History Characters / DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesH

''[[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreatures Creatures]]'': [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreatureTypes Creature Types]] ([[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesA A]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesB B]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesC C]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesD D]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesE E]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesF F]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesG G]] | '''H''' | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesIToL I to L]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesM M]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesNtoQ N to Q]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesR R]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesSPartOne Sa-Sl]], [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesSPartTwo So-Sy]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesT T]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesUToZ U to Z]]) | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsBeholderkin Beholderkin]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsFiendsDemons Demons]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsFiendsDevils Devils]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsDragons Dragons]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsGiants Giants]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsMindFlayers Mind Flayers]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsUndead Undead]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsFiendsYugoloths Yugoloths]] \\

* BadIsGoodAndGoodIsBad: In fifth edition, hags "perceive ugliness as beauty, and vice versa". They revel in having a hideous appearance and sometimes go out of their way "improve" upon it by picking at sores, wearing skins and bones as decoration, and rubbing refuse and dirt into their hair and clothing.
* BizarreAlienReproduction: In fifth edition, hags propagate by snatching and devouring human infants. After stealing a baby from its cradle or its mother's womb, [[EatsBabies the hag consumes the child]]. A week later, the hag gives birth to a daughter who looks human until her thirteenth birthday, whereupon the child transforms into the spitting image of her hag mother.

* EatsBabies: They have a taste for the flesh of infants, and in fifth edition eating a baby is actually [[BizarreAlienReproduction part of their reproductive cycle]].

* HandshakeOfDoom: The lore for hags in "Volo's Guide to Monsters" suggests they enjoy sealing deals by shaking hands, which drops whatever illusion they have up (even if the character can't see through it, they can feel the clawlike hand itself). Hags almost always make deals with the aim of twisting them to make the unfortunate soul in question (or someone else) as miserable as possible (be it through their price or twisting the service they provide).

* OneGenderRace: There are no male Hags, though earlier editions did have hag-spawn, male HalfHumanHybrids of a hag and a male humanoid.

[[folder:Harpoon Spider]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d&d_harpoon_spider_3e.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:3e]]
->'''Classification:''' Aberration (3E)\\
'''Challenge Rating:''' 4, 9 (dread harpoon spider) (3E)\\
'''Alignment:''' ChaoticEvil

Arachnoid aberrations that reel in prey with organic harpoons, then impale victims upon their spiny carapaces for later consumption.

* GiantSpider: A harpoon spider superficially resembles a black widow that measures around 8 feet long and weighs nearly 1400 pounds. "Dread" harpoon spiders are even larger, certifiably Huge monsters 18 feet long weighing in at 7200 pounds.
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: The spines covering harpoon spiders will damage foes that attack them in melee, but their primary purpose is to secure prey. Harpoon spiders can impale a helpless victim upon their spiny bodies, dealing damage and letting the monster carry on normally without having to maintain a grapple.
* NonIndicativeName: Harpoon spiders are not spiders at all, possessing ten legs, human eyes, and hundreds of razor-sharp spines covering its body.
* PoisonousPerson: Their bites carry a poison that deals [[NonHealthDamage Dexterity damage]], potentially paralyzing victims who succumb to it.
* {{Sadist}}: They're fully sentient, capable of speech in Common and Undercommon, and have a morbid sense of humor as they play with victims "ripening" on their spines.
* WallCrawl: As spider-like creatures, harpoon spiders can move along webs without getting stuck, and scale sheer surfaces, but their climb speed is only half their standard movement speed.
* YouWillNotEvadeMe: A harpoon spider can launch its fangs up to 20 feet, then use leathery tendrils to drag any prey it catches straight to its maw.

[[folder:Harpy]]
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/harpy_d&d.png]]
[[caption-width-right:300:4e]]
->'''Classification:''' Monstrous Humanoid (3E), Fey Humanoid (4E), Monstrosity (5E)\\
'''Challenge Rating:''' 4 (3E), 6 (4E), 1 (5E)\\
'''Alignment:''' ChaoticEvil, Evil (4E)

Wicked winged women with a supernaturally alluring song, but evil natures.

