Arctic Terrain
Overview When we talk about arctic regions, we must naturally divide these into two sections - arctic and subarctic. These are two very different areas of terrain and present two very different sets of challenges to adventures that take place there. Throughout this post there will be indications of these two basic divisions. These two definitions are as follows:
Subarctic - Cold regions that are dominated by boreal forests, bountiful flora and fauna, and many kinds of terrain variations. This post will be talking mostly about Subarctic terrain.
Arctic - Permafrost regions dominated by sea ice, glaciers, pack ice and open ocean. Few creatures roam here and no Plants grow. Unless noted, assume any information is Subarctic-related.
Note that these definitions are not scholarly, and are not meant to be. Also, there is a transition zone between these two, but I've elected to ignore it for simplicity (its the region where Tundra turns to permafrost).
The varied landscapes of the Subarctic and Arctic provide for a variety of ecosystems. On Earth, for example, the Arctic includes the peaks of the Brooks mountain range in western North America, the enormous Greenland ice sheet, the isolated islands of the Svalbard archipelago, the fjords of northern Scandinavia, and the Grassland plateaus and rich river valleys of northern Siberia. Although some forests lie near the Arctic Circle, plant life is mostly limited to grasses, sedges, and Tundra vegetation such as mosses and lichens. These autotrophs have the ability to survive despite being covered in snow and ice for much of the year.
Insects such as mosquitoes and moths are common, especially as icemelt creates ponds during spring and summer. Insects and insect larvae provide a crucial diet for birds, such as wrens and sandpipers, and freshwater fish. Primary consumers across the region range from tiny lemmings to enormous muskoxen. One of the most Familiar Subarctic herbivores is the caribou. Secondary consumers include Subarctic foxes, and raptors such as owls and eagles. The polar Bear, the iconic apex predator of the Subarctic (and Arctic), is equally able to hunt on land and around ice floes.
Polar climates are cold, windy and dry (due to very little precipitation in the cold air). There are some times when the humidity may be high but the water vapor present in the air may be low. Wind is also strong in the polar region. Wind carries snow creating blizzard like conditions.
The Arctic as a whole is almost entirely covered by water, much of it frozen. Some frozen features, such as glaciers and icebergs, are frozen freshwater. Most of the Arctic, however, is the liquid saltwater of the Arctic ocean basin. Some parts of the ocean’s surface remain frozen all or most of the year. This frozen seawater is called sea ice. Often, sea ice is covered with a thick blanket of snow. Many of the ponds or lakes in polar regions are frozen over or snow covered for most of the year. Larger lakes thaw out around the edges during the warmer months while the smaller lakes thaw entirely. There are few rivers in the polar regions.
The Arctic experiences the extremes of solar radiation. During the Northern Hemisphere’s winter months, the Arctic is one of the coldest and darkest places on Earth. Following sunset on the September equinox, the Earth’s tilted axis and its revolution around the Sun reduce the Light and heat reaching the Arctic until no sunlight penetrates the Darkness at all. The Sun rises again during the March equinox, and increases the Light and heat reaching the Arctic. By the June solstice, the Arctic experiences 24-hour sunshine.
Subarctic regions are often characterized by taiga forest vegetation, though where winters are relatively mild, as in northern Norway, broadleaf forest may occur—though in some cases soils remain too saturated almost throughout the year to sustain any tree growth and the dominant vegetation is a peaty herb-land dominated by grasses and sedges. Agriculture is mainly limited to animal husbandry, though in some areas barley can be grown.
Except in the wettest areas glaciers are not large because of the lack of winter precipitation; in the wettest areas, however, glaciers tend to be very abundant and Pleistocene glaciation covered even the lowest elevations. Soils of the subarctic are generally very acidic largely because of the influence of the vegetation both in the taiga and in peaty bogs, which tends to acidify the soil, as well as the extreme ease with which leaching of nutrients takes place even in the most heavily glaciated regions.
