ToV Monster Vault Review

Comparing the Tales of the Valiant Monster Vault to the Dungeons and Dragons (2014 and 2025) Monster Manuals.

This is an overview of the Tales of the Valiant Monster Vault. Refer to my post 5.5 Monster Manual Review for a more in-depth review of the new D&D Monster Manual. Tales of the Valiant is a roleplaying game (RPG) published in 2024 by Kobold Press. It includes material taken from the System Reference Document 5.1 (“SRD 5.1”) by Wizards of the Coast. The SRD 5.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International and is is compatible with the fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons. Both the new D&D Monster Manual and the Tales of the Valiant Monster Vault were published as upgrades to the D&D Monster Manual that was published in 2014. They are both intended to be compatible with D&D 5E which was published in 2014. The Monster Manual was published as one of the three core rulebooks that were upgraded in 2014; the Players Handbook, the Dungeon Master’s Guide and the Monster Manual.

Using Monsters

2014 Monster Manual (5E MM)

     The 5E MM has an 8 page Introduction explaining what a monster is, where they live and how to read the stat block.

2025 Monster Manual (5.5 MM)

     The 5.5 MM has 5 pages mainly explaining how to read the stat block.

The Tales of the Valiant Monster Vault (ToV MV)

     Chapter 1: Using Monsters is 10 pages with lots of information on building challenging encounters based on the party’s level and the monsters Challenge rating. With several tables based on the number of PCs and their level. And lots of information on customizing combat and modifying monsters.
     Chapter 2: Understanding Monster Statistics adds another 10 pages expounding on the monster’s stat block.
     Chapter 3: Understanding Terrain and Creature Types is 21 pages filled with tables and descriptions.

Number & Location of Stat Blocks

NOTE: the following counts are my own. I apologize in advance for any inaccuracies.

5.5 MM

Contains 504 stat blocks.
The Main Section 
The main section contains 408 creature stat blocks.
     On page 374 of the 5.5 MM there is a Stat Block Conversion table that lists 69 creatures whose stat blocks were in the 5E MM and don’t appear in the 5.5 MM. These are all creatures that either had their name changed or have been removed. For each, a different monster with the same CR is listed that could be used in place of the older monster.
     Creatures in 5E MM that are not in 5.5 MM: Deep Gnome, Drow, Drow Elite  Warrior, Drow Mage, Drow Priestess of Lolth, Duergar, Green Blue Indigo and Violet Faerie Dragons,  Lizardfolk, Orc, Orc Eye of Gruumsh, Orc War Chief, Orog, Half-Elves, and Half-Dragons.
     They changed some other creatures from humanoid to a different creature type, specifically:  Aarakocra, Goblins, Hobgoblins, Bugbears, Bullywugs, Githyanki, Githzerai, Grimlocks, Kuo-toa, Gnolls, Jackalwere, Kenku, Kobolds, and Lizardfolk.
     There are 55 others where the name was changed. Some examples: The Androsphinx was renamed Sphinx of Valor. The Gynosphinx was changed to Sphinx of Lore. The Half-Ogre (Ogrillon) was renamed Ogrillon Ogre. The Poisonous  Snake was renamed Venomous Snake. And the Quipper was renamed Piranha.
Appendix A: Animals
     Contains 96 stat blocks for animals including and fantastic variants of animals. Note that dinosaurs have been moved out of the main section of the book and into this appendix where they are listed alphabetically, mixed in with the other animals.
Appendix B: Nonplayer Characters
     This appendix was in the 5E MM but has been removed from the 5.5 MM. Each of the 35 NPC stat blocks are now listed, grouped by type and those groups sorted alphabetically, in the main section of the book. It has all the NPCs that are in the 5E MM and has added Pirates: Pirate, Pirate Captain, and Pirate Admiral. It also added Performers:  Performer, Performer Maestro, and Performer Legend. To Berserker it added Berserker Commander. To Cultist it added Cultist Hierophant, Aberrant Cultist, Death Cultist, Elemental Cultist, and Fiend Cultist. To Guard it added Guard Captain. To Knight it added Questing Knight. To Noble it added Noble Prodigy. To Priest it added Priest Acolyte and Archpriest. To Scout it added Scout Captain. To Spy it added Spy Master. To Thug it added Tough Boss. It changed the name of Wild Warrior to Warrior Infantry and added Warrior Veteran, and Warrior Commander.

