MOAR! Monsters Know What They're Doing - Monster Tactics Guide

In this review of MOAR! Monsters Know What They're Doing the verdict is clear: this is a practical, readable strategy companion for Dungeon Masters who want smarter combat encounters. Keith Ammann expands on his original work with analysis of more than 100 enemies drawn from Volo's Guide to Monsters and Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, and the book's main strength is treating monsters as tactical actors rather than static stat blocks. For DMs who value creature behavior, the book adds immediacy and enjoyment to fights and saves prep time by suggesting likely actions and motivations.

Key Features

• Expanded monster coverage: Analyzes more than 100 new foes from Volo's Guide to Monsters and Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes so DMs get tactics beyond the Monster Manual.
• Behavior-first approach: Focuses on likely combat behaviors and motivations, helping DMs run encounters that feel logical and alive.
• Action recommendations: Offers concrete tactical choices for creatures so you can resolve combats faster and with more dramatic choices.
• Accessible prose: Written in a clear, conversational style that makes strategy easy to apply at the table during play sessions.
• Campaign impact: Helps turn stat blocks into memorable opponents, increasing player engagement and enjoyment in combat.

Who It's For

This book is best for fifth edition Dungeon Masters who run published or homebrew campaigns and want monsters to act like believable adversaries. Game masters who already enjoy tactical play or who prep multiple encounters will find the suggested actions and motivations directly useful during sessions.

Players who simply want monster lore without running games may not need this guide, and DMs looking for purely rules-focused references or extensive lore outside combat tactics should look elsewhere. The book complements core rulebooks rather than replacing them.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Expands tactical guidance to over 100 additional monsters, broadening encounter variety.
• Brings creatures to life by describing motivations and likely behaviors that increase engagement.
• Reduces prep time with ready-to-use action recommendations that can be applied at the table.
• Clear writing makes tactical ideas easy to grasp and implement during a session.

Cons

• The book focuses on tactics and motivations rather than complete lore, so readers seeking deep narrative background may need other sources.

Specifications

Title	MOAR! Monsters Know What They're Doing
Series	Monsters Know What They're Doing (Book 3)
Author	Keith Ammann
Content focus	Monster tactics from Volo's Guide to Monsters and Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
Monster coverage	More than 100 enemies
Intended game	Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition

Our Verdict

MOAR! Monsters Know What They're Doing is a practical purchase for DMs who want combat to feel smarter and more cinematic; its tactical focus delivers clear, usable advice that adds enjoyment to encounters and saves prep time. For the price, it is good value for game masters who run varied fights and want monsters that behave logically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover monsters beyond the Monster Manual?
Yes. It analyzes more than 100 monsters specifically from Volo's Guide to Monsters and Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes.

Is this a rules supplement or a tactics guide?
It is a tactics and behavior guide focused on combat choices and motivations rather than new rules or mechanics.

Who benefits most from this book?
Dungeon Masters running fifth edition who want clearer monster behavior and quicker prep will benefit the most.