Terrain In the Subarctic, nearly any kind of terrain can be found, from forests to swamps, to mountains to plains, to volcanoes to canyons. The Arctic is snow, ice and seawater with some glaciers and treacherous moving shelves of ice to negotiate.
The Arctic includes sizable natural resources minerals, fresh water, and fish; the Subarctic has all that and more - lumber, pelts, meat, and forage are among the resources available.
Plane of Water, Para-Elemental Plane of Ice, Stygia, or Cania sometimes open portals in the Arctic regions, and there are known rituals to open them (or close them) for those who seek a challenge.
Weather Subarctic climate has 2 seasons. The winter is much longer and extremely cold, with the cool to mild summer lasting only 2-3 months. The summer is sometimes only 1 month long. Since it is found away from the coast (interior), the ocean water doesn't help to warm the land in the winter. The main cause of the temperatures in Subarctic is latitude. Temperatures can reach -40 degrees in the winter and be as high as 29°C / 85°F in the summer--which is the widest range of temperatures of Any Climate. That would be a 125 degree temperature range. There is very little evaporation because of the cold temperatures, so very little precipitation falls here. Between 10 and 20 inches of rain falls in Subarctic areas. Most of the rain falls in the summer, when evaporation levels are higher. Subarctic regions are covered in snow for most of the year. The short warm summer melts most of the snow.
The Arctic's climate is characterized by cold winters and cool summers. Its precipitation mostly comes in the form of snow and is low, with most of the area receiving less than 50 cm (20 in). High winds often stir up snow, creating the Illusion of continuous snowfall. Average winter temperatures can be as low as -30 to -35°C (22 to 31°F). Coastal Arctic climates are moderated by oceanic influences, having generally warmer temperatures and heavier snowfalls than the colder and drier interior areas.
Rainstorms, Wet winds, dry winds, snow, hail, and blizzards are all possible weather in these regions, and in the case of snow, can fall for days, sometimes weeks.
Plantlife
Approximately 1,700 species of Plants live on the Subarctic Tundra, including flowering Plants, Dwarf shrubs, herbs, grasses, mosses, and lichens. The Tundra is characterized by permafrost, a layer of soil and partially decomposed organic matter that is frozen year-round. Only a thin layer of soil, called the active layer, thaws and refreezes each year. This makes shallow root systems a necessity and prevents larger Plants such as trees from growing in the Subarctic.Subarctic vegetation is composed of Plants such as Dwarf shrubs, herbs, lichens and mosses, which all grow relatively close to the ground, forming Tundra. As one moves northward, the amount of warmth available for Plant Growth decreases considerably. In the northernmost areas, Plants are at their metabolic limits, and small differences in the total amount of summer warmth make large differences in the amount of energy available for maintenance, growth and reproduction. Colder summer temperatures cause the size, abundance, productivity and variety of Plants to decrease. Trees cannot grow in the Arctic, but in the Subarctic shrubs are common and can reach 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in height; sedges, mosses and lichens can form thick layers. In the coldest parts of the Arctic, much of the ground is bare; non-vascular Plants such as lichens and mosses predominate, along with a few scattered grasses.
The amount of vegetation in the Tundra consists on how much Sun, or snow cover is in the area. The vegetation in this area may grow as tall as 50 cm (20 in). In the southern part of the Subarctic there tend to be more shrubs whereas the northern parts there is less plant cover. In wet areas of the Tundra there is tussock grasses and Cotton grasses. In moist areas there are short grasses, mosses, willows, and birches.
Plants have also adapted to the long winters and short, intense polar summers. Many Subarctic species can grow under a layer of snow, and virtually all polar Plants are able to photosynthesize in extremely cold temperatures. During the short polar summer, Plants use the long hours of sunlight to quickly develop and produce flowers and seeds. Flowers of some Plants are cup-shaped and direct the Sun’s rays toward the center of the flower. Dark-colored Plants absorb more of the Sun’s energy.