* CompellingVoice: No matter their physical form, harpies have long had the ability to lure victims closer with an enthralling song, overlapping these harpies with mythological [[OurSirensAreDifferent sirens.]] Their 1st Edition ''Monster Manaul'' simply states that sirens ''are'' harpies that happen to live along coasts and prey upon sailors.
* FanDisservice: Their 3rd Edition ''Monster Manual'' art depicts them topless, but with the sagging bosom of an old woman.
* HarpingOnAboutHarpies: ''D&D'' has had harpies throughout its history as evil {{Monstrous Humanoid}}s with hypnotic singing voices, though their appearance has varied considerably.
** 2e harpies are ugly, resembling nasty-looking crone-like women who have the lower bodies and wings of vultures, but with beautiful, enrapturing singing voices (in contrast to their shrieking, cackling language).
** 3e harpies are, similarly, ugly creatures who combined the worst aspects of crones and vultures, only with draconic legs and wings.
** 4e harpies take a swing into the GorgeousGorgon territory, with bird wings and claws but otherwise regular humanoid appearances. In the default ''TabletopGame/NentirVale'' setting, they’re given an origin as the descendants of an evil elf queen whose family misused magic to [[VoluntaryShapeshifting assume the form of birds]] in order to spy upon their tyrannized subjects. When their people revolted, the magic went haywire and trapped them as half-elf, half-bird beings.
** In 5th edition, harpies keep the CuteMonsterGirl looks, with human-like bodies but monstrous claws. They're also given a new origin story as an elven maiden who learned a beautiful song to woo the god Fenmarel Mestarine. When her trick didn't work, she got mad and used magic to turn herself into the first harpy, corrupting her love into a predatory hunger for the flesh of others.
* OneGenderRace: This too fluctuates by edition, with early works depicting harpies as all-female and depending on parthenogenesis and/or humanoid males to perpetuate themselves, while 4th Edition explicitly states that there are male harpies, but they live in gender-segregated flocks and rarely stick around after producing hatchlings with a female.
* WingedHumanoid: Harpies largely resemble monstrous women with functional wings -- these are usually avian, but in 3rd Edition they're draconic instead.

[[folder:Harssaf]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d&d_harssaf_3e.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:3e]]
->'''Classification:''' Monstrous Humanoid (3E)\\
'''Challenge Rating:''' 5 (3E)\\
'''Playable:''' 3E\\
'''Alignment:''' LawfulEvil

Desert-dwelling humanoids who can command the forces of heat and sand.
----
* ApocalypseCult: Harssafs don't worship any particular deity, but the desert itself. They believe themselves to be the chosen children of the desert, spawned from its very sands, and only they will survive when great sandstorms expand the desert to cover the rest of the world.
* BareFistedMonk: Harssafs' favored class is monk, and rumors persist of ancient harssaf monasteries hidden deep in the desert, which record the race's history and pass down fighting techniques.
* DesertBandits: These humanoids live nomadic lives in the great deserts of the world, sometimes skirmishing with other harssaf clans, but preferring to raid their "soft outlander" neighbors. They don't take any particular pride in killing others, but harssafs view it as a necessary survival skill.
* ElementalShapeshifting: Harssafs can freely assume a sand form, allowing them to evade attacks, slither along the ground, and slip through narrow gaps and crevices.
* PlayingWithFire: At will, harssafs can surround themselves with a fiery aura that damages anything around them, or anything they strike with metal weapons.
* SandBlaster: Once per day, a harssaf can generate a pulse of sand in a 30-foot radius, dealing damage and potentially [[AHandfulForAnEye blinding]] victims.
[[/folder]]

''[[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreatures Creatures]]'': [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreatureTypes Creature Types]] ([[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesA A]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesB B]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesC C]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesD D]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesE E]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesF F]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesG G]] | '''H''' | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesIToL I to L]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesM M]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesNtoQ N to Q]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesR R]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesS S]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesT T]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesUToZ U to Z]]) | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsBeholderkin Beholderkin]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsFiendsDemons Demons]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsFiendsDevils Devils]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsDragons Dragons]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsGiants Giants]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsMindFlayers Mind Flayers]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsUndead Undead]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsFiendsYugoloths Yugoloths]] \\

[[folder:Hellwasp]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d&d_hellwasp_5e.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:5e]]
->'''Classification:''' Magical Beast (3E), Fiend (5E)\\
'''Challenge Rating:''' 8 (hellwasp swarm) (3E), 5 (5E)\\

Intelligent and malevolent fiendish insects from the Lower Planes.

* TheParalyzer: The hellwasp's venom carries a paralytic enzyme that renders the victim helpless long enough for the hellwasp to grab its prey and flee.
* GrandTheftMe[=/=]PossessingADeadBody: Gehennan hellwasp swarms are capable of entering a dead or helpless creature [[OrificeInvasion via its mouth and other orifices]] and taking it over, animating it similarly to a zombie. An unfortunate creature inhabited this way is easy to spot due to how their skin crawls from the insects beneath it, leading the swarm to adopt loose clothing or cloaks to disguise itself. A living creature with a hellwasp swarm inside it will take Constitution damage each hour as they're EatenAlive.
* {{Retcon}}: 3rd Edition hellwasps are Diminutive insects native to Gehenna, and only gain a basic intelligence when forming a HiveMind with each other in a swarm. Later hellwasps are Large-sized, full-on devils native to Baator, and are intelligent as individuals.
* TheSwarm: Their 3rd Edition incarnation.
* WickedWasps: They're literally wasps from Hell, so yes.
* YouKillItYouBoughtIt: Their revised lore paints hellwasps as former demons who joined the Archduchess Glasya after she killed their demon lord. After being reforged into devils, they were accepted as part of the Nine Hells.

