In another thread, When Fiends Attack , @CapnZapp suggested WotC make a monster manual for advanced players (feat using, multiclassing, optimizing type players) that are not challenged by the monsters in the MM and VGtM. I thought that was an interesting idea so I have decided to start a thread for just that.

Introduction
This compendium of monsters and threats is intended to address an issue that some DMs and players have with the current monsters offered by WotC. The monsters in the Monster Manual and Volo’s Guide to Monsters seem to be intentionally designed to be compatible with the free basic rules. This is fine, and probably a good decision; however, it leaves some DMs and players that engage the full resources available (feats, magic items, multi-classing, etc.) with opponents that hit a little below their CR. This guide and compendium of monsters is meant to help these “Hardcore (Advanced)" DMs and players by offering them another option to the basic threats provided in the Monster Manual and Volo’s Guide to Monsters.

What is Hardcore?
A hardcore D&D game is one where players are not only using the full suite of subsystems the game offers, but are also experienced with those systems. Though every hardcore group is not the same, for the purposes of this guide, hardcore players have one or more of the following attributes:

• They use the all the subsystems of the game: feats, magic items, multiclassing, etc.
• They have some degree of system mastery. They know how to, and chose to, build characters that excel in combat.
• They are experienced and have good understanding of how the games tactics work and can use them effectively.

If a DM has to keep up with hardcore players, his or her job would be a lot easier if they had some hardcore monsters to challenge them with. That is the purpose of this guide and compendium of hardcore monsters. Hardcore monsters generally have a more complex design and access to more traits, abilities, and options than basic monsters. The hardcore monster should have one or more of the following attributes, and the higher the CR of the monster, the more important it is to incorporate these concepts:

• Proficiencies. A hardcore monster should have more and/or higher proficiencies to deal with player buffs and magic items.
• Traits. A hardcore monster should have traits and abilities that can help it compete with player feats and features.
• Movement. A hardcore monster must be able to keep up or counter player movement. This is more important for higher CR and solo monsters.
• Clear Roles. If a hardcore monster is intended to have a specific role, their stat block needs to support that role. If it is a “leader,” it needs to be able to fulfill that role without the DM improvising all the traits and abilities.
• True Solos. If a hardcore monster is intended to be a solo threat it needs have the hit points, actions, traits, and movement to fulfill that role.
• Creative abilities. A hardcore monster should have traits and actions that interesting and fun to play, without relying on the DM to improvise all the action.

To achieve some of these goals we need to break out from some of the constraints of the current CR driven monster design. To prevent ever escalating challenge ratings and stay within the concept of bounded accuracy I propose we borrow a concept from 4e – the elite monster.

What is an Elite Monster?
An elite monster is a greater challenge than a typical basic or hardcore monster of the same CR. An elite monster has more hit points and does greater damage than a basic or hardcore monster of the same CR, but it is also worth more experience points. This allows an elite monster to be more of a threat without making it trivially easy for it to hit targets or inordinately difficult for it to be hit.

An elite monster is built around the general premise of having 1.5 times the hit points and inflicting 1.5 times as much damage as a basic or hardcore monster of the same CR. To compensate, they also provide 2x the experience points. These increased thresholds allow for more action options (legendary actions) and defensive capabilities that help us fulfill the tenants of hardcore monsters. Especially if we are looking at high level and solo type monsters.

To aid my fellow hardcore collaborators I have made the following Hardcore Monster Statistics by Challenge Rating table. This table is used in the same manner as described for the Monster Statistics by Challenge Rating table in the DMG. The only difference is, when you want to make an elite monster you use the Elite Hit Points and Elite DPR columns. The monster design process is otherwise the same, and don’t forget to adjust for resistances, immunities, and monster features.

Now, that you have the resources, go makes some monsters!

Spoiler
These monsters, tables, and templates are now available to download in the 5e downloads section here: http://www.enworld.org/forum/rpgdownloads.php?do=download&downloadid=1395 I hope to update the PDF compendium on monsters monthly.

Now, on to the fun!