In addition, many species are perennials, growing and blooming during the summer, dying back in the winter, and returning the following spring from their root-stock. This allows the Plants to direct less energy into seed production. Some species do not produce seeds at all, reproducing asexually through root growth.
The Subarctic islands have a milder and wetter climate more favorable for Plant Growth, meaning these islands possess a more diverse flora including a greater number of flowering plant species and some ferns. Dominant among Subarctic vegetation is tussock grass, a tall (up to 2 meters), robust plant forming a dense fringe near the coast.
Wet habitats are covered by various kinds of bog, while drier terrain has extensive dry Grassland with various herbs and, in exposed habitats, sparsely vegetated moss and lichen-dominated fellfield.
Some example Plants:
Arctic Moss
Arctic Willow
Bearberry
Caribou Moss
Cranberry
Crowberry
Dandelion
Diamond-leaf Willow
Eskimo potato
Fireweed
Iceland moss
Labrador Tea
Marsh marigold
Pasque Flower
Reindeer moss
Rock tripe
Spatterdock
Tufted Saxifrage
There are abundant fuels within the (Subarctic) tree line.
Spruce trees are common in the interior regions. As a conifer, spruce makes a lot of smoke when burned in the spring and summer months. However, it burns almost smoke-free in late fall and winter.
The tamarack tree is also a conifer. It is the only tree of the pine family that loses its needles in the fall. Without its needles, it looks like a Dead spruce, but it has many knobby buds and cones on its bare branches. When burning, tamarack Wood makes a lot of smoke and is excellent for signaling purposes.
Birch trees are deciduous and the Wood burns hot and fast, as if soaked with oil or kerosene. Most birches grow near streams and lakes, but occasionally you will find a few on higher ground and away from water.
Willow and alder grow in Subarctic regions, normally in marsh areas or near lakes and streams. These woods burn hot and fast without much smoke.
Dried moss, grass, and scrub Willow are other materials you can use for fuel. These are usually plentiful near streams in tundras (open, treeless plains). By bundling or twisting grasses or other scrub vegetation to form a large, solid mass, you will have a slower burning, more productive fuel.
Animal life
This is going to be a mishy-mashy dump. It was very hard to know what to include, since the species variety is very small compared to the other terrain types.Marine Life is abundant:
- Primary consumers such as jellies and shrimp consume plankton, the basis of the Arctic marine food Web.
- Secondary consumers include fish, seabirds (such as gulls and puffins), and a wide variety of baleen whales, including giant blue whales and bowhead whales.
- Tertiary consumers, animals that prey mostly on other carnivores, include toothed whales and dolphins (such as orcas and narwhals) and pinnipeds such as seals, sea lions, and walruses.
- Scavengers (including some sharks and crabs) and decomposers such as marine worms and Algae break down Dead and decaying materials. Organic nutrients are thus recycled into the marine ecosystem of the Arctic as a whole.
I've made a partial list of all the arctic/subarctic creatures I could find.
Survival
Within the cold weather regions, you may face two types of cold weather environments - wet or dry.Wet Cold Weather Environments
Wet cold weather conditions exist when the average temperature in a 24-hour period is -10 degrees C or above. Characteristics of this condition are freezing during the colder night hours and thawing during the day. Even though the temperatures are warmer during this condition, the terrain is usually very sloppy due to slush and mud. You must concentrate on protecting yourself from the wet ground and from freezing rain or wet snow.Dry Cold Weather Environments
Dry cold weather conditions exist when the average temperature in a 24-hour period remains below -10 degrees C. Even though the temperatures in this condition are much lower than normal, you do not have to contend with the freezing and thawing. In these conditions, you need more layers of inner clothing to protect you from temperatures as low as -60 degrees C. Extremely hazardous conditions exist when wind and low temperature combine.You must not only have enough clothing to protect you from the cold, you must also know how to maximize the warmth you get from it. For example, always keep your head covered. You can lose 40 to 45 percent of body heat from an unprotected head and even more from the unprotected neck, wrist, and ankles.
