Are the Monsters in Stranger Things Based on D&D?
There’s no doubt that the Demogorgon from Stranger Things is scary…but is it accurate? Today we’re looking at 3 creatures from the show that were based on D&D monsters to see how they compare to their source material. Photo Source: “Demogorgon at Stranger Things: The Experience” by Martin Lewinson.
Attention, Stranger Things enthusiasts! Throughout the beloved series, the nods to Dungeons & Dragons are unmistakable. Keen fans have astutely observed disparities between the show's depiction of D&D and the actual game. Today, we discern the truths and fallacies, exploring what Stranger Things got right – and what it got wrong – about the monsters and villains of D&D.
We’ll compare 3 of Stranger Things’ most legendary creatures with their in-game counterparts. We’ll take a look at where the Duffer Brothers took some artistic liberties, as well as point out aspects of the characters that are true to the game. In the end, it’s up to you to decide whether the game or the show handled the character best.
We hereby issue a SPOILER ALERT!
Avert your eyes if you don’t want the show to be spoiled.
Monster #1: Demogorgon, the First Enemy
Even the Lego version of the Stranger Things Demogorgon is enough to strike fear in your heart as it stalks through the Hawkins Lab. “Demogorgon in the Upside Down” courtesy of Four Bricks Tall.
In Stranger Things' first season, our intrepid heroes – Mike, Lucas, Will, and Dustin – stumble upon the fearsome Demogorgon in their home D&D campaign. You might think that the show came up with this name, but it’s actually a real monster from D&D! Naturally, when the group of boys discover the monster from the Upside Down, they decide to name it “The Demogorgon”.
In the show, this creature is 7 feet tall, gray, and thin. It has long claws and a giant mouth that opens like a flower. The true D&D incarnation is a demonic creature that is 18 feet tall, featuring dual demon-monkey heads and formidable tentacle arms.
You’ll immediately notice a difference in looks. They’re both creepy, at least, but that’s where the similarities end. Let’s venture deeper into how they brought this beast to life.
The Demogorgon in Stranger Things vs. D&D
In Stranger Things, the formidable Demogorgon possesses strength, speed, and the uncanny ability to create interdimensional rifts between Hawkins and the Upside Down. Some viewers may also notice hints towards the entity’s telekinetic powers.
Their abilities may be similar, but the D&D 5E Demogorgon looks decidedly different from its Stranger Things counterpart. Which do you prefer— the “real” one or the TV version? Image from u/ArtFiendofDespair on Reddit.
Meanwhile, in the world of D&D, Demogorgons inhabit the Abyssal plane. This dark and menacing realm is strikingly reminiscent of the Upside Down. Demogorgons wield hypnotic powers, can inflict disease, and are able to cast evil spells. Of these magical spells, telekinesis and plane shift are included, meaning that the show actually got some of its abilities right!
Although they don’t look the same, both renditions come from a similar place, and they have similar powers. The vibes are definitely there, kudos to the show! Let’s move onto a Stranger Things monster that ended up being quite different from its D&D counterpart.
Monster #2: Mind Flayer, the Miniboss
Once you see it…you can’t unsee it! The Stranger Things Mind Flayer definitely has a little bit of Squidward energy. Image by u/Picklpower via Reddit.
After Eleven defeats the Demogorgon, the next antagonist appears: the Mind Flayer. Like the Demogorgon, this creature is named after a monster from the boys’ home campaign.
The Stranger Things Mind Flayer is depicted as a humongous, fleshy, spider-like monster with a long head, lots of teeth, and gross tentacles. The Mind Flayer haunts Will Byer with visions of a dark version of Hawkins, and it takes control of Billy in order to help it grow stronger.
Mind Flayers are a classic in D&D. Typically, Mind Flayers are an intelligent squid-looking alien species that has powerful mind control abilities. These monsters are the same size as humans, feasting on the intellect of other creatures, sometimes even sucking out the brain. Tasty!
How Does the Mind Flayer Compare to its D&D Counterpart?
Behold, the D&D Mind Flayer: smarter, smaller, and just as ready to feed off your psychic energy. “Bad Sushi” by Bart via Flickr.
