There are few monsters as feared or anticipated in a Dungeons & Dragons campaign as the Tarrasque. Usually saved for the most elite parties of players, this monster - which can quite literally swallow a world - is not easily fought. Even for seasoned D&D veterans with level-20 characters and the best armor, taking on a Tarrasque could mean rolling a new character after the encounter ends. With a resistance to Charm, Fear, and just about every damage type imaginable, this monstrosity leaves most quaking in their elven-made boots.
The Tarrasque was designed to destroy any who come up against it. Its abilities don't observe the resistances of its opponents, cutting them down with brutal attacks. Its fearsome visage can strike crippling fear in characters, rendering them unable to attack. With traits like Legendary Resistance, Magic Resistance, Reflective Carapace, and Siege Monster, the Tarrasque appears to be an almost unbeatable foe. When writing a campaign encounter that includes the Tarrasque, the Dungeon Master will want to make sure their players are properly equipped to have a chance at hitting the monster, to avoid an instant total party kill.
The Tarrasque is a genuine Monstrosity in type and reputation. With a hulking size of 50 feet in height and 70 feet in length, the behemoth weighs in at 130 tons. Its challenge rating is 30, making it one of the most difficult foes Dungeons & Dragons has to offer. The Tarrasque has an Armor Class of 25, 676 hit points, and a speed stat of 40 feet, according to Roll20. It has a range of attacks and can swallow an opponent whole, on top of being able to claw, bite and shred opponents for impressive sums of damage. Running the Tarrasque, from a Dungeon Master's perspective, can be a delight, as long as the DM in question wants to enjoy potentially obliterating a team of seasoned players.
Dungeon & Dragons' Tarrasque Is A Terrifyingly Difficult Monster
Running a campaign or one shot where the players face off against the Tarrasque should be something reserved for advanced players. The use of characters that are well-equipped with D&D's best healing spells, have high-level armor, and are at max level is the best way to make the battle enjoyable for both players and the Dungeon Master, so as to avoid simply destroying the players within a few rounds. D&D also has extensive lore for the Tarrasque for DMs to include, helping to fit the monster into most campaign settings.
When going up against a fearsome beast like the Tarrasque, D&D players shrould bring developed characters for a chance to really see what they as players are made of and whether their characters are up to the test. Dungeon Masters will want to spend some time learning what this monster can do before setting the mini model down on the map. For most Dungeons & Dragons players, tackling the appearance of the Tarrasque in a campaign or one shot is a chance to truly extend everything they have to offer and test the limits of what they have learned in their time playing the game.