HARDCORE DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: MONSTER MANUAL

Table of Contents:

ABERRATION

Spoiler Aboleths:

• Aboleth Savant (CR 13)
• Aboleth Overseer (CR 10, elite)
• Aboleth Lasher (CR 8

Beholders:

• Beholder Eye Tyrant (CR 13, elite)
• Beholder Hive Mother (CR 20, elite)

BEAST
CELESTIAL
Spoiler Angels:

• Agathinon (CR 8)
• Light (CR 10)
• Astral Deva (CR 10, elite)
• Planetar Battlemaster (CR 17, elite)
• Solar Champion (CR 22, elite)

Archons:

• Hound (CR 3)
• Lantern (CR 2)
• Owl (CR 5)
• Sword (CR 10)
• Throne (CR 17)
• Throne, General (CR 17, elite)
• Trumpet (CR 13)
• Warden (CR 8)
• Warden, Guardian (CR 8, elite)

CONSTRUCT
DRAGON
Spoiler Black Dragons:

• Ancient Black Dragon Savage (CR 21, elite)
• Elder Black Dragon Savage (CR 17, elite)
• Adult Black Dragon Savage (CR 14, elite)
• Young Black Dragon Savage (CR 7, elite)

Blue Dragons:Green Dragons:

• Ancient Green Dragon Duke (CR 21, elite)
• Elder Green Dragon Earl (CR 18, elite)
• Adult Green Dragon Viscount (CR 15, elite)
• Young Green Dragon Baron (CR 8, elite)

Red Dragons:

• Ancient Red Dragon Kahn (CR 24, elite)
• Elder Red Dragon Kahn (CR 21, elite)
• Adult Red Dragon Kahn (CR 17, elite)
• Young Adult Red Dragon Kahn (CR 14, elite)
• Young Red Dragon Kahn (CR 10, elite)

White Dragons:Brass:Bronze:Copper:Gold:Silver:
Dragon Hall of Fame:

• Niv-Mizzet, Parun (CR 26, elite)

ELEMENTAL
Spoiler

• Primal Air Elemental (CR 20, elite)
• Ancient Air Elemental (CR 16)
• Elder Air Elemental (CR 10)
• Primal Earth Elemental (CR 20, elite)
• Ancient Earth Elemental (CR 17)
• Elder Earth Elemental (CR 10)
• Primal Fire Elemental (CR 20, elite)
• Ancient Fire Elemental (CR 16)
• Elder Fire Elemental (CR 10)

FEY
FIENDS:
Spoiler

Demons:​

• Balor Lord (CR 20, elite)
• Goristro Chosen of Baphomet (CR 17, elite)
• Hezrou Brute (CR 8, elite)
• Marilith Battlemaster (CR 16, elite)
• Molydeus (CR 18, elite)
• Nalfeshnee Tyrant (CR 13, elite)
• Vargoulle Swarm (CR 21)

Devils:​

• Imp Swarm (CR 21)
• Lemure Horde (CR 9)
• Pit Fiend General (CR 20, elite)

GIANT
Spoiler

Giants:​

• Cloud Giant Oathguard (CR 10, elite)
• Cloud Giant Oman (CR 14, elite)
• Cloud Giant Shaman (CR 12)
• Fire Giant Duke (CR 13, elite)
• Fire Giant Pyromancer (CR 11)
• Frost Giant Jarl (CR 12, elite)
• Frost Giant Reaver (CR 10)
• Frost Giant Wrathbringer (CR 11)
• Hill Giant Chief (CR 7, elite)
• Hill Giant Priest of Grolantor (CR 5)
• Stone Giant Runecarver (CR 9)
• Stone Giant Thane (CR 11, elite)
• Storm Giant Omen Reader (CR 15)
• Storm Giant Paramount (CR 18, elite)

Ogres:

• Ogre Collector (CR 2)
• Ogre Savage (CR 2)
• Ogre Skirmisher (CR 2)
• Ogre War Hulk (CR 4)

Trolls:

• Troll Ripper (CR 5)
• Troll, Ice (CR 5)
• Troll, Cave (CR 3)
• Troll Matron (CR 6)
• Troll, Mountain (CR 10)
• Troll, Abyssal (CR 11, elite)

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HUMANOID
Spoiler Aarakocra:

• Aarakocra Master-at-Arms (CR 5)
• Aarakocra Wind Monk (CR 4)
• Aarakocra Guard (CR 1)

Azer:

• Azer Commander (CR 4)
• Azer Warrior (CR 2)
• Azer Archer (CR 2)
• Azer Assassin (CR 1)
• Azer Mage (CR 2)
• Azer Priest (CR 2)

Bugbear:

• Bugbear Berserker (CR 4)
• Bugbear Thief (CR 3)
• Bugbear Assassin (CR 4)

Spell Weaver:

• Spell Weaver (CR 10)

MONSTROSITY
Spoiler Abominations:

• Astral Abomination (CR 21, elite)

Ankheg:

