Bugbear

**Bugbears** were a massive humanoid race distantly related to, but larger and stronger than, goblins and hobgoblins. Like many goblinoids, bugbears spoke the Goblin language.

## Description

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## Personality

Bugbears, like other goblinoids, had a reputation for being dim-witted and brutish. This claim was not unfounded and like their kin bugbears had easily provoked tempers and were prone to rages. Few bugbears overcame this flaw and their culture's brutal nature. Bugbear heroes, though rare, were heard of and could acquire significant renown if successful. Often the motivation for this change of heart came from the rewards earned from virtue, which in the long term were more pleasing than the short-lasting pleasures of evil.

## Combat

 File:Bugbear and giant rats-5e.jpg
Unlike most creatures, bugbears were particularly susceptible to the effects of *Bowen's flowers*, which would knock them out within minutes.

## Society

Bugbears were often found in the company of other goblinoids, particularly goblins, since tribes made up mostly of hobgoblins and bugbears tended to be wiped out quickly by other races as a precaution. Some bugbears also operated independently, though tribes ruled by hobgoblins were better organized and less savage. This was in part because bugbears had little patience for diplomacy or negotiation, preferring violent solutions to conflicts unless obviously overpowered.

### Religion

Bugbears once had their own pantheon, led by Hruggek. Bugbears often decapitated their enemies as a way to honor Hruggek, who was said to do the same. From the Spellplague to the Second Sundering, the power of Hruggek was diminished and the god served as an exarch of Bane, the god of tyranny. However, after the Second Sundering, bugbears began to follow bugbear-specific deities such as Hruggek once more.

Other bugbear deities included Grankhul, the bugbear deity of hunting, senses, stealth, and surprise; and Skiggaret. Local pantheons often included a god of earth, a god of fertility, and a god of death.

## History

Many scholars of the late 14th century DR believed that bugbears and goblins were both bred by the hobgoblins as slave races, with bugbears serving as elite soldiers.

Nine bugbears working for the Xanathar Thieves' Guild dwelt upon the Dungeon Level of Undermountain.

Four bugbears working for Yek dwelt in the Arcane Chambers Level of Undermountain, as well as twenty bugbears who served the Xanathar Thieves' Guild.

Eight bugbears dwelt in Azrok's Hold, on the Sargauth Level of Undermountain.

## Notable Bugbears

* Bolgus and Bulkar, two bugbears who acted as guards at the entrance of a Xanathar Guild level on the Arcane Chambers level of Undermountain.
* Grol, leader of the Cragmaw tribe in the late-15th century DR.

## Appendix

“
One useful trick: if ye face bugbears who have severed heads on spikes as trophies, cast a spell to make the heads speak. After that, ye can cozen the bugbears into doing almost anything.
”
— Elminster

### Appearances

Adventures

*Waterdeep* • *Dungeon* #29: "Nymph's Reward" • *Hordes of Dragonspear* • *The Accursed Tower* • *The Dungeon of Death* • *City of the Spider Queen* • *Expedition to Undermountain* • *Pool of Radiance: Attack on Myth Drannor* • *Reclaiming Blingdenstone* • *Scourge of the Sword Coast* • *Storm King's Thunder* • *Tales from the Yawning Portal* • *Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage*
Novels
*Homeland* • *Exile* • *Canticle* • *In Sylvan Shadows* • *War in Tethyr* • *Sword Play* • *The Summoning* • *The Siege* • *Realms of Shadow*: "The Fallen Lands" • *Dissolution* • *The Sorcerer* • *Condemnation* • *Forsaken House* • *Neversfall* • *Charon's Claw*
Comics
*The Bounty Seekers Of Manshaka* • *Legends of Baldur's Gate 3*
**Referenced only**
*Shackles of the Past* • *Shell Game*
Gamebooks
*To Catch a Thief*
Video Games
*Pool of Radiance* • *Curse of the Azure Bonds* • *Hillsfar* • *Secret of the Silver Blades* • *Eye of the Beholder* • *Gateway to the Savage Frontier* • *Menzoberranzan* • *Dungeon Hack* • *Icewind Dale* • *Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance* • *Icewind Dale II* • *Neverwinter Nights* • *Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone* • *Neverwinter Nights 2* • *Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate* • *Sword Coast Legends* • *Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear*
Board Games
*Temple of Elemental Evil Board Game*
Card Games
*AD&D Trading Cards* • *Dragonfire* (*Chaos in the Trollclaws*)
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
*Defiance in Phlan* • *Eye of the Tempest*
### Gallery

