D&D is home to all sorts of horrible monsters—slithering be-tentacled things, devilish deceivers, and, of course, good ol’ fashioned demons.
Fun fact, in the 1980s, D&D was in all the papers (or da papes, if you’re a precocious turn of the 1900s newspaper boy in New York) because of the Satanic Panic it inspired. A number of things contributed to this, but it didn’t help that the Monster Manual was full of devils and demons.
It still is—because, like all “moral panics”, there was absolutely nothing behind it but fear of the other. And you’d have to be pretty stupid to fear “the other” especially when there are plenty of demons in D&D to fear instead. Here are five demonic horrors you can just turn loose in your next campaign—no satanic panic required!
Arcanaloth
Arcanaloths are a strange one. These are Yugoloths, who are often classified as a kind of demon (in the new cosmology yugoloths occupy a the “neutral evil” fiendish space. But yugoloths and demons have always been lumped together, so here we are.
These fiendish fox demons are capable of a lot when it comes to sowing terror and discord. They are especially proficient with magic, and can even trap their enemies within the pages of their tomes of arcane power. And once you’re trapped within, the only way out is if the Arcanaloth dies. So you’d best hope one doesn’t turn you into a work of fanfiction and then planeshift elsewhere in the multiverse.
Yochlol
Yochlols are noxious demons who specialize in manipulation, treachery, and toxins. These lurk in the deeper layers of the Abyss, and are seldom seen in their true forms (pictured above). They prefer to fight from the shadows, corrupting the minds of mortals and pitting them against one another to further the aims of whatever demon lord they serve.
Facing one in combat is no joke: they emit a poison that can incapacitate you, and can dominate the weak minded. Additionally, they have been known to dissolve prey alive with their caustic, dripping tendrils. And you ever know when the person you’re talking to will turn out to be a secret poison demon instead.
Chasme
Chasmes are a rare kind of demon. On its own, from a distance, a chasme might resemble a large horsefly. But then it gets close and you realize that it’s bigger than an actual horse, and possesses a razor sharp proboscis that drips with the foul, corrupting energies of the abyss. And they almost never appear alone.
Swarms of chasmes buzz with an infernal drone that saps the will of those who hear it. Fail a save and you become Unconscious until you succeed. They will often lull prey to sleep and then drain them of life essence, lowering your hit point maximum by 12d6 if you’re asleep (as they automatically critically hit). Once that initial blow has been dealt, the swarm makes quick work of even the hardiest survivors.
Mariliths
Mariliths are basically demonic blenders. These massive snakelike creatures have six arms that each wield infernal blades. They make attacks six at a time, seven if you count the fact that they can also restrain and constrict a target with just their body.
A single Marilith can take down lesser adventuring parties on its own.
Balor
Finally, one of the most powerful demons in the abyss—the balor. Balors are demons of rage and fury given form. They were also initially called Balrogs, but then the Tolkien estate filed notice of a lawsuit and the name was changed. But, uh, you can still see the resemblance, all the way down to the fiery whip that it uses to draw prey in and then kill them.
And even if you manage to kill one, you’re still in for a bad time. They explode in wrathful fire and reform in the depths of the Abyss, now even more furious at having been slain.
Happy adventuring!
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