[RPG] What does the “titan” monster tag mean

dnd-5eloremonsters

I've noticed that a few creatures have the "titan" tag (here's a D&D Beyond search) but I'm not sure what that tag means.

I noticed the other day in my Monster Manual when looking at the Empyrean and wondered if it had anything to do with titans of Greek mythology (since that's what the Empyrean makes me think of) – but then the Tarrasque is also listed as a titan, so there goes that theory.

I wondered also if it's to do with their size, since the Tarrasque is extra big, even for a Gargantuan-sized creature, but then the the Empyrean and a few others are only Huge, not Gargantuan, so that doesn't make sense either.

I have not seen this tag defined in the Monster Manual, only a small section on "tags" (link to basic rules, listed below all the creature types) that basically says that tags don't mean anything. But even if there are no "rules" about titans, the term must still mean something, like how the "demon" or "shapeshifter" tags still mean something in-universe, at least.

Have I missed something? Although I accept that there are no "rules" about titans, there must still be mention of it somewhere as to how a "titan" creature is different from a non-titan creature. Is there any other official description of what this tag means?

What does the "titan" monster tag mean?

Best Answer

The DMG provides insight: they are divine creations.

The DMG states on page 11 (emphasis not mine):

Quasi-deities have a divine origin, but they don't hear or answer prayers, grant spells to clerics, or control aspects of mortal life. They are still immensely powerful beings, and in theory they could ascend to godhood if they amassed enough worshipers. Quasi-deities fall into three subcategories: demigods, titans, and vestiges.

[...]

Titans are the divine creations of deities. They might be birthed from the union of two deities, manufactured on a divine forge, born from the blood spilled by a god, or otherwise brought about through divine will or substance.

Examples for titans (or rather: all that are currently published) are the Empyrean, Kraken, Tarrasque (all MM), Astral Dreadnaught (MToF), Slarkrethel (Storm King's Thunder), Atropal (Tomb of Annihilation) and Juvenile Kraken (Ghosts Of Saltmarsh).


I'm not aware of any mechanical implications of being or interacting with a titan, except that you're probably gonna have a bad day if you mess with them. But then again, if you fight gigantic monsters like a Tarrasque, it's kind of on you if you get crushed ^^


If your DM allows it, you might also be able to choose titans as your Favored Enemy if you're playing a ranger. RAW it wouldn't work, but it's similar to how you can choose two types of humanoids as favored enemies, so - considering the scarcity of titans - it wouldn't be too far-fetched to allow it. For example, your DM could allow you to switch out one of the humanoid races against titans, so you could, for example, have Orcs and Titans as your Favored Enemies.