These two look completely different! Hold your horses though, it’s not a complete flop. When it comes to description and abilities, they did pretty well. Both versions of the Mind Flayer have mind control abilities and feed off of the will and intellect of others to grow stronger. The main difference is that the D&D Mind Flayer is way smaller and smarter. Otherwise, the vibes are still there. Another success!
Monster #3: Vecna, the Final Boss
Season 4 is the scariest by far. The show takes a much darker turn, and the story culminates in a new antagonist who has been behind it all: Vecna.
Listen, we warned you there would be spoilers. Vecna image by u/Allenrw3 via Reddit.
Vecna is the name given to a former human who likely created the Upside Down and all its monsters. He is super evil and has been trying to destroy the world since Season 1. Vecna is a fleshy monster with tentacles that feeds on fear, capturing humans and taking them to the Upside Down. He has telekinetic powers and is powerful enough to create an entire dimension for himself!
D&D’s Vecna is a famous lich king that was also once human. He has incredible necromancy powers which he used to become immortal. Vecna is skeletal and gray, adorned with gold, and he is the most evil of them all. Many D&D campaigns use Vecna as the “Big Bad”, the main antagonist who has been pulling the strings behind everything the whole time.
Show Vecna vs. Game Vecna: Are They the Same?
It’s unclear if D&D Vecna is as vulnerable to “Running Up That Hill” as show Vecna is, but they have an awful lot else in common. Image by u/LuisCarlos14Fe via Reddit.
Hold on – these two actually look similar! Gray, undead, and human-shaped. A+ on the looks!
Both versions of Vecna are power-seeking beings that were once human. They both are incredibly powerful, intelligent, strong, and pure EVIL. Both can mess with your head, control monsters to do their bidding, and they both live in spooky places that they’ve created. Stranger Things really nailed this one!
Seems like the show actually did pretty well on the monsters. While they aren’t a one-to-one replication, you can see why they are named after their D&D cousins.
Other D&D References in Stranger Things You Might Have Missed
Watch out for that Demogorgon looming in the background… “McFarlane Stranger Things Ghostbusters” via Kevin Baird on Flickr.
There are a few scenes where the tabletop D&D game is played as well. Here’s a rapid-fire list of some details and how they stack up to real Dungeons & Dragons.
Will Byers’ character is a Wizard with the Fireball spell. He says he’d have to roll a “13 or higher” to hit the Demogorgon. In real D&D, the Demogorgon would actually have to roll to save against his spell.
Mike has to roll to hit some zombies but he misses, so no damage. Will rolls in retaliation to see if the zombie hits back, but he never rolls for damage!
During the epic Hellfire D&D scene, Dustin says Vecna has 15 HP left. Most DM’s would never tell the party how many hit points the BBG has left. Come on, that would ruin the suspense.
Erica’s triumphant natural twenty causes her to yell “Crit hit!” A nat 20 would in fact be a critical hit… except nobody says “crit hit”. It’s just “crit”, Erica.
Stranger Things did a pretty good job portraying iconic D&D monsters. The Demogorgon, Mind Flayer, and Vecna don’t look exactly like their tabletop counterparts, but they aren’t really supposed to! The show isn’t meant to be too D&D-focused, so they had to strike a good balance. The most important thing is that the show successfully manages to highlight the game’s true potential for imaginative exploration and creativity. Thanks, Stranger Things!
Did Watching Stranger Things Make You Want to Play Dungeons & Dragons?
If watching the kids in Hawkins defeat fantasy monsters for 4 seasons has left you itching for your own adventure, you’re not alone! And, good news: you’ve come to the right corner of the internet. Young Dragonslayers™ is an online program that connects kids and teens from all over the world who want a safe, suportive place to play D&D. Many of our players (and some of our staff, too!) first fell in love with the game because of Stranger Things.
Our games are designed for kids and teens (with your interests in mind), but led by adults. All our Game Masters are professionals who work with kids outside of their D&D life, either as teachers, tutors, or mental health providers. No matter your age, gender, or where you live, we’d love to have you at our (virtual) table.
Parents or caregivers of interested players can fill out our waitlist application to be the first to know about upcoming games. We hope to see you soon!