A review copy of “Swarms of the Multiverse” was provided by the publisher. Find more DMs Guild Reviews on my website and YouTube channel.
Support my work by using my affiliate links and pledging via Patreon.
Designed by: Splinterverse Media
Swarms of the Multiverse has nothing to do with Marvel, but it does have a lot to do with swarms. Swarms are a unique statblock variant in D&D 5e that represent dozens of creatures jumped together as a single entity
Swarms of the Multiverse adds over 70 creatures, each with multiple statblocks and swarming versions, with a particular nod toward creepy, eldritch, and horror-themed monsters.
Swarms of the Multiverse features nearly 200 pages of content, including about 20 pages on how to create your own swarms based on existing monsters.
The intuitive rules are based on the common traits that swarms posses, such as damage resistance, and being able to occupy the same space as another creature (literally swarming all over them – yuck!).
“Swarms” can also refer to creatures who act as hosts for swarms, such as tree-monsters that unleash swarms of birds.
Most of the book is dedicated to the gigantic bestiary of creatures, many of whom I would never consider for swarms. When I think of swarming creatures, I think of insects or bats or rats, something tiny that becomes a medium-size swarm.
The critters in Swarms of the Multiverse don’t settle for tiny, however. Creatures range in all shapes and sizes, from the medium-size Bloodspawn and Deep Sleeper, to the gargantuan Root Behemoth (which can form an equally gargantuan, apocalyptic-level CR 30 swarm).
Rarely does the book rely on creatures that simply swarm together, such as the insectoid Hydrapede (which can split and regenerate, giving me nightmares of Gloomhaven’s ooze), or the spell-reflecting Obsidian Spider.
More often we’re treated to awesome ideas, like the supremely creepy Deep Sleeper, with its lower half of appendages and tentacles that can split off into their own Slithering Clots, which can then swarm together! Or the Unihorn, a deadly fungal infection that manifests as an otherwise innocuous horn on a beasts’ head, and spread to other four-legged beasts.
The rather stupid-looking Patchwork Seahorse could be a solid Tier 1 boss fight, with its ability to summon three different kinds of tiny seahorse minions, all with unique abilities, and all capable of forming a swarm.
I particularly like creatures that include wildly different, even somewhat random abilities on their statblock, not unlike a Beholder’s eye stalks. Swarms of the Multiverse includes the Gemskull, the Lost Book, the Crystal Assembler, and the Voidmouth, all of whom feature unique but limited attacks by themselves, but unlock multiple abilities when swarming together, sometimes even creating entirely new creatures.
It helps that the book is well-organized and fun to flip through, featuring artwork of all the monsters, as well as a breakdown of each creature’s combat tactics, possible adventure hooks, and the occasional deep dive into a creature’s lair or demiplane.
It’s a full-service monster book that quickly puts most others to shame. The adventure hooks are a wonderful addition with cool, and sometimes surprising ways to use each creature, from hunting them down to capturing them, and even working with them in some cases.
Don’t sleep on Swarms of the Multiverse because you think you have enough swarms. This is one of the best monster books since Monster Manual Expanded, even without all the swarm rules and variants.
Pros:
- Over 70 new creatures, each with artwork, multiple statblocks, swarm-versions, combat tactics, and adventure hooks.
- Appendix helpfully organizes creatures by environment, type, and even plane.
- VTT tokens of each base creature.
- Easy rules for making your own swarms of existing creatures.
- Professional design with tons of artwork.
Cons:
- None!
The Verdict: Far more than just a book of swarming monsters, Swarms of the Multiverse is also a repository of ghastly, creepy, and delightfully eldritch creations to throw at your players.
A review copy of “Swarms of the Multiverse” was provided by the publisher. Find more DMs Guild Reviews on my website and YouTube channel.
Support my work by using my affiliate links and pledging via Patreon.
RogueWatson 