Iconic dead wizard that built the Tomb of Horrors loses his place on the cover of the new D&D 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide

Acererak is a dead wizard—but a willingly dead wizard because that's how you become what's called a lich. And then he became an angrier and more powerful lich until his body withered away to dust and all his anger and power concentrated into his skull. Cute! This is what we call a demilich in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. 

Acererak has been staring at you for the past 10 years from the cover of the (now old) D&D 5e Dungeon Master's Guide from 2014. The giveaway that it's him is the big open-mouthed medallion swinging from his neck. A medallion that makes for an ignominious beginning to a classic D&D adventure called Tomb of Horrors. You'll find it right there on the Greyhawk map included in the new DM's Guide. His nasty little hero trap can also be found in the adventure Tomb of Annihilation.

He build the Tomb of Horrors to lure adventurers like yourselves into his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad traps. All it takes is the rumor of treasure to bring adventurers in by the boatload. The vast majority do not survive. They die and leave their souls for Acererak as a tasty treat.

The new D&D 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide has two covers. The standard cover is beautifully fronted by three other iconic D&D villains: Venger from the '80s D&D cartoon, and then Warduke and Skylla both from a line of '80s D&D action figures. The cover is rife with teal and magenta, electricity and fire. Joined by a legion of skeletons, it's not looking good for the presumed party of adventurers that just walked in on this combat scenario. I don't care what level you are, the action economy is not stacked in your favor.

Acererak (ah-SAIR-er-rack) can be found in the Lore Glossary at the back of the book. He's rocking his admittedly even more iconic crown, which is a nasty twist of bone and horn.

For a peek at another classic villain, check out why everybody acts like they forgot about Tiamat. Why is it cool to be a Dungeon Master? Because the only person that gets to play these Big Bad Evils is you. Don't worry about those scared individuals gathered around your table who will only be known as "players." Be the villain. Be the DM.