🐉 Monster Spotlight: The Gnoll—Then and Now

Behind the Die by Charlie Stayton

A Ferocious Pedigree Reimagined

Since their debut, gnolls have been portrayed as brutal, hyena-headed humanoid raiders—creatures of savage instinct, born to hunt and kill, often under the demonic sway of Yeenoghu. They are typically described with feral strengths, pack tactics, and a single-minded thirst for violence.

The 2024 Evolution: From Humanoids to Fiendish Beasts

In the 2024 edition (commonly nicknamed One D&D), gnolls have undergone a substantial reclassification: they are no longer humanoids, but fiends at their core. This shift is not just cosmetic—it reshapes their narrative roots and gameplay interactions. 

This means that spells or effects targeting humanoids—like Charm Person or Polymorph—now miss the mark entirely. Likewise, druids and other shapeshifters can’t take on gnoll forms as easily, and protections tied to creature type may no longer apply as before.

A Rare Ray of Redemption: The Repentant Gnoll

Interestingly, the 2024 update also introduces a novel concept: the Repentant Gnoll. These are gnolls who stand against their dark origins, resisting Yeenoghu’s demonic curse and seeking redemption. They struggle with bloodlust, survival, and isolation—but fight valiantly to define themselves beyond their monstrous flesh. 

Mechanically, many of their traits mirror their savage counterparts—darkvision, survival skills, and a natural bite attack. However, their story arc flips the script: from relentless predator to conflicted anti-hero. 

What This Means for Your Campaigns

• Narrative Depth: While classic gnolls remain tools of fear and chaos, Repentant Gnolls offer hooks for themes of redemption, moral conflict, and unlikely alliances.

• Mechanical Impact: Turning gnolls into fiends opens up new strategic interactions. Dealing with spells and effects tied to creature types shifts, and druids can no longer shapeshift into gnolls by default—a shake-up for both players and DMs.

• Roleplaying Potential: The repentant variant adds emotional grit—imagine a gnoll wrestling with its origins, torn between monstrous instincts and the hope for redemption. It’s fascinating roleplay territory.

Final Thoughts

The gnoll’s 2024 transformation is more than a sidebar change—it marks a paradigm shift. By reclassifying gnolls as fiends and introducing the repentant variant, the new DMG empowers DMs with fresh narrative hooks and players with richer lore landscapes.