Even if you have not played Dungeons & Dragons yet, there is a very slim possibility that you have not heard of it. Pop culture programs like The Big Bang Theory, Stranger Things, The IT Crowd, and many others frequently make reference to this game.
Now, you will be blessed with a live-action movie with a fantastic cast and, most importantly, some of the best game-based animals. The Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves teaser just came out, and everyone is going crazy with the massive production values and amazing CGI that have made these creatures look even more terrifying and realistic.
Some of these titles may sound familiar if you are familiar with the game, but if you have not played it yet, we are here to walk you through each creature shown in the trailer and tell you a little bit about each one to get you ready for the movie’s release. Shall we get started?
Black Dragon
As shown in the new Dungeons & Dragons trailer, the Black Dragon is capable of great destruction and causing immeasurable havoc in a short time. These are evil chromatic dragons that are also often referred to as skull dragons, because of their structure, and swamp dragons, which will be explained in just a few minutes.
There is no doubt that these dragons are the most malicious chromatic dragons, and very few other dragons share the cruelty of a black dragon, and the trailer has proven that beyond doubt already. What makes these dragons so malicious is that they don’t just hunt to protect and survive but also enjoy it; violence brings them tremendous satisfaction. However, this might come as a shock, but black dragons are also some of the most cowardly creatures alive.
As quick as they are to engage in combat, the quicker they will retreat when they realise that their opponent might be more robust than they had expected. Black Dragons prefer to fight in the water, particularly in swamps or bogs, as the water gives them an advantage in combat, although they loathe salt water. Compared to other dragons, Black Dragons are slender but possess forward-jutting horns that look incredibly fearsome but don’t serve much use. Nonetheless, these dragons are ones to look out for.
Owlbear
As the name suggests, this creature is a cross between an owl and a bear, and despite being one of the cutest-looking monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons game, and also in the trailer, these creatures are as monstrous as they come. It has the physique of a bear and the face of an owl, which includes the beak, and gives it the undue advantage of being able to attack with features from both these animals, making it all the more fierce and violent.
A fully grown male Owlbear towers at eight feet tall and weighs close to seven hundred kilograms, which again plays to its advantage. These creatures are best known for their foul temper, are incredibly aggressive, and are probably the best example of the saying that looks can often be deceiving. An Owlbear doesn’t need to be provoked to kill. All one must do is move, and they would immediately become a target of this creature. That’s just how ruthless Owlbears can be, and we catch a glimpse of this ruthlessness in the trailer too.
One of the best ways an Owlbear tracks its prey is by using its heightened sense of smell and usually declares its territory by screeching or hooting. They are also competent in battle. When an Owlbear is wounded, they screech so loudly that it distracts the opponent, which the Owlbear uses to its advantage. These creatures would be a fun addition to the film, giving the others a good run for their money.
White Dragon or the Stone Golem
The trailer reveals a Stone Golem of a dragon, which is essentially a magical statue cut and chiselled from stone. However, later it is shown that this statue comes to life as a roaring White Dragon, which could be because of the magical spell cast on it. Best look out for this chromatic dragon, who might have a reputation for being dull and stupid but are just as intelligent as the other dragons, although they rely more on instinct than their intellect.
What separates White Dragons from the other chromatic dragons is that they care little about political power, aim to live their lives as collectors of treasure, and only wish to keep themselves fed and live a comfortable life. Because these creatures are also called snow dragons, they tend to blend in with the snow, camouflaging and making them incredibly hard to spot.
Unlike the black dragons, white dragons are far from cruel as they tend to mind their own business, which is probably why they often get labelled dull. However, their role in the film is still unknown, and we might see a different side to them. As for Stone Golems, if the concept of statues coming to life excites you, it would be fun to check out the TV series Gargoyles as it features nocturnal creatures that turn to stone during the day.
Mimic
The shapeshifters of this universe are the perfect creature for an on-screen adaptation, given that they can mimic any object, as their name suggests. Mimics typically occupy a volume of fifteen cubic feet and can take any shape as long as they hold that same volume. Their best strategy typically involves taking the shape of day-to-day objects most likely to be touched by someone.
So, Mimics can become doors, chairs, tables, and other household items, and their skin colour and texture also adapt to the object they are morphing into. Their main aim is to survive and acquire food, and while some Mimics are capable of essential communication, the fact remains that they have no culture or moral code whatsoever. They simply exist. Mimics usually attack their victims by being completely still and then using an adhesive secretion to trap them, which also restrains the movement of their victims.
Although, the adhesive can be countered by applying alcohol over it and is wholly defused after the Mimic dies. These creatures also have several subspecies, divided into two groups: the common mimic and the killer mimic. It is unsure which of these we will witness in the film, but their shapeshifting abilities will surely make for some interesting subplots.
Displacer Beast
The Displacer Beast, also known as the dirlagraun or omlarcat, is about as evil as they come. Its signature trait is a continuous displacement effect, which makes it appear to be a few feet away from its actual location, which makes them incredibly difficult to attack, and it even confuses creatures with the ability to see what’s invisible.
They are best known for being masters of the hunt, often using their deadly claws and bites to attack their victims and harm them terribly. Weighing in at around 500 lbs, the Displacer Beast has six legs and two tentacles which it uses to kill its prey. Their eyes glow green, even after death, and their fur is usually blue-black. The nine-foot-long beast kills not only for food but also for pleasure and sport.
It toys with its prey, torturing it until it is ready to eat. Defences against the displacement effect include the true seeing spell and the illusion bane weapon. Displacer Beasts would make a gory addition to the film, with their lairs covered in blood and rotting flesh. They often live and hunt in small packs, so a battle against them would be almost impossible to win.
Red Dragon
If you haven’t watched the trailer yet, we would recommend watching it just for this deadly beast that appears in it. If there is one dragon who can be at par with the Black Dragon while also being one of the most important creatures in the legacy of Dungeons and Dragons, it is the Red Dragon. These dragons, apart from being completely ruthless, are only interested in their well-being and vanity, even if that means killing anything and everything that comes their way. The Red Dragons are the most potent and most enormous amongst all chromatic dragons.
They revel in death and destruction and breathe fire. If that doesn’t make them the most dangerous, I don’t know what else does. They even smell of smoke and sulphur! Red Dragons are often known as ruthless over-hunters, which usually means that when they hunt, the population of their prey will dimmish rapidly. These dragons have very extreme beliefs, most of which even reflect on their own kind.
They hate any sign of weakness among the Red Dragons and go by the notion that if a Red Dragon cannot protect what it has, it does not deserve it. It would be thrilling to see these beasts in the live-action film, as it would certainly up the ante and make the survival of all the characters very uncertain.
Giant Wolf Spider
Although this one makes a very brief appearance in the trailer, it is pretty evident that this isn’t just a spider or a giant insect. It is, in fact, a Giant Wolf Spider that we witness, and it opens plenty of doors and threats for what might happen in the movie. These creatures are incredibly agile and can climb all sorts of surfaces, doesn’t matter if they’re crooked or just difficult, while also being able to hang upside down and travel well using their webbing. It sounds like the Spider-Man of the Dungeons & Dragons universe.
While wolf spiders might be a little less intense than giant spiders, they are comparatively more robust and intelligent, giving them an upper hand in several situations. Wolf Spiders also have great speed, unmatchable eyesight, and a basic sense of smell, all of which help them stalk their prey easily and are great at surprising their enemies.
Their bite is poisonous; hence, they mostly rely on that to take down their opponent and paralyse them for at least an hour, if the poison stays in their system. These spiders can be found in deserts, hills, and forests, and it is only a matter of time before we know who these wolf spiders are about to paralyse.
Gelatinous Cube
The Gelatinous Cube has been a part of the Dungeons and Dragons game since one of its earliest incarnations and is just transparent ooze composed of mindless gelatinous matter. Still, seeing the thieves struggle with this cube would be interesting. Usually, a Gelatinous Cube measures about ten to fifteen feet and weighs nearly twenty-five thousand kilograms, which is pretty huge if you do the math correctly. This creature is totally transparent, although a hint of light on its surface usually gives away its position.
Considering how big these creatures can be, it is helpful that they are also mouldable, which allows them to flow around objects and through narrow passages. When this cube faces an opponent, it often slams and engulfs it with an acidic pseudopod, and although creatures can escape this entrapment, it most certainly isn’t easy.
These cubes might be slow but can easily knock over large animals with almost no effort. You would think these cubes might be immune to attacks. However, they are some of the most vulnerable creatures, but there have been reports of them being resistant to electricity. Maybe we will see some of that in the upcoming film!
There is no doubt that this film will bring several groups of fans together. People who like science fiction, along with those who play Dungeon and Dragons, anyone who is merely interested in creatures and monsters, and of course, everyone who loves Chris Pine and Regé-Jean Page! The trailer has given us a little glimpse of the madness about to make its way to the big screen, and the fans simply can’t wait to see which of their favorite monsters might appear in this film.