Introducing the Tarrasque (5e)

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On this week's blog for Enter the Geekdom, we will be diving into what we like to call Monster Appreciation Week, and today’s monster will be the Tarrasque (5e)

You thought I was going to say the Beholder didn’t you, or maybe a dragon? Or Vecna, for my Stranger Things fans currently reading. However not today, today’s monster of the week is a monster that we as DMs, are too scared to use. When it’s mentioned during a campaign, your players will pack their stuff, throw away their dice and call it a day—leaving you the DM alone at the table with no more players.

Now you’re left with an empty room; the only company you have are the crickets climbing the wall in the corner. *DM: Great*

The Tarrasque is a 70 feet long and 50 feet wide monster, that lives under the earth's surface and is summoned by any kind of cosmic occasion. They eat kingdoms whole and will have no issue eating you in one bite like a McDonald's chicken nugget. Leaving you wondering “what the heck just happened”.

So if you have bards, sorcerers, warlocks, or wizards in the party and any of them have wild magic, keep them in a box and don’t let them out unless you really gotta use them. (Unless you don’t have a Tarrasque lying somewhere.)

Tarrasques have damage immunities to fire, poison; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks. So if your party has little hand swords and a wooden bow and arrows, running the other direction might be the best option for you. (Unless you as the DM need a TPK (Total party kill) then you’re gonna love this one.)

But don’t let that discourage you from needing to pay for your whole party’s therapy session after playing a session with a Tarrasque. As the DM you’ll need to make sure that your party has reached the proper level, and that you make sure nothing happens that’ll summon it until your party is ready. The Tarrasque is challenge 30 (155,000 XP) and anyone above level 15 shouldn’t have an issue fighting one.

*However be aware that fighting a Tarrasque might take some time, especially if you’re going into it right away. Some players might start to get bored while playing. But if you can find ways to extend it by adding side quests at the same time and sacrificing a couple of kingdoms and NPCs you can always turn it around and make it entertaining.*

I’d suggest that if you’re going to sacrifice a player to the Tarrasque, make it the player that summoned the thing in the first place. My party did that, and it made everyone’s life much easier... (Don’t do what they did, we had to play 2 extra sessions so that they could save up enough gold to bring him back to life :) )

Fun fact about the Tarrasque, it’s based on the French mythology creature ‘Tarasque’. The Tarasque is a beast that had a lion-like head, its body was protected by a turtle-like carapace. six feet, with bear-like claws, and a serpent’s tail. And could expel a poisonous breath. (Yikes)

So there you have it! Honestly, when it comes to D&D, the creative ability to use any kind of monster from the Monster Manuel is there for you to indulge yourself in. You can be original and stick with using dragons or add a Kraken while you’re party is travelling through the ocean on their sailboat that they managed to steal after 2 hours of trying to convince the guard that they owned it.

Quick Notes from the author

Hi everyone! If you haven’t read my previous blogs, where we talked about joining the world of Tabletop RPG and where to start. Along with my second blog, where I introduce to you the world of Dungeons and Dragons, what are you doing? Go check those out! I also want to thank everyone for joining Enter the Geekdom, and I hope you had a blast reading everyones blogs!

- Blogs -

Blog 1: (So you want to get into Table Top RPG?) https://spineonline.squarespace.com/eek/2023/9/22/valerie-ngh3e

Blog 2: (Welcome to Dungeons and Dragons) https://spineonline.squarespace.com/eek/2023/9/22/valerie-mn2lh

- Useful Links -

DnD Beyond Tarrasque page: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/17034-tarrasque

Monster Manuel (5e): https://orkerhulen.dk/onewebmedia/Monster%20Manual.pdf

Hey, I’m Valerie Robert! I’m a Dungeons and Dragons DM. I’d get your D20s ready, because I’ll be taking you on an adventure into the world of Table top RPG games and why they’re taking over the world by a storm. For the past couple of years I’ve been intrigued with writing fiction, and decided to join the amazing world of Table Top RPG to take my skills to the next level, and have fun with my friends. I love being able to express my love for creating worlds and characters along with anything involving RPG games.

So before we begin our adventure, I’d love for everyone to please roll initiative.