The DM has many options when it comes to obstructing the party, but what beats a classic trap?

These are the most devious ones to use in D&D.

The true horror of the Shadow, however, comes from how it stalks and creeps after you.

Dungeons & Dragons image showing a gelatinous cube, adventurers in a ruin, and a dark mantle.

Instead, Chuuls are mere servants to Aboleth overlords and false gods.

These monsters take toughness to a whole new level.

He seeks only to avert his own demise, sending his agents and warlocks to feed his hunger.

Dungeons & Dragons image showing an empyrean, a kraken and a yeti.

Should Hadar step in to satiate himself, it will be at the cost of reality.

An Annis Hag can make a powerful villain in horror campaigns that sow fear over time.

The attacks and spellcasting of an Annis Hag add to the horror elements mechanically.

Featured Image, Dungeons & Dragons, with bandits by Katerina Ladon, an Archmage by Viko Menezes, and pirates by Alexandre Honore

These can help create a tense atmosphere, especially with Fog Cloud.

Because you never know when you need another NPC stat block.

Despite its CR, the Allips is a deceptively dangerous monster, and you’ll likely only need one.

ghoul with long tongue in crypt holding severed arm

Sepulcher Ghoul by Jason Engle

Shadows dragging an adventurer down the stairs by Michael Broussard.

Shadows by Michael Broussard

Dungeons & Dragons image showing an aboleth.

Art by Kev Walker

Dungeons & Dragons image showing a chuul.

Art by Ben Wootten

A warlock in red cape emerges from darkness and tentacles in D&D.

Herald of Hadar by Valera Lutfullina

Dungeons & Dragons art of Arch-hags gathered around a cauldron by Dario Jelusic.

Arch-hags by Dario Jelusic

Dungeons & Dragons, Cosmic Horror by Simon Dominic.

Cosmic Horror by Simon Dominic

Dungeons & Dragons, a ghost beckoning you forward by Steven Belledin.

Ghost by Steven Belledin

Dungeons & Dragons, an Allip by Mark Behm.

Allip by Mark Behm

Dungeons & Dragons, A Bodak from 4e by Jorge Molina.

Bodak by Jorge Molina

A woman stands in front of a red ooze that contains multiple faces

Oblex by Eric Belisle

Tabletop

Dungeon & Dragons