The Rust Monster

Today we are going to re-visit one of my favorite, overlooked and possibly most terrifying creatures in Dungeons and Dragons. The Rust Monster.

The Rust Monster is an original creature in Dungeons & Dragons, known for its ability to consume and dissolve metal, rendering it in a rusty and useless state. This concept can be traced back to the 1970s when Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson created Dungeons & Dragons. The creature first appeared in the game's 1977 Monster Manual, described as a "ferrous devourer" that feeds on metal. Since then, the rust monster has become a popular creature in the world of fantasy gaming, often encountered by players exploring dungeons or ruins. It has also appeared in other media, such as novels, comics, and video games. Despite its destructive tendencies, the rust monster has become a beloved creature among gamers due to its unique and memorable ability to corrode metal.

Some people believe that the rust monster is based on the Kemular, a monster that appeared in the 1968 Japanese kaiju film "Destroy All Monsters". The Kemular is a giant monster that can corrode and destroy metal with its acidic touch. It is possible that the creators of Dungeons & Dragons were influenced by this film when developing the rust monster, as both creatures share a similar ability to destroy metal. However, there is no direct evidence linking the two creatures, and the rust monster is not a direct adaptation of the Kemular. The rust monster is a unique creation that emerged out of the broader cultural context of fantasy gaming in the 1970s and draws on a variety of influences and traditions. Although the Kemular may have played a role in the development of the rust monster, it is just one of many potential sources of inspiration for the creature.

Depictions of the Kemular, including with carapace open. When the carapace are closed, it is easy to see the likeness to the Rust Monster.

As Gary and Dave were creating the game of Dungeons and Dragons and evolving from Tabletop Wargame into a Role-Playing Game, they were often turn to the toy chest to find miniatures suitable for monsters in the game. Again, the influence from the Japanese toy markets cannot be overlooked - as we also have the Owl Bear , Umber Hulk and Bulette (and many others) coming from this line-up.

Gary verified this in Dragon Magazine #346

When I picked up a bag of plastic monsters made in Hong Kong at the local dime store to add to the sand table array--we were playing Chainmail Fantasy Supplement miniatures at a 1:1 scale, there was the figurine that looked rather like a lobster with a propeller on its tail. As we assigned names and stats to these critters, bulette and owl bear, for instance, nothing fearsome came to mind regarding the one with the projecting feelers. Then inspiration struck me. It was a "rust monster," a thing whose touch turned ferrous metals to ferrous oxide, even magical steel armor or enchanted iron or steel weapons. The players soon learned to hit one with spells and arrows so as to slay it at a distance. When one appeared in the D&D game, usually in a dungeon setting, there was great haste to remove from its vicinity if there was no sure and quick means of destroying it at hand.

In fact, the Rust Monster in the 1st Edition Monster Manual, looks exactly like the toy. As an added bonus, you get the comical depiction of the monster “eating” the border around his picture….one of the many comical additions and easter eggs within the early game.

The Evolution of the Rust Monster through the editions.

When on thinks of old D&D (for lack of a better term), one has to think of tables….and the Rust Monster had their own to tell where they hit you. I personally love that the 96-00 was not to detrimental to the player, but instead offered a random (and possibly comedic) element to the game. How many DMs had the belt buckle go and the players playing with their pants down???? I know at least one.

Finally - I remember my first run in with a Rust Monster. My old friend Shawn (I believe this was one of the few games he DMed) had gotten hold of D1 Descent into the Depths of the Earth, and I was playing a Dwarven Fighter in FULL PLATE (remember how expensive that was?). As the night was wrapping up, Shawn made a roll on the wandering monsters table and described a four legged creature that was armored like and armidillo and about the size of a large dog. It had a long forked tail and antenna/whiskers coming out of its face. I of course thought - There is only one…..I can handle this. Three rounds later, my armor and axe were gone, I was naked in a cavern and we called it a night. I was stunned….and for the first time playing D&D, I was afraid.

- E