* {{Ultraterrestrials}}: They're the "primal fey" of Krynn, who millennia ago used [[CircleOfStandingStones circles of standing stones]] to migrate from that world to what they call "The Gray," a realm of spirits and magic that some scholars speculate is more properly called the Ethereal Sea. The reason why the huldrefolk left is unclear, with some scholars asserting that the huldrefolk wished to leave the world to the rising mortal races, while others believe that the fey feared that remaining to long on Krynn would dilute their extraplanar nature.

[[folder:Hybsil]]
[[quoteright:301:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d&d_hybsil_3e.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:301:3e]]
->'''Origin:''' ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms''\\

'''Challenge Rating:''' 1 (3E)\\
'''Alignment:''' NeutralGood

Fey combinations of antelopes and pixies, whose tribes roam forests and grasslands, generally avoiding other races.

* BadassNative: They have something like the Native American tradition of counting coup, in which young hybsil warriors (of both sexes) prove their daring by darting amongst enemies, stabbing them once, and escaping.
* ForcedSleep: Like their pixie kin, hybsils can coat their weapons with a poison that causes ''sleep''.
* HornedHumanoid: Both male and female hybsils have horns, the former large forking antlers that molt in the dead of winter and grow back in the spring, the latter smaller straight or spiral antlers that remain year-round. Hybsil horns are said to have magical properties, leading some mages or alchemists to pay for shed specimens... or horns attached to a fresh hybsil scalp, ensuring their magical efficacy.
* OurCentaursAreDifferent: They're three-foot-tall tauric creatures with cervid lower bodies and fey humanoid torsos.
* OurPixiesAreDifferent: Their other half; hybsils are considered cousins to pixies, and possess tricksy spell-like abilities such as ''dancing lights,'' ''mirror image'' or ''ventriloquism''.
* SeeTheInvisible: In 3rd Edition, hybsils can see ''invisible'' creatures without difficulty.

[[folder:Hydra]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d&d_hydra_5e.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:5e]]
->'''Classification:''' Magical Beast (3E), Natural Beast (4E), Monstrosity (5E)\\
'''Challenge Rating:''' 4+ (3E), 12 (4E), 8 (5E)\\
'''Alignment:''' Unaligned

Many-headed reptiles famous for their regenerative powers, hydras mostly live as bestial predators in swamps.

[[folder:Horizonback Tortoise]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d&d_horizonback_tortoise_5e.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:5e]]
->'''Origin:''' ''WebVideo/CriticalRole''\\
'''Classification:''' Monstrosity (5E)\\
'''Challenge Rating:''' 8 (5E)\\

Also known as ''kinespaji'' by goblins, these gargantuan tortoises are nearly 50 feet long, and willing to tolerate riders.

* DefendCommand: Unsurprisingly, they can retreat into their shells for an AC bonus (pinning anything that had been trying to move beneath them).
* ItCanThink: While not quite as smart as the average ogre, these tortoises can at least understand Goblin.
* MovingBuildings: On Exandria, horizonback tortoises provide mobile homesteads to the denizens of Xhorhas, or can serve as walking siege emplacements.
* TurtleIsland: They're the terrestrial variant, tortoises large enough to support buildings on their shells.

[[folder:Hell Hound]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d&d_hell_hound_5e.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:5e]]
->'''Classification:''' Outsider (3E), Elemental Beast (4E), Fiend (5E)\\
'''Challenge Rating:''' 3 (3E, 5E), 9 (Nessian warhound) (3E)\\
'''Alignment:''' LawfulEvil (1E-3E, 5E), Unaligned (4E)

Fiendish dogs from the Lower Planes, often found in the service of other evil beings.

* BreathWeapon: They can breathe a cone of fire.
* EliteMook: Nessian warhounds, a particularly nasty breed of hell hounds the size of draft horses, are bred in the depths of Nessus at Asmodeus' command.
* {{Hellhound}}: They're monstrous, fire-breathing canines native to Acheron but found across the Lower Planes, including [[{{Hell}} the Nine Hells]].
* ItCanThink: Though incapable of speech, hell hounds are smarter than the average ogre, and understand Infernal.
* NoBodyLeftBehind: When a hell hound dies, its body erupts in smoke and cinders until there's nothing left but some burnt fur.

''[[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreatures Creatures]]'': [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesA A]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesB B]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesC C]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesD D]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesE E]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesF F]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesG G]] | '''H''' | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesIToL I to L]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesM M]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesNtoQ N to Q]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesR R]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesS S]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesT T]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsCreaturesUToZ U to Z]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsDragons Dragons]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsFiends Fiends]] ([[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsFiendsDemons Demons]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsFiendsDevils Devils]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsFiendsYugoloths Yugoloths]]) | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsUndead Undead]] | [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsSettingSpecificCreatures Setting-Specific Creatures]]\\

This page covers general ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' monsters such as can be found in the ''Monster Manual'' or in setting-agnostic books such as ''Volo's Guide to Monsters'' or ''Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes''. The creatures on this page can be found in any world of the ''D&D'' multiverse and can be encountered in just about any campaign.

