Beast

Beast is a creature type in Dungeons & Dragons.

Overview[]

Beasts are non-humanoid creatures that are part of the natural world. Beasts are usually have low intelligence. Some may have magical powers.^[1]

Examples of beasts include normal animals, giant animals, and dinosaurs. Quippers and stirges are also beasts.^[2]

Publication history[]

Basic D&D[]

The animal type was introduced in AC9 Creature Catalogue (1986). The type was altered into the normal animal type in the Rules Cyclopedia (1991), with giant animal and prehistoric animal as variations on the type. Both the Creature Catalogue and the Rules Cyclopedia placed invertebrate creatures such as insects in another type, lowlife.

D&D 3rd edition[]

The animal type was introduced again in the Monster Manual (3.0) (2000), along with the beast and vermin types. Animals were usually vertebrates, while vermin were invertebrates. The beast type included non-historical creatures, including many that became classified as magical beasts or monstrosities in later editions.

The beast type was removed in the Monster Manual (3.5) (2003), and all of the type's creatures were folded into the magical beast type, save for a few exceptions folded into the animal type (such as dinosaurs and rocs).

D&D 4th edition[]

The beast type returned in the Monster Manual (4e) (2008). The type once again included creatures later classified as monstrosities, as well as creatures of the aberrant, elemental, fey, immortal, and shadow origins. Animals and vermin were also folded into the beast type.

D&D 5th edition[]

The beast type returned in the Monster Manual (5e) (2014), focusing primarily on naturally occurring creatures.

References[]

↑ Monsters (The Hypertext d20 SRD 5E). Retrieved 2020-08-15.
↑ Monsters List (Roll20 - D&D 5th Edition Compendium). Retrieved 2020-08-15.

[srd5e-1] Monsters (The Hypertext d20 SRD 5E). Retrieved 2020-08-15.

[roll20-2] Monsters List (Roll20 - D&D 5th Edition Compendium). Retrieved 2020-08-15.

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[2]

Beast

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