Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse – D&D’s Ultimate Bestiary of the Multiverse
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse (often shortened to MotM) is a powerhouse 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook released on May 17, 2022, compiling and dramatically updating over 250 monsters and 33 playable species from across the game’s multiverse. Clocking in at 288 full-color pages, hardcover.
Framed through the wizardly banter of Mordenkainen and his rival Tasha, the book strips away setting-specific lore for neutral, versatile stat blocks while sprinkling flavorful multiverse insights. It’s the revised evolution of Volo’s Guide to Monsters (2016) and Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes (2018), making those older books obsolete on D&D Beyond (though owners retain access).
Revolutionary Player Options: 33 Species for Infinite Builds
Gone are subraces and fixed ability scores – every species is now fully customizable, aligning with Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything rules. Backgrounds handle ASIs, freeing traits for pure fantasy. Highlights include:
| Category | Notable Species (33 Total) |
|---|---|
| Aerial & Fey | Aarakocra, Fairy, Eladrin, Harengon, Satyr, Sea Elf |
| Aberrant & Monstrous | Aasimar (Protector, Scourge, Fallen), Bugbear, Deep Gnome, Duergar, Goblin, Hobgoblin, Kenku, Kobold, Orc, Tabaxi |
| Exotic Humanoids | Autognome*, Changelings*, Genasi (Air/Fire/Water/Earth), Hadozee*, Kalashtar*, Plasmoid*, Starforge Centaur*, Starforge Satyr*, Thri-kreen*, Tortle |
| Underworld | Drow, Githyanki, Githzerai |
*From Spelljammer integration. Perfect for multiverse campaigns – build a flying Aarakocra rogue or psychic Githyanki wizard effortlessly.
Monstrous Threats: 268 Updated Stat Blocks
The heart of the book: 268 monsters (over 250 unique) with streamlined, DM-friendly designs. Key upgrades:
- Tactical Actions: More multiattacks, reactions, and lair actions for dynamic fights.
- Spellcasting Simplified: Monsters cast without Concentration tracking.
- Neutral Design: No alignments or deep lore in stat blocks – add your own flavor.
- CR Balance: Mostly unchanged, but playtested for fairness.
