Alignment Lawful Evil Image Wizards.com image | Type Magical beast Mythological origins Manticore | |
Stats Open Game License stats | ||
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the manticore is a large magical beast with the body of a lion, dragon wings, and a somewhat humanoid head. It is based on the mythological manticore.
Contents
Publication history
The manticore was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game.
Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)
The manticore was one of the first monsters introduced in the earliest edition of the game, in the Dungeons & Dragons "white box" set (1974), where they were described as huge, lion-bodied monstrosities with a tail full of spikes that can be fired.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The manticore appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), where it is described as having a lion body, bat wings, and a human head. It attacks by loosing a volley of iron spikes from its tail.
Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)
This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the manticore, in the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (1977), and Expert Set (1981 & 1983). The manticore was also later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1991), the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), and the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The manticore appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).
The manticore is further detailed in Dragon #153 (January 1990), in "The Ecology of the Manticore."
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
The manticore appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
The manticore appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
The manticore appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008).
Description
A manticore's long tail has a cluster of deadly spikes, which the creature can launch at its foes as weapons.
A manticore is usually lawful evil in alignment.
In the Eberron campaign setting, the manticore is the heraldic beast of the dragonmarked House Kundarak.