Dungeons and Dragons is Starting 2025 With a Bang

Dungeons and Dragonsrecently began the roll-out of its latest update, which happens to be its largest in quite some time.Dungeons and Dragonsreleased its fifth edition all the way back in 2014, and developers have been quite adamant that they don’t intend to release a sixth edition anytime soon. However, the tabletop giant may as well receive the next best thing thanks to a new lineup of revised handbooks.

Dungeons and Dragonshas three books that have persisted as the most important in the game. Aptly called theCore Rulebooks, they typically serve as the foundation of any new edition ofD&D. They are the Player’s Handbook, the Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual.Dungeons and Dragonshas already released a revised version of the 5e Player’s Handbook and Dungeon Master’s Guide, which has created a lot of anticipation for the remaining rulebook going into next year.

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Dungeons and Dragons' Revised Monster Manual Could Be a Highlight of 2025

Dungeons and Dragons' Monster Manual Explained

The Monster Manual may be the last of the Core Rulebooks, but that doesn’t make it the least. As its name suggests, the Monster Manual contains comprehensive information about hundreds of monsters that can be found in the game’s setting. Even if it isn’t as game-defining as its counterparts are, there’s no question that the Monster Manual is a must-have for anyone looking to start up anew game ofDungeons and Dragons.

One of the main appeals ofDungeons and Dragonsis the fact that any given DM could run an entirely different game. Likewise, players can customize their characters exactly to their liking. In both situations, the handbooks aren’t meant to serve as hard rules, but as helpful guidelines. The process of introducing original elements toDungeons and Dragonsvia homebrew rulescan be found at nearly any table. Of course, this goes for monsters as well.

One might think that aDungeon Masterwouldn’t have much need for something like the Monster Manual if they could homebrew their own monsters. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The Monster Manual is a valuable resource, not only for the monsters it provides a game with, but for the way it can serve as a helpful tool to understand how monsters are designed in the first place.

Dungeons and Dragons 2025 Monster Manual Has Huge Potential

Thanks to the open-ended nature ofD&D, players have gotten a taste of the upcoming Monster Manual. In keeping with the general design philosophy of the 2024 revisions, the new Monster Manual will provide plenty of additions while updating old rules. There’s no argument that the Monster Manual needed an update, considering how many extra foes have been added to the game from various modules since 5e was released. The 2025 Monster Manual will be released in February, and the significance of the book will likely be a huge shakeup for the game going forward.

One of the main attractions has been the revisions to dragons, both Chromatic and Metallic alike.Dungeons and Dragonsintroduced dragon redesignsduring the lead-up to its first 2024 revisions, with some being a potentially good sign of what is to come. The new designs were imbued with much more personality than any of them had before, with each breed of dragon now remarkably distinct from their counterparts. The 2025 Monster Manual features a Beholder on its cover, which makes one hope that other iconicD&Dmonsters will get the same treatment as its dragons.

In fact, it currently seems that the new Monster Manual will contain over 500 monsters. This is a titanic feat to be sure, and will no doubt span a vast array of encounters for parties of different levels to sink their teeth into. The 5e Monster Manual received glowing reviews upon its release, so developers have their work cut out for them if they want to impress. Although it’s not entirely certain whereWizards of the Coast will takeD&Dnext, the upcoming Monster Manual seems like a perfect finale for the revisions so far.