There are four basic principles to follow to keep warm. An easy way to remember these basic principles is to use the word COLD--
C - Keep clothing clean.
O - Avoid overheating.
L - Wear clothes loose and in layers.
D - Keep clothing dry.
Survival Hazards
The DMG does a decent job on the perils of a cold weather campaign. It highlights extreme cold and strong winds (which can happen in any campaign).With extreme cold, the DMG explains the process of freezing to death (saving throw or get a level of exhaustion). It also explain the ways to avoid the problem completely: cold Resistance, cold immunity, cold weather gear, and naturally adaptions.
Cold Resistance: White and Silver Dragonborn and Dragon sorcerers, step right up.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is the lowering of the body temperature at a rate faster than the body can produce heat. Causes of hypothermia may be general exposure or the sudden wetting of the body by falling into a lake or spraying with fuel or other liquids.The initial symptom is shivering. This shivering may progress to the point that it is uncontrollable and interferes with an individual's ability to care for himself. This begins when the body's core temperature falls to about 35.5 degrees C (96 degrees F). When the core temperature reaches 35 to 32 degrees C (95 to 90 degrees F), sluggish thinking, irrational reasoning, and a false feeling of warmth may occur. Core temperatures of 32 to 30 degrees C (90 to 86 degrees F) and below result in muscle rigidity, unconsciousness, and barely detectable signs of life. If the victim's core temperature falls below 25 degrees C (77 degrees F), death is almost certain.
To treat hypothermia, rewarm the entire body. If there are means available, rewarm the person by first immersing the trunk area only in warm water of 37.7 to 43.3 degrees C (100 to 110 degrees F).
Rewarming the total body in a warm water bath should be done only by a skilled physician because of the increased risk of cardiac arrest and rewarming shock. Another method is to wrap the victim in a warmed sleeping bag with another person who is already warm. Exercise caution, however, because the individual placed in the sleeping bag with victim could also become a hypothermia victim if left in the bag too long.
Frostbite
This injury is the result of frozen tissues. Light Frostbite involves only the skin that takes on a dull whitish pallor. Deep Frostbite extends to a depth below the skin. The tissues become solid and immovable. Your feet, hands, and exposed facial areas are particularly vulnerable to Frostbite.The following pointers will Aid you in keeping warm and preventing Frostbite when it is extremely cold or when you have less than adequate clothing:
- Face. Maintain circulation by twitching and wrinkling the skin on your face making faces. Warm with your hands.
- Ears. Wiggle and move your ears. Warm with your hands.
- Hands. Move your hands inside your gloves. Warm by placing your hands close to your body.
- Feet. Move your feet and wiggle your toes inside your boots.
A loss of feeling in your hands and feet is a sign of Frostbite. If you have lost feeling for only a short time, the Frostbite is probably Light. Otherwise, assume the Frostbite is deep. To rewarm a Light Frostbite, use your hands or mittens to warm your face and ears. Place your hands under your armpits. A deep Frostbite injury, if thawed and refrozen, will cause more damage than a non-medically trained person can handle.
