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Fans know very little information about Stranger Things Season 4 so far. The Duffer Brothers, the masterminds behind Stranger Things, have taken a lot of inspiration from the popular role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons. If they choose to go that route again, which monsters from the game would match up with any details we know so far?

Dungeons and Dragon pieces on the game board in a production still from 'Stranger Things' Season 1. Will the monster make a return in 'Stranger Things' Season 4?
Dungeons and Dragons are behind the inspiration for the Demogorgon | Netflix

The Demogorgon and The Mind Flayer in ‘Stranger Things’ are both creatures initially created by Dungeons and Dragons

In the premiere episode, we see Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), and Will (Noah Schnapp) wrapping up a ten-hour campaign. It’s in this first episode where we hear Will say those fateful words, “The Demogorgon… It got me.” It’s because of the game the boys give it the name the Demogorgon in the first place.

Stranger Things Season 2 follows the Dungeons and Dragons trend with naming the new monster they face, the Mind Flayer. Neither the Demogorgon nor the Mind-Flayer bears a lot of resemblance to the monsters from the game. The Demogorgon is a gigantic beast that sports two heads and a forked tail in the role-playing game. In Stranger Things, it’s not that much taller than an adult human. 

The Mind Flayer from Dungeons and Dragons, on the other hand, looks more like Davy Jones from the film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. The Netflix series does keep the tentacles. Other than that, they look like two different creatures and only share the name.

‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 monster has been ‘long-buried’ according to the Duffer Brothers

In a statement released to IndieWire, the Duffer Brothers hinted at a new monster in Stranger Things Season 4. They described it as “a new horror is beginning to surface, something long buried, something that connects everything.”

This teases a creature that previously stayed underground until now. There are a few monsters from Dungeons and Dragons that fit the bill.

Why the ‘Underdark’ from Dungeons and Dragons might be a clue

According to the Forgotten Realms Wiki, “The Underdark was the vast network of underground caverns and tunnels underneath the surface of Abeir-Toril. It was home to a host of evil beings driven deep into the caverns at the end of the age of demons.” From the Duffer Brothers’ statement, we can assume whatever the creature is, it’s been buried underground until now. This is basically what all of the Underdark is.

Plus, one of the first creatures mentioned that lives in the Underdark is none other than the Mind Flayer. It would make sense that the creatures attacking Hawkins are from the same group as Mind Flayer. 

Related

‘Stranger Things’: Is the Demogorgon the Final Stage of the Monster?

What other monsters live in the Underdark?

Thanks to the Forgotten Realm Wiki, we have a list of the other monsters inhabiting the Underdark and how they might work in the world of Stranger Things. Here are our guesses on the possibilities of any of these showing up in season 4.

  • The Drow – These are medium-sized elf-like creatures with a big ego. They believe they’re superior to everyone they come in contact with, including other Drows. They’re pros at mimicking sounds, but they can only use their base powers once a day. If we had to make a bet, we don’t think these guys would last very long in a battle with Eleven.
  • A Beholder – These orb-shaped creatures fall into the large-sized category. They have 10 eyes at the end of tentacle-like limbs with one central eye in the center. Each eyeball alone contained powerful magic. They can project magic from their eyes during combat. In worse news, they fly. The monster is considered “one of the greatest threats to the human world.”
  • Shadar-kai – These guys are offshoots of elves and rely on their speed and agility during fights. Devoid of emotion, others see Shadar-kai as cold and pitiless outsiders. We can’t imagine they would ever make an appearance in Stranger Things.
  • Aboleth – Described as an eel-like amphibian, Aboleths breathe through a gray mucus their bodies produce. This means they drown in land or in water without it. They have strong psionic abilities and are very intelligent. Their description sounds a little like Dart in Stranger Things Season 2.
  • Elder Brain – This is the final stage in the Mind Flayer life cycle. They guide the people and things around them by filling their brains with thoughts of Mind Flayer domination. This sounds exactly like what the Mind Flayer did in Stranger Things Season 3. Plus, the Duffer Brothers mentioned a new horror. We’d be surprised if this showed up in Stranger Things Season 4 but never say never.

Stranger Things Season 4 will debut in 2022.

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Whitney Danhauer

Writer - Streaming

I'm an entertainment writer obsessed with 'The Umbrella Academy' and 'Stranger Things.' When I'm not writing I'm recording for one of my two podcasts - Scoops Ahoy and Lights, Camera, No.

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