Dragons, Dark Elves, Vampires, Liches, and Mindflayers! Oh My!
What do these monsters all have in common? They are overused!
Hot take, I know but hear me out. There are so many awesome monsters in the bestiaries of Pathfinder and That Other Gametm that go unused and unremarked by even Paizo’s own adventures. That is an honest crime, but one that can be remedied quite easily.
Below we have a list of some of the coolest monsters we have found in Pathfinder First and Second Edition. The monsters are not listed in any specific order of importance, and it isn’t the most exhaustive list. However, this author feels these beasties should get some more attention from you GMs out there.
12 Overlooked Monsters in Pathfinder
Wherever possible listings for both editions will be linked, but some are only found in Pathfinder 1e or 2e exclusively. In that case, I will list an alternative from the opposite edition.
Though it shouldn’t be too difficult to convert using the rules in the Gamemastery Guide or the Pathfinder Second Edition Conversion Guide.
1. Siabrae
1st Edition Siabrae/2nd Edition Siabrae
These monsters we touched on in the Undead in Pathfinder: Full List & Searchable Guide by CR article recently, but it bears repeating here. The Siabrae is a Druid who has taken a step beyond the natural cycle of life and death, becoming a twisted and undead monstrosity and mockery of what they once were.
While they underwent the dark ritual to grant themselves unlife willingly, they are not vicious and cruel, twisted by evil and negative energy.
These monsters would be great for a GM to use for a party with a Druid as a member. They represent a warning as to what that Druid character could become if they are not careful.
Their strength and abilities can also make them recurring villains for a whole campaign, or as a good right hand for a much more powerful villain.
2. Mu Spore
1st Edition Mu Spore/2nd Edition Mu Spore
These rare plants (or Fungi in 2e) are underground burrowing creatures who act more like worms and less like plants. They are vast, often 100 feet from end to end, and that is just the ones that have been seen on the surface.
When they are seen on the surface, they are seen as an apocalyptic omen and will often lean to calls from NPCs that “the End is Nigh.”
They are intelligent, but do not have a society. Though they sometimes have secret knowledge of various subjects. Their bodies and bodily fluids can be harvested for alchemical ingredients.
Players could seek them out for knowledge, or perhaps be given instructions to harvest a rare ingredient from one by an ally. They are incredibly strong and hard to kill, so throwing them at a party should not be taken lightly.
3. Gogiteth (Pathfinder 2e)
Straight from my nightmares, the Gogiteth sits somewhere between a spider, a lovecraftian horror, and a Tripod from War of the Worlds. These monsters are pure aberrations living in hives deep underground. They hunt the denizens of the Darklands for food, attacking and eating anything it can catch up to.
No one knows where they came from, but rumors say they are alien to the material plane, which I could have told them just by looking at these monsters.
This monster is useful for putting the fear of glob into your players. The Nightmarish look and animalistic hunger of these things is enough to even get Drow and Duergar to work together, and that would be saying something.
4. Geomaw (Pathfinder 1e)
Our underground adventures are not over yet. These giant worm-like creatures burrow through solid rock looking for food. They are ambush predators, like trap door spiders. They burrow into open caverns and open their mouths, remaining still.
Their maw looks like a small growth of valuable minerals or crystals, and when some poor soul moves to attempt to harvest these crystals they get swallowed up whole to be digested deep underground.
These monsters are a great way to create spring traps on overconfident players. Definitely hook your players with rumors of people disappearing from a nearby cavern.
Then when players come to look, tempt them with dazzling crystals and see the green-eyed monster greed start lighting up in their eyes.
5. Tenome
1st Edition Tenome/2nd Edition Tenome
I would not be surprised if people mistake these creatures for undead. They have pale gray skin and a thin form. Their faces are eyeless, but they are not blind. Instead their eyes are in the palms of their wickedly clawed hands.
They hunt in small groups, but almost never attack unless they are sure they can overwhelm their target. They seek to grapple and pin opponents down, then use their vibration attack to kill them and devour their bones.
These enemies are great when you want to give your players something evil to take on without overwhelming them with something too powerful. These monsters are intelligent, so running them with pack tactics and intelligence are going to be your best options for a memorable combat session.
6. Quickling
1st Edition Quickling/2nd Edition Quickling
These fey creatures are all about speed and moving fast. They are often cruel and malicious, delighting in causing pain to the “slow folks” meaning everyone else in the world. They like to use run-by attacks to scratch and cut, often employing poison to slow their enemies even more and cause more pain.
