Top Tips for Hosting a DND Gelatin Cube Meetup

The Gelatinous Cube is a classic Dungeons & Dragons monster known for its eerie transparency and ability to dissolve almost anything in its path. He hides in dungeons, waiting for unsuspecting adventurers to stumble upon his jelly-like body or drop down on them from above.

Encountering the Gelatinous Cube can be an interesting challenge for Dungeon Masters, as it's not all about brute force – this creature requires strategic thinking and clever tactics from the players. Whether you're planning a one-off or a full campaign, here are ten tips to make your next meeting with Gelatinous Cube exciting and memorable.

8

Use tight spaces

Limit your range of motion for added tension

Gelatin cubes are most dangerous in tight, confined spaces where the group has limited room to maneuver. Place them in tight corridors or small rooms to limit player movement, so they have to interact with it even if they see it beforehand.

The cube's large size and slow speed can easily trap adventurers, making it difficult for them to escape. By using confined spaces, you increase the tension by forcing players to think strategically about their placement, as the environment is often the cube's ally.

7

Emphasize its transparency

Amaze players with your invisibility

One of the Gelatinous Cube's most iconic features is its near-invisibility, so you can use this to your advantage when players walk by without realizing they're heading straight for the cube. Describe a dungeon as suspiciously clean or littered with loose equipment – small hints that something is amiss.

If your players aren't careful, they could find themselves trapped inside the cube before they know what's going on. This element of surprise creates an unforgettable moment and sets the tone for a tense, dangerous encounter from the start.

6

Use his absorption ability

Trap the players inside the cube

Gelatin Cube's most terrifying ability is Absorption, which allows him to trap creatures inside his body, slowly dissolving them. Once a character is trapped, they take acid damage each round and must fight their way out.

Use this ability to create a sense of urgency – once a character is absorbed, the group will fight to free them before it's too late. The cube's ability to absorb makes it a combination creature and obstacle—an active threat that forces players to act quickly or face dire consequences.

5

Include environmental hazards

Match the cube with dungeon traps

The Gelatin Cube isn't just a monster – it's part of the dungeon environment. Combine the cube with traps like pressure plates, spike pits, or destructible walls to create even more chaos during an encounter.

Players can focus on avoiding the cube's slow body, only to trigger a trap that makes it difficult for them to escape. By using traps next to the cube, you ensure that the encounter feels like an integral part of the dungeon, rather than a separate monster fight.

4

Let the cube fall from above

Players don't often look up

The Gelatinous Cube's transparency makes it perfect for hiding in plain sight, but sometimes it's better to hide out of sight. If the cube sticks to the ceiling (which they often can't do, but is a popular house ability), you can increase the difficulty of the check to find it.

You can also place it right on top of some treasure that may have dropped from the cube; the sword or shield holding the last meal. Then he just walks into an unsuspecting group, possibly consuming more than one victim in a single turn, a perfect trap for high-level adventurers.

3

Add loot inside the cube

Rewards for risk takers

A fun way to add intrigue to an encounter is by placing valuable loot in the Gelatin Cube. Describe the flickering outline of a sword or treasure chest trapped in a cube body, possibly corroded, to add urgency to decision-making.

Players may be tempted to dive in and grab the loot, knowing they'll have to deal with the cube's absorbing power. This adds an element of risk versus reward, encouraging players to weigh their options and decide if the treasure is worth the risk.

2

Use its slow speed to build tension

Imminent danger, but slowly approaching

Gelatin cubes are not fast, but they are relentless. Use the cube's slow speed to build tension, giving players time to react and a sense of impending danger as it slowly moves towards them, especially in situations where they have no means of fighting back.

This can cause moments of panic as players try to escape, knowing that the cube is getting closer with every turn. The cube's slow speed makes the encounter feel more like a scary scenario, as players will be desperately trying to stay out of its way while managing other threats in the dungeon.

1

Reward creative solutions

Encourage thinking outside the box

While brute force can beat a gelatin cube, the best encounters are those that reward creative thinking. Encourage your players to come up with innovative solutions, such as using fire to corner the cube, lure it into a trap, or use spells like Misty Step to teleport out of its reach.

Gelatinous Cube's simplicity as a monster allows for more inventive tactics, so give your players room to experiment. By rewarding creativity, you make the encounter more memorable and engaging, ensuring that it is different from the usual monster fight.