ToV MV

Contains 419 stat blocks.
The Main Section
     Contains 302 creature stat blocks. 229 of these creatures are also in the 5E MM. Some of the creature names have changed, and the stats have all been revised, some more heavily than others. Similar to 5E MM, they are arranged alphabetically by creature type, so all Dragons are listed together, all Dinosaurs are listed together, etc. Notably, the creatures listed under “Oozes” in the 5E MM are listed separately in the ToV MV.
     There are 95 creatures that were in the main section of the 5E MM but are not in the ToV MV.  This is primarily because they were left out of the SRD and are considered exclusive property of Wizards of the Coast. They are: Aarakocra, Banshee, Beholder, Death Tyrant, Spector, Needle blight, Twig blight, Vign blight, Bullywug, Cambion, Carrion Crawler, Crawling Claw, Cyclops, Demilich, Barlgura Demon, Chasme Demon, Goristro Demon, Manes Demon, Shadow Demon, Yochlol, Spined Devil, Allosaurus, Pteranondon, Displacer Beast, Dracolitch, Shadow Dragon, Drow Elite Warrior, Drow Mage, Drow Priestess of Loth, Empyrean, Faerie Dragon, Flameskull, Flump, Fungi, Gas Spore, Galeb Duhr, Dao, Marid, Fomorian, Githyanki Warrior, Githyanki Knight, Githzerai Monk, Githzerai Zerth, Gnoll Pack Lord, Gnoll Fang of Yeenoghu, Hobgoblin Warlord, Grell, Half-Dragon, Helmad Horror, Hook Horror, Intellect Devourer, Jackalwere, Kenku, Winged Kobold, Kuo-Toa, Kuo-Toa Archpriest, Kuo-Toa Whip, Pentadrone, Mud Mephit, Smoke Mephit, Mind Flayer, Mycolid Sprout, Mycolid, Quaddoth Spore Servant, Nagam Bone, Nothic, Half-Ogre, Orc Eye of Gruumsh, Orog, Peryton, Piercer, Pixie, Quaggoth, Young Remorhaz, Revenat, Fire Snake, Scarecrow, Slaad Tadpole, Slaad Red, Slaad Blue, Slaad Green, Slaad Grey, Slaad Death, Thri-Kreen, Troglodyte, Umber Hulk, Water Weird, Yeti, Adominable Yeti, Tuan-Ti Abomination, Tuan-Ti Malison, Tuan-Ti Pureblood, Arcanaloth, Mezzoloth, Nyaloth, Ultroloth, and Beholder Zombie.
     The main section of the ToV MV contains 64 new (unique) creatures. They are: Astral Destroyer, Balara, Chol, Uulgol,  Icthol, Trillipol, Crimson Jelly, Deathless, Golmana Demon, Husk Demon, Mire Fiend, Unska Demon, Wrack Demon, Derro, Void Eater Derro, Velociraptor, Void Dragon Wyrmling, Young Void Dragon, Adult Void Dragon, Ancient Void Dragon, Yellow Dragon Wyrmling, Young Yellow Dragon, Adult Yellow Dragon, Ancient Yellow Dragon, Scorch Drake, Feral Hunter, Fey Guardian, Flinderbeast, Hinn (Genie), Sila (Genie), Necrophage Ghast, Dirgesinger Giant, Hobgoblin Conjurer, Morlock, Ambush Hag, Hippocampus, Hivebound, Infernal Champion, Insatiable Brood, Swiftblade Kobold, Tinkerer Kobold, Witch Kobold, Lantern Hagfish, Virtuoso Lich, Living Colossus, Moon Knight, Mordovermis, Nimbostratus Spirit, Robot Drone, Robot Warden, Satarre, Satarre Destroyer, Selang, Void Piper Selang, Selkie, Skullbloom Sporeborn, Bloatblossom Sporeborn, Star Crow, Vampire Thrall, Voidling, Lesser Voidling, Wickerbeast, Wood Herald, and Wyrdling.
Appendix: Animals
     This contains 91 stat blocks. The 5 dinosaurs are under “Dinosaurs” in the main section. It contains all the animals in Appendix A: Miscellaneous Creatures of the 5E MM. It changed the name of the Giant Toad to Giant Poisonous Frog and added a Seal.
Appendix: NPCs
     This contains 26 stat blocks. This includes all the NPCs that were in the 5E MM and adds: Archdruid, Bard, and Mechanist (a new ToV character class).

