The Dungeons & Dragons franchise has a huge roster of monsters that players can encounter throughout their journey. From tiny mischievous imps to giant terrifying beholders, there is a wide variety of beasts to fight for any who are brave enough to approach them. However, for any dungeon master who wants to utilize some creative homebrew content to change things up in of these combat encounters, there is one source that's full of various unique monsters that they can pull inspiration from.
The over a thousand monsters to catch and collect. Although many of these creatures are designed to be very cute, there are others whose abilities make them rather terrifying. Although there are so many options to choose from, there are some very specific Pokémon that DMs can use as inspiration for their campaigns that are sure to grab the interest of their players.
10 Magmortar From The Gen 4 Games
A Large & Imposing Ranged Magmin
Magmortar is an incredibly strong fourth generation Fire-type Pokémon that can pose a major threat on the battlefield. It is primarily known to shoot massive fireballs out of its arms, with each of them able to reach temperatures of over 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that this Pokémon is able to melt most metal objects from a great distance in only a single shot, making them very dangerous to encounter in the wild.

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Given the fact that Magmortar are known to live in the craters of active volcanoes, DMs can take this information and use it to turn Magmortar into a unique variation of magmins. These beings made of magma wander the elemental plane of fire eagerly setting things alight whenever possible. Dungeon masters can take this opportunity to use Magmortar to create a unique type of magmin that is able to utilize ranged attacks as opposed to melee to add more variety to combat encounters.
9 Gimmighoul Has A Perfect D&D Equivalent
A Creature Resembling A Mimic
Mimics are one of the most iconic monsters that can be found in Dungeons & Dragons, and there are many reasons why Gimmighoul is a great variation on the iconic monster. Much like actual mimics, Gimmighoul takes the form of an unassuming treasure chest, and is able to drain the life force of anyone that steals its treasure. Unlike mimics, however, Gimmighoul is actually able to leave its own treasure chest to hunt for coins, potentially providing players with an adorable little treasure-hunting companion, or a devious creature attempting to trick them into taking its gold.

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In addition to this disguise, Gimmighoul has a variety of powers that can catch players off guard during combat. It has multiple ranged attacks like Power Gem and Shadow Ball that can prove to be difficult to deal with if unprepared. Furthermore, Gimmighoul can also confuse opponents and also make a bunch of shields to protect itself, thereby giving players a potential unexpected challenge to run into if they were simply hoping to find treasure.
8 Aurorus & Tyrantrum From Gen 6
An Opportunity To Add Unique Dinosaurs
Although many newcomers to D&D might not be aware, dinosaurs do exist in the 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 to be found in D&D, including both carnivores and herbivores. There are many different creatures in Pokémon that can be revived from fossils, though Aurorus and Tyrantrum from Gen 6 are clear standouts.
Tyrantrum is already rather notable due to its sheer power, as it is described as being able to demolish a car with its massive jaws, proving that it would be a formidable foe in combat. Aurorus, on the other hand, would provide a unique opportunity for worldbuilding a land with docile dinosaurs in a frozen tundra, although if provoked, they can also provide a unique combat challenge to players due to their ice attacks.
7 Trevenant The Ghost-Type Pokémon
Haunted Trees With Terrifying Powers
In D&D, blights are terrifying forest creatures that are plants that have been corrupted by an evil force. There are many types of plants that can become Blights, including trees, which can be particularly dangerous for any travelers who are caught unaware. These creatures are able to not only hit enemies with their long branches, but also grab and constrict them with their roots, or bite them with their gaping mouths.
Out of the many Grass-type Pokémon to exist, Trevenant is the one that resembles a blight the closest. On top of sharing many of the same abilities as a blight, Trevenant can also curse or confuse opponents, unleash powerful ranged attacks with Shadow Ball, 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 a lot of new terrifying capabilities.
6 Grimer & Muk From Gen 1
Dangerous Puddles Of Ooze
Another one of the many iconic monsters from D&D that players can encounter is the various types of ooze that are found in various environments. These amorphous blobs go around and feed on anything that can be dissolved, often spelling a slow, painful end for any adventurer caught unaware.
Similarly, both Grimer and Muk are made of an amalgamation of liquids that are incredibly poisonous to the touch, able to deteriorate plants and trees immediately upon . The Alolan variants of these Pokémon are even more dangerous, as the small fangs and claws on its body are actually crystallized poison that should definitely be avoided. Being somewhat smarter than the typical ooze, players would no doubt be wary upon encountering a Grimer or Muk in the wild during their adventure.
5 Impidimp, Morgrem, & Grimmsnarl In D&D
Mischievous Imps That Are Also Crafty & Powerful
Imps delight in causing mischief at the expense of others, and Impidimp along with its evolutions love to do the same, which in turn allows them to feed off of the negative emotions of humans. They primarily love to steal things from homes to upset the residents, and Morgrem especially is known for utilizing dirty tactics to make opponents let down their guard before attacking. This can provide dungeon masters with intriguing potential for story opportunities by providing players with potential menaces to deal with in villages.

