Get your copy of Esper's Emporium of Esoterica: www.kickstarter.com/projects/1506416234/espers-emporium-of-esoterica

Holy shit ten years. I started watching your content when I was in high school. (I'll avoid saying the year to keep us from feeling old) Its been a hell of a ride man. Your ranking videos have shown me some epic monsters I didnt even know existed, and have vastly improved my games as a result. It's always so satisfying when you say the monster's name and you hear your most experienced player say "What in the Nine Hells is that?"

“May your 2020 be a critical hit” Very poor choice of words.

The Silver Dragon isn’t mad that you didn’t put it at number 1, it’s just disappointed....

Are you going to continue your class tier lists, I would love to see your opinion on monks and clerics.

We are here to see the pinnacle of dnd on youtube

Friendly reminder that neutral evil is by far the most dangerous type of evil.

My first character actually managed to decapitate a lich at lv5 with a string of lucky crits. Cue a panicked search for the phylactery and an exasperated DM informing me that "You were actually supposed to talk to him. I honestly have no idea how you managed to kill him" P.S your first top 10 monsters vid was what got me into D&D in the first place

Nice always loving the detail description n lore

10 years ago a 10:00 minute video about the 10 best monsters. Yes Esper I would give it 10/10.

Man, that Silver Dragon bit... wow. What an amazing description! Loved the whole wording of it, and that light music in the background? Very nice, made me feel inspired in a way!

Gosto muito do teu conteúdo, fiquei muito viciado. Abraços de Portugal! I like your content a lot, i got addicted to it. Cheers from Portugal!

Just finished an arc in a campaign I'm DMing where a lich-ruled territory suddenly fell into chaos with undead randomly being released, only for the party to learn that these undead, who had once been controlled by the lich, had been set free when a powerful vampire killed the lich and became one himself. I thought it was an interesting concept having a vampire lich, but it only really works if you're willing to alter the lore and history of vampires and liches for this purpose.

While I only attempted to call one monster (mind flayer, which I was glad to be correct about), I see in each of these choices the ranking videos which correspond to their creature type. I have found those videos to be extremely helpful as a DM, and I thank you for them. They have helped me to use lower and higher ranked creatures in ways that their mechanics are best suited for. Blessings upon your future and efforts, and congratulations on your book!

My intro to the mindflayer was the drizzt books. The "second" after he left menzo. I'm loving these videos. Giving me so many good ideas

Thank you for including Silver Dragons, Brass Dragons, and Vampires. They're all favorite monsters of mine. :)

One of my favorite D&D Stories actually comes from the Ghost. Our Wizard, who only possibly could have suffered the additional effect of Horrifying Visage by rolling a Natural 1 of course rolled said one and was then aged 40 years - and in addition to that OF COURSE he was playing an Aarokocra, who "don't usually live longer than 30 years" And thus he actually died of old age from the ghost. Making it a final death

I'm still in disbelief that Esper's top choice wasn't the Beholder

Respect my friend

I may not have been around from the start but I have enjoyed the years i have known. Here's to many more

A very solidly written opening to the video, kudos to you =) Edit: I just finished and...wow! So much passion and elegance in putting together all this audiovisual multimedia. Just...wow!

Thank you so much. You just helped resolve a huge problem so all players can enjoy. Loved all the great info

I admire the reflection back to 'Eldrich Castle'. Such a quality project. I'm thinking it's time to revisit.

Congratulations on the 10 years Esper!!! You've been inspiring my D&D game for the last few, thank you for what you do. Heres to another decade!!!

Fantastic video as always of course! I am looking forward to more of your class ranking lists, and am interested as to why the great Beholder wasn’t honoured or on the list, I would love your opinion on it :D

Oni is my personal favorite monster. Origins and lore may be open-ended, but that only adds to it, as the oni is so foreign to the western fantasy of D&D. Maybe the oni are distant ogre/troll cousins from Kara-Tur, or a tribe of ogres made a pact with a night hag by offering their strength in exchange for magical power. The oni is also such a powerhouse of abilities, with traits that allow it to be one of the most persistent villains in a campaign. It would be the *perfect* underling of a vampire, coven of hags, green dragon, or rakshasa. Spying on foreigners as a lost child, luring the party with the weeping of a fair maiden, disturbing their long rests with an ambush, only to go invisible and fly back into the darkness. Only reason why it's classified as a giant instead of a fiend is that it *is* a creature of this world, making the oni impossible to banish or otherwise exercise by divine magic. I even made a character that resembles one in mechanics. A stygian tiefling hexblade, whose glaive thirsts for the blood of fey and celestials. Oni are nightmare made manifest and they are so goddamn rad.

