A creature's origin describes its place in the Dungeons & Dragons cosmos. Each origin is associated with a plane of existence.

• aberrant: Aberrant creatuers are native to or corrupted by the Far Realm. Examples: beholders and mind flayers.
• elemental: Elemental creatures are native to the Elemental Chaos. Examples: demons, efreets, elementals, and titans.
• fey: Fey creatures are native to the Feywild. Examples: cyclopses, eladrin, elves, gnomes, hags, and treants.
• immortal: Immortal creatures are native ot the Astral Sea. Unless they are killed, they live forever. Examples: angels and devils
• natural: Natural creatures are native to the natural world. Examples: dragons, dwarves, goblins, humans, and trolls.
• shadow: Shadow creatures are native to the Shadowfell. Examples: nightmares and wraiths.

Most adventureres have the natural origin, unless otherwise noted. A monster's origin is noted in its stat block.^[RC:60-61]