Trench Foot and Immersion Foot
These conditions result from many hours or days of exposure to wet or damp conditions at a temperature just above freezing. The symptoms are a sensation of pins and needles, tingling, numbness, and then pain. The skin will initially appear wet, soggy, white, and shriveled. As it progresses and damage appears, the skin will take on a red and then a bluish or black discoloration. The feet become cold, swollen, and have a waxy appearance. Walking becomes difficult and the feet feel heavy and numb. The nerves and muscles sustain the main damage, but gangrene can occur. In extreme cases, the flesh dies and it may become necessary to have the foot or leg amputated. The best prevention is to keep your feet dry. Carry extra socks with you in a waterproof packet. You can dry wet socks against your torso (back or chest). Wash your feet and put on dry socks daily.Dehydration
When bundled up in many layers of clothing during cold weather, you may be unaware that you are losing body moisture. Your heavy clothing absorbs the moisture that evaporates in the air. You must drink water to replace this loss of fluid. Your need for water is as great in a cold environment as it is in a warm environment.Sunburn
Exposed skin can become sunburned even when the air temperature is below freezing. The Sun's rays reflect at all angles from snow, ice, and water, hitting sensitive areas of skin - lips, nostrils, and eyelids. Exposure to the Sun results in sunburn more quickly at high altitudes than at low altitudes.Snow Blindness
The reflection of the Sun's ultraviolet rays off a snow-covered area causes this condition. The symptoms of snow blindness are a sensation of grit in the eyes, pain in and over the eyes that increases with eyeball movement, red and teary eyes, and a headache that intensifies with continued exposure to Light. Prolonged exposure to these rays can result in permanent eye damage. To treat snow blindness, bandage your eyes until the symptoms disappear.Shelters
Shelters made from ice or snow usually require tools such as ice axes or saws. You must also expend much time and energy to build such a shelter. Be sure to ventilate an enclosed shelter, especially if you intend to build a fire in it. Always block a shelter's entrance, if possible, to keep the heat in and the wind out. Never Sleep directly on the ground. Lay down some pine boughs, grass, or other insulating material to keep the ground from absorbing your body heat.There are several types of field-expedient shelters you can quickly build or employ. Many use snow for insulation.
Snow Cave Shelter
The snow cave shelter is a most effective shelter because of the insulating qualities of snow. Remember that it takes time and energy to build and that you will get wet while building it.Snow Trench Shelter
The idea behind this shelter is to get you below the snow and wind level and use the snow's insulating qualities. If you are in an area of compacted snow, cut snow blocks and use them as overhead cover.Snow House or Igloo
They are efficient shelters but require some practice to make them properly. Also, you must be in an area that is suitable for cutting snow blocks and have the equipment to cut them (snow saw or knife).Fallen Tree Shelter
To build this shelter, find a fallen tree and dig out the snow underneath it. The snow will not be deep under the tree. If you must remove branches from the inside, use them to line the floor.Tree-Pit Shelter
Dig snow out from under a suitable large tree. It will not be as deep near the base of the tree. Use the cut branches to line the shelter. Use a ground sheet as overhead cover to prevent snow from falling off the tree into the shelter. If built properly, you can have 360-degree visibility.General Survival Tips
- Avoid traveling during a blizzard.
- Take care when crossing thin ice. Distribute your weight by lying flat and crawling.
- Cross streams when the water level is lowest. Normal freezing and thawing action may cause a stream level to vary as much as 2 to 2.5 meters per day. This variance may occur any time during the day, depending on the distance from a glacier, the temperature, and the terrain. Consider this variation in water level when selecting a campsite near a stream.
- Consider the clear arctic air. It makes estimating distance difficult. You more frequently underestimate than overestimate distances.
- Do not travel in "whiteout" conditions. The lack of contrasting colors makes it impossible to judge the nature of the terrain.
- Always cross a snow bridge at right angles to the obstacle it crosses. Find the strongest part of the bridge by poking ahead of you with a pole or ice axe. Distribute your weight by crawling or by wearing snowshoes or skis.
- Make camp early so that you have plenty of time to build a shelter.
- Consider frozen or unfrozen rivers as avenues of travel. However, some rivers that appear frozen may have soft, open areas that make travel very difficult or may not allow walking, skiing, or sledding.
- Use snowshoes if you are traveling over snow-covered terrain. Snow 30 or more centimeters deep makes traveling difficult. If you do not have snowshoes, make a pair using Willow, strips of cloth, Leather, or other suitable material.
- It is almost impossible to travel in deep snow without snowshoes or skis. Traveling by foot leaves a well-marked trail for any pursuers to follow. If you must travel in deep snow, avoid snow-covered streams. The snow, which acts as an insulator, may have prevented ice from forming over the water. In hilly terrain, avoid areas where avalanches appear possible. Travel in the early morning in areas where there is danger of avalanches. On ridges, snow gathers on the lee side in overhanging piles called cornices. These often extend far out from the ridge and may break loose if stepped on.
