The Monster Manual describes Vampires as creatures “awakened to an endless night, vampires hunger for the life they have lost and sate that hunger by drinking the blood of the living. Vampires abhor sunlight, for its touch burns them. They never cast shadows or reflections, and any vampire wishing to move unnoticed among the living keeps to the darkness and far from reflective surfaces.”We are joined by Sharang Biswas.  Sharang is a writer, artist, and game designer. He has won IndieCade and IGDN awards for his games and has showcased interactive works at numerous art institutions including the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia and the Museum of the Moving Image in New York. He has contributed essays to Dicebreaker, Eurogamer, and Unwinnable, and fiction to Fantasy Magazine, Lightspeed Magazine, and Neon Hemlock Press among others. He is the co-editor of Honey & Hot Wax: An Anthology of Erotic Art Games (Pelgrane Press, 2020) and Strange Lusts / Strange Loves: An Anthology of Erotic Interactive Fiction (Strange Horizons, 2021). Find him on Twitter @SharangBiswas and some of his games at astrolingus.itch.ioMUSIC"Darkness" by Three Chain Links"Concerto Grosso G Minor 1" by the Advent Chamber Orchestra"Duduk Drone" by Patrick Sainton"Discovery" by Scott Holmes"Cylinder Two" by Chris Zabriskie"Epic Cinematic" by Scott HolmesKill Every Monster is a 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons podcast. In each episode, we are joined by a guest to discuss the lore, mechanics, and story potential of classic D&D creatures. We debate tactics for maximizing these creatures in your game, and we ask the ever-important question: are they really a monster?Send us your questions for our Season 1 Mailbag episode!COMMUNITYDiscordTwitterRedditInstagramFacebook

Rise of the Demigods | A Dungeons and Dragons Podcast

Vampire

The Monster Manual describes Skeletons and Zombies as “the foot soldiers of an undead army. While skeletons are capable of following simple and direct orders, making them capable of tasks such as loading catapults or forming a shield wall, zombies are mindless soldiers, taking the most direct route to enemies, unable to comprehend obstacles or dangerous terrain.”Get early and bonus ad-free episodes, Dylan's DM notes, print-ready maps of our encounters, and more at patreon.com/killeverymonsterIn this episode, we are joined by Amelia Antrim.Amelia (she/her) is one of the co-hosts of Character Creation Cast, a podcast that explores roleplaying games by sitting down with guests and making characters in a new system each month. She is also the co-host of Garbage of the Five Rings, a podcast devoted to the lore and history of the Legend of the Five Rings, for when you love something dearly but you know it’s trash. She is also a judge for the 2021-2022 ENnie Awards. She can be found on Twitter @gingerreckoning.MUSIC"The Warbird" by Tri Tachyon"Please Wake Up" by Meydn"March of the Spoons" by Kevin Macleod"Triumph" by Jon Luc Hefferman"Sunset" by Kai Engel"Unnatural Situation" by Kevin Macleod"Ondes de Gravit" by Mathieu Lamontagne & Emmanuel Toledo"Discovery" by Jon Luc Hefferman"Crossing the Chasm" by Kevin Macleod"Lost Time" by Kevin MacleodKill Every Monster is a 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons podcast. In each episode, we are joined by a guest to discuss the lore, mechanics, and story potential of classic D&D creatures. We debate tactics for maximizing these creatures in your game, and we ask the ever-important question: are they really a monster?Send us your questions for our Season 1 Mailbag episode!COMMUNITYDiscordTwitterRedditInstagramFacebook