For the game's iconic dragons, see ''Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsDragons''. For demons and devils, see ''Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsFiends''. For the various undead creatures, see ''Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsUndead''. For creatures found only in specific settings, see ''Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsSettingSpecificCreatures''.

Sometimes disparagingly called "deck apes," these simian humanoids are natural sailors and explorers. See [[Characters/DungeonsAndDragonsRaces the Playable Races subpage]] for more information about them.

[[folder:Hebi-No-Onna]]
[[quoteright:266:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d&d_hebi_no_onna_3e.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:266:3e]]
->'''Origin:''' ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}''\\
'''Classification:''' Monstrous Humanoid (3E)\\
'''Challenge Rating:''' 15 (3E)\\
'''Alignment:''' LawfulEvil

Beautiful and vain women with snakes for arms, who use their magic and charisma to build cults devoted to themselves.

* TheBeastmaster: Hebi-no-onna can command ordinary snakes (i.e. those with the Animal type).
* CharmPerson: Their gaze can replicate a ''hypnosis'' spell, causing other creatures to stop and stare in fascination, and making them receptive to requests. While a hebi-no-onna uses this ability, her eyes turn yellow, with a snake's slitted pupils.
* {{Cult}}: They try to establish these, using their hypnotic gaze and spellcasting to brainwash people into believing the hebi-no-onna is a living goddess, so that they're willing to die for her.
* ItsAllAboutMe: Hebi-no-onna are totally self-interested, and the entire aim of the cults they form is to surround themselves with beautiful luxuries and provide them with doting servants to help them bathe, get dressed, arrange their hair, etc. But "they are more in love with themselves than any of their plans or goals," and won't hesitate to sacrifice their prized minions if it helps them escape a losing battle.
* NoSell: They're immune to poison, as well as the gaze attacks of any reptilian creature, and a dark naga's ''detect thoughts'' ability.
* PoisonousPerson: They can make two bite attacks with their arm-snakes each round, which deliver a [[NonHealthDamage Constitution-damaging poison]] in 3rd Edition, or one of eight different poisons in 2nd Edition, depending on which species of snake is up their sleeves. In addition, a hebi-no-onna can bite with her human mouth to deliver a poison that causes nightmarish hallucinations, leaving victims [[SupernaturalFearInducer cowering helplessly for several rounds.]]
* SnakePeople: They appear as beautiful and well-dressed women, who wear robes with voluminous sleeves to hide the serpents they have for arms.
* StalkerWithATestTube: Hebi-no-onna are exclusively female, and desire only healthy, handsome, and strong-willed mates to pass those traits on to their daughters. They'll thus seek out such exceptional males and kidnap them -- though in some cases, a hebi-no-onna will try and lure adventurers to her lair to more easily capture a desirable mate. The father's spirit will then be broken down over weeks of conditioning until he's willing to cooperate, but once his work is done, he'll be [[BlackWidow ritualistically sacrificed]] in a grand ceremony attended by the rest of the hebi-no-onna's cult.
* UnreliableIllustrator: Their 3rd Edition art depicts hebi-no-onna with a pair of human arms surrounded by smaller serpents, while their ''AD&D'' picture has a single, larger snake in each sleeve, with no sign of human arms.
* VillainTeamUp: Hebi-no-onna sometimes cooperate with dark or spirit nagas, and while such alliances usually end in a power struggle that leaves one party dead or driven off, until that point the naga and hebi-no-onna use their combined power to dominate entire villages.

[[folder:Hellbred]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d&d_hellbred_3e.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:3e]]
->'''Classification:''' Humanoid (3E)\\
'''Challenger Rating:''' 1/2 (3E)\\
'''Playable:''' 3E\\
'''Alignment:''' LawfulGood

Nearly-damned souls granted one last chance to redeem themselves, by crusading against evil with desperate zeal.

* TheAtoner: Played with; hellbred seek to redeem themselves, but as part of their transformation, their mind and soul are purged to free them from the burden of guilt and the influence of their past evil associates. Hellbred retain vague memories of their past lives, and might feel unease upon seeing a former ally or enemy, but are otherwise free to follow their new path. But they do fully understand that their time is short, and unless they accomplish some incredible deed to prove their newfound virtue, only torment awaits them after death.
* BargainWithHeaven: The powers of good and justice are willing to give hellbred a respite from damnation and a chance to redeem themselves, as well as additional powers to fight evil, but the road to salvation is still going to be difficult.
* DarkAgeOfSupernames: After their transformation, hellbred tend to keep their first names while adopting a new second name along the lines of "Covenant," "Devilbrood," "Doomdriven," "Heavenrent," "Hellbound," "Martyr" or "Soullost."
* DarkIsNotEvil: While hellbred all have Good alignments, the battle between good and evil that brought them back to the mortal world, a transformation known as the Scourging, leaves them marked by the powers of Hell, with dark red flesh or smooth green scales, glowing red eyes, and vestigial or full horns on their heads. On the upside, this infernal mien gives hellbred a bonus on Intimidation checks, as well as supernatural toughness or senses. Most significantly, hellbred are able to wield evil spells or magic items without jeapordizing their alignment (so long as they're used for good), and can take devil-touched feats as they level, allowing hellbred to turn the weapons of their enemy against them.
* HeelFaceTurn: Hellbred underwent one at literally the last possible moment. Their actions in their previous lives damned them to the Nine Hells, and if they'd repented before death they'd have ascended to the Upper Planes, while if they'd waited any longer they'd have wound up as one of the dismal specters haunting Dis. Instead, hellbred repented too late to find salvation, but right before their full condemnation to Hell. This is enough for the gods of good to give hellbred one final chance for redemption, but the condemned soul has to prove that they aren't merely seeking escape from their rightful punishment.
* RedemptionQuest: Hellbred's existence is built around one, and despite their best efforts, [[HeelFaceDoorSlam most are truly damned]] -- only the most epic of good deeds, such as single-handedly saving a city from an invading army, destroying an evil artifact, or slaying an archfiend, are enough to earn a hellbred's place in heaven. Hellbred thus undertake seemingly impossible quests, while being very patient and careful when engaging their enemies, as they know exactly what is waiting for them if they die before redeeming themselves.
* SuperSenses: Hellbred who develop the mental aspect of the Scourging start with darkvision that improves as they level up, and eventually become able to see in magical darkness just like the devils they resemble.
* YourSoulIsMine: As a consequence of their actions in their past lives, hellbreds' souls are already claimed by a devil, and thus they can only be restored to life by a ''resurrection'' spell or greater magic.

[[folder:Helmed Horror]]
[[quoteright:349:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d&d_helmed_horror_5e.png]]
[[caption-width-right:349:5e]]
->'''Origin:''' ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms''\\
'''Classification:''' Construct (3E, 5E), Elemental Animate (4E)\\
'''Challenge Rating:''' 10 (3E), 13 (4E), 4 (5E)\\
'''Alignment:''' TrueNeutral, Unaligned (4E)

Warrior constructs with uncommon intelligence and magical power.

* AIIsACrapshoot: Their 3rd Edition write-up notes that helmed horrors frequently outlive their masters and continue following their final orders, but keep interpreting those orders more and more broadly as their creators' binding magics fade.
* AnimatedArmor: A helmed horror is an intelligent construct resembling a suit of plate armor, the gaps of which reveal occasional flares of PureEnergy.
* ExactWords: Averted according to the 5E ''Monster Manual'', which states that a helmed horror is intelligent enough to understand the difference between an order's intent and its exact wording, seeking to fulfill the former instead of slavishly following the latter like most other constructs.
* {{Flight}}: They enjoy the benefit of a permanent ''air walk'' spell.
* LostTechnology: In the Realms, helmed horrors are relics of the fallen kingdoms of Imaskar and Netheril, and the secrets of their construction have been lost. A sufficiently powerful wizard might have the resources to rediscover the method, but it is said that only the evilest of souls would be willing to pay the price for it.
* NoSell: They're resistant to magic in general, and furthermore, a helmed horror's creator can make the construct fully immune to three specific spells while building it.
* SpellBlade: In 3rd Edition, helmed horrors can use a free action to imbue their swords with a set combat enchantment: ''flaming burst'', ''keen'', ''speed'', etc.
* SuperSenses: 3rd Edition helmed horrors are under a constant ''see invisibility'' effect. 5th Edition instead gives them blindsight out to 60 feet, with the caveat that they're blind beyond this radius.

[[folder:Hengeyokai]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d&d_hengeyokai_3e.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:3e]]
->'''Origin:''' ''TabletopGame/KaraTur''\\
'''Classification:''' Humanoid (3E), Fey Humanoid (4E)\\
'''Challenge Rating:''' 1/2 (3E), 4 (4E)\\
'''Playable:''' 1E, 3E, 4E\\
'''Alignment:''' ChaoticGood or ChaoticEvil, Unaligned (4E)

Not so much one race as many, the hengeyokai are a collection of magical animals that can assume partially or wholely humanoid form.

* KillerGorilla[=/=]WickedWasps: They're giant stinging insects with baboon-like features, and just as unpleasant as that combination sounds. Howler wasps are so hateful and aggressive that they kill everything they meet, whether they need food or not. Worse, they live in nests containing over sixty of the things.

Melancholy hags who have turned away from evil, and despite their hideous appearance are kind and helpful. Bruja typically live alone in remote cottages, but may walk in disguise among others to gather information, assist those in need, and work quietly and subtly to thwart dark forces.

* GoodIsNotNice: Bruja aren't evil anymore, but are still hags. They tend to be arrogant and egotistical, and those who wrong them are likely to end up as the bruja's dinner.

!!Dune Hag
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d&d_dune_hag_3e.jpg]]

->'''Challenge Rating:''' 4 (3E)\\
'''Alignment:''' ChaoticEvil

Wasteland cousins of the annis, these hags use their magical disguises and enchanting kiss to lure victims away to be murdered and eaten.

!! Annis Hag

!!Green Hag
[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/green_hag_d&d_5e.png]]
[[caption-width-right:320:5e]]
->'''Challenge Rating:''' 5 (3E), 3 (5E)\\
'''Alignment:''' ChaoticEvil (3E), NeutralEvil (5E)

Green hags are the most "stereotypical" of the hags, with the general focus on spellcasting and shapeshifting. Their abilities often tend towards either the obvious enchanter route or towards evil druidism, and they have a particular focus on using their powers of shapechanging and illusions to make lives miserable.

* MakeMeWannaShout: Hammerclaws can snap their oversized claws to create a cone of sonic energy that deals damage and can stun those caught in its effect.

* MakeMeWannaShout: A hollyphant can unleash a trumpeting blast through its trunk to either deal sonic damage and stun those in a 60-foot-cone, or fill an equivalent space with sparkles of sunlight that deal heavy damage to fiends, undead and anything else vulnerable to holy water.

A creature entry's listed '''Challenge Rating''' may be for "baseline" examples of the monster, rather than listing every advanced variant presented in ''Monster Manual''s. Also remember that 3rd and 5th Edition use a 1-20 scale for "standard" Challenge Ratings, while 4th Edition uses 1-30. Not all '''Playable''' creatures are created equal, especially in 3rd Edition, in which MonsterAdventurers can have significant Level Adjustments for the sake of party balance. A creature's listed '''Alignment''' is typical for the race as a whole, not an absolute for every individual in it -- even supposed embodiments of Good and Evil can change their alignment. Also, if there are two alignments listed, and one is for 4th Edition, assume that the other alignment holds true for all other game editions. Finally, the "Always Neutral" alignment listed in previous editions for nonsapient creatures has been equated with the "Unaligned" alignment of recent editions.

->'''Classification:''' Humanoid (3E)\\

->'''Challenge Rating:''' 9 (3E), 7 (5E)\\

->'''Classification:''' Giant (3E)\\

* CanonImmigrant: They debuted in the 2nd Edition ''TabletopGame/DarkSun'' setting before becoming a general psionic race in 3rd Edition, which explained that they had "recently settled in the deepest part of the hot deserts to the south," having escaped servitude beneath "cruel sorcerer-kings" in a land of which they speak little.

->'''Classification:''' Monstrous Humanoid (3E)\\

->'''Classification:''' Monstrous Humanoid (3E)\\

->'''Classification:''' Construct (3E, 5E), Elemental Animate (4E)\\

* LostTechnology: In the TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms, helmed horrors are relics of the fallen kingdoms of Imaskar and Netheril, and the secrets of their construction have been lost. A sufficiently powerful wizard might have the resources to rediscover the method, but it is said that only the evilest of souls would be willing to pay the price for it.

->'''Classification:''' Humanoid (3E), Fey Humanoid (4E)\\

->'''Classification:''' Outsider (3E), Celestial (5E)\\

->'''Alignment:''' ChaoticEvil

->'''Classification:''' Fey (3E)\\

* ManOnFire: At will, harssafs can surround themselves with a fiery aura that damages anything around them, or anything they strike with metal weapons.

A creature entry's listed '''Challenge Rating''' may be for "baseline" examples of the monster, rather than listing every advanced variant presented in ''Monster Manual''s. Not all '''Playable''' creatures are created equal, especially in 3rd Edition, in which MonsterAdventurers can have significant Level Adjustments for the sake of party balance. A creature's listed '''Alignment''' is typical for the race as a whole, not an absolute for every individual in it -- even supposed embodiments of Good and Evil can change their alignment. Also, if there are two alignments listed, and one is for 4th Edition, assume that the other alignment holds true for all other game editions. Finally, the "Always Neutral" alignment listed in previous editions for nonsapient creatures has been equated with the "Unaligned" alignment of recent editions.

'''Alignment:''' ChaoticGood or ChaoticEvil (3E), Unaligned (4E)

* AsianFoxSpirit: The "Fox" subrace for hengeyokai, who have appeared in every single edition.
* TheFairFolk: In 4th edition, they're considered a Fey type creature; the ''TabletopGame/NentirVale'' version is even stated to have originated in the [[LandOfFaerie Feywild]] alongside the gnomes and elves.

** In first edition, the hengeyokai consisted of Carp, Cat, Crab, Crane, Dog, Drake, Fox, Hare, Monkey, Raccoon Dog, Rat and Sparrow.
** In second edition, all of the aforementioned races returned, but ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'' #266 added the Badger, Dolphin, Falcon, Frog, Lizard, Lynx, Octopus, Owl, Panda, Turtle and Weasel.
** In third edition, the subraces were listed as Badger, Carp, Cat, Crab, Crane, Dog, Fox, Hare, Monkey, Raccoon Dog, Rat, Sparrow and Weasel.
** In fourth edition, the subraces were changed again to Badger, Carp, Cat, Crab, Crane, Dog, Fox, Hare, Monkey, Raccoon Dog, Rat and Sparrow.

* NinjaPirateRobotZombie: Due to the way racial types are handled in 4th edition, hengeyokai there are considered to be "Humanoids", "Magical Beasts", "Shapechangers" and "Fey" all at the same time.
* OurWerebeastsAreDifferent: They're vaguely fey-ish animals who have the ability to assume partially or wholly humanoid form. In 3rd and 4th edition, they even have the Shapechanger racial type, which is shared with werebeasts.

* SuperSpeed: Downplayed, but Hare hengeyokai tend to be ''much'' faster than normal humans are. In 4th edition, all hengeyokai are quicker than humans, but Hare hengeyokai are even faster still.
* {{Tanuki}}: Appears in every edition as the "Raccoon Dog" subrace. Strangely, in ''AD&D'', they [[AlwaysChaoticEvil had a mandated alignment of "Any Evil"]], which stands quite contrasted to the more common depiction of tanuki as friendly, affable tricksters and lovable oafs.

* WarRefugees: In the ''TabletopGame/NentirVale'', hengeyokai were originally slaves to the Fomorians and used as spies & saboteurs against the elves. Although the hengeyokai ultimately escaped their masters, the elves never trusted them, and began a pogrom of extermination. Most hengeyokai today fled to the mortal world to avoid being killed just for their race.
* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway: A common complaint about the race is that, as a whole, the hengeyokai are extremely "one trick pony"; their characteristics and traits are defined exclusively by their ability to assume a specific animal form, with at most marginal traits outside of that form. As the forms they assume are almost universally small and innocuous, at best their animal form makes them a little more adept at sneaking around. Third edition attempted to make the hybrid forms more useful than just being cosmetic reskins of the human form, but the bonuses attached to each subrace were extremely marginal and often situational -- rat hengeyokai getting a +4 bonus on checks made to hide, for example. It hasn't gone unnoticed that the ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' [[AsianFoxSpirit kitsune]] is more mechanically interesting and powerful than the ''D&D'' fox hengeyokai.

'''Playable:''' 3E\\

Sometimes disparagingly called "deck apes," these simian humanoids are natural sailors and explorers.

* BoisterousBruiser: Hadozee aren't warlike, but they do enjoy "a good scrap and a friendly brawl," and will jump into one with gusto. They still prefer nonlethal fights to bloodbaths, and won't hold a grudge afterward.
* BornUnderTheSail: They live for the chance to join a ship crew and explore the world (or beyond), only settling down to raise children after they grow too old for such maritime adventures.
* HandyFeet: Like less sapient apes, hadozee's feet have prehensile toes, giving them a racial bonus on Balance and Climb checks.
* HotBlooded: Hadozee are known for their intense and exuberant personalities, whooping excitedly when enjoying themselves, baring their fangs and snarling when angered, etc.
* LukeNounverber: Hadozee take pride in serving aboard ships, and will incorporate the vessel's name into their own. So a hadozee who serves aboard ''The Lady of the Pearl'' might go by Kalla Pearldaughter, another who sails with ''The Sword in the Storm'' may be known as Bansh Swordstorm, and so on.
* NotQuiteFlight: Hadozee have patagia, allowing them to glide horizontally a set distance each round and avoid falling damage, but not ascend. It's not uncommon for a hadozee in a ship's rigging to just glide back down to the deck.
* WanderingCulture: If the hadozee have a homeland, they don't remember it, instead they keep enclaves in the coastal cities of other races (especially elves) that host any hadozee who come to port.

[[folder:Hippocampus]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d&d_hippocamp_5e.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:5e]]
->'''Classification:''' Magical Beast (3E), Monstrosity (5E)\\
'''Challenge Rating:''' 2 (3E), 1/2 (5E)\\
'''Alignment:''' ChaoticGood (3E), NeutralGood (5E)

Intelligent aquatic horses prized as underwater mounts, and who gladly serve good causes.

* HorseOfADifferentColor: Hippocampi feature in countless tales as guides and mounts for ocean-faring heroes.
* OurHippocampsAreDifferent: Hippocampi are aquatic equines that travel in herds and can breath both air and water, and hold valued places in triton society.
* SapientSteed: They have human-level intelligence and can speak Aquan, but they're fairly simple creatures that want little more than to speed through the open water.
* SpiritedCompetitor: Hippcampi like to make challenges out of everyday events, and among themselves pass the time with marathon relay races or long-distance scavenger hunts. Winning is secondary to the joy of striving, for these creatures.