Bugbear1.png*A bugbear armed with an axe.*DS - Creature - Bugbear.jpgA Bugbear attacking Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun's Tower in the game Demon StonePoR - Creature - Bugbear.jpgA bugbear as it appears before the party in the game Pool of RadianceDH - Creature - Bugbear.jpgA bugbear attacks the adventurer in the game Dungeon Hack.IDII - Creature - Bugbear.jpgA bugbear as they appear in Icewind Dale II.NwN Bugbear.jpgTwo difirent colored Bugbears from the game editor of Neverwinter NightsNeverwinter Nights 2 - Creatures - Bugbear.pngA Bugbear from NWN2 game editor.BGDA GB - Creatures - Monster (Bugbear).pngA bugbear from BGDA:GBA hunting the hero.158005 Cloudkill.jpgThe Cloudkill spell attacking bugbears.HauntedBridge-bugbear.pngA bugbear from the Haunted Bridge, by David Day.Bugbear AD&D TC.jpg*A bugbear, surrounded by his loot.*Bugbear demon stone.jpg*Concept art of a bugbear from Demon Stone.*Bugbear mugger.png*A **bugbear** mugger from Menzoberranzan (game).*
### External Links

* Bugbear (Dungeons & Dragons) article at ***Wikipedia***, The Free Encyclopedia.
* Bugbear article at the ***Eberron Wiki***, a wiki for the *Eberron* campaign setting.

### References

{{#vardefine:numCol|2}}

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). *Monster Manual 5th edition*. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 33. ISBN 978-0786965614.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). *Monster Manual 4th edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. {{#regex:135–136|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). *Monster Manual v.3.5*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 29. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). *Races of Faerûn*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 136. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Doug Stewart (June 1993). *Monstrous Manual*. (TSR, Inc), p. 32. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Gary Gygax (December 1977). *Monster Manual, 1st edition*. (TSR, Inc), p. 12. ISBN 0-9356-9600-8.
7. ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). *Faiths and Pantheons*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 221. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
8. ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). *Races of Faerûn*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 137. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Mike Mearls, *et al*. (November 2016). *Volo's Guide to Monsters*. Edited by Jeremy Crawford, *et al*. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. {{#regex:44–45|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 978-0786966011.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Mike Mearls, *et al*. (November 2016). *Volo's Guide to Monsters*. Edited by Jeremy Crawford, *et al*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 119. ISBN 978-0786966011.
11. ↑ David "Zeb" Cook *et al.* (1989). *Monstrous Compendium Volume One*. (TSR, Inc), p. 17. ISBN 0-8803-8738-6.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Rob Heinsoo, Logan Bonner, Robert J. Schwalb (September 2008). *Forgotten Realms Player's Guide*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 20. ISBN 978-0-7869-4929-8.
13. ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “The Thunder Peaks and the Storm Horns”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. *Elminster's Ecologies* (TSR, Inc), p. 9. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
14. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). *Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 180. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
15. ↑ Carl Sargent (May 1992). *Monster Mythology*. (TSR, Inc), p. 53. ISBN 1-5607-6362-0.
16. ↑ Eric L. Boyd (1998). *Demihuman Deities*. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 151. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
17. ↑ Carl Sargent (May 1992). *Monster Mythology*. (TSR, Inc), p. 44. ISBN 1-5607-6362-0.
18. ↑ Christopher Perkins (November 2018). *Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage*. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 13. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.
19. ↑ Christopher Perkins (November 2018). *Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage*. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. {{#regex:33–39|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.
20. ↑ Christopher Perkins (November 2018). *Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage*. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 55. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.
21. ↑ Christopher Perkins (November 2018). *Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage*. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 33. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.
22. ↑ Wizards RPG Team (2014). “Lost Mine of Phandelver”. *Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set* (Wizards of the Coast), pp. {{#regex:40–41|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 0786965592.

### Connections

Goblinoids
**Goblins**
 Bakemono • Batiri • Grodd goblin • Nilbog
 **Miscellaneous Goblinoids**
 **Bugbear** • Dekanter goblin • Goblin rat • Half-goblin • Hobgoblin • Koalinth • Norker • Snow goblin • Varag • Verdan • Worghest
 **Related Creatures**
 Boggle • Gremlin