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Kobold Press is bringing one of its most legendary monster supplements up to speed with the latest Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition ruleset. The newly released Creature Codex Revised is a massive update to the fan-favorite tome, delivering over 400 foes, friends and legendary beasts with updated lore and mechanics that are fully compatible with the 2024 D&D 5.5E rules.
Creature Codex Revised is available now in hardcover and PDF directly from your local game store, DriveThruRPG and Kobold Press. Below, we dive into the many updates in this magnificently monstrous manual.
What is the original Kobold Press Creature Codex?
The original Creature Codex is a supplement for the D&D 5E rules that was published by Kobold Press in 2018 after a highly successful Kickstarter. The book was designed primarily as a follow-up to Kobold Press’s acclaimed Tome of Beasts series, offering a wide range of monsters and NPCs covering all Challenge Ratings.
In addition to the core hardcover version of the Creature Codex, Kobold Press also launched a variety of tie-in products, including a pocket-sized edition, cardboard monster pawns, a book of creature variants, a card deck and an add-on supplement entitled Creature Codex Lairs.
Notably, the book was written by a team that includes a number of designers who would go on to significant careers in the TTRPG industry, including Joey Haeck and Shawn Merwin (both of whom have worked on a number of major D&D projects for Wizards of the Coast) and James Introcaso (who would go on to be the lead designer for both Draw Steel and the upcoming Crows RPG).
What is the Creature Codex Revised?
The Creature Codex Revised is a 416-page bestiary for the new 2024 D&D 5.5E rules. This isn’t just a reprint, however, and is really meant to be a comprehensive overhaul designed to align with current design philosophies while maintaining the unique monster designs Kobold Press is known for. The book includes:
- Over 400 creatures: From the diminutive and pesky to the world-shakingly powerful, the book covers a vast range of Challenge Ratings. Notably, all of them appeared in the original edition and there are no new entries.
- Revised stat blocks: All of the creatures have been touched up to match the new D&D 2024 stat block format, with updated abilities and mechanics that support the new rules.
How much is the Creature Codex Revised?
The hardcover version of the book is available for $59.99 USD (not including shipping and handling). For those who prefer to keep their bags light, the PDF version is available for $39.99 USD via DriveThruRPG.
Kobold Press also offers a bundle option, allowing GMs to snag both the physical book and the digital version for a combined price of $69.99 USD.
Why we’re excited about the Creature Codex Revised
- Modern mechanics: While on paper D&D 5.5E is compatible with the D&D 5E, the two have a very different approach when it comes to monsters, so it’s great to see Kobold Press taking the time to actually make adjustments.
- What’s old is new again: If you missed out on the book the first time, the revised edition offers the perfect chance to pick up one of the best modern D&D monster books.
- Cross compatibility: If you are still sticking with D&D 5E, you can still make the book work with a little bit of tweaking. This is also the case with Kobold Press’ Tales of the Valiant, offering more beastly bang for your buck.
Final Thoughts
The Creature Codex has been a staple for DMs looking to surprise players who have memorized the 2014 D&D 5E Monster Manual, so it’s great to see Kobold Press bring the book up to speed with the 2024 rules.
You can snag a hardcover of PDF copy of the book now from your local game store, DriveThruRPG and Kobold Press.