Undead Horde

Oozes are described in the Monster Manual as creatures that “thrive in the dark, shunning areas of bright light and extreme temperatures. They flow through the damp underground, feeding on any creature or object that can be dissolved, slinking along the ground, dripping from walls and ceilings, spreading across the edges of underground pools, and squeezing through cracks. The first warning an adventurer receives of an ooze’s presence is often the searing pain of its acidic touch.”Get early and bonus ad-free episodes, Dylan's DM notes, print-ready maps of our encounters, and more at patreon.com/killeverymonsterIn this episode, we are joined by WallE.WallE is a personality in the TTRPG scene featured on many different streams and shows. They are a constant feature on the Gnomebrew morning show, 4 time TTRPGif nominated player and your internet best friend. MUSIC"Aquarium" by Kevin Macleod"Lost Time" by Kevin Macleod"The Spaghetti Western Set" by Brett Van Donsel"Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairies" by Kevin Macleod"Cylinder Four" by Chris ZabriskieKill Every Monster is a 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons podcast. In each episode, we are joined by a guest to discuss the lore, mechanics, and story potential of classic D&D creatures. We debate tactics for maximizing these creatures in your game, and we ask the ever-important question: are they really a monster?Send us your questions for our Season 1 Mailbag episode!COMMUNITYDiscordTwitterRedditInstagramFacebook

Oozes

Trolls are described in the Monster Manual as  “fearsome green-skinned giants, eating anything they can catch and devour. Only acid and fire can arrest the regenerative properties of a troll’s flesh."We are joined by Nome.Nome has been running games in various systems for almost two decades and puts those skills to use in real life, where he works at a children's bookstore putting on events for kids (and trying to indoctrinate them into tabletop gaming). He can be found on Twitter at  @NomeDaBarbarian, where he talks about gaming, weird animals, and ADHD.MUSIC"Hall of the Mountain King" by Kevin MacLeod"Plague" by Kai Engel"Long Road Ahead" by Kevin MacLeod"Everest" by Scott HolmesKill Every Monster is a 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons podcast. In each episode, we are joined by a guest to discuss the lore, mechanics, and story potential of classic D&D creatures. We debate tactics for maximizing these creatures in your game, and we ask the ever-important question: are they really a monster?Send us your questions for our Season 1 Mailbag episode!COMMUNITYDiscordTwitterRedditInstagramFacebook

Troll

Dylan doesn't have any notes for the Flumph encounter (for reasons that will become clear in this bonus episode), so we put together some audio DM's notes...then go completely off-topic.ABOUT THE SHOWKill Every Monster is a 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons podcast. In each episode we are joined by a guest to discuss the lore, mechanics, and story potential of classic D&D creatures. We debate tactics for maximizing these creatures in your game, and we ask the ever-important question: are they really a monster?Send us your questions for our Season 1 Mailbag episode!COMMUNITYDiscordTwitterRedditInstagramFacebook

Flumphs and the Future

Mimics are described in the Monster Manual as “shapeshifting predators able to take on the form of inanimate objects to lure creatures to their doom. In dungeons, these cunning creatures most often take the form of doors and chests, having learned that such forms attract a steady stream of prey.”We are joined by Robert Reeve.Rob is a designer, writer, and editor who you might remember from a viral post about his mom’s toothpaste and the extensive network of targeted ad tracking surrounding it. He livestreams The Lawful, the Chaotic, and the Ugly, a Feywild Western adventure he wrote. He’s with us today because he released a booklet called This Booklet Is A Mimic, available on DriveThruRPG. You can find him on Twitter, Twitch, and other social media platforms that don’t start with twuh at RobertGReeve.MUSIC"Can't  Relive The Party" by Toussaint Morrison"Plague" by Kai Engel"The Path of the Goblin King" by Kevin Macleod"Black Gloves" by Vitus Von Degen"Temple of Dwarf Chant" by BattleBards"The Time to Run" by Dexter Britain"Hulk" by Toussaint MorrisonKill Every Monster is a 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons podcast. In each episode we are joined by a guest to discuss the lore, mechanics, and story potential of classic D&D creatures. We debate tactics for maximizing these creatures in your game, and we ask the ever-important question: are they really a monster?Send us your questions for our Season 1 Mailbag episode!COMMUNITYDiscordTwitterRedditInstagramFacebook