• Ankheg Queen (CR 6)
• Ankheg Soldier (CR 4)
• Ankheg Drone (CR 1)
• Ankheg Broodlng (CR 1/4)

Basilisk:

• Basilisk, Greater (CR 4, elite)
• Dracolisk (CR 6, elite)

Behir:

• Behir Stormbringer (CR 11, elite)

Chimeras:

• Elder Chimera (CR 8)
• Gorgimera (CR 9, elite)

Gray Render:

• Gray Render (CR 10, elite)

Sphinx:

• Isperia, Supreme Judge (CR 21, elite)

Tarrasque:

• Primordial Tarrasque (CR 30, elite)

Yuan-ti:

• Yuan-ti Anathema Sovereign (CR 15, elite)
• Yuan-ti Abomination Royal Guard (CR 10)

OOZE
PLANT
Spoiler

• Battlebriar (CR 6, elite)
• Battlebriar Earthrager (CR 15, elite)

UNDEAD
Spoiler

• Banelich (CR 16, elite)
• Barrow Giant (CR 16)

Schedule of Monsters Planned to be, but not yet, Updated:

Spoiler Cambion

Champion​

Assassin​

Thief​

Battlemaster​

Skirmisher​

Chuul

Soldier​

Thief​

Couatl

Elder​

Ancient​

Cyclops, primordial/classic?
Death Knight Doom Lord
Demilich?
Demons

Abishai​

Barlugra Berserker​

Bebilith​

Glabrezu ??​

Horde of Manes​

Horde of Dretches​

Immolith​

Nycademon​

Rupture​

Shadow Demon Assassin​

Devil

Assassin​

Bone Devil Horde Master​

Ice Devil Frost brand​

Paeliryon​

Paeliryon Sire​

Withering​

Devourer
Dracolich, Ancient
Dragon

Blizzard​

Blue​

Deep​

Earthquake​

Volcanic​

White​

Dragon Turtle, Ancient
Drake

Air​

Cold​

Earth​

Fire​

Forest​

Mountain​

Sea​

Swamp​

Dryad, Matron of the Forest
Elementals

Fire, Elder​

Water, Elder​

Fomorian

Warrior​

Eye of Balor​

Ceannard​

Gargantua

Reptilian​

Humanoid​

Insectoid​

Gargoyle, Brute?
Genies

Dao Noble​

Djinn Thunderer​

Djinn Skylord​

Efreet Flamestrider​

Efreet Karadjin​

Ghoul

Abyssal​

Ghoul Horde​

Gibbering Orb
Golem, Adamantine
Gorgon, Storm
Hag, death
Hellhound

Alpha​

Nessian​

Hobgoblin

Blademaster​

Soldier​

Hydra

Lernaean​

Primordial​

Kraken Sea Lord
Lich?
Linnorm

Dread​

Flame​

Forest​

Frost​

Gray​

Land​

Rain​

Sea​

Lizardfolk

Blackscale​

Poisonscale​

Skirmisher​

Medusa Serpent Lord
Mind Flayer

Elder Brain Savant​

Mastermind​

Minotaur

Warrior​

Savage​

Blessed by Baphomet​

Mummy

Pharoh​

Primordial​

Shadow​

Nightmare

War​

Nessian​

Nightwalker
Nymph
Oni

Night Hunter​

Mage​

Devourer​

Overlord​

Orc

Battlemaster​

Skirmisher​

Berserker​

Pegasus, Olympian
Phoenix
Quickling, Zephyr
Rakshasa

Assassin​

Noble​

Rot Harbinger
Shadow Hound Alpha
Shambling Mound
Skeleton

Dragon​

Giant​

Tomb Guardian​

Skull Lord
Slaad, Black
Snake

Flame​

Shadow​

Sorrowsworn

Reaper​

Death Lord​

Spell Weaver

Soldier​

Controller​

Spider

Phase​

Demonweb Terror​

Star Spawn

Herald of Hadar​

Maw of Acamar​

Scion of Gibbeth​

Su

Sentinel​

Ambusher​

Alpha​

Titan
Treant

Elder​

Ancient​

Rotten​

Unicorn

Sovereign​

Dusk​

Vampire Lord
Warforged Titan
Wight

Commander​

Slaughter​

Wyvern,

Elder​

Ancient​

Yuan-ti

Abomination berserker​

Malison Skirmisher​

Malison Assassin​

Yugoloths

Arcanaloth Tempter​

Guardian​

Nycaloth Brute​

Ultroloth Schemer​

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