Draft:List of Dungeons & Dragons monsters (1977–99)

The following is a list of monsters that appeared in various books and supplements for the "Basic" version of Dungeons & Dragons from the release of the first Basic Set in 1977 through expansions until the end of the line in 1994.

Dungeons & Dragons Basic Rulebook (1977)
The Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set, edited by John Eric Holmes, was first released in 1977, as an introductory set for new players. While players were intended to go onto Advanced Dungeons & Dragons once the play options in the Basic Set were exhausted, as stated in the book, many players found they preferred the simpler play style of the basic game. The Basic Set was based upon the original work published in 1974 and three of the supplementary booklets to the original set. Much like the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual, also released in 1977, this book collected many of the monsters from the previous D&D supplements, and included the stat lines on the same page as the monsters' descriptions. Most descriptions do not feature illustrations.

TSR 2014 – Dungeons & Dragons – Basic Rulebook (1981) and TSR 1011B – Dungeons & Dragons – Basic Set (1983)
The second version of the D&D Basic Set, edited by Tom Moldvay, was first printed in 1981, and is generally known as the "red book". This revision solidified the split between the "Basic" and "Advanced" lines of the game. Few of the creature descriptions included illustrations, and most descriptions were limited to one paragraph.

A third edition of the Basic Rules was printed in 1983. This version split the rules into two books, the Player's Manual and the Dungeon Master's Rulebook, and was sold as a boxed set, with the product number TSR 1011B. Creature descriptions were provided in the Dungeon Master's Rulebook; with some minor changes to order and naming conventions and some removals, they duplicated the entries found in the 1981 edition. Once again the descriptions were generally limited to one paragraph, with few illustrations.

TSR 2015 – Dungeons & Dragons – Expert Rulebook (1981) and TSR 1012B – Dungeons & Dragons – Expert Set (1983)
The D&D Expert Rules were first printed in 1981, and are generally known as the "blue book". The new rules allowed for outdoor, wilderness-based adventures (over and above dungeon adventures), and for characters up to 14th level. Again, few of the creature descriptions included illustrations, and most descriptions were limited to one paragraph. (ISBN 0-935696-29-6).

A second edition of the Expert Rules was printed in 1983, and again was sold as a boxed set. With some minor changes to order and naming conventions and several removals, the creature descriptions duplicate the entries found in the 1981 edition. Once again the descriptions were generally limited to one paragraph, with few illustrations.

TSR 1013 – Dungeons & Dragons – Companion Rules, Dungeon Master's Companion (1984)
The Dungeon Master's Companion divides creatures into two groups: those from the Prime Plane and those from Other Planes. These are listed separately below. The creature descriptions generally did not not include illustrations. Notably, the first list of creatures is not presented in alphabetical order. Neither the Companion Set nor its individual books (Player's and Dungeon Master's Companions) have an ISBN.

TSR 1021 – Dungeons & Dragons – Master Rules, Master DM's Book (1985)
The Master DM's Book divides creatures into two groups: again, those from the Prime Plane and those from Other Planes. These are listed separately below. Again, the creature descriptions generally did not include illustrations. Neither the Master Set nor its individual books (Master Player's and Master DM's Books) have an ISBN.

TSR 1017 – Dungeons & Dragons – Immortals Rules (1986)
The Immortals DM's Book provides a single section containing new or previously published creatures, listed below. Again, most creature descriptions did not include illustrations. Neither the Immortals Set nor its individual books (Immortals Player's and Immortals DM's Books) have an ISBN.

TSR 9044 – D&D Basic Module B3 Palace of the Silver Princess (1981)
The Palace of the Silver Princess was the only D&D module ever published by TSR to be recalled immediately after distribution, ostensibly for editorial issues and questionable artwork. Two versions of the module exist: the extremely rare orange-cover original printing (available for download as a PDF from Wizards of the Coast), and the more common green-cover revised edition. The original version added 13 new creatures; two of these survived in the revised edition, but the majority were removed. The original version of the module was issued as ISBN 0-935696-31-8. The updated green-cover version of the module contained only three new creatures, and was issued with the same ISBN.

TSR 9049 – D&D Basic Module B4 The Lost City (1982)
The Lost City module, published in 1982, added four new creatures, with limited illustrations and short descriptions.

ISBN 0-935696-55-5

TSR 9078 – D&D Basic Module B5 Horror on the Hill (1983)
Horror on the Hill, published in 1983, added three new creatures. The descriptions included illustrations of all three new monsters.

ISBN 0-88038-046-2

TSR 9078 – D&D Basic Module B6 The Veiled Society (1984)
The Veiled Society module, published in 1984, added a single new creature, with illustration.

ISBN 0-88038-085-3

TSR 9115 – D&D Basic Module B7 Rahasia (1984)
Rahasia, published in 1984, added three new or previously published creatures, listed below.

