 500 monsters, up from the previous edition’s 300. This isn’t just about quantity, though. The new manual promises:

  • Monsters from various 5e sourcebooks
  • New monsters never before seen in D&D
  • Monster families to create thematic connections between related creatures
  • More high-CR monsters for veteran parties

This means more variety and depth for dungeon masters to work with. No more relying on the same old monster types. This new manual will bring a fresh challenge to veteran players while spicing up the gameplay experience. 

Rebalanced Challenge Ratings

One of the most significant changes that may be coming in the 2025 Monster Manual is a long-due one. Rumors are that the new manual is set to finally fix a long-standing 5e problem: Challenge Ratings (CR). 

Lead designer Jeremy Crawford has said in interview that the CR Calculation Guide in the DMG is wrong and doesn’t match the internal CR calculation method. This has left manys struggling to accurately gauge the difficulty of encounters and balance them accordingly.

The new manual will fix this with:

  • New CR calculations that reflect actual combat difficulty
  • More CR 10+ monsters
  • Creature abilities to match player character power levels
  • Balanced legendary and lair actions

Better Monster Design

Naturally, with a new manual comes new monster designs. The Ancient Green Dragon preview at GenCon showed us the new design philosophy behind the updates and how they are set to create more immersive and complex encounters. 

While the main ideas are still in speculation, some key changes included could be:

  • More damage to match player power
  • More tactical options for complex encounters
  • Integration with the new 2024 Player’s Handbook rules
  • Better legendary and lair actions

This means that the monsters in the new manual will have a higher Challenge Rating (CR) that accurately reflects their actual combat difficulty. This is great news for both players and dungeon masters, as it means that encounters will be more balanced and challenging.

More Lore and Ecology

The new Manual isn’t just about numbers. Each monster entry will have new sections for lore, ecology, and behavior. This will add a deeper level of immersion to encounters and help DMs create more dynamic creatures.

  • Ecological information
  • Lair descriptions
  • Cultural and societal info for intelligent creatures
  • Adventure hooks and encounter ideas
  • Relationships with other monsters and factions

Visual and Technical Changes

The GenCon reveal also gave insight into what may be coming as far as visual and technical updates. The book itself is getting a visual and technical upgrade, with all new art (no AI, following WotC’s recent policy. It’s also been designed with players in mind – offering easier reference during play and better organization for indexing and cross-referencing on the fly.

When Is The 2025 Monster Manual Being Released?

With these changes, the 2025 Monster Manual is more than just an update – it’s a complete rework of how monsters work in D&D. And our team is excited to explore the new additions and updates with you!

Release Details:

  • February 18, 2025
  • February 4, 2025 (Digital Early Access)
  • $49.99 (Physical) / $29.99 (Digital)

Get early access to these monsters on Roll20. Our platform will be updated to support all the new features and changes so you can play with them in your virtual games first!

Roll20 Is Ready for The New Monster Manual

Ready to bring these monsters to life for your players? Roll20 is staying up on the latest announcements and updates and will be ready to help you bring these monsters to your campaign the moment the new manual hits the shelves.

  • Stat blocks auto-populated for quick reference
  • Token art for all new monsters
  • Scaling tools to adjust monster difficulty
  • Built-in dice rolling for monster abilities
  • Lair actions and legendary abilities at your fingertips

Pre-order the 2025 Monster Manual on Roll20 now and get early access to these monsters when they go live. Our tools make running even the most complex monsters easy and intuitive so you can focus on creating awesome encounters for your players.

Join us online and learn more about the latest releases for the 2024 D&D player handbook – as well as news and updates about the upcoming 2025 Monster Manual. 

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