Based in Hawkins, Indiana, Stranger Things follows a group of youngsters named Mike, Will, Lucas, and Dustin, as they attempt to survive the onslaught of the Upside Down's corruption. Luckily, the boys befriend Eleven, a seemingly orphaned girl who possesses incredible powers, capable of fighting off their formidable foes.
This sci-fi horror series triggers nostalgia with its blatant Dungeons and Dragons references in a 1980s timeline that provides the perfect setting for the Duffers Brothers' unique Netflix creation. The residents of Hawkins are bombarded with an invasion of monsters in various forms, all part of the Hive Mind that is somehow connected to the sinister Upside Down. These horrifying creatures in Stranger Things all carry out their role in Vecna's master plan to infect the globe with its depravity.
Updated July 04, 2022, by Levana Jane Chester-Londt: With the Gate supposedly closed by Season 3's finale, all seems well in Hawkins once again, and El and the gang have to battle against a whole new class of Stranger Things monsters in Season 4: humans, particularly of the teenage variety. If school politics aren't enough to deal with, the mysterious string of sudden supernatural deaths has everyone in the cursed town on edge.
Considered a Satanist Cult, D&D takes most of the wrap, and the group of once-close friends finds themselves disjointed physically and emotionally, and the perfect targets for Vecna, who preys on the vulnerable and has proven himself to be the puppetmaster of all the Stranger Things monsters set on corrupting the world.
New enemies revealed in Season 4 of Stranger Things will be included.
11 The Hawkins Tunnel System
No, it's not a typo, the actual Tunnel System in Stranger Things is, in fact, a creature. It is an intricate network of underground passageways that have formed themselves under the town of Hawkins, which, if it hadn't been disturbed, might have eventually covered the globe. Emerging from the Gate to the Upside Down, the Hawkins Tunnel System works to connect the two realms. The more ground it covers, the easier it will be for the Mind Flayer's minions to roam freely.
These tunnels are somehow telepathically linked to the Mind Flayer, which can apparently control the release of noxious spores from its walls, creating the perfect hunting grounds for the ominous creatures of Stranger Things.
10 The Vines
These sinister tendrils are more dangerous than they look, seemingly with a mind of their own, intently focused on capturing unsuspecting prey. The Vines are capable of constricting or suffocating their victims to death, even having the foresight to maneuver down their prey's throat to inhibit breathing, as with Will Byers.
As formidable as these tendrils are, they do possess one weakness, as Jim Hopper discovers the Vines' aversion to fire. In season 3, the Vines are set aflame, and poor infected Will simultaneously suffers, confirming the scientist's suspicions of the existence of a Hive Mind among all the monsters.
9 The Flayed
Initially, the Flayed did not appear to be too much of a threat in the greater scheme of things, as Will was the only one infected in Season 1 of Stranger Things. However, after Billy Hargrove was contaminