10 Best Low-Level Monsters In Dungeons & Dragons

10. Goblins

Ok yes, I just mentioned that goblins are overdone and if you have played a game of Dungeons and Dragons then odds are you’ve killed a score of these, but have you fought them at their best? Goblins are often played as fools for comedic effect, coming at you in a small swarm or ambush and running when outnumbered, but goblins aren’t stupid.

Goblins are fantastic ambush enemies. They will find a well-travelled road where they will dig pits, lay nets and place archers in the trees. This sort of ambush, combined with a pack of wolves and a leader to support the troops, and you can knock a party down to half health before they even know what’s happened. Then just when you think you’ve got them beat, they retreat to their lair.

The lair of the goblin will be similarly trapped and full of wild beats such as wolf packs. This is a perfect way to grind down your party before they have to fight the Bugbear or Hobgoblin boss at the end, you can even throw in a Shaman for some magic damage. Just try not to let a goblin get captured, because even the threat of torture will have them singing like a canary.