Common D&D 5e Monster Types and How to Fight Them

Monsters in D&D have types. Each type has general traits and weaknesses.

Here's the quick guide.

Beasts

Natural creatures. Wolves, bears, spiders.

• Low intelligence. Use mundane tactics (pack, ambush, territorial).
• Physical damage. Mostly bite, claw, or sting.
• No spells.

Fighting Beasts

• Target individually.
• Use fire (most are scared of fire).
• Intimidation works.

Humanoids

Bandits, cultists, tribespeople, guards.

• Tactical. Use weapons, formations, leaders.
• Morale. Can flee if losing badly.
• Variable features. Like PCs, some have spells or unique abilities.

Fighting Humanoids

• Target leaders first.
• Demoralize with Intimidation.
• Split them up.

Undead

Skeletons, zombies, ghouls, liches.

• Immune to poison.
• Often resistant to necrotic, vulnerable to radiant.
• No mental resistances (still affected by fear, charm usually doesn't work).

Fighting Undead

• Radiant damage (Cleric spells, Paladin Smite).
• Turn Undead.
• Avoid melee with life-drain types (Wights, Wraiths).

See our undead combat guide.

Fiends

Devils, demons, incubi.

• Resistance to fire commonly.
• Immune to fire damage for specific devils.
• Hurt by silvered weapons and magic.
• Smart. Use abilities creatively.

Fighting Fiends

• Radiant damage.
• Silvered weapons.
• Counterspell when they cast.

Celestials

Angels, pegasi. Usually allies but sometimes foes.

• Resistance to radiant.
• Variable features.
• Often lawful or good alignment.

Fighting Celestials

• Fire or necrotic damage.
• Rare; usually allies or quest-givers.

Dragons

See our dragons guide.

• Damage type matches ancestry.
• Legendary actions.
• Frightful presence.

Elementals

Fire, water, earth, air.

• Immune to own element.
• Vulnerable to opposing element (fire vs. cold sometimes).

Fighting Elementals

• Use opposite damage type.
• Magical weapons often required.

Aberrations

Mind flayers, beholders, aboleths.

• Psychic damage.
• Mental attacks.
• Weird resistances.

Fighting Aberrations

• Gnome Cunning (advantage on mental saves vs. magic) helps.
• High Wisdom and Int saves.
• Avoid long battles.

Constructs

Golems, animated objects.

• Immune to poison, charm, sleep, fear.
• Often damage resistance to physical.
• No mental vulnerabilities.

Fighting Constructs

• Magical weapons.
• Targeted damage types (some hate acid or fire).
• No charm or intimidation.

Plants

Shambling mounds, awakened trees.

• Often resistant to cold, fire, or lightning (varies).
• Slow.
• Weak to fire usually.

Fighting Plants

• Fire (often works).
• Mobility to stay out of reach.

Oozes

Gelatinous cubes, black puddings.

• Weird immunities (charm, prone, etc.).
• Engulf mechanics.
• Split mechanics.

Fighting Oozes

• Ranged combat.
• Avoid engulfment.
• Specific acid/fire weaknesses on some.

Swarms

Rat swarms, insect swarms.

• Immune to specific conditions.
• Damage resistance to physical.

Fighting Swarms

• AOE damage.
• Fire.
• Minimum damage on cantrips helps.

In The Endlessness

Our AI Dungeon Master runs all monster types with full stat block accuracy. Resistances, immunities, special abilities all apply.

For related reads, our monster design guide, dragons guide, and undead guide cover more.

Final Takeaway

Know the monster type. Use appropriate damage. Avoid immunities. Exploit weaknesses.

Start a character at The Endlessness and fight the full bestiary.