Mimic

Flumphs are described in the Monster Manual as creatures who “mysteriously drift through the Underdark, propelled through the air by the jets whose sound gives them their name. A flumph glows faintly, reflecting its moods in its color. Soft pink means it is amused, deep blue is sadness, green expresses curiosity, and crimson is anger.Flumphs are intelligent and wise, and communicate telepathically. Though they resemble jellyfish, flumphs are sentient beings of great intelligence and wisdom, possessing advanced knowledge of religion, philosophy, mathematics, and countless other subjects."MUSIC"Brandenburg No.4" by the Advent Chamber Orchestra"The War In My Head" by Dexter Britain"Darkness" by Borrtex"Discovery" by Jon Luc Hefferman"Epoch" by Jon Luc Hefferman"A Stranger's Map of Texas" by Michael Chapman & The Woodpiles"Vision Quest of the Bearheart" by Geronimo Snijtsheuvel"See You Soon" by Borrtex"Calm The Fuck Down" by Broke For Free"Les doutes" by Mathieu Lamontagne & Emmanuel Toledo"Ondes de Gravit" by Mathieu Lamontagne & Emmanuel Toledo"Reading The Greens" by Hogan Grip"Damned" by Scott HolmesKill Every Monster is a 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons podcast. In each episode we are joined by a guest to discuss the lore, mechanics, and story potential of classic D&D creatures. We debate tactics for maximizing these creatures in your game, and we ask the ever-important question: are they really a monster?Send us your questions for our Season 1 Mailbag episode!COMMUNITYDiscordTwitterRedditInstagramFacebook

Flumph

Doppelgangers are described in the Monster Manual as “devious shapeshifters that take on the appearance of other humanoids, throwing off pursuit or luring victims to their doom with misdirection and disguise. Few creatures spread fear, suspicion, and deceit better than doppelgangers. Found in every land and culture, they can take on the guise of any individual of any race.”We are joined by Noir.Noir is a voice actor, streamer, musician, and improviser. He has studied at Chicago's iO, Westside Theater, and Second City. He is the Nerdy host of Critical Misses' Morning Ritual, creator and Game Master for Kobold Presses Into the Southlands, Magpies CPP ProgramMUSIC"Creeping" by Borrtex"Memories Of Thailand" (Beat Doctor's 'stuck in Britain' remix) by Risey"Darkness" by Three Chain Links"The Blue Danube Waltz" by Johann Strauss II"Autumn Mvt 3 Allegro" by John Harrison with the Wichita State University Chamber PlayersBartok - Roumanian Folk Dances - Waistband Dance Roumanian Polka Maruntel" by the Advent Chamber Orchestra"Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 - Bach" by "Dee Yan-Key""Epic Cinematic" by Scott Holmes"Of Elias Dream" by BensoundKill Every Monster is a 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons podcast. In each episode we are joined by a guest to discuss the lore, mechanics, and story potential of classic D&D creatures. We debate tactics for maximizing these creatures in your game, and we ask the ever-important question: are they really a monster?Send us your questions for our Season 1 Mailbag episode!COMMUNITYDiscordTwitterRedditInstagramFacebook

Doppelganger

After the werewolf episode, Diana wrote a short story about an Armenian lycanthropy myth, the Mardagayl. It touched us, and we asked her if she would record it so we could produce the story and share it with you.So please welcome back Diana as she tells us a werewolf story.Music from this episode by Ilya Kaplan.Find out more about the show at killeverymonster.com

The Mardagayl

Before we set out to record the Incubus episode, we got together with Mike to make sure we could figure out a way to handle the problematic aspects of the creature. We wanted to retain the danger of an Incubus' charm without it being harmful to the players at the table and the audience listening.Sly Flourish's Session 0 Safety ToolsKill Every Monster is a 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons podcast. In each episode we are joined by a guest to discuss the lore, mechanics, and story potential of classic D&D creatures. We debate tactics for maximizing these creatures in your game, and we ask the ever-important question: are they really a monster?Send us your questions for our Season 1 Mailbag episode!COMMUNITYDiscordTwitterRedditInstagramFacebook

Incubui and Immorality

The Monster Manual states that “Succubi and Incubi inhabit all of the Lower Planes, and the lascivious dark-winged fiends can be found in service to devils, demons, night hags, rakshasas, and yugoloths. Asmodeus, ruler of the Nine Hells, uses these fiends to tempt mortals to perform evil acts. The demon lord Graz’zt keeps succubi and incubi as advisers and consorts.Though legend speaks of them separately, any succubus can become an incubus, and vice versa. Most of these fiends do have a preference for one form or the other. Mortals only rarely see a succubus or incubus in its true form, however, for the fiend typically begins its corruption in veiled, insidious ways.”Listen to our Session 0 safety brief for the Incubus encounterWe are joined by Mike.Mike—whose pronouns are he/they—is a video producer and streamer from the Pacific Northwest. You can find him weekly on Let’s Get Wildemount via  @CriticalBard. His pastimes include caring for his dogs, tabletop games, and losing his sense of self by endlessly scrolling Wikipedia.MUSIC"Beautiful Geometry" by Phish Funk"A Stranger's Map of Texas" by Michael Chapman & The Woodpiles"Haere Mai Ambient Mix" by Parvus Decree"Sexy Time" by Leather Uppers"Going Undercover" by Borrtex"Depths of Self-Deception" by Parvus Decree"Seeing The Future" by Dexter BritainKill Every Monster is a 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons podcast. In each episode we are joined by a guest to discuss the lore, mechanics, and story potential of classic D&D creatures. We debate tactics for maximizing these creatures in your game, and we ask the ever-important question: are they really a monster?Send us your questions for our Season 1 Mailbag episode!COMMUNITYDiscordTwitterRedditInstagramFacebook

Incubus

Green Hags are described in the Monster Manual as “wretched and hateful creatures that dwell in dying forests, lonely swamps, and misty moors, making their homes in caves. Green hags love to manipulate other creatures into doing their bidding, masking their intentions behind layers of deception. They lure victims to them by mimicking voices calling out for help, or drive unwanted visitors away by imitating the cries of fierce beasts.”Get our DM's notes and print-ready maps for the Hag encounterWe are joined by Sally Tamarkin.Sally—whose pronouns are she/her—is an editor, writer, and sensitivity reader. She’s been a lifestyle journalist since 2014 and a TTRPG enthusiast since about 1988 when she discovered her older brother’s Advanced Dungeons and Dragons books and began to read and (obsessively re-read) them. She has a master’s of social work in community organizing and co-hosts the podcast Oh, I Like That. You can find her online @sallyt and at sally.gay.BLOOD LIBELThe term blood libel refers to the false allegation that Jews used the blood of non-Jewish, usually Christian children, for ritual purposes. The Nazis made effective use of the blood libel to demonize Jews, with Julius Steicher's newspaper Der Stürmer making frequent use of ritual murder imagery in its antisemitic propaganda.MUSIC"Darkness" by Three Chain Links"Please Wake Up" by Meydn"Everest" by Scott Holmes"Seeing The Future" by Dexter Britain"Depths of Self-Deception" by Parvus Decree"Oblivion Cage I" by Parvus DecreeKill Every Monster is a 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons podcast. Each episode we are joined by a guest to discuss the lore, mechanics, and story potential of classic D&D creatures. We debate tactics for maximizing these creatures in your game, and we ask the ever-important question: are they really a monster?Send us your questions for our Season 1 Mailbag episode!COMMUNITYDiscordTwitterRedditInstagramFacebook

The Monster Manual describes the werewolf as “a savage predator. In its humanoid form, a werewolf has heightened senses, a fiery temper, and a tendency to eat rare meat. Its wolf form is a fearsome predator, but its hybrid form is more terrifying by far — a furred and well-muscled humanoid body topped by a ravening wolf’s head. A werewolf can wield weapons in hybrid form, though it prefers to tear foes apart with its powerful claws and bite.”Get our DM's notes and print-ready maps for the Werewolf encounterIn this episode, we are joined by writer and gamemaster Diana. Diana (or Superdillin) is a tabletop RPG creator and entertainer, author of Neverland the Impossible Island a 5e Setting guide, 1/2 of the Femsplained podcast, and a big ol' queer dork.MUSIC"I Am a Man Who Will Fight for Your Honor" by Chris Zabriskie"Oneiri" by Kai Engel"Sunset" by Kai Engel"Cylinder Seven" by Chris Zabriskie"Mermaid" by Tenebrous Brothers CarnivalKill Every Monster is a 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons podcast. Each episode we are joined by a guest to discuss the lore, mechanics, and story potential of classic D&D creatures. We debate tactics for maximizing these creatures in your game, and we ask the ever-important question: are they really a monster?Send us your questions for our Season 1 Mailbag episode!COMMUNITYDiscordTwitterRedditInstagramFacebook

Werewolf

The Monster Manual describes goblins as “small, black-hearted, selfish humanoids that lair in caves, abandoned mines, despoiled dungeons, and other dismal settings. Individually weak, goblins gather in large—sometimes overwhelming—numbers. They crave power and regularly abuse whatever authority they obtain.”Get our DM's notes and print-ready maps for the Goblin encounterIn this episode, we are joined by writer and gamemaster Michael Loving (who is also known as Captain Mel) and whose pronouns are he/him. Michael is a professional voice actor, game master, writer, and editor for tabletop RPGs. He is a regular cast member on the D&D Actual Play Podcast "The League of Ultimate Questing" and an irregular guest star on Godsfall, when Aram bothers to make time for his friends. You can find him on Twitter at @OG_Captain_MEL.MUSIC"The Path of the Goblin King" by Kevin MacLeod"Ghost Dance" by Kevin MacLeod"Miris Magic Dance" by Kevin MacLeodNational Anthem of USSR"Fiddles McGinty" by Kevin MacLeodKill Every Monster is a 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons podcast. Each episode we are joined by a guest to discuss the lore, mechanics, and story potential of classic D&D creatures. We debate tactics for maximizing these creatures in your game, and we ask the ever-important question: are they really a monster?Send us your questions for our Season 1 Mailbag episode!COMMUNITYDiscordTwitterRedditInstagramFacebook

Goblin

The Monster Manual describes the banshee as “the undead remnants of elves who, blessed with great beauty, failed to use their gift to bring joy to the world. Instead, they used their beauty to corrupt and control others. Elves afflicted by the banshee’s curse experience know no gladness, feeling only distress in the presence of the living. As the curse takes its toll, their minds and bodies decay until death completes their transformation into undead monsters.”Get our DM's notes and print-ready maps for the Banshee encounterWe are joined this episode by writer and conservationist Orla ní Dhúill.Orla is an Irish writer and professional tree botherer bouncing between Dublin and an island off the west coast of Ireland where she can stand on sea cliffs and scream to her heart's content. She is the creator of best-selling DMs Guild adventure Murder on the Eberron Express and a contributor to 2c Gaming's TPK Bestiary Vol 2.MUSIC"Song of the Banshee" by Aine Minogue"Virtutes Vocis" and "Virtutes Instrumenti" by Kevin MacLeod"The Path of the Goblin King" by Kevin MacLeod"See You Soon" by Borrtex"Hero Down" by Kevin MacLeod"Blizzard" by Kai Engel"Capital City" by Sebastian AnusKill Every Monster is a 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons podcast. Each episode we are joined by a guest to discuss the lore, mechanics, and story potential of classic D&D creatures. We debate tactics for maximizing these creatures in your game, and we ask the ever-important question: are they really a monster?Send us your questions for our Season 1 Mailbag episode!COMMUNITYDiscordTwitterRedditInstagramFacebook

Banshee

Rise of the Demigods is a 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons actual play podcast set in the world of Godsfall. Join us as four young demigods face training and trials in the divine halls and magical valleys of the Temple of Udea.