ISBN 0-88038-113-2

TSR 9106 – D&D Basic Module B8 Journey to the Rock (1984)
Journey to the Rock, published in 1984, added seven new or previously published creatures.

ISBN 0-88038-158-2

TSR 9149 – D&D Basic Module B10 Night's Dark Terror (1986)
Night's Dark Terror, published in 1986, was billed as a special Basic/Expert transition module from the United Kingdom. It incorporated nine new or previously published creatures, with illustrations.

ISBN 0-88038-269-4

TSR 9190 – D&D Basic Module B1-9 In Search of Adventure (1987)
In Search of Adventure, published in 1987, was an abridged 160-page compilation module containing the majority of elements from modules B1 through B9. "New" monsters, previously published in modules B1 through B9 or in the D&D Expert Rules, were included in the compilation.

ISBN 0-88038-388-7

TSR 9260 – D&D Basic Module B11 King's Festival (1989)
King's Festival, published in 1989, was billed as an introductory module specifically designed for inexperienced and new players. It incorporated two previously published creatures.

ISBN 0-88038-746-7

TSR 9261 – D&D Basic Module B12 Queen's Harvest (1989)
Queen's Harvest, published in 1989, was billed as an introductory module specifically designed for inexperienced and new players. It incorporated three new or previously published creatures.

ISBN 0-88038-768-8

TSR 9043 – D&D Expert Module X1 The Isle of Dread (1981, 1983)
The Isle of Dread was the first module published for use with the D&D Expert Rules, in 1981. It included a New Monsters section containing 15 previously unpublished creatures. This module was included in the Expert Rules boxed set. It was reprinted in 1983, and issued in the boxed set with the 1983 version of the Expert Rules. The 1983 version included all the creatures from the original 1981 edition, and added one more. The creatures from both versions are listed in the table below.

ISBN 0-935696-30-X. (1981 edition)

ISBN 0-88038-053-5. (1983 edition)

TSR 9051 – D&D Expert Module X2 Castle Amber (1981)
Castle Amber was the second module published for use with the D&D Expert Rules, in 1981. It contained a New Monsters section, adding 17 new monsters either previously unseen or published in D&D Expert Module X1. ISBN 0-935696-51-2.

TSR 9056 – D&D Expert Module X3 Curse of Xanathon (1982)
Curse of Xanathon, published in 1982, added a single new creature.

ISBN 0-935696-56-3

TSR 9056 – D&D Expert Module X4 Master of the Desert Nomads (1983)
The first of a two-part series, Master of the Desert Nomads, was published in 1983 and included a New Monsters section, containing five new creature descriptions with illustrations.

ISBN 0-88038-016-0

TSR 9069 – D&D Expert Module X5 Temple of Death (1983)
The conclusion to the series started with module X4, Temple of Death was published in 1983 and included a New Monsters section, containing five previously unpublished creatures, with illustrations.

ISBN 0-88038-017-9

TSR 9081 – D&D Expert Module X6 Quagmire! (1984)
Quagmire!, published in 1984, added six new or previously published creatures.

ISBN 0-88038-112-4

TSR 9079 – D&D Expert Module X7 The War Rafts of Kron (1984)
The War Rafts of Kron was published in 1984 and included a New Monsters section, containing 14 new or previously published creatures.

ISBN 0-88038-114-0

TSR 9127 – D&D Expert Module X8 Drums on Fire Mountain (1984)
Drums on Fire Mountain was published in 1984 and included a New Monsters section, containing five previously unpublished creatures.

ISBN 0-88038-181-7

TSR 9129 – D&D Expert Module X9 The Savage Coast (1985)
The Savage Coast was published in 1985 and included a New Monsters section, containing 13 new or previously published creatures, with illustrations.

ISBN 0-88038-197-3

TSR 9160 – D&D Expert Module X10 Red Arrow, Black Shield (1985)
Red Arrow, Black Shield was published in 1985 and included a New Monsters section, containing two previously published creatures with illustrations.

ISBN 0-88038-245-7

TSR 9165 – D&D Expert Module X11 Saga of the Shadow Lord (1986)
Saga of the Shadow Lord was published in 1986 and included a New Monsters section, containing three previously unpublished creatures.

ISBN 0-88038-311-9

TSR 9188 – D&D Expert Module X12 Skarda's Mirror (1987)
Skarda's Mirror was published in 1987 and included a single previously unpublished creature.

ISBN 0-88038-385-2

TSR 9218 – D&D Expert Module X13 Crown of Ancient Glory (1987)
Crown of Ancient Glory was published in 1986 and included a New Monsters section, containing five new or previously published creatures.

ISBN 978-0-88038-495-7

TSR 9114 – D&D Expert Module XL1 Quest for the Heartstone (1984)
Quest for the Heartstone was published in 1984 and included a New Monsters section, containing four previously unpublished creatures, with illustrations.

ISBN 0-88038-311-9

TSR 9157 – D&D Expert Module XS2 Thunderdelve Mountain (1985)
Thunderdelve Mountain was a solo adventure published in 1985; it included a New Monsters section, containing three previously unpublished creatures.

ISBN 0-88038-242-2

TSR 9191 – D&D Expert Module DA3 City of the Gods (1987)
City of the Gods, published in 1987, was a D&D Expert rules module set in the Blackmoor campaign world. It included 13 new or previously published creatures, with short descriptions and few illustrations.

ISBN 0-88038-389-5

TSR 9205 – D&D Expert Module DA4 The Duchy of Ten (1987)
The Duchy of Ten, published in 1987, was a D&D Expert rules module set in the Blackmoor campaign world. It included 14 new or previously published creatures, with short descriptions and some illustrations.

ISBN 0-88038-412-3

TSR 9067 – D&D Module MSolo1 Blizzard Pass (1983)
Blizzard Pass was a Basic Set solo D&D module published in 1983 which included a New Monsters section containing two previously unpublished creatures with illustrations.

ISBN 0-88038-004-7

TSR 9060 – D&D Module MSolo2 Maze of the Riddling Minotaur (1983)
Maze of the Riddling Minotaur was an Expert Set solo D&D module published in 1983 which included a New Monsters section on the interior cover, containing 5 previously unpublished creatures with illustrations.

ISBN 0935696-73-3

TSR 9157 – D&D Expert Module O2 Blade of Vengeance (1985)
Blade of Vengeance was a one-on-one adventure published in 1984; it included a New Monsters section containing four previously unpublished creatures.

ISBN 0-88038-190-6

TSR 9118 – D&D Companion Module CM2 Death's Ride (1984)
Death's Ride was published in 1984 and included a New Monsters section containing one previously unpublished creature with illustration.

ISBN 0-88038-117-5

TSR 9119 – D&D Companion Module CM3 Sabre River (1984)
Sabre River was published in 1984 and included a New Monsters section containing one previously unpublished creature.

ISBN 0-88038-118-3

TSR 9154 – D&D Companion Module CM5 Mystery of the Snow Pearls (1985)
Mystery of the Snow Pearls was published in 1985 and included a New Monsters section containing two previously unpublished creatures with illustrations.

ISBN 0-88038-239-2

TSR 9158 – D&D Companion Module CM6 Where Chaos Reigns (1985)
Where Chaos Reigns was published in 1985 and included a New Monsters section on a removable sheet, containing three previously unpublished creatures with illustrations.

ISBN 0-88038-243-0

TSR 9192 – D&D Companion Module CM8 The Endless Stair (1987)
The Endless Stair was published in 1987 and included a New Monsters section, containing four previously unpublished creatures with illustrations.

ISBN 0-88038-390-9

TSR 9210 – D&D Companion Module CM9 Legacy of Blood (1987)
Legacy of Blood was published in 1987 and included a New Monsters section containing five previously unpublished creatures with illustrations.

ISBN 0-88038-487-5

TSR 9159 – D&D Master's Module M1 Into the Maelstrom (1985)
Into the Maelstrom was published in 1985 and included a New Monsters section containing one previously unpublished creature.

ISBN 0-88038-244-9

TSR 9148 – D&D Master's Module M2 Vengeance of Alphaks (1986)
Vengeance of Alphaks was published in 1986 and included a New Monsters section containing two previously unpublished creatures.

ISBN 0-88038-271-6

TSR 9214 – D&D Master's Module M5 Talons of Night (1987)
Talons of Night was published in 1987 and included a New Monsters section containing five new or previously published creatures with illustrations.

ISBN 0-88038-491-3

TSR 9173 – AC9 – Creature Catalogue (1986)
Creature Catalogue was the first full book of monsters for the basic edition of the Dungeons & Dragons game, published in 1986 after the Basic, Expert, Companion, and Master sets. The book collected all the creatures first presented in the official Dungeons & Dragons adventure modules to that time, plus many new creatures. It incorporated a comprehensive index of all D&D monsters found in the book and in the Basic, Expert, Companion and Master rule sets. The monsters are divided into six sections, arranged by creature type: Animals, Conjurations, Humanoids, Lowlifes, Monsters and Undead.

ISBN 0-88038-315-1

TSR 1071 – Rules Cyclopedia (1991)
The Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia was published in 1991. It was intended as an encyclopedia of all the major rules for the basic Dungeons & Dragons game up to that point, including most of the information appearing in the previous boxed sets. Chapter 14 of the book presented most of the monsters used in the basic D&D game once again.

ISBN 1-56076-085-0