Ready to face off against the most terrifying creatures in Dungeons & Dragons?

Check out this list.

So, how do you create final encounters that feel memorable, climactic, and impactful for players?

A pair of griffons chase two kobolds in Dungeons & Dragons.

Well, the best thing you’re free to do is pick the right monsters for the battle.

Here are the best creatures to use from the 2025 Monster Manual.

This is enough to wipe out most low-level parties and do significant damage to even a high-level party.

Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Player’s Handbook artwork of orcs together in the desert.

These creatures are certainly climactic, and very fun to run as a DM.

9Beholders

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Beholders are one of the most classic creatures around in Dungeons & Dragons.

Because they’re undead, Death Tyrants are great for a horror campaign or even a survival-based one.

Dungeons & Dragons, featured image, with a Fomorian, a Gelatinous Cube, and a Peryton

Do you need some level-one encounters that won’t TPK your players?

Here are the weakest monsters in DND.

7Archmage

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Archmages are the most powerful mages on offer inthe 2025 Monster Manual.

A three headed Elemental Cataclysm in Dungeons & Dragons.

Elemental Cataclysm by Johan Grenier

Plus, Archmages can use counterspell three times a day without using a spell slot.

The only downside to using an Archmage for your encounter is that they don’t have great action economy.

Against a larger party, they’re likely to go down pretty quickly.

A group of skeletons surrounding adventurers, by Andrey Kuzinskiy.

Death of an Ancient Dragon by Chase Stone

Here are the best monsters for an old western setting in D&D!

Any creature within one mile of the lair has disadvantage on Death Saving Throws.

This is great for crowd control against a larger party.

A golden dragon looms over adventurers in Dungeons & Dragons.

Death of an Ancient Dragon by Chase Stone

This creature carries a glaive and can gore enemies on a recharge roll of five or six.

Here are the best monsters for a cave in Dungeons & Dragons.

1Rakshasa

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Rakshasas are one of the best creatures on offer in the 2025 Monster Manual.

A beholder in its lair in Dungeons & Dragons.

Beholder by Eric Belisle

This makes them great antagonists.

An undead beholder, known as a Death Tyrant in Dungeons & Dragons.

Death Tyrant by Simon Dominic

An archmage in Dungeons & Dragons casting a spell.

Archmage by Viko Menezes

The vampire umbral lord creature with pallid skin in Dungeons & Dragons.

Vampire Umbral Lord by Fury Galluzzi

A purple worm carving through sand in Dungeons & Dragons.

Purple Worm by David Auden Nash

A Mummy Lord commanding an group of undead by Helge C. Balzer.

Mummy Lord by Helge C. Balzer

A Mind Flayer in Dungeons & Dragons.

Mind Flayer by Michael Broussard

The Minotaur of Baphomet stalking his pray in Dungeons & Dragons.

Minotaur of Baphoment by Brian Valenzuela

Various Rakshasas in Dungeons & Dragons.

Rakshasa Conspirators by Andrea Piparo

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