- The arctic is a tough place to navigate and players can get lost even without being Blinded by a blizzard. An endless patch of ice and snow with no landmarks combined with Exhaustion can provide some some higher difficulty survival checks for your party. Increase normal survival checks by 4 or more.
The DMG goes on about 3 hazards which fit an arctic campaign. Frigid Water, Slippery Ice, and Thin Ice. Consult your book as needed.
Monsters
I've wracked my brain across all the official editions and settings for monsters that dwell in cold and polar environments. I've taken the liberty of putting them into alphabetical order, and their stats are easily found online.- Arctic Drake
- Arctic Stirge
- Avalancher
- Brown Bear
- Chrall
- Cryohydra
- Dinosaurs
- Dire Animals (Elk, Bear, Wolf, etc...)
- Frost Giant
- Frost Salamander
- Frost Worm
- Hoar Fox
- Ice Golem
- Ice Mephit
- Ice Mummy
- Ice Serpent
- Ice Spider
- Ice Toad
- Ice Troll
- Living Spell (Chilling Fog)
- Living Spell (Ice Storm)
- Living Spell (Ray of Frost)
- Mammoth
- Polar Bear
- Remorhaz
- Sabre-Tooth Tiger
- Snowflake Ooze
- Wendigo
- Wheep
- White Dragon
- White Pudding
- Winter Wolf
- Wolverine
- Xixical
- Yeti
Climate
The Arctic climate is characterized by extreme cold and harsh conditions. It's a region of stark contrasts, with long, dark winters and short, cool summers.
- Temperature: Consistently low, often well below freezing, especially during winter months. Summers bring a slight increase in temperature, but it remains cold overall.
- Precipitation: Low precipitation, primarily in the form of snow. Some parts of the Arctic are considered polar deserts due to the extremely low amount of precipitation.
- Sunlight: Dramatic variations in daylight. Winters experience near-constant darkness, while summers have near-constant daylight.
- Wind: Strong, often gusty winds contribute to the harsh conditions and wind chill factor.
- Permafrost: The ground is permanently frozen in most areas, affecting the landscape and vegetation.
Fauna & Flora
Flora:
Arctic Plants are short and slow-growing, adapted to survive in nutrient-poor soil and freezing temperatures. Common Plants include lichens, mosses, grasses, and Dwarf shrubs. Some other Plants found in this climate and Arctic Terrain (and Polar Climate) includes:- Allathorne (Common)
- Arctic Creeper (Common)
- Ardulan (Uncommon)
- Avataer (Very Rare)
- Basilisk Breath (Very Rare)
- Bija Tree (Rare)
- Birthnot (Very Common)
- Bishop's Weed (Uncommon)
- Bittermourn (Legendary)
- Blueleaf (Very Common)
- Brelidar (Uncommon)
- Ceran (Very Common)
- Coldwood (Common)
- Covadish (Very Rare)
- Darkwood (Very Rare)
- Dragon's Breath (Common)
- Eldaas (Very Common)
- Fennel Silk (Common)
- Footleaf (Uncommon)
- Gefnul (Legendary)
- Goldencup (Rare)
- Grendar (Very Common)
- Halcyon Crocus (Legendary)
- Hare's Ear (Very Common)
- Hoggle Beans (Very Common)
- Ice Lotus (Rare)
- Iceflower (Uncommon)
- Jojopojo (Uncommon)
- Kanishta (Uncommon)
- Kathkusa (Very Rare)
- Klagul (Legendary)
- Obaddis Leaf (Rare)
- Quivar (Rare)
- Rouddan (Rare)
- Salamander Orchids (Rare)
- Scented Mayweed (Common)
- Snowflake Lichen (Uncommon)
- Snowwood (Uncommon)
- Stonestream (Very Rare)
- Thalsen Weed (Very Common)
- Thir (Very Common)
- Thistledown (Very Rare)
- Zulsendra (Very Rare)
Fauna:
The Arctic is home to iconic animals like polar bears, arctic foxes, reindeer, and musk oxen. Marine life is also abundant, including seals, whales, and a variety of fish. The oceans in this climate supports a rich ecosystem beneath the ice, with plankton forming the base of the food chain.Fauna
- Abominable Yeti ( Monstrosity ; Arctic )
- Adult White Dragon ( Dragon ; Arctic )
- Ancient White Dragon ( Dragon ; Arctic )
- Bandit ( Humanoid (Any Race) ; Arctic, Coastal, Desert, Forest, Hill, Urban )
- Bandit Captain ( Humanoid (Any Race) ; Arctic, Coastal, Desert, Forest, Hill, Urban )
- Bearfolk ( Humanoid (Bearfolk) ; Arctic, Forest, Hill, Mountain, Urban )
- Beli ( Fey ; Arctic )
- Berserker ( Humanoid (Any Race) ; Arctic, Coastal, Desert, Forest, Hill, Mountain )
- Bheur Hag ( Fey ; Arctic )
- Blood Hawk ( Beast ; Arctic, Coastal, Forest, Grassland, Hill, Mountain )
- Boneclaw ( Undead ; Arctic, Desert, Urban )
- Brown Bear ( Beast ; Arctic, Forest, Hill )
- Cold Snap Spirit ( Elemental ; Arctic, Forest, Mountain )
- Commoner ( Humanoid (Any Race) ; Arctic, Coastal, Desert, Forest, Grassland, Hill, Urban )
- Dire Troll ( Giant ; Arctic, Forest, Hill, Mountain, Underdark )
- Druid ( Humanoid (Any Race) ; Arctic, Coastal, Desert, Forest, Grassland, Hill, Mountain, Swamp, Underdark )
- Dwarven Ringmage ( Humanoid (Dwarf) ; Arctic, Urban )
- Elder Tempest ( Elemental ; Arctic, Coastal, Grassland, Hill, Mountain )
- Fraughashar ( Fey ; Arctic )
- Frost Giant ( Giant ; Arctic, Mountain )
- Frost Salamander ( Elemental ; Arctic )
- Frostveil ( Plant ; Arctic )
- Giant Owl ( Beast ; Arctic, Forest, Hill )
- Glacier Bulette ( Monstrosity ; Arctic, Everglacier )
- Gnoll Flesh Gnawer ( Monstrosity ; Arctic, Forest, Grassland, Hill )
- Gnoll Hunter ( Monstrosity ; Arctic, Forest, Grassland, Hill )
- Gnoll Witherling ( Undead ; Arctic, Forest, Grassland, Hill )
- Griffon ( Monstrosity ; Arctic, Coastal, Grassland, Hill, Mountain )
- Guard Drake ( Dragon ; Arctic, Desert, Forest, Mountain, Swamp, Underdark, Urban )
- Half-Ogre (Ogrillon) ( Giant ; Arctic, Desert, Forest, Hill, Mountain, Underdark, Urban )
- Ice Gargoyle ( Elemental ; Arctic, Everglacier )
- Ice Maiden ( Fey ; Arctic )
- Ice Mephit ( Elemental ; Arctic )
- Jotun ( Giant ; Arctic )
- Kobold ( Humanoid (Kobold) ; Arctic, Coastal, Desert, Forest, Hill, Mountain, Swamp, Underdark, Urban )
- Krake Spawn ( Monstrosity ; Arctic, Underwater )
- Lindwurm ( Dragon ; Arctic, Underwater )
- Lost Sorrowsworn ( Monstrosity ; Arctic, Desert, Forest, Mountain, Swamp, Underdark, Urban )