The video that introduced me to this channel, glad to see a sequel to the video that's been on my favorites list for a decade.

Great video, as always. Thanks.

Love your videos man Keep the good work :)

My favorite from the fiend folio was the race that overthrew the mind flayer. The Githyanki.

Have always looked forward to and enjoyed your videos. Can’t wait for the book. I pledged as soon as I saw it pop up in my Facebook feed.

Thought #1 would be a beholder. Wasn't even an honorable mention...

I like how two of your highest ranked monsters, nr 3 & 2, are both good creatures who represent the more beautiful and divine aspects of life. Going on an adventure isn´t just about fighting monsters but also experiencing the wonders afforded to us who have been blessed to be born.

You know the list is good when each monster on it could be the centerpiece of a whole campaign.

I'll never get over how Square just straight up took the concept of Mind Flayers (and even used the actual name) for use in Final Fantasy. When DnD (and ultima) used the concept of hobbits they were pretty quickly told not to iirc

For a moment, I figured the beholder would be #1 but apparently I was wrong; excellent video nonetheless

Esper returns to the Top 10 realm as a multiclass of a level 20th DM and a 20th Utter Legend. I loved those early days :)* An excellent list, as always! Is the sliver dragon a new entry? I think so. Lovely creature! 18:30 Couldn't agree more. There is something very inspiring in them. * The atmosphere you've set on those adventures and the way you acted them out; to me, that was unheard of on youtube. I think that the Island of Horns was the first set of videos I've discovered from you.

The abeloth is so cool. I’m using one for a quest line in my world

I really like your tier lists!

Hell yeah Esper. Congrats on the book. If i could afford it you would be one of the few i would deff pay to support

Completly Agree about the Silver Dragon(obvisously the best dragon)! He is my favorite Monster in the Monster Manual and my favorite Character I ever played was a Warlock who had a silver Dragon as a Patron

Happy 10th anniversary, Esper! Love your Dungeons and Dragons Monsters videos. It has taught me about creatures and monsters in Dungeons and Dragons I have never knew about or never even heard of over the years. I'll try to get a copy of your new book some time! Until then, Happy Season of Haunting!

Your videos are amazing whenever I need ideas I come to these videos

My favourite monster has got to be the Mimic it is fascinating and the fact that it's shapeshifting is purely physical is so cool I die a little on the inside whenever I see them used as mere chompy chests

Actually, the most interesting D&D dragon for me I have heard so far is Steel Dragon. There's just so much complex lore around them...very creative concept.

Hi i love your videos they have always been super helpful for me

Hey Esper, great video! You bet I'm going to pick up a hardcover... when I get paid this Friday of course!

DUDE great vid holy crap that mind flayer trance music XD

Your Book is a Must Have. I'll be getting it ASAP😁

When i was able to play this as a kid, i enjoyed reading the manuals nearly as much as actually playing.

Imagine a game where a Sphinx keeps turning back the last hour or day before some type of apocalypse, giving the players unlimited chances but very limited time to save themselves.

Wow, this is a great video. For me, the only creatures that caught my eyes in DnD, Dragons. Who doesn't love a badass Dragon?

hi just wanna say love the moster episodes

Merrenoloth was called Charondaemon back in AD&D and they're the skeletal servitors of Charon.

I of course backed your kickstarter. signed, superbacker (190+ and counting)

Hey Esper, Been a fan of your work since 2010. Your an absolute awesome writer and content creator. I find myself listening to your old d&d adventure stories every day, on repeat non stop lol it’s really soothing. My question is are you going to finish the Dungeon of Drossknot series that one was by far my favorite adventure of yours. I would love to see it expanded on its fantastic and very, very good thanks for all your work it’s inspired me to DM my own sessions. Anyways thanks and I hope you continue Drossknot eventually :-)

3:40 Yugoloths are notorious for being greedy mercenaries (kind of like the Ferangi, for Star trek fans here) so it actually does make a lot of sense for maraenoloths to be part of their race.

Esper, I have pledged and downloaded the sample PDF and I am blown away. Fantastic lore and mechanics that really back up the nature of the monsters. I have a new favourite Hag, Ooze, Amphibian and my goodness what a Devil. Did you sell your own soul? If not may I buy that as well please.

