Shop Amazon Exclusive Toys & Games

Volo's Guide to Monsters (Dungeons & Dragons)

4.9 out of 5 stars 15,569
4.5 on Goodreads
(2,304)
Loading Images...
Double-tap to zoom
$89.99
FREE Returns
FREE delivery Sunday, July 7
Or fastest delivery Saturday, July 6. Order within 11 hrs 52 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$89.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Ships from
Amazon
Ships from
Amazon
Sold by
Sold by
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Returnable Yes
Resolutions Eligible for refund or replacement
Return Window 30 days from delivery
Refund Timelines Typically, an advance refund will be issued within 24 hours of a drop-off or pick-up. For returns that require physical verification, refund issuance may take up to 30 days after drop-off or pick up. Where an advance refund is issued, we will re-charge your payment method if we do not receive the correct item in original condition. See details here.
Late fee A late fee of 20% of the item price will apply if you complete the drop off or pick up after the ‘Return By Date’.
Restocking fee A restocking fee may apply if the item is not returned in original condition and original packaging, or is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to Amazon or seller error. See details here.
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Returnable Yes
Resolutions Eligible for refund or replacement
Return Window 30 days from delivery
Refund Timelines Typically, an advance refund will be issued within 24 hours of a drop-off or pick-up. For returns that require physical verification, refund issuance may take up to 30 days after drop-off or pick up. Where an advance refund is issued, we will re-charge your payment method if we do not receive the correct item in original condition. See details here.
Late fee A late fee of 20% of the item price will apply if you complete the drop off or pick up after the ‘Return By Date’.
Restocking fee A restocking fee may apply if the item is not returned in original condition and original packaging, or is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to Amazon or seller error. See details here.

Return instructions

Item must be in original condition and packaging along with tag, accessories, manuals, and inserts. Unlock any electronic device, delete your account and remove all personal information.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$74.90
FREE Returns
Ships quickly through Amazon. 100% satisfaction guarantee. Thank you for supporting a small family business! Book is in very good condition yet slightly used. No marks, writing, highlighting or major imperfections and the binding is solid. Used books may not include access codes or one time codes.
FREE delivery Sunday, July 7
Or fastest delivery Saturday, July 6. Order within 11 hrs 52 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$89.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Press and hold to save to specific list
$89.99
FREE Returns
FREE pickup Sunday, July 7. Order within 11 hrs 52 mins
How pickup works
Pick up from nearby pickup location
Step 1: Place Your Order
Select the “Pickup” option on the product page or during checkout.
Step 2: Receive Notification
Once your package is ready for pickup, you'll receive an email and app notification.
Step 3: Pick up
Bring your order ID or pickup code (if applicable) to your chosen pickup location to pick up your package.
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$89.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Sold by
Sold by
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Returnable Yes
Resolutions Eligible for refund or replacement
Return Window 30 days from delivery
Refund Timelines Typically, an advance refund will be issued within 24 hours of a drop-off or pick-up. For returns that require physical verification, refund issuance may take up to 30 days after drop-off or pick up. Where an advance refund is issued, we will re-charge your payment method if we do not receive the correct item in original condition. See details here.
Late fee A late fee of 20% of the item price will apply if you complete the drop off or pick up after the ‘Return By Date’.
Restocking fee A restocking fee may apply if the item is not returned in original condition and original packaging, or is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to Amazon or seller error. See details here.
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Returnable Yes
Resolutions Eligible for refund or replacement
Return Window 30 days from delivery
Refund Timelines Typically, an advance refund will be issued within 24 hours of a drop-off or pick-up. For returns that require physical verification, refund issuance may take up to 30 days after drop-off or pick up. Where an advance refund is issued, we will re-charge your payment method if we do not receive the correct item in original condition. See details here.
Late fee A late fee of 20% of the item price will apply if you complete the drop off or pick up after the ‘Return By Date’.
Restocking fee A restocking fee may apply if the item is not returned in original condition and original packaging, or is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to Amazon or seller error. See details here.

Return instructions

Item must be in original condition and packaging along with tag, accessories, manuals, and inserts. Unlock any electronic device, delete your account and remove all personal information.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Book details

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Book overview

Immerse yourself in monster lore in this supplement for the world’s greatest roleplaying game
 
This is NOT just another
Monster Manual! Volo’s Guide to Monsters provides something exciting for players and Dungeon Masters everywhere.
· A deep dive into the lore behind some of D&D’s most popular and iconic monsters
· Dozens of monsters new to the fifth edition to include in your epic adventures
· New playable races to allow you to build characters to fit nearly any type of story in your D&D game.
 
The esteemed loremaster Volothamp Geddarm is back and he’s written a fantastical dissertation, covering some of the most iconic monsters in the Forgotten Realms. Unfortunately, the Sage of Shadowdale himself, Elminster, doesn’t believe Volo gets some of the important details quite right. Don’t miss out as Volo and Elminster square off (academically speaking of course) to illuminate the uninitiated on creatures both common and obscure. Uncover the machinations of the mysterious Kraken Society, what is the origin of the bizarre froghemoth, or how to avoid participating in the ghastly reproductive cycle of the grotesque vargouille.  Dungeon Masters and players will get some much-needed guidance as you plan your next venture, traipsing about some dusty old ruin in search of treasure, lore, and let’s not forget ... dangerous creatures whose horns, claws, fangs, heads, or even hides might comfortably adorn the walls of your trophy room. If you survive.
 
Research has never been so dangerous!

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

An innovator in providing contemporary fantasy entertainment, Dungeons & Dragons is the wellspring for the entire modern game industry, digital as well as tabletop. Fifth edition D&D draws from every prior edition to create a universally compelling play experience, and exemplifies the true spirit of a game that holds captive the hearts and minds of millions of players worldwide.

Find more at: www.amazon.com/dnd

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Frequently bought together

Volo's Guide to Monsters (Dungeons & Dragons)
+
Xanathar's Guide to Everything (Dungeons & Dragons)
+
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse (Dungeons & Dragons Book)

Frequently bought together

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Total price: $00
Details
Added to Cart
spCSRF_Control
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Toy Safety

Our recommended age:
Manufacturer's minimum age: 14 years

From the Publisher

Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes Xanathar's Guide to Everything Volo's Guide to Monsters
Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes Xanathar's Guide to Everything Volo's Guide to Monsters
Customer Reviews
4.9 out of 5 stars
10,926
4.9 out of 5 stars
24,633
4.9 out of 5 stars
15,569
Price $99.99 $40.75 $89.99
Get this to: Craft inspired adventures with new and expanded monster lore, introduce new monsters to your campaign, and open new character race options Explore a wealth of new rules options and create a wider world for your players to explore Immerse your players in monster lore for a deeper roleplaying experience
Audience: Dungeon Masters, experienced players Dungeon Masters, experienced players Dungeon Masters, experienced players
Contents: Over 150 monsters with stats and illustrations / More options for character creation with new races / Expanded monster lore for Dungeon Masters to add depth to a campaign Dozens of new spells / Over 25 new subclasses / New Racial Feats / Random encounter tables for quick combat setup / Rules for Downtime Revisited / Tools like improved traps, magic items, and more for Dungeon Masters to add to their adventures 7 new playable races plus 6 monstrous races / In-depth monster lore including new variants of existing monsters, encounter tables, lair details, history, and more / Dozens of monsters new to fifth edition D&D for players to conquer

Product information

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Customers say

Customers find the content incredibly useful for dungeon masters who want more, expanding on some monster races and adding delicious layers of flavor. They also appreciate the plethora of new monsters and new playable races. Readers describe the illustrations as excellent, well executed, and impressive. They describe the book as a great addition, fun, and interesting. Customers also mention the book provides new races for creating characters and in depth perspectives on monstrous cultures.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

222Customers mention
215Positive
7Negative

Customers find the content incredibly useful for dungeon masters who want more. They say the book covers a lot of interesting background lore, and has awesome stat blocks with interesting and flavorful abilities. They also say it's easy to read and find stuff they need for their game. Customers also say the sections are very thorough and well done, allowing them to build deep encounters and even full story arcs. They love the extended monster manual, and appreciate the addition of monsters from other games.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

"...All in all, the content is incredibly useful for any dungeon master who wants more content. The new monsters alone are worth the price of admission...." Read more

"...The lore bits and flavor are both top-notch, though I personally found the interactions between Elminster and Volo to be a tad - I don't know,..." Read more

"...For DMs, this is an extremely useful aid. The first chapter provides lore on cultures, history, social structure etc...." Read more

"...The Monster Lore covers a lot of interesting background lore for DMs on some of the iconic monsters in the game...." Read more

94Customers mention
94Positive
0Negative

Customers find the creatures in the book fun, good, and evocative. They also appreciate the stat blocks for 5e, and the flavorful abilities.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

"...There are an excellent variety of new creatures, including some favorites that didn't make the original Monster Manual...." Read more

"...book. is. AMAZING. It has some amazing creatures that I thought were horribly left out by official D&D sources this edition..." Read more

"...Functionally, this book gives you more options for monsters. Now in my group I often just build my own from scratch...." Read more

"...This book still has value in that the collection of monster lore is still quite good, even if WOTC no longer considers it canon." Read more

84Customers mention
82Positive
2Negative

Customers find the book provides a bunch of new playable races that are sanctioned by the D&D. They also say the new PC races are fine and add variety to players. Readers also appreciate the nice balance between creature types.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

"...Personally, I was glad to see a nice balance between creature types, and that these new creatures help round out some of the groups, such as Fey...." Read more

"...The new player races are awesome, and with my limited playtesting since FLGS release, all seem mostly balanced..." Read more

"...I like most of the monsters in the book, and the new PC races were good too...." Read more

"...It expands the list of playable races by leaps and bounds...." Read more

80Customers mention
78Positive
2Negative

Customers find the illustrations in the book excellent, unique, and well done. They also say the layout is great and the monster pages have great detail.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

"...The layout of the book is great. It's nice to have the list by CR at the back of the book - a feature missing from the Monster Manual...." Read more

"...The artwork looks great too...." Read more

"...perhaps that of other long time players, it seemed like mostly well-illustrated fluff...." Read more

"...Graphics, as expected, are amazing. Very happy with my purchase." Read more

58Customers mention
58Positive
0Negative

Customers find the book addition a great addition to the base game, with new enemies and tons of info for dungeons. They also say it's a content update for the 5e ruleset.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

"...The new character races are also an excellent new addition, although their uniqueness may make them more useful for some groups over others; that..." Read more

"This guide has a lot of good stuff for the DM and a few new things for players...." Read more

"...This book is a great supplement for the dungeon master who wants to add depth to some of the common villains the heroes will face off against...." Read more

"...If you want some more monsters though it’s a nice addition to the collection." Read more

31Customers mention
31Positive
0Negative

Customers find the book fun, interesting, and enjoyable. They also say it can add some spice to an adventure and is a comprehensive guide that adds to the gaming experience.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

"...flavor, the book contains tables that make this creation easy and fun to use...." Read more

"Good quality and adds some fun races" Read more

"...expected, the artwork is beautiful and the writing is engaging and fun to read. It's more than just static text and stat blocks...." Read more

"...It was so much fun, and they loved the twist ending. Lots of inspiration to be found within these pages." Read more

22Customers mention
22Positive
0Negative

Customers find the book has new races for creating characters and in-depth perspectives of monstrous cultures. They also appreciate the personality and art.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

"...The new playable character races are all very interesting and many have already been introduced in previous 5E publications...." Read more

"...The new character race options are also wonderful (some are repeats from canned adventures, but that's fine...nice to have them in one place)...." Read more

"...This section of the book is great. The section on new character races is good too, but only helpful if you want to add them in to your campaign...." Read more

"Lots of exciting characters and creatures to learn about. My son is even interested in them!" Read more

22Customers mention
22Positive
0Negative

Customers find the D&D resources in the book great for DMs and players. They also say the races offer more interesting choices for players and that it has everything they need.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

"...This book is also an excellent choice for players to pick up if they want to expand their race choices.Durability..." Read more

"...Has everything he needs as a dungeon master, would be great for any DnD player. Graphics, as expected, are amazing. Very happy with my purchase." Read more

"...It has something for every type of player. New monsters to fight. In depth lore to read and incorporate...." Read more

"...Also has great options for extra player races, as well as a collection of new monsters ranging from whimsical to horrifying...." Read more

Submit a report

A few common reasons customers report reviews:
  • Harassment, profanity
  • Spam, advertisement, promotions
  • Given in exchange for cash, discounts
When we get your report, we'll check if the review meets our Community guidelines. If it doesn't, we'll remove it.
Sorry we couldn't load the review
Thank you for your feedback

Sorry, there was an error

Please try again later.

Top reviews from the United States

5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
A must-buy book for DM's. A treasure trove of inspiration with new races, monsters, and in-depth monster lore
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2016
This is a great addition to 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons. The cutesy banter between Volo and Elminster is kept to a minimum, leaving some really great, meaty content. While I just received my print copy today, I've been using the online version through Roll20 for two... See more
This is a great addition to 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons. The cutesy banter between Volo and Elminster is kept to a minimum, leaving some really great, meaty content. While I just received my print copy today, I've been using the online version through Roll20 for two weeks. My review is based on two weeks of experience with the content, plus sitting with the physical book today.

What exactly are you getting in this book?

- Nearly 90 pages of in depth monster lore, focusing on Beholders, Giants, Gnolls, Goblinoids, Hags, Kobolds, Mind Flayers, Orcs, and Yuan-ti. This is very in depth work, with multiple pages providing variants, tables, lairs (including maps), historical background, and even some of the psychology of the creatures that can really help you flesh out these types of creatures in your games.

- 7 new Player Character races, including Aasimar, Firbolg, Goliath, Kenku, Lizardfolk, Tabaxi, and Triton. These are a nice edition, and I especially like how the details for these new races includes tips on how to role-play as these slightly more unique creature types. Overall, these new races feel like they can breathe a lot of new life into campaigns for players who might be starting to get tired of the standard set from the Player's Handbook.

- 6 new Monstrous Player Character races, which feature groups that were represented in the first 90 pages. These are more limited/specialized builds that a DM would really need to weigh before including in a game, but absolutely could provide some fantastic adventures for the right group of players. The 6 Monstrous races represented are Bugbear, Goblin, Hobgoblin, Kobold, Orc, and Yuan-ti Pureblood.

- An expanded Bestiary.The next 99 pages of the book are dedicated to new monsters for your games. There are an excellent variety of new creatures, including some favorites that didn't make the original Monster Manual. Personally, I was glad to see a nice balance between creature types, and that these new creatures help round out some of the groups, such as Fey. It also is nice to see a book like this deepen the bench; this section of the book provides an especially large amount of new monsters of the type covered in the first 90 pages (Beholders, Giants, Gnolls, Goblinoids, Hags, Kobolds, Mind Flayers, Orcs, and Yuan-ti). A full 10 pages of this is also used to create new NPC stats, which is a great boon to be able to build encounters that stretch across a wider CR level in more civilized locations.

- The book wraps up with 4 pages of Appendixes which provide a quick reference no matter how you are looking for a creature: you can find them by CR level, by Creature Type, or by the typical environment that you would find the monster in.

All in all, the content is incredibly useful for any dungeon master who wants more content. The new monsters alone are worth the price of admission. The new character races are also an excellent new addition, although their uniqueness may make them more useful for some groups over others; that said, options are always nice to have. The first 90 pages of lore will be most useful to DM's who are planning on using the types of creatures listed in their campaigns. Especially if you are using those creature types, I highly recommend this as an addition to your collection, as the amount of material provided on these creatures is sure to spark your imagination and spin new adventures for your table.
235 people found this helpful
Share
Report
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
The Perfect Supplement
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2016
I'd just like to clarify before I begin my review that I'm not jumping the gun by reviewing the first day of non-game store release. I purchased the alternate cover version from my local game store Nov 4th, and have used that version extensively since. Now, I... See more
I'd just like to clarify before I begin my review that I'm not jumping the gun by reviewing the first day of non-game store release. I purchased the alternate cover version from my local game store Nov 4th, and have used that version extensively since.

Now, I really have to get this out there: this. book. is. AMAZING. It has some amazing creatures that I thought were horribly left out by official D&D sources this edition (the expansion of fiends itself is worth the buy to me).

The new player races are awesome, and with my limited playtesting since FLGS release, all seem mostly balanced (my party had some issues with some vague wording here and there but that's probably mostly due to their goal to drive me thoroughly crazy). Like, 10+ new (significant, not variations of already released variables) races added is a pretty big deal.

The lore bits and flavor are both top-notch, though I personally found the interactions between Elminster and Volo to be a tad - I don't know, childish? Cringey? For the most part, though, it wasn't an issue, and usually the information conveyed by the interactions is important (different takes on the creature you can have fitted for your campaign). I should also note that my friend and fellow DM had no problem with the dialogue.

The lair information is great, but I really wish there was more.

The binding seems a bit sturdier than the previous WotC publications, but I only received the non-FLGS copy this morning. You can rest assured that I will update my review as soon as a page falls out, or if I note an issue with the printing itself.

The layout of the book is great. It's nice to have the list by CR at the back of the book - a feature missing from the Monster Manual.

Overall, my nit picks don't really matter when one considers the quality of the book. It's honestly a must-buy for any 5th edition enthusiast. If you're new to the hobby, however, you might want to wait a bit before buying.
47 people found this helpful
Share
Report
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
The loremaster lives up to his title
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2019
This is a supplement for the core 5E books, providing lore within the frame narrative that Loremaster Volothamp Geddarm is the one who collected it and made it available to the reader. The Literary Agent Hypothesis is fun when it is done well, and it is done well here.... See more
This is a supplement for the core 5E books, providing lore within the frame narrative that Loremaster Volothamp Geddarm is the one who collected it and made it available to the reader. The Literary Agent Hypothesis is fun when it is done well, and it is done well here. Volo's comments provide extra insight, humor and a greater degree of immersion into the lore itself.

The lore is for certain monsters, such as mind flayers and orcs. It also has a list of new races for players but that is by far the shortest section. Third it has more monster-manual style monster entries, and finally an appendix for NPC humanoids with class levels, such as an abjuration wizard or an arch-druid, or some other non-class NPCs like apprentice wizard. So this is definitely something that is more useful to the Dungeon Master than the players, but players can also benefit (and not in a meta-gaming way either).

For those that want to play a paladin but don't like the "honor and justice" mold then Tritons provide an excellent template. They are typically lawful good but in a good-is-not-nice sort of way and gain racial bonuses to their STR, CON and CHA (+1 each) in addition to useful abilities, which set them apart from the paladins of other humanoid races.
Additionally, the communication methods and non-combat skills of the kenku sound like they would be fun to role-play. The curiosity of the tabaxi as well; there's a random table to simulate their mercurial curiosity.

For DMs, this is an extremely useful aid. The first chapter provides lore on cultures, history, social structure etc. for monsters, which can help with role-playing them, devising encounters that can lead into future events, and what their lairs can look like. Each section has maps, many of which are a full page, detailing a typical lair.

As a DM myself, these sections have already proven useful for me. I used the section on goblins to describe a war camp that was the centerpiece of a prior campaign, and the section on hags to devise and plan a future campaign.

The artwork looks great too. The focus monsters get several pictures showing them in action, like this one of an orc hunting party chasing down an elf, who is trying to hide, or a dissection of a mind flayer (Volov's own work, maybe? Or some researcher he interviewed?) Each monster and player race has their own depiction (warning: the spider-themed ones are creepy).

Trickster Eric Novels gives "Volvo's Guide to Monsters" an A+
20 people found this helpful
Share
Report
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
New Monsters, New Playable Races, and Lore
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2017
This guide has a lot of good stuff for the DM and a few new things for players. It seems to focus on 3 things: Monster Lore including lairs and new variants, new Monsters, and new playable character races. The Monster Lore covers a lot of interesting background... See more
This guide has a lot of good stuff for the DM and a few new things for players. It seems to focus on 3 things: Monster Lore including lairs and new variants, new Monsters, and new playable character races.

The Monster Lore covers a lot of interesting background lore for DMs on some of the iconic monsters in the game. The section gets into what motivates some of these monsters including societal backgrounds. There are also stat blocks on variants and lair maps. All of this is very nice and helpful if you are trying to flesh out a custom campaign.

There's quite a few pages of new monsters (sorry didn't count) including stat blocks and brief descriptions. New monsters with stats are always welcome to a DM especially when we've gone through the Monster Manual and are running out of new monsters to keep players engaged. It seems like a lot of Fiends to me but that's not really a complaint. There are a few other monster types as well including NPC and beast stat blocks.

The new playable character races are all very interesting and many have already been introduced in previous 5E publications. The intent of these new races is that they are very rare races as they all bring unique abilities. As such you probably don't want to have to build a campaign around an entire party of these races without proper planning. Potential issues may arise if you have a session for character creation prior to a campaign and you throw this book on the table. One player sees all the cool new player races then the rest see what he/she is doing and want a cool new player race too. So be prepared for that potential can-of-worms as it could throw a few monkey wrenches into your already prepared campaign. This isn't to say that it won't all turn out OK but it is definitely something to consider.
18 people found this helpful
Share
Report
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
Adds variation and richness to monsters for D&D.
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2017
I'm a DM who has been playing since the late 80's. So I'm always looking for products that make my life easier. Functionally, this book gives you more options for monsters. Now in my group I often just build my own from scratch. I'll build monsters and encounters to... See more
I'm a DM who has been playing since the late 80's. So I'm always looking for products that make my life easier. Functionally, this book gives you more options for monsters. Now in my group I often just build my own from scratch. I'll build monsters and encounters to challenge my players and avoid the cookie-cutter templates. My group has experienced players and former DM's, so they'll recall original builds easily and they'll play their characters with more "knowledge" than their character might actually have.

Volo's guide has the monsters "out of the box," but then has sub-sections after each monster that show variations you can add in the game to make them different, more challenging, but also stay within the spirit of the monster's original design. For example in the beholder section, they have alternative eye socket powers. So previous knowledge from another game won't aid the players when they encounter your re-skinned creations.

If you have someone at your table who is a rules lawyer, and they take issue with things that aren't in the books (you're cheating!), this will help you create variations that you can point to and say "actually this can exist." It also just gives more ideas and culture for the monsters. This includes behavior, biological functions and culture which all really help build verisimilitude. So if your group likes a lot of realism and detail, Volo's guide has done the work.

The book is very detailed, and is written from the perspective of Volo, a traveling wizard from the Forgotten Realms setting who has a very high opinion of himself and is prone to conflation. Thankfully, there are annotations from Elminster (also from Forgotten Realms) that help either confirm, or in some cases, completely refute what Volo is saying. This makes it for a more amusing read.

This guide was necessary for D&D. Some of the monsters in the book are as old as the game (over forty years) and the community takes them for granted. It's nice to see a product that freshens up the old, brings some new and ultimately helps give a DM tools to create a more immersive experience.
46 people found this helpful
Share
Report
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
A wonderful, wonderful book! :)
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2017
This was an excellent, excellent book! In the past, they would've called this "Monster Manual II"! They also finally (!) took my advice, and added an NPC entry for a few characters' suggestions of mine! The 6 types of wizards, and the youngster apprentice at... See more
This was an excellent, excellent book! In the past, they would've called this "Monster Manual II"!
They also finally (!) took my advice, and added an NPC entry for a few characters' suggestions of mine! The 6 types of wizards, and the youngster apprentice at level 0 or 1. I'd actually submitted a slightly different character sheet; using "alternate wizard," the kid had an 18 Intelligence and a 9 strength (for a prodigy 12 to 14-year-old mage, makes perfect sense) with an option for a single low-power magic item, such as a +1 Ring of Protection, but all in all, it's the same character sheet I submitted! Bravo!!! (The suggestions I had submitted goes WAAAAY back to when we were kids...a 1st-level mage or fighter/squire, or thief, or anything would be a young teenager. By 2nd-3rd level, he was 16 or 18. By 5th Level, the squire or mage or what have you is 21, ready to be knighted or take his Test of High Sorcery. It also makes perfect sense for a knight or wizard to be a nobleman's son (legitimate or bastard) because such an education cost a LOT of gold, and tutoring from age six or so. This is just putting a bit of reality into a fantasy game, I know, but it helps to "suspend belief."
Share
Report
4.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
Important but not current.
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2024
This book is deemed "Legacy" by WOTC, which means that none of the stat blocks are considered current. The current "official" data is in the "Multiverse" book. This book still has value in that the collection of monster lore is still quite good, even if WOTC no longer... See more
This book is deemed "Legacy" by WOTC, which means that none of the stat blocks are considered current. The current "official" data is in the "Multiverse" book. This book still has value in that the collection of monster lore is still quite good, even if WOTC no longer considers it canon.
Share
Report
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
Great book, watch out for power creep
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2016
I pre-ordered this not knowing what I would be getting, and I love it. It expands the list of playable races by leaps and bounds. My only caution is that the book does represent the classic power creep of expansion material. Some of the racial abilities could be used to... See more
I pre-ordered this not knowing what I would be getting, and I love it. It expands the list of playable races by leaps and bounds. My only caution is that the book does represent the classic power creep of expansion material. Some of the racial abilities could be used to make PCs more powerful. If this is made available to players as playable races, I would recommend GMs balance this in two ways - play up the negative stereo-types of monsters in cultures. Most of these races should not be openly welcome in towns and the PCs who play them should need to rely on more traditional PCs to function as their go-fors and liaisons in populated settings. Drastically ramp up the contention is rural areas, where monsters are both more dangerous to the general population, and where there is less exposure to diverse cultures. Additionally, where monster PCs are tolerated, play up stereotypes, discrimination,, and price gouging. This could be used as the theme of a role-play heavy campaign. Secondly, use the material in this book to give more abilities and levels to monsters the players encounter (turn about is fair play). So all in all, I love the book, but recommend GMs go in with eyes wide open and use it with caution. Also - beautiful book and art, well bound. Very Happy
One person found this helpful
Share
Report

Top reviews from other countries

Rafael
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
Conteúdo antigo, mas bom
Reviewed in Brazil on January 15, 2023
Apresenta novas raças e feats. Infelizmente saiu uma versão que contém todo o conteúdo desse livro que é o Monster of Multiverse, mas ele continua sendo uma ótima leitura e um ótimo suplemento
Apresenta novas raças e feats. Infelizmente saiu uma versão que contém todo o conteúdo desse livro que é o Monster of Multiverse, mas ele continua sendo uma ótima leitura e um ótimo suplemento
Report
Verzweiflung18
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
Not as thick as I thought (for the $$$)
Reviewed in Canada on May 21, 2022
Love the book. Gave it 5 stars. The only minor issue I had was that it's called a guide to Monsters, but is only half-filled with monster stats/descriptions, and also, it's only about half as many pages as the Monster Manual or the Dungeon Master's Guide, but it costs the...See more
Love the book. Gave it 5 stars. The only minor issue I had was that it's called a guide to Monsters, but is only half-filled with monster stats/descriptions, and also, it's only about half as many pages as the Monster Manual or the Dungeon Master's Guide, but it costs the same as those 2 books.... which is not an issue with Amazon (they had it priced on sale), it's more of a beef with WOTC.
Love the book. Gave it 5 stars.
The only minor issue I had was that it's called a guide to Monsters, but is only half-filled with monster stats/descriptions, and also, it's only about half as many pages as the Monster Manual or the Dungeon Master's Guide, but it costs the same as those 2 books.... which is not an issue with Amazon (they had it priced on sale), it's more of a beef with WOTC.
Report
Rafael Ornelas
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
Excelente
Reviewed in Mexico on May 13, 2021
es un libro con gran informacion complementario de las reglas del juego. excelente compra para llevar tus sesiones a otro nivel.
es un libro con gran informacion complementario de las reglas del juego. excelente compra para llevar tus sesiones a otro nivel.
Report
Carlo C.
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
Più profondità agli incontri e alle motivazioni dei mostri
Reviewed in Italy on April 4, 2023
Ho preso questo libro perchè mi è stato raccomandato come spunto per dare ulteriore profondità e motivazioni ai mostri che verranno combattuti dai giocatori: nel mio caso specifico, sto preparando la campagna dell'essential kit (Dragon of Icespire peak) e devo dire che ci...See more
Ho preso questo libro perchè mi è stato raccomandato come spunto per dare ulteriore profondità e motivazioni ai mostri che verranno combattuti dai giocatori: nel mio caso specifico, sto preparando la campagna dell'essential kit (Dragon of Icespire peak) e devo dire che ci sono diversi punti e appronfondimenti interessanti da aggiungere alla campagna. Se i vostri giocatori non si accontentano di mazzuolare i mostri in questione ma gradirebbero anche avere un po' di spessore agli avversari che stanno affrontando (ma soprattutto se non ritenere che il "semplicemente sono cattivi" basti come motivazione) questo libro fa per voi.
Ho preso questo libro perchè mi è stato raccomandato come spunto per dare ulteriore profondità e motivazioni ai mostri che verranno combattuti dai giocatori: nel mio caso specifico, sto preparando la campagna dell'essential kit (Dragon of Icespire peak) e devo dire che ci sono diversi punti e appronfondimenti interessanti da aggiungere alla campagna. Se i vostri giocatori non si accontentano di mazzuolare i mostri in questione ma gradirebbero anche avere un po' di spessore agli avversari che stanno affrontando (ma soprattutto se non ritenere che il "semplicemente sono cattivi" basti come motivazione) questo libro fa per voi.
Report
Marauder
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
Guía de Volo para Monstruos
Reviewed in Spain on February 28, 2021
En inglés. Es un aliado interesante para aquellos que, como yo, disfruten dándole mucha cancha a lo que rodea a algunos tipos de monstruos, haciéndolos más profundos que un mero "punching" que tus jugadores deben matar o malherir para continuar. Detalla algunos de los...See more
En inglés. Es un aliado interesante para aquellos que, como yo, disfruten dándole mucha cancha a lo que rodea a algunos tipos de monstruos, haciéndolos más profundos que un mero "punching" que tus jugadores deben matar o malherir para continuar. Detalla algunos de los monstruos más icónicos y agrega descripciones, ideas y contexto a muchos de esos seres que pueblan los paisajes y cuevas del universo de D&D.
En inglés. Es un aliado interesante para aquellos que, como yo, disfruten dándole mucha cancha a lo que rodea a algunos tipos de monstruos, haciéndolos más profundos que un mero "punching" que tus jugadores deben matar o malherir para continuar.
Detalla algunos de los monstruos más icónicos y agrega descripciones, ideas y contexto a muchos de esos seres que pueblan los paisajes y cuevas del universo de D&D.
One person found this helpful
Report

How customer reviews and ratings work

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon