Monster Monday: The Rust Monster

The Rust Monster is one of my favorite monsters from Dungeons and Dragons. Mainly, because it makes you think about how you’re going to handle it, if you aren’t wearing or carrying any metal it’ll leave you alone, but if your party is in a dungeon than chances are someone is carrying metal.

Over the years it’s seen a lot of variations to its abilities, mostly just making it a more effective creature. Though it still looks like a weird mix between an insect and crustacean. Though the Rust Monster was actually inspired by a cheap plastic Kaiju Esq toy that Gygax came across. It’s also one of the first original monsters he created for Dungeons and Dragons.

The Rust Monster first appeared in Dungeons and Dragons Supplement I: Grey Hawk. And little has changed since then the Rust Monsters greatest ability is still in the fact that it can destroy a cherished weapon or piece of equipment.

Drawing from Dragon Issue 88 and the article The Ecology of a Rust Monster, it was said to have poor sight but a sense of smell that more than made up for it. Allowing it to smell metal the same way a shark is able to smell blood in the water.

Other Sources:
Monstrous Compendium Volume 2
Monstrous Manual
Monster Manaul 3.5
Monster Manual 4th edition
Monster Manual 5th edition
Dungeons and Dragons Rule Cyclopedia