For 2020’s double criticals we rolled double natural ones in saving rolls. With the year almost over I pray 2020 doesn’t have any legendary actions.

I love the original video, back in the day(less than 10 years ago) there wasn't how to's for how to make DND how to's con sarnit. Was so starved for DND youtube content back then, especially videos that really helped flesh out the beasts and magic of the world giving it more depth past the standard hit point block and attacks. Still digging the content!

Rest in Peace Tora. May the legend live on for eons to come.

I love the title of your book

I want to lead with saying another great video. The art alone makes these worth watching, but I know the time it takes just to compare monsters and decide the rankings is immense. Well done. The one jarring decision in this video was the Smiling One. It seems to be the only monster in the list that doesn't have some kind of lore extending outside of d&d, and probably one of the most recent additions to the game. Plus, are you telling me you use the Smiling One more than Mindflayers, Merrenoloths, and Ghosts?? What makes more sense to me as 5th place would be Giants in general, with Smiling Ones being the prime example of the variety inherent to the monster type.

I don't like to use monsters with ingrained lore, I might take inspiration from it but I rarely use it as is.

I'm glad to see my patron was there I had a celestial warlock with a sphinx patron

I’m also a fan of vampires, yaun-ti and flayers. Also celestials.

Hell yeah, I love silver dragons.

Thanks.

Kinda want to create an adventure with these monsters in it now... I see like a 4 to 6 part quest. Thank you 🖤

I like Stygian Ferrymen for the Merrenoloth.

Well, great.

Up till the giant, I thought this was "monsters for Spooky campaigns" or something and you forgot to bring it up.

Out of all the monsters in this list, the sphinx and silver dragon are my favorites

There's a reason the most famous campaign is curse of Strahd

The Red Dragon to me has always been the poster child of D&D for me. It puts the DRAGON in Dungeons and Dragons. A close second for me is the beholder. I'm very shocked that neither made the list but regardless of popularity they probably aren't the "best" monsters most of the time.

I wonder what Esper's thoughts will be on the new book that's coming out.

Your old videos were not bad at all. Especially I liked those solo adventure simulation (4e at that time) that really helped understanding the game to new players. Sure, a lot of videos have more players present, but being single has a lot of advantages, particularly consistent volume and audio quality and no loud laughing which can often kill the mood. And you can delete bloopers after editing. Your audio was good even back then, with good narration and proper background sounds/music which felt in place. I must say I miss those kind of videos.

I agree with most of what you think about the Monsters i woud Just replace the cloud giant smiliing one with the aboleth although i dislike the fact that they don't have legendary resistance

Hoping to see some feature of mastermind rogues.

I'm really surprised that beholders aren't on here

No beholder 0 out of fish. To the lowest layer of the 9 hells with you. XD

You never see the Ki'rin in these lists. They show up when the SHTF, very dire need. Or the Dragonhorses as a prelude to the Ki'rin.

I'll check your video list. I am really wanting to join a group as a player and I think that DDTT of some type would be great for me except for one thing, I don't understand the software well enough to use it. I was wondering if you would do a video explaining how you use it for your group. As soon as I get paid, I'm kicking in on that book, hardcover.

When the 2020 DM hasn't let you level up all year. 😔

I'm partial to la Shay and bodak.

Esper, you are being to harsh with your older video. I just saw it, out of curiosity, and I found it very nice. And no, it ain't bias speaking, the older video still nice

Yall got anymore of those sleep pies?

Am I the only one waiting for the D&D CLERIC RANKING video?

Should do best of Unorthodox Monsters.

It wasn't a Nat 20 on us,we all rolled a double Nat 1. Edit:Also,I thought number 1 was Changling.

I think the Yuan Ti are based on the Snake people of Velushia.

I'm not saying Ben Shapiro is a Yuan-ti, but he does fit the description.

Surprised Oni wasn't on the list.

I will be fun to play as a vampire

ghouls were missing... they are sentient, alive and still are treated as undead. They got cursed by commining cannibalism... they are a lot, and can spread their affliction as easy as they bite their preys... Resident Evil 4 had a town filled with ghoul-like creatures, and was scary as shit.

Hey can mindflayers take over the body like they do with humans to something like a giant or cave troll? And have their devious brain on the body of a giant creature? just wondering as i watched this..

I'm super early

So you going to make it to level twenty?

Didn’t the Serpent folk create Yuan Ti?

Me, getting to #1 knowing it's gonna be the Beholder: "Damn, no Vampire on this list? Esper: "#1. Vampire." Me: "Well alright, then."