Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

The book updates a variety of options for both players and Dungeon Masters: • 33 player races • Bestiary that contains 268 monster stat blocks == Publication history ==

The book was originally published as part of the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Expansion Gift Set on January 25, 2022. It was scheduled to have a standalone release on May 17, 2022; however, it released a day earlier on May 16. Christian Hoffer, for ComicBook.com in January 2022, reported that "with past updates to content, either via errata or updates in new books, D&D Beyond has updated the stat blocks for all of its subscribers regardless as to whether they purchased the updated content or not. [...] However, this will not be the case with Monsters of the Multiverse, especially as some of the changes made in the book are considered unpopular with a segment of fans. [...] [D&D Beyond head Joe Starr] didn't specify exactly how it would implement the new stat blocks and player races found in the book". On May 10, 2022, it was announced that the digital release of Monsters of the Multiverse will correspond with the delisting of ''Volo's Guide to Monsters (2016) and Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (2018) on D&D Beyond as Monsters of the Multiverse revises the player races and monsters previously published in those sourcebooks. Christian Hoffer, for ComicBook.com in May 2022, commented that "one major concern about the delisting is access to the chapters of lores contained in Volo's Guide to Monsters and Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes.'' Both books contained dozens of pages of lore about the D&D multiverse that don't appear in Monsters of the Multiverse. [...] D&D Beyond has not said whether the various expanded lore chapters will be available to D&D Beyond players moving forward, or if they'll be delisted and essentially removed from access by new players moving forward. Of course, D&D players can still read the lore in ''Volo's Guide to Monsters and Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes by purchasing physical copies of the books, which will still be available even after Monsters of the Multiverse'' is released next week". == Related products ==

The boxed set, Dungeons & Dragons Rules Expansion Gift Set, contains the Monsters of the Multiverse along with new printings of ''Xanathar's Guide to Everything (2017) and Tasha's Cauldron of Everything'' (2020). An exclusive edition, with white foil alternate art covers by Joy Ang, is only available through local game stores. == Reception ==

In ''Publishers Weekly's "Best-selling Books Week Ending May 21, 2022", Monsters of the Multiverse was #2 in "Hardcover Nonfiction" with 23,889 units sold which Publishers Weekly called a "solid debut". The book remained on the top 25 list for . In USA Today's "Best-Selling Books List for May 22, 2022", Monsters of the Multiverse'' was #10; it slipped to #95 the following week. Monsters of the Multiverse was included on Kotaku's 2022 "The 10 Best Tabletop Roleplaying Books Of 2022" list — Claire Jackson commented that both the updated monsters and player race options make Monsters of the Multiverse a contender for "fourth core book". Jackson wrote that the player races is where the book "really earns its place. It contains the more flexible and much better race rules from ''Tasha's Cauldron Of Everything'', where stat boosts aren't based on essentializing qualities, but can be chosen by the player. It also adds so many more options for fun characters that the ''Player's Handbook'' looks like a mere playtest of suggestions. It's a solid D&D book, and a great resource for both Dungeon Masters and players". Chris de Hoog, for CGMagazine, called Monsters of the Multiverse a "very straightforward book" and that it "isn't the most flashy or compelling book". de Hoog wrote that "many of the creatures listed within are reprinted from other sources, like the similar ''Volo's Guide to Monsters or Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes'', but these reprints have subtle updates that make a big difference at the game table. [...] The other benefit of reprinting monsters in central tomes like this is that you don't necessarily need to buy every other book just to get the stats for a couple of baddies you'd like to use—nor do you need to cart as many books to game nights". Charlie Hall, for Polygon, commented on the previous "edition wars" when Dungeons & Dragons "transitioned from 3rd edition, to 3.5, to 4th edition. Instead, it appears that Wizards will be taking a far more incremental approach this time, weaving in changes both large and small while still maintaining a connection to what came before". Hall also commented that Monsters of the Multiverse was originally intended to be published in time for the winter 2021 holidays as a standalone book and as part of the box set; however, due to "ongoing global supply chain issues" both releases were delayed – "It's an approach to releasing new content that the company has not attempted before in 5th edition, and this time, looks to have backfired, effectively gating off this new content for a period of time unless you're willing to pay a premium". == Notes ==