What’s New?

5.5 MM

     Monster Tables Many of the monsters include a table for inspiration on why the creature might be there or what it may be doing.
     Stat Block Conversions: Lists every monster that was in the 5E MM that isn’t in the 5.5 MM. Even if it was just a name change, this list tells you the name of the monster in this book you can substitute for the old one.
     Monster by Habitat: The habitats are: Any, Arctic, Coastal, Desert, Forest, Grassland, Hill, Mountain, Swamp, Underdark, Underwater, and Urban.
     Monsters by Creature Type: The creature types are: Aberration, Beast, Celestial, Construct, Dragon, Elemental, Fey, Fiend, Giant, Humanoid, Monstrosity, Ooze, Plant, Undead,
     Monsters by Group: The groups are: Angles, Beholders, Demons, Devils, Dinosaurs, Dragons (Chromatic), Dragons (Metallic), Genies, Goblinoids, Lycanthropes, Titans, and Yugoloths.
     Monsters by Challenge Rating: List all the monsters sorted by CR.

ToV MV

     Chapter 1: Using Monsters is 10 pages with lots of information on building challenging encounters based on the party’s level and the monsters Challenge rating. With several tables based on the number of PCs and their level. And lots of information on customizing combat and modifying monsters.
     Chapter 2: Understanding Monster Statistics adds another 10 pages expounding on the monster’s stat block.
     Appendix: Creatures by Challenge List all the monsters sorted by CR.
     Appendix: Creatures by Tag (called Group in 5.5) Creatures tags are: Animal, Golem, Outsider, Outsider (Angel), Outsider (Demon), Outsider (Devil), Shapechanger, or Shapechanger (Lycanthrope).
     Appendix: Creatures by Terrain (called Habitat in 5.5) Terrain types are: Any, Arctic, Badlands, Coastal, Desert, Farmland, Forest, Grassland, Hills, Mountain, Planar, Swamp, Underground, Underwater, and Urban.

The Stat Blocks

Example 5E MM Stat Block

This is the Unicorn stat block from the 5E MM. If you have been playing fifth edition D&D you are probably familiar with this stat block format. I picked this as a typical stat block of a monster that is in all three Monster Books, the 2014 Monster Manual (5E MM), 2025 Monster Manual (5.5 MM), and the Tales of the Valiant Monster Vault (ToV MV).

Example 5.5 MM Stat Block

This is the Unicorn stat block from the 5.5 MM. The stat blocks have all been gone over and changes were made. For the most part, the monster names and CR have remained the same, but all of the monster stats were modified as needed to make all monsters of a CR do similar amounts of damage and be about the same when it comes to how hard they are to defeat. The descriptions were made shorter and easier for the DM to use during combat. For example, in the Unicorn stat block the description for the action Hooves has been changed from:
“Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6+4) bludgeoning damage.”
to
“Hooves. Melee Attack Roll: +7, reach 5 ft. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) Bludgeoning damage.”
     The 5.5 stat block is laid out in basically the same format as the 5E stat block, but you will notice some differences.
     First, beside the AC there is “Initiative +8 (18).” This is the monster’s Initiative modifier followed by the monster’s Initiative score in parentheses. You can add the modifier to your monsters roll for the monsters initiative, or you can just use the number in parentheses.
      The most obvious change is in the ability score block. In the 5.5 stat block, for each ability it lists the modifier and its saving throw modifier. In the 5E stat block it simply lists each ability score and it’s modifier. In the 5E stat block if the monster has any saving throw modifiers that are different from the abilities modifier there is a separate list of those below the abilities block. For example, in the Shadow Demon stat block it says “Saving Throws: Dex +5, Cha +4.”
     Resistances, Vulnerabilities and Immunities lists have been simplified. For example, in the Unicorn stat block you can see that instead of Damage Immunities and Condition Immunities, the 5.5 stat block just lists “Immunities Poison; Charmed, Paralyzed, Poisoned.” Note the semicolon separating the Damage Immunities from the Condition Immunities.
     The Proficiency Bonus (PB) is shown after the XP.
     The following section is now labeled “Traits.”
     The list of traits are often changed.
     “Innate Spellcasting” has been moved into the “Actions” section and renamed “Spellcasting.” In most of the stat blocks the list of spells has been shortened and/or the list has changed somewhat. This is typically how spellcasting is handled.
     Here are some of the other changes in this example: “Charge” and “Magic Weapons” was removed from Traits, and “Legendary Resistance (3/Day)” was added. The “Horn” action was replaced with the “Radiant Horn” action that does a little more damage of a different type (radiant instead of piercing). “Teleport (1/Day)” was removed. The action “Healing Touch (3/Day)” was replaced by the bonus action “Unicorn’s Blessing (3/Day).” The legendary actions “Hooves” and “Heal Self (cost 3 Actions)” were removed. The legendary action “Charging Horn” was removed. The legendary action “Shimmering Shied (Cost 2 Actions)” changed to “Shimmering Shield” and it now gives temporary hit points in addition to adding 2 to the targets AC.

Example ToV MV Stat Block

This is the Unicorn stat block from the ToV MV. Like in the 5.5 MM, the stat blocks for monsters that are in the 5E MM, the monster names and CR have remained the same but the monster stats are modified as needed to make all monsters of a CR do similar amounts of damage and be about the same when it comes to how hard they are to defeat.
     Challenge Rating (CR). This has been moved to the top. To the right of the monster’s name.
     Experience Points (XP). The ToV MM stat block does not list the monster’s XP. The book does have a table showing Experience Points by Challenge Rating.
     Alignment.  The ToV game doesn’t use Alignment at all, so the monster’s stat bocks do not include the monster’s alignment.
     Armor Class (AC).  The AC is calculated using this formula: AC = 10 + DEX modifier + any additional bonuses (from equipment, natural armor, or special traits). Note that the AC is calculated before the PB is added to the ability modifiers (refer to abilities below).
     Hit Points. Most (possibly all?) monster’s hit points have been revised to more closely align with their CR. In this example they were increased from 67 to 92.
     Perception. ToV adds this to the stat block. It is calculated using this formula: Perception Value = 10 + WIS modifier. To successfully hide from this monster, the PC’s DEX (Stealth) check must be equal to or higher than this value.
     Stealth. ToV adds this to the stat block. It is calculated using this formula: Stealth Value = 10 + DEX modifier + some creatures add their PB or double their PB. When a creature attempts to hide, it doesn’t make a hide check, instead it used its stealth value. When trying to detect signs of a creature, the PC’s WIS (Perception) check must be equal to or higher than the creature’s stealth score. For example: A PC’s WIS (Perception) check result must be a 12 or better to detect the Unicorn when it is trying to hide from the PC.
     Abilities. The ToV stat block shows the ability modifier and doesn’t show the ability score. Unlike 5E, or 5.5, the Proficiency Bonus (PB), which is based on the monster’s CR, is already included in this modifier so you use the ability modifier that is shown when making an ability check or save. In the example stat block shown here, the PB has been added to the WIS and CHA modifiers.
     Vulnerable, Resistant, and Immune. As in the new 5.5 MM, these lists have been simplified.
     Spellcasting. For creatures that have the spellcasting ability, this has been moved to be listed as an action and the lists has been shortened to list only the spells most likely to be used during combat. In some cases some (or all) the spells have been removed and replaced with magical actions. On the Unicorn example: detect evil and good has been replaced with the Sense the Unnatural trait, pass without trace has been replaced with the Woodland Walk trait, druidcraft has been moved into the Unicorn Magic action which also adds the dancing lights cantrip, the other spells (calm emotions, dispel evil and good, and entangle) have been removed.
     Here are some of the other changes in this example: The Charge trait was removed. The Celestial Resilience, and the Speak with Beasts and Plants traits were added. The Hooves action was removed. The damage was increased on the Horn action. The Horn Bolt action was added (this gives the Unicorn a ranged attack). The Teleport (1/Day) action was removed.  Shimmering Shield was removed as a legendary action and became a reaction. The legendary action Hooves was removed. The legendary actions Canter and Radiant Stomp were added.

Final Thoughts

When I started writing this review I was expecting to unconditionally recommend the Tales of the Valiant Monster Vault (ToV MV) over the 2025 version of the Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual (5.5 MM).  However, after a closer look at both of them it’s not that easy.
     First, let me say that if you are currently using the 2014 Monster Manual (5E MM) and are wondering if switching to one of these would be an improvement, the answer in my opinion is yes. Even though they differ in many specific details they have both done a good job in making the Difficulty Class (DC) for the monsters avoid most of the wild fluctuations they have in the 5E MM, making the creation of balanced encounters an easier task for the DM.

5.5 MM

By my count, the 5.5 MM has 85 more stat blocks than the ToV MV. So if you are looking for the most number of monsters you can’t go wrong with the 5.5 MM. It doesn’t have monster stats for Orcs, Drow or Duerger but you can still use your old Monster Manual for those. The other creatures that were humanoid in the 5E MM have changed to a different creature type. Refer to my post 5.5 Monster Manual Review for more of my thoughts on the 5.5 MM.

ToV MV

ToV MV suffers from not being able to use any of Wizards of the Coast’s proprietary monsters, so you will need to continue using your 5.5 MM for those. But it does have a much larger number of new monsters to surprise your players with. Kobold Press has been publishing great monsters for several years and they are very good at it. I think you will love these new monsters. Also, I personally think that they did a better job in the changes they made to the existing monsters.
     ToV MV does a good job explaining how to create a balanced encounter. It even has a table that shows, for each creature, its common allies. This is a great tool for coming up with a boss monster and its minions. It also has a lot of small things that are useful, such as a pronunciation guide for every creature.
     ToV MV has not changed the creature type of the humanoid creatures.
     I prefer the organization of the ToV MV to the 5.5 MM. For instance, I like having all the dragons together.

If you are staying with the 2014 version of D&D there is no reason you couldn’t just stick with the 2014 Monster Manual. But adding either the 5.5 MM or the ToV MV (or both) would not be a mistake. They both offer improvements to the old stat blocks and many new monsters.

If you are switching to the 2024 version of D&D you don’t have to switch monster books. The 2014 Monster manual still works just fine with D&D 5.5. If you decide to switch to the 5.5 MM I recommend that you keep your old MM handy, you may want to still use some of the older monster stats. You could just as easily add the ToV MV for its new monsters and updates to most of the monsters found in the 5E MM.

If you are switching to Tales of the Valiant you will probably want the ToV MV, but you can use the 5E MM if you already have that. It will work seamlessly with ToV. If you do get the ToV MV you might be tempted to also get the new 5.5 MM for updated stats for the WotC proprietary monsters but it’s probably not worth it for just that, especially if you already have access to the 5E MM.