- Mahoru ( Monstrosity ; Arctic, Coastal, Underwater )
- Mallqui ( Undead ; Arctic, Mountain )
- Mammoth ( Beast ; Arctic )
- Manticore ( Monstrosity ; Arctic, Coastal, Grassland, Hill, Mountain )
- Nightgarm ( Monstrosity ; Arctic, Forest )
- Nightwalker ( Undead ; Arctic, Desert, Swamp, Underdark )
- Ogre ( Giant ; Arctic, Coastal, Desert, Forest, Grassland, Hill, Mountain, Swamp, Underdark )
- Orc ( Humanoid (Orc) ; Arctic, Forest, Grassland, Hill, Mountain, Swamp, Underdark )
- Orc Eye of Gruumsh ( Humanoid (Orc) ; Arctic, Forest, Grassland, Hill, Mountain, Swamp, Underdark )
- Orc War Chief ( Humanoid (Orc) ; Arctic, Forest, Grassland, Hill, Mountain, Swamp, Underdark )
- Orog ( Humanoid (Orc) ; Arctic, Forest, Grassland, Hill, Mountain, Underdark )
- Owl ( Beast ; Arctic, Forest )
- Polar Bear ( Beast ; Arctic, Underdark )
- Ravenfolk Doom Croaker ( Humanoid (Ravenfolk) ; Any, Arctic )
- Ravenfolk Scout ( Humanoid (Ravenfolk) ; Any, Arctic )
- Ravenfolk Warrior ( Humanoid (Ravenfolk) ; Any, Arctic )
- Remorhaz ( Monstrosity ; Arctic )
- Revenant ( Undead ; Arctic, Desert, Forest, Hill, Swamp, Urban )
- Rime Worm ( Elemental ; Arctic )
- Rime Worm Grub ( Elemental ; Arctic )
- Roc ( Monstrosity ; Arctic, Coastal, Desert, Hill, Mountain )
- Saber-Toothed Tiger ( Beast ; Arctic, Mountain )
- Scout ( Humanoid (Any Race) ; Arctic, Coastal, Desert, Forest, Grassland, Hill, Mountain, Swamp, Underdark )
- Son of Fenris ( Monstrosity ; Arctic )
- Stuhac ( Fiend ; Arctic, Mountain )
- Swarm of Wolf Spirits ( swarm of Medium Undead ; Arctic )
- Thuellai ( Elemental ; Arctic )
- Thursir ( Giant ; Arctic, Mountain, Underdark )
- Tribal Warrior ( Humanoid (Any Race) ; Arctic, Coastal, Desert, Forest, Grassland, Hill, Mountain, Swamp, Underdark )
- Troll ( Giant ; Arctic, Forest, Hill, Mountain, Swamp, Underdark )
- Vampiric Mist ( Undead ; Arctic, Coastal, Forest, Grassland, Mountain, Swamp, Underdark, Urban )
- Veteran ( Humanoid (Any Race) ; Arctic, Coastal, Forest, Grassland, Hill, Mountain, Underdark, Urban )
- Warlock of the Archfey ( Humanoid ; Arctic, Forest, Mountain, Swamp, Urban )
- Warlock of the Fiend ( Humanoid ; Arctic, Desert, Underdark, Urban )
- Warlock of the Great Old One ( Humanoid ; Arctic, Hill, Mountain, Underdark, Urban )
- Werebear ( Humanoid (Human, Shapechanger) ; Arctic, Forest, Hill )
- Weremammoth ( Humanoid (Any Race, Shapechanger) ; Arctic, Everglacier )
- White Wraith ( Undead ; Arctic, Everglacier )
- Winged Kobold ( Humanoid (Kobold) ; Arctic, Coastal, Desert, Forest, Hill, Mountain, Swamp, Underdark, Urban )
- Winter Eladrin ( Fey (Elf) ; Arctic, Forest )
- Winter Wolf ( Monstrosity ; Arctic )
- Wolf Reaver Dwarf ( Humanoid (Dwarf) ; Arctic, Urban )
- Yeti ( Monstrosity ; Arctic )
- Young Remorhaz ( Monstrosity ; Arctic )
- Young White Dragon ( Dragon ; Arctic )
Arctic Terrain Fauna
Any Terrain Fauna
Location under
Inhabiting Species
Any Terrain
Environments