Few adventures in Dungeons & Dragons history evoke the same mix of dread, excitement, and outright frustration as S1 Tomb of Horrors. Published in 1978 and penned by the great and terrible Gary Gygax himself, this module has earned a legendary reputation. It is both a badge of honour for those who have survived it and a cruel, cackling dungeon master’s delight for those who have not. If you thought your party was prepared, Tomb of Horrors was here to prove you wrong.

A Dungeon Born of Competition

Gygax originally designed Tomb of Horrors for tournament play at the 1975 Origins convention. He wanted to separate the wheat from the chaff, or more accurately, the overconfident from the humbled. Unlike traditional dungeons filled with hordes of monsters, Tomb of Horrors relied on lethal traps, deceptive illusions, and death lurking behind almost every wrong decision. If you were hoping for a fair fight, you were in the wrong crypt.

The module was later released as the first in the Special (S) series of adventures, cementing its place as one of the deadliest challenges in the game. The tomb’s infamous nature made it both loved and feared, and it remains a touchstone of old school D&D design philosophy: play smart, or get crushed.

Welcome to the House of Horrors

The Tomb of Horrors is the final resting place of the demilich Acererak, one of D&D’s most notorious villains. Acererak isn’t the type of necromancer who sits around waiting to be smote by adventurers, he’s already transcended most mortal concerns, leaving behind a gauntlet of death to weed out the foolish and unlucky. Should anyone actually make it to his inner sanctum, he has one last cruel joke: his skull, the true form of the demilich, will absorb the souls of the unprepared in an instant.

Players don’t just waltz into this tomb; they crawl, poke, and prod their way through its nightmare architecture. Pitfalls, illusory walls, teleportation traps, and false leads abound. Tomb of Horrors demands patience, creative problem-solving, and an uncanny ability to resist the urge to touch anything that looks even remotely interesting. If something in this dungeon seems too good to be true, it absolutely is.

The Traps That Made Grown Adventurers Cry

Tomb of Horrors is notorious for its traps, many of which exist solely to punish curiosity. Some of the most infamous include:

• The Green Devil Face – This seemingly decorative carving is actually a sphere of annihilation. Anything that enters its mouth is instantly destroyed. No saving throws, no second chances—just oblivion.
• The False Lich – A fake boss fight designed to lure adventurers into wasting their spells and resources before facing the real danger.
• Teleportation Traps – Oh, you thought that hallway was safe? Surprise! You’re now naked and alone in a sealed chamber. Good luck.
• The Wrong Pathway Death Sentence – Choose the wrong tunnel and you might find yourself permanently sealed inside an inescapable room. Welcome to your new home.

This is the kind of module where the phrase “rocks fall, everyone dies” isn’t just a joke—it’s practically a design principle.

The True Test of Tomb of Horrors

Gygax himself stated that Tomb of Horrors was meant for players who relied on their wits rather than brute force. Charging headfirst into danger will only get you killed faster. Careful investigation, meticulous note taking, and an almost paranoid level of suspicion are the real tools for survival.

Many groups have attempted to brute force their way through the tomb, only to meet a swift and ignominious end. The module rewards methodical play: using ten foot poles to prod for traps, sending disposable familiars ahead to scout, and questioning everything before touching it. In many ways, it’s less about being a powerful hero and more about being an incredibly cautious archaeologist with trust issues.

Love It or Hate It, You’ll Never Forget It

Tomb of Horrors is not for everyone. Some players despise its brutal nature, feeling that it’s more of a deathtrap than a true adventure. Others relish the challenge, seeing it as the ultimate test of their dungeon crawling prowess. Either way, it leaves a lasting impression.

For modern players, the module is still available in various forms, including adaptations in Tales from the Yawning Portal and Return to the Tomb of Horrors. While newer editions have tried to smooth out some of its sharpest edges, the core experience remains the same: one wrong step, and it’s game over.

So, if you ever find yourself facing the Tomb of Horrors, remember this: take nothing for granted, trust no door, and above all else, never, under any circumstances, stick your head into the Green Devil’s mouth. You have been warned.