| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Alignment | Lawful Evil |
| Type | Magical beast |
| Image | Wizards.com image |
| Stats | Open Game License stats |
| Publication history | |
| Mythological origins | Manticore |
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.
The manticore was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game.
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.[1]
The manticore appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977),[2] 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.
This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the manticore, in the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (1977),[3] and Expert Set (1981 & 1983).[4][5] The manticore was also later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1991), the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991),[6] and the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994).
The manticore appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989),[7] and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).[8]
The manticore is further detailed in Dragon #153 (January 1990), in "The Ecology of the Manticore."[9]
The manticore appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).[10]
The manticore appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).
The manticore appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008).[11]
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.
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