[[folder:Hippogriff]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d&d_hippogriff_5e.png]]

[[caption-width-right:350:[[labelnote:3e]] https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d&d_hippogriff_3e.png[[/labelnote]] ]]
->'''Classification:''' Magical Beast (3E), Natural Beast (4E), Monstrosity (5E)\\
'''Challenge Rating:''' 2 (3E), 5 (4E), 1 (5E)\\
'''Alignment:''' Unaligned

Flying creatures that combine the features of horses and giant eagles.

* ArtEvolution: 3rd edition gave them a more physically unified look, with hooves that are modified bird claws and manes and tails of feathers, but later editions go back to the traditional "eagle in front and horse behind" version.
* HorseOfADifferentColor: Hippogriffs can be trained to bear a rider, and are prized as mounts capable of flight and of being fearsome combatants in their own right. Their physical prowess and relatively even disposition and lower intelligence compared to a griffon or pegasus makes them particularly attractive for this role, and they're the most common flying mounts seen among civilized races.
* OurGryphonsAreDifferent: The classic creature with an eagle's claws, head and wings and a horse's hindquarters. Unlike the sapient griffons, hippogriffs are animals, and griffons sometimes prey on them. They're also popular flying mounts.

[[folder:Hoard Scarab]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d&d_hoard_scarab_5e.png]]

->'''Classification:''' Vermin (3E), Natural Beast (4E), Monstrosity (5E)\\
'''Challenge Rating:''' 1/2 (individual), 5 (swarm) (3E); 2, 7 (4E); 1/8, 2 (5E)\\

Beetle-like creatures with a strong resemblance to coins when dormant, and who have a symbiotic relationship with dragons.

* HeWasRightThereAllAlong: With their legs tucked in against their carapaces, hoard scarabs can be mistaken for gold coins, and thus camouflage themselves amongst a dragon's other treasures.
* OrificeInvasion: 3rd Edition hoard scarabs can burrow into an opponent's flesh, dealing Constitution damage each round (more if it's a swarm making the attack). Unless the stricken victim is given a ''remove disease'' or ''heal'' spell, death is inevitable.
* SeeTheInvisible: Creatures outlined by a hoard scarab's magical glittering dust constantly shed blue light and cannot become invisible.
* TheSwarm: These tiny creatures are most dangerous as swarms of crawling, biting insects.
* TheSymbiote: Hoard scrabs have a mutually beneficial relationship with dragons. The scarabs clean the dragon's scales as they eat other vermin on the larger creature's hide (which doesn't hurt the dragon, due to their natural armor), and share the dragon's lair, acting as an additional layer of defense.
* TrackingSpell: Hoard scarabs in 5th Edition produce a magical dust that sticks to intruders and allows dragons to sense their location.

[[folder:Hoary Hunter]]
[[quoteright:303:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/d&d_hoary_hunter_3e.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:303:3e]]
->'''Classification:''' Fey (3E)\\
'''Challenge Rating:''' 9 (hoary steed), 25 (hoary hunter) (3E)\\
'''Alignment:''' NeutralEvil

Fey hunters who appear on moonlit winter nights to ride down humanoid prey, taking captives for the Unseelie Court.

* HellishHorse: These fey's hoary steeds are magnficient but malevolent creatures whose coats are white as snow, and whose blue eyes glow coldly in the darkness. They're capable of shifting to the Astral or Ethereal Planes, and gallop through the skies under a permanent ''air walk'' effect.
* HuntingTheMostDangerousGame: Hoary hunters pursue travelers for sport, but have a sense of honor about it -- should a victim elude the hunter for an hour, or defeat them in combat, the hunter will relent for the night, and after five failed attempts to take a prisoner, a hoary hunter will never trouble them again.
* MadeASlave: Hoary hunters never kill their prey if they can help it, instead their swords carry a ''binding'' enchantment that, upon a CriticalHit or what would be a fatal blow, traps their victims within a diamond at the end of the sword's hilt. The prisoner can then be brought to the Unseelie Court for enslavement.
* SmokeOut: The foggy breath of a hoary hunter's steed replicates an ''obscuring mist'' effect.
* SuperPersistentPredator: Once a hoary hunter has marked someone as their prey, not even death will make them relent -- if slain, the hunter and their steed will be revived in the fey realm, ready to continue the hunt the next night the conditions are right. Hoary hunters are willing to wait years for another chance to hunt a victim, and can cross planar boundaries to do so, appearing wherever moonlight falls upon frozen ground. Those pursued by hoary hunters have been known to relocate to the tropics, or take up residence in eternally-temperate demiplanes, to hide from the hunters.
* TheWildHunt: They're evil fey horsemen who appear at midnight when the moon shines upon frozen ground, heralded by a roiling fog and echoing hoofbeats. Any who fall victim to the hoary hunters are spirited away to the world of the evil fey, never to return.