Honestly, use the monsters if you are really looking for some schadenfreude on your players. These guys can be annoying to deal with, especially in large groups.
Use them sparingly, and make sure to reward your players after the encounter. Everyone loves a challenge, but don’t over use that challenge.
7. Attic Whisperer
1st Edition Attic Whisperer/2nd Edition Attic Whisperer
These poor and unfortunate undead are sort of a kick to the feels whenever they show up. Attic Whisperers are small undead that form from the souls of children who were neglected in life. They are heartbreaking creatures that linger in their places of death, and often look like small children with fox skulls for heads.
These spirits are often used as scouts or lures for more powerful undead. Their ability to mimic sounds is great to play hell with player characters investigating erry old buildings or dusty dungeons.
They can draw in unsuspecting adventurers, especially the ones who are nobler and care about saving people.
8. Abandoned One (Pathfinder 1e)
Sometimes when a massive battle happens far away from a soldier’s home, there is no way that soldier’s body can be retrieved when they die. This can be especially true if the soldier was on the losing side of the battle, and they were routed or the force was destroyed.
When that happens, vengeful souls can come back as angry spirits to reinhabit their bodies and attack the living.
These enemies are undead soldiers with a punch. They have some pathos to them as well as some really awesome abilities you can dish out against your players.
While they are not very tough, they make up for it in their intelligence and their numbers as well as their Oblivion powers to create ambushes.
9. Ether Spiders (Pathfinder 2e)
Content Warning for those with Arachnophobia. These monstrous spiders make their home in the Ethereal Plane and cross over to the material plane to hunt for fresh meat.
They normally hunt semi-alone but can nest in large webs with up to a dozen spiders at once. They like to wait in ambush, spinning a web in the Ethereal Plane, waiting for a mortal to pass by in the material world, plane shift, grab their prey, and plane shift back.
Either Spiders, while not good creatures, are not evil. They are also intelligent, and some have been known to accept knowledge, other prey, or safety in exchange for a life.
They do not speak common, though they can speak Aklo. In the depths of the Ethereal plane, there are vasts nests of spiders, making travel there sometimes difficult and dangerous.
10. Hound of Tindalos
1st Edition Hound of Tindalos/2nd Edition Hound of TIndalos
The Hounds of Tindalos are vicious creatures from beyond the edge of our universe and the Dimensions of Time. They are creatures that exist outside our normal timeline, and often hunt those who manipulate and seek to disrupt the normal flow of time.
Some spell casters will attempt to summon and bind them, but doing so is often like playing with fire. No matter what happens, you will get burned.
Hounds of Tindalos are powerful creatures to send after your party. While they are not truly “Hounds,” they do have a doglike appearance, and hunt in packs. They are alien and beyond anything like mercy or understanding.
Though they are not dumb, and are frightfully smart. They can be a great way to indicate that someone close to the PCs is engaged in some type of muddling with the time stream.
11. Wyrmwraith
1st Edition Wyrmwraith/2nd Edition Wyrmwraith
When a powerful Dragon dies, but is unwilling to accept that its life has ended, they can turn into these powerful creatures. They are often ancient and powerful, their minds warping from negative energy and their own brooding hatred and fear.
Unlike living dragons, they have zero interest in hoarding wealth. Instead many brood in dark corners, stewing in their own anger towards the living.
These creatures are powerful, and can man great recurring villains. They are also good for site based adventures attempting to counter their influence.
Direct combat with a Wyrmwraith is going to be tough, so make sure your party is ready before you set this combat into motion.
12. Drakauthix
1st Edition Drakauthix/2nd Edition Drakauthix
Drakauthix are giant fungi that float through the dark caverns of the world, hunting for unsuspecting prey. They have long and powerful tentacles ending with sharp hooks.
They drift along the shadows, waiting for prey to get close enough, then they ambush and devour anything that can’t get away. Though they prefer to scavenge, often taking prey from other creatures rather than hunt on their own.
Some of the denizens of the underground will actually hunt Drakauthix specifically for its fungi flesh. It apparently has a spicy and peppery taste, and can also be used for ink.
These creatures can be a nice side encounter if your players are journeying underground, or maybe a gourmet chef sends them to get a sample of this forbidden spice!
