Dinosaurs are a group of ancient reptilian creatures that once roamed the world. They come in many shapes and sizes, from the small and agile velociraptor to the gargantuan and majestic brontosaurus. Some are herbivorous, while others are carnivorous and hunt their prey with ferocity. Dinosaurs are often found in remote and isolated regions, such as jungles, islands, or mountain valleys.
Dinosaurs can be a great addition to any D&D campaign, as they offer a variety of challenges and opportunities for adventurers. Whether you want to explore a lost world full of prehistoric wonders, race against other riders on the back of a dinosaur, or face off against a fearsome tyrannosaurus rex, dinosaurs can provide a lot of fun and excitement for your game. In this blog post, I will introduce you to some of the most common and iconic dinosaurs that you can use in your D&D adventures, as well as some tips and resources on how to incorporate them into your story.
Depending on the setting of your campaign, dinosaurs may have different origins and roles in the world. For example, in the Forgotten Realms setting, dinosaurs are considered agents and children of the Chultan deity Ubtao, though some have turned rogue and serve his enemy Eshowdow. In the Mystara setting, dinosaurs are found on the Island of Terror, a mysterious landmass located in the Sea of Dread, where they are worshipped by a tribe of primitive humans.
The Monster Manual has statistics for several kinds of dinosaurs, such as allosaurus, ankylosaurus, pteranodon, stegosaurus, triceratops, and tyrannosaurus rex. Volo’s Guide to Monsters also adds more dinosaur species, such as brontosaurus, deinonychus, dimetrodon, hadrosaurus, quetzalcoatlus, and velociraptor. Additionally, Tomb of Annihilation features a whole chapter on Chult, a land where dinosaurs are abundant and diverse. You can find more information on dinosaur races, habitats, behaviors, and lore in this sourcebook.
Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Reptiles by Era
Triassic Period (252 to 201 million years ago):
- Euparkeria
- Plateosaurus
- Tanystropheus
- Teratosaurus
Jurassic Period (201 to 145 million years ago):
- Allosaurus
- Brontosaurus
- Ceratosaurus
- Compsognathus
- Diplodocus
- Stegosaurus
Cretaceous Period (145 to 66 million years ago):
- Ankylosaurus
- Deinonychus
- Gorgosaurus
- Hadrosaurus
- Iguanodon
- Lambeosaurus
- Monoclonius
- Pteranodon
- Quetzalcoatlus
- Struthiomimus
- Trachodon
- Triceratops
Note: Some of the animals in the list are not dinosaurs, but other types of prehistoric reptiles. They are:
Permian Period (299 to 252 million years ago):
- Dimetrodon
Devonian Period (419 to 359 million years ago):
- Dinichthys
Triassic Period (252 to 201 million years ago):
- Nothosaurus
Jurassic Period (201 to 145 million years ago):
- Plesiosaurus
Cretaceous Period (145 to 66 million years ago):
- Archelon
- Elasmosaurus
- Mosasaurus