Reskinning DnD Monsters: 3 Unique Homebrew Examples

There are certain Dungeons and Dragons monsters that are undisputed classics. Dragons lead this pack, of course, and are joined by other legends like beholders, goblins, trolls, kobolds, gelatinous cubes, and liches, among dozens more.

Reskinning these monsters allows Dungeon Masters to embark on new creative journeys, transforming familiar creatures into something unexpected and immersive for their players.

As incredible as these monsters are, sometimes a Dungeon Master needs a fresh twist. Maybe you want to bring some of these monsters into a unique realm, or want to surprise veteran players who might otherwise recognize a monster’s abilities instantly. Reskinning also gives you the chance to rediscover forgotten monsters or ancient lore, breathing new life into creatures and stories that may have been overlooked or lost to time.

Whatever your reason, reskinning D&D monsters can enhance your world and catch even the most cautious adventurers off guard. Since it can be such a good idea, we are going to give you three creative examples of how to make your monsters feel brand new!

What is Reskinning?

Reskinning is the art of taking an existing stat block (mechanics) and describing it as something completely different (narrative). It allows you to create “new” monsters without the headache of balancing math. You keep the rules, but change the vision.

If you need a tool to speed this up, WorldSmith's Monster Generator is your best friend.

1. The Waxbound Warrior (Reskinned Troll)

Trolls are an all-time favorite D&D monster. Their long arms, green skin, and wicked claws make them pretty recognizable, but their regeneration ability and vulnerability to fire are things no veteran player would mistake.

Including an enemy with these abilities in a campaign would be awesome, but what if you are running a dark gothic adventure set entirely inside of a castle? Maybe a troll would not really fit the vibe, or maybe you do not want your party knowing they are fighting a troll until it is too late.

The Concept

So we do not give up, and we redesign this monster. Meet our new friend, the Waxbound Warrior!

The Waxbound Warrior is a humanoid made from living candle wax, with elongated arms and melting yellow skin. Originally meant to help protect the long-gone Duke of the castle, the monster now roams the halls looking for anyone who may cause trouble.

The Reveal

When your adventurers attack it, they may find out that the creature unleashes its regenerative powers, wax flowing back to cover up the wounds. They may also find out that fire destroys it faster than it can regenerate, melting it into a puddle rather than burning it.

Ta da! The description of the Waxbound Warrior is completely different from the description of a troll, but we get to keep the troll’s unique abilities and stats. The WorldSmith Monster Generator helped to keep the stats consistent, while also adhering to the vision of the Waxbound Warrior.

2. The Skirr (Reskinned Bulette)

Bulettes, the land shark monsters of the Dungeons & Dragons universe, are one of the most fun monsters in existence. They are meant to tunnel through the ground, then surprise prey with powerful jaws and an incredible leaping ability.

Now, a campaign set in the desert could really use a tunneling, jumping, deadly monstrosity such as this, but maybe we could make it more suited for the arid sands.

The Concept

Instead of the bulette's shark-like appearance, the Skirr looks more like a giant beetle. It has a glossy bronze carapace that helps it blend into and tunnel through the dunes, and giant mandibles that jut from its face. Four powerful, serrated legs prop it above the shifting sands, and also let it attack would-be predators.

The Mechanics

Along its back are bumpy surfaces that help gather water from the air and ground, funneling it into the beetle's mouth to help it survive in the desert. If you need to visualize this arid terrain, try using our Map Generator to sketch out the dunes where this beast hunts.

As we want the Skirr to have the abilities of the Bulette, we can transfer over the original monster's leap and deadly leap abilities, and add an ability or two specifically for the Skirr. WorldSmith proposed Shifting Sands, an ability for the Skirr that allows it to burrow beneath its target and pull them down into the sand should they fail a Dexterity saving throw.

Altogether, the Skirr is a solid transfer of the Bulette's abilities that keep it true to the original design, while still incorporating the desert setting and giving the new monster unique flavor.

3. The Madonna Salina (Reskinned Medusa)

Folk horror has become a more popular genre over the last few years, and Dungeons and Dragons monsters have adapted to work inside the genre. The Crooked Moon book comes to mind as a great example of this blend. There is just something fun about taking a setting so familiar as rural farmtowns and throwing in monsters and creatures of all shapes and sizes.

For a similar campaign ran in a similar setting, you would want a "Big Bad" monster to be iconic and match the setting. Something cunning, terrifying, and deadly, something like a Medusa. With its wits and terrifying abilities, medusas make great villains, so adapting one for a folk horror setting is an awesome way to incorporate a classic D&D monster into the game.

The Concept

The Madonna Salina is perfect for a folk-horror with religious iconography. Always wearing her Sunday best (and a veil), Madonna Salina runs her wicked town with a Biblically iron fist. If you are building a campaign around a figure like this, the WorldGenerator is excellent for fleshing out the local lore and history.

The Mechanics

As the religious leader of the town, she did all she could to protect her followers from spiritual and literal danger. When a skirmish between two drunkards broke out and killed an innocent, faithful bystander, she had to get vengeance.

In her grief, she performed terrible rituals and dark spells to gain power to protect her flock. Now, instead of turning people to stone, she has the ability to turn anyone into a pillar of salt with a single glance.

This version of medusa is steeped heavily in the folk horror genre, while not feeling outlandish like a typical snake-haired gorgon might. WorldSmith was able to take this idea and theme, combine it with the classic abilities of a medusa, and produce stat blocks to help this concept come to life.

Why DM Tools Are the Future of Reskinning

While manual reskinning is fun, using a helpful DM tool can take your creativity to the next level. We live in an era where dungeon masters and players can collaborate to build epic adventures faster than ever before. Dungeons and Dragons and other TTRPGs, are games that flourish on personal creativity. However, short-on-time DMs are often forced to rely entirely on improvisation because they are short on time. Luckily, you don't have to worry about this anymore, because of site's like WorldSmith.

These site's allow you to input your own ideas and turn them into fully balanced creations in seconds. For example, you want a reskinned Beholder that has cybernetic upgrades? Simply go to the WorldSmith Monster Generator. It takes your original ideas, uses an SRD database for actions, a balancing algorithm for stats, and AI for names, lore, and background. You are left with a Cybernetic-ally Enhanced Beholder that horrifies your players, 100% built off of your original ideas.

A lot of people are afraid of these kind of tools, and rightfully so. However, there ARE site's that use them responsibly and promote creativity, while saving you time and effort. With website's like WorldSmith, TTRPGs finally stand a chance at becoming an accessible hobby for millions of new players. AI is not inherently evil, you just have to use it responsibly. Here are some great examples.

AI Monster Generation

An AI monster generator is not just for making new stats. It is for analysis and character prototyping. You can input a classic monster's stats and ask the AI to "reimagine this as a clockwork construct" or "turn this into a fungal horror." The app will ultimately give you descriptions and even scenarios you had not considered.

Speed and Precision

Tools like WorldSmith allow for speedy creature model creation. Instead of spending hours flipping through books, you can use a browser-based tool to decide on a concept and download a stat block in minutes. This freedom lets you focus on the story rather than the math.

Turning Old Classics Into Fresh Fun

Going through old monster manuals can be very rewarding for Dungeon Masters and players alike. However, sometimes you need homebrew, and sometimes you want something new. Reskinning monsters like we have done in this article is a great way to catch veteran players off guard, take monsters from one setting and put them in a new one, and find interesting blends of abilities.

Using the WorldSmith tools, there is no limit to how many unique combinations of monsters you can create! And once your players defeat these new threats, do not forget to reward them with something equally unique from the WorldSmith Treasure Generator.

People Also Ask

How do you reskin a monster in D&D 5e?

You take an existing monster's stat block (like a Goblin) and describe it differently (like a mutated rat-man). You keep the numbers (AC, HP, attack bonus) the same but change the flavor text.

What is the difference between homebrew and reskinning?

Reskinning uses official stats with a new description. Homebrew involves creating new mechanics, stats, and abilities from scratch, which requires more playtesting to balance.

How do I balance custom D&D monsters?

Use the "CR Calculator" in the Dungeon Master's Guide or an online tool like WorldSmith. Compare your monster's damage per round and defensive stats to official monsters of the same Challenge Rating.

Can I use D&D monsters in my own book?

You can use monsters released under the Systems Reference Document (SRD) or the Creative Commons license (like the 5e SRD). Proprietary monsters like Beholders and Mind Flayers are intellectual property of Wizards of the Coast and cannot be used in commercial products without a license.

What are the best tools for homebrewing monsters?

The WorldSmith Monster Generatoris excellent for creating balanced 5e stat blocks quickly. Other popular options include D&D Beyond's homebrew tool and Giffyglyph's Monster Maker.

Narrative Examples: How to Describe Reskinned Monsters

Here are a few more quick ideas to spark your imagination:

• The Clockwork Soldier (Reskinned Hobgoblin): Instead of flesh, it is made of gears. Its Martial Advantage is explained by “precision targeting protocols.”

• The Sand-Swimmer (Reskinned Shark): A shark that swims through loose desert ground instead of water. Perfect for coast or desert settings.

• The Wasteland Stalker (Reskinned Worg): In a post-apocalyptic world, this mutated beast prowls ruined cities, using stealth and scavenged armor to ambush survivors.

• The Living Spell (Reskinned Ooze): An amorphous mass of wild magic that engulfs players, using the stats of a Black Pudding but dealing force damage instead of acid.

Ready to create your own terrifying reskins? Try the WorldSmith Monster Generator for free today.

Dungeon Master Tips

Being a Dungeon Master is about more than just running battles and tracking stats, it’s about bringing your world to life and guiding your players through epic adventures they’ll never forget. Whether you’re using a premade module, AI, or comprehensive tools like WorldSmith, here are some essential tips to help you create, adapt, and weave unforgettable stories:

• Develop Your Storytelling Skills: As the heart of your campaign, your ability to craft and narrate engaging stories is key. Practice describing locations, monsters, and NPCs in vivid detail, and don’t be afraid to let your creativity shape the journey. The more you weave intrigue and emotion into your quests, the more your players will connect with the world.

• Master the AI Dungeon Platform: If you’re using an AI dungeon or campaign management tool, take time to explore its features. Learn how to create and manage quests, interact with NPCs, and use worldbuilding resources to enrich your game. The more comfortable you are with the platform, the more freedom you’ll have to respond to your players’ choices and keep the adventure flowing.

• Encourage Player Freedom: Great games are built on player agency. Give your adventurers the freedom to make meaningful decisions, explore the map, and interact with the world in unexpected ways. Respond to their actions with flexibility, letting their choices shape the story and lead to new scenarios.

• Create a Rich, Immersive World: Use your imagination and AI-powered worldbuilding tools, to develop a setting full of secrets, cultures, and magic. Populate your realm with memorable NPCs, unique monsters, and locations that invite exploration. The more details you provide, the more your players will want to engage and uncover the world’s mysteries.

• Provide Clear Rules and Guidance: Make sure everyone at the table understands the rules and how to interact with the game world. Clear communication helps keep the game fun and fair, and ensures that everyone can focus on the adventure rather than getting bogged down in mechanics.

• Foster a Sense of Community: Encourage your players to collaborate, share ideas, and work together to overcome challenges. Use community features in your app or platform to let players connect, share stories, and even co-create quests or backgrounds for their characters.

• Continuously Adapt and Improve: Be open to feedback and ready to adapt your campaign as it unfolds. Use AI-generated prompts and player suggestions to keep the story evolving, and don’t be afraid to try new ideas or change course if it makes the game more fun for everyone.

By embracing these tips, you can create a campaign that’s not only fun and engaging, but also uniquely tailored to your group. Whether you’re a seasoned Dungeon Master or just starting your journey, the right mix of creativity, flexibility, and technology will help you shape epic adventures that your players will remember for years to come.