THE Dungeons and Dragons the franchise has a huge list of monsters that players can encounter along their journey. From mischievous little devils to gigantic terrifying beholders, there's a wide variety of beasts to fight for anyone brave enough to get close to them. However, for any dungeon master looking to utilize some creative homebrew content to change things up in terms of these combat encounters, there is a source full of various unique monsters they can take inspiration from.
THE Pokemon franchise currently has more than a thousand monsters to pick up and collect. While many of these creatures are designed to be very cute, there are others whose abilities make them quite frightening. While there are so many options to choose from, there are some very specific ones Pokémon that DMs can use as inspiration for their campaigns that will certainly attract the interest of your players.
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Magmortar from generation 4 games
A large and imposing long-range Magmin
Magmortar is an incredibly strong fourth-generation Fire-type Pokémon that can pose a huge threat on the battlefield. It is mainly known for shoot huge fireballs from his arms, with each of them capable of reaching temperatures of over 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that this Pokémon is capable of melting most metal objects from a great distance with just a single shot, making them very dangerous to encounter in the wild.
Given the fact that Magmortar are known for live in the craters of active volcanoesDMs can take this information and use it to transform Magmortar into a unique variation of magmins. These beings made of magma roam the elemental plane of fire, setting things on fire wherever possible. Dungeon masters can take this opportunity to use Magmortar to create a unique type of magmin that is capable of utilizing ranged attacks instead of melee to add more variety to combat encounters.
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Gimmighoul has a perfect equivalent in D&D
A mime-like creature
Mimics are one of the most iconic monsters that can be found in Dungeons and Dragonsand there are many reasons why Gimmighoul is a great variation on the iconic monster. Just like real mimes, Gimmighoul takes the form of an unassuming treasure chest and is capable of drain the life force of anyone who steals your treasure. Unlike Mimics, however, Gimmighoul is actually able to leave his own treasure chest to hunt for coins, potentially providing players with an adorable treasure hunting companion or a devious creature trying to trick them into taking their gold.
In addition to this disguise, Gimmighoul has a variety of powers that can catch players off guard during combat. It has several long-range attacks, such as Power Gem and Shadow Ball, which can be difficult to deal with if not prepared. Additionally, Gimmighoul can also confuse opponents and also make a lot of shields to protect himself, thus giving players a potential unexpected challenge if they were simply hoping to find treasure.
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6th generation Aurorus and Tyrantrum
An opportunity to add unique dinosaurs
Although many newcomers D&D may not be aware, dinosaurs exist in Monster Manual. These giant beasts are said to be some of the oldest reptiles in the world, and there are a wide variety of them that can be found in D&D, including carnivores and herbivores. There are many different creatures in Pokémon that can be revived from fossils, although Gen 6's Aurorus and Tyrantrum are clear standouts.
Tyrantrum is already quite notable due to its sheer power, as it is described as being capable of demolish a car with its huge jawsproving that he would be a formidable foe in combat. Aurorus, on the other hand, would provide a unique world-building opportunity with docile dinosaurs in a frozen tundra, although if provoked, they could also provide a unique combat challenge to players due to their ice attacks.
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Trevenant, the ghost-type Pokémon
Haunted trees with terrifying powers
In D&DPests are terrifying forest creatures that are plants that have been corrupted by an evil force. There is many types of plants that can become pestsincluding trees, which can be particularly dangerous for any travelers caught unawares. These creatures are capable of not only hitting enemies with their long branches, but also grabbing and contracting them with their roots or biting them with their open mouths.
Of the many Grass-type Pokémon that exist, Trevenant is the one that most resembles a pest. In addition to sharing many of the same abilities as a pest, Trevenant can also curse or confuse opponents, unleash powerful ranged Shadow Ball attacks, and even turn invisible before attacking with Phantom Force. This means that dungeon masters now have the opportunity to surprise their players by providing them with a familiar opponent with many terrifying new capabilities.
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First generation Grimer and Muk
Dangerous puddles of slime
Another of the many iconic monsters from D&D What players can encounter are the various types of slime found in various environments. These amorphous bubbles circulate and feed on anything that can be dissolvedoften meaning a slow and painful end for any adventurer caught off guard.
Likewise, both Grimer and Muk are made from an amalgam of liquids that are incredibly poisonous to the touchcapable of deteriorating plants and trees immediately upon contact. The Alolan variants of these Pokémon are even more dangerous, as the small fangs and claws on their body are actually crystallized poison that should definitely be avoided. Being a little smarter than the typical slime, players would no doubt be wary of encountering a Grimer or Muk in the wild during their adventure.
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Impidimp, Morgrem and Grimmsnarl in D&D
Mischievous imps who are also cunning and powerful
Impidimps love to cause harm at the expense of others, and Impidimp, along with its evolutions, love to do the same, which in turn allows them to feed on humans' negative emotions. They especially love stealing things from houses to bother the residents, and Morgrem is especially known for using dirty tactics to make opponents lower their guard before attacking. This can provide dungeon masters with intriguing potential for story opportunities, providing players with potential threats to deal with in villages.
In addition to his mischievous nature, Grimmsnarl is also a particularly powerful and unique threat due to the control he has over his body hair. In addition to knowing a bunch of hard-hitting physical attacks, you can even manage to break your target's spirit if hit hard enough. Ultimately, the final form of these treacherous little devils would give any D&D adventurer a true challenge in combat, providing a unique variation on the typical demonic creatures.
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Houndoom is a dog that breathes fire
A stronger variant of a Hellhound
Just look at Houndoom and it's glaringly obvious that its design is based on a hellhound, and these beasts can be downright dangerous opponents in D&D. Just like the Pokémon itself, these fire-breathing dogs are known for working in large packs, taking down opponents with ease. They are very similar in terms of size and abilities, although the Pokédex states that the pain of Houndoom's fire will never disappearwhich is a scary prospect in itself.
However, the fact that Houndoom is able to mega-evolve to a more powerful form provides an intriguing opportunity for dungeon masters. Mega evolution is only possible through a strong bond between a Pokémon and its trainer, and Hellhounds are known for being fiercely loyal to whatever malevolent being they serve. Players will no doubt be terrified of any hellhound capable of such a feat, providing the opportunity for a much more difficult combat encounter and even a potential boss fight.
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Kyurem would be the ideal dragon in D&D
A terrifying boss monster that transforms
There are a wide variety of types of dragons in Dungeons and Dragonswith each having their own unique differences. White dragons specifically are very brutal beasts that are known to reside in cold environments. While not as malicious as some other types of dragons, they are very powerful and known to hold grudges against those who have wronged them, and will certainly seek revenge on anyone they encounter.
The Legendary Pokémon Kyurem would absolutely be a unique challenge in a D&D boss fight. In addition to being a large dragon with the ability to manipulate ice, his ability to fuse with Reshiram or Zekrom grants him a new form and the ability to control fire or electricity respectively. If some dungeon master comes up with a creative explanation for this in-universe, they will be able to provide their players with a memorable and formidable opponent to face during the campaign.
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Golett and Golurk have a classic design
Huge golems with a lot of potential
The Pokédex explains that Golett and Golurk are Pokémon that were created from clay by humans long ago and are distributed by a mysterious unknown energy source. This description alone sounds incredibly similar to the golems that can be found inside Dungeons and Dragons. In terms of world-building possibilities, DMs have the opportunity to explain that these Pokémon run on magic, or they can create a completely unique magical feature to explain why they are so different from other types of golems in the world.
Golurk is actually capable of flight, providing players with a useful new method of travel.
Unlike the many types of golems that can be found in D&DThese Pokémon have some extra abilities that make them particularly notable. While many regular golems rely primarily on hard-hitting melee attacks, these Pokémon have many ranged attacks, such as Shadow Ball and Earthquake, to provide variety during combat. Furthermore, Golurk is actually capable of flyingproviding players with a useful new method of travel.
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Honedge, Doublade and Aegislash are perfect for D&D
Haunted swords with ties to royalty
One of the many types of animated objects that players can find are Flying Swords. This is exactly what Honedge and its evolutions look like, although they have some extra abilities that would make them truly interesting. Honedge will especially be a huge threat to players, as anyone who dares to grab him will have their life force completely drained.
This would make it an intriguing and also dangerous cursed object to encounter. Combined with the fact that Aegislash has ties to a royal king, these Pokémon would all be unique monsters to D&D. Any of these Pokémon could be great for Dungeons and Dragons players will encounter in their next campaign.