Instead of treating monsters as mindless stat blocks that run straight into the players' swords, Ammann’s philosophy forces DMs to look at monster physiology, lore, and ability scores to determine how they would realistically fight to survive.
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The core premise is simple yet transformative:
: Keith Ammann is a Chicago-based, ENNIE Award-winning writer who has been playing and DMing D&D for over thirty years. He started The Monsters Know What They’re Doing blog in 2016 , where he began methodically breaking down monster tactics. This massive fan-favorite blog became the foundation for the book series. Instead of treating monsters as mindless stat blocks
Creatures with low intelligence (like beasts) rely on raw instinct, ambush tactics, and pack hunting. High-intelligence creatures (like Mind Flayers or Dragons) manipulate the battlefield, utilize cover, and focus-fire weak targets.
An unintelligent predator will flee or drag a single downed target away to eat rather than fighting an entire armed party. If you share with third parties, their policies apply
When monsters use tactics, they feel like living, breathing parts of the world, not just obstacles in a video game.
: High Dexterity but low Constitution creatures prefer hit-and-run tactics or attacking from range and cover.
Too many DMs land a dragon on the ground right in front of the party's melee fighters, allowing them to surround and hack it to pieces. According to tactical analysis, a dragon should almost never land. It stays in the air, uses its superior flying speed to stay out of range, and loops down only to unleash its devastating breath weapon before flying back up out of reach. If forced to the ground, it uses its legendary actions and wing attacks to scatter players and regain its aerial advantage. Mind Flayers : Calculating Masterminds
"The Monsters Know What They're Doing" has become a staple for 5e DMs, often recommended on platforms like Reddit's r/DMAcademy for overcoming "dumb" combat. By treating monsters as intelligent, tactical combatants, you transform your sessions from basic dice-rolling exercises into dramatic, unforgettable stories. If you are interested, I can: