How to Use D&D Monster Cards: Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

Quick Answer

Use D&D Monster Cards to keep combat flowing without flipping through books: sort them by challenge rating, pull the ones you need before the session, and reference stats at a glance.

How to Prep and Use Your Monster Cards

1. Sort the Deck by Challenge Rating: Go through the 109 cards and group them by CR. Use rubber bands or dividers to keep each tier separate. This way, when you design an encounter, you can grab the CR 2 cards in seconds instead of scanning the whole deck. A common mistake is leaving the deck unsorted; you'll waste time hunting for the right card mid-session.
2. Pull Cards Before the Session: Look at your planned encounters and pull the exact monster cards you expect to use. Place them in initiative order or by encounter group. If you have a backup encounter, keep those cards nearby but separate. Don't rely on memory—if a player triggers an unexpected fight, you can grab a card from the backup pile rather than the full deck.
3. Reference Stats During Combat: When a monster's turn comes up, read its armor class, hit points, and key actions directly from the card. The laminated surface lets you mark conditions with a dry-erase marker, so you can track damage and status effects right on the card. Forgetting to erase marks between sessions can cause confusion; wipe the cards clean after each game.
4. Organize Cards After the Game: Return all used cards to their proper CR group. Check for any missing cards and store the deck in a box or bag that keeps the laminated surfaces from bending. Skipping re-sorting makes next session's prep harder; it only takes a minute to put cards back in order.

Product Facts

• D&D RPG: Monster Cards- Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes Deck: These 109 durable, laminated cards represent a range of deadly beasts from Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, complete with stats and illustrations. You get a ready-to-use reference for every monster in that sourcebook without photocopying or flipping pages.