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On top of its mischievous nature, Grimmsnarl is also a particularly powerful and unique threat due to the control it has over the hair on its body. On top of knowing a bunch of hard-hitting physical attacks, it can even manage to break its target's spirit if hit hard enough. Ultimately, the final form of these mischevious imps would give any D&D adventurer a real challenge in combat, providing a unique variation on the typical demonic creatures.
4 Houndoom Is A Fire-Breathing Dog
A Stronger Variant Of A Hellhound
One look at Houndoom, and it is clearly obvious that its design is based on a hellhound, and these beasts can absolutely be dangerous opponents in D&D. Much like the Pokémon itself, these fire-breathing dogs are known to work in large packs, taking down opponents with ease. They are very similar both in of size and their abilities, although the Pokédex does state that the pain from Houndoom's fire will never fade, which is a terrifying prospect on its own.
However, the fact that Houndoom is able to mega evolve to achieve a more powerful form does provide 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 to be fiercely loyal to any malevolent being they happen to serve. Players will no doubt be terrified of any hellhound that is capable of such a feat, providing the opportunity for a much more difficult combat encounter, and even a potential boss fight.
3 Kyurem Would Make The Ideal Dragon In D&D
A Terrifying Boss Monster That Transforms
There are a wide variety of types of dragons in Dungeons & Dragons, with each one having its own unique differences. White dragons specifically are very brutal beasts that are known to reside in frigid environments. Although they are not as malicious as certain other types of dragons, they are very powerful and known to hold grudges against those who have wronged them, and will surely seek to enact vengeance on any it comes across.
The Legendary Pokémon Kyurem would absolutely be a unique challenge in a D&D boss fight. On top of it being a large dragon with the ability to manipulate ice, its ability to fuse with either Reshiram or Zekrom grants it a new form and the ability to control fire or electricity respectively. Should any dungeon master come up with a creative in-universe explanation for this, they will be able to provide their players with a very memorable and formidable opponent to face during the campaign.
2 Golett & Golurk Have A Classic Design
Massive Golems With Lots Of Potential
The Pokédex explains that Golett and Golurk are Pokémon that were created from clay by humans long ago, and are powered by a mysterious unknown energy source. This description alone sounds incredibly similar to the golems that can be found within Dungeons & Dragons. In of world-building possibilities, DMs have the opportunity to explain that these Pokémon run on magic, or can create an entirely unique magical resource to explain why they're so different from other types of golems in the world.
Golurk is actually capable of flight, providing players with a new useful method of travel.
Unlike the many kinds of golems that can be found in D&D, these Pokémon have a few extra abilities that make them particularly notable. Whereas many regular golems primarily rely on hard-hitting melee attacks, these Pokémon have many ranged attacks like Shadow Ball and Earthquake to provide variety during combat. On top of this, Golurk is actually capable of flight, providing players with a new useful method of travel.
1 Honedge, Doublade, & Aegislash Are Perfect For D&D
Haunted Swords With Ties To Royalty
One of the many types of animated objects that players can encounter is Flying Swords. That is exactly what Honedge and its evolutions resemble, though they have a few extra abilities that would make them truly interesting. Honedge will especially be a major threat to players, as anyone who dares to grab its hilt 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 for D&D. Any of these Pokémon could be great for Dungeons & Dragons players to encounter in their next campaign.

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