Humanoid, Plain, The Menagerie, Tropical

6. Gnoll

Gnolls generally fit a specific role in my mind. And that is antagonistic humanoids for low level parties. They have a nice flavor because they strike me as more organized than Orcs and Goblins, and particularly less used. I love a good orc, but aggressive dog men are pretty cool too.

Hill, Magical Beast, Temperate, The Menagerie

4. Chimera

There was only the one Chimera in myth, after all. So that's something to consider when planning an encounter, or an adventure. "Is this beast one of a kind?" Slaying the Chimera was Bellerophon's greatest feat, after all.

Desert, Dragon, The Menagerie, Tropical

3. Blue Dragon

Blue Dragons are schemers, dominators, and control freaks. They strike me as tyrannical underhanded, unscrupulous types. They'll do anything they can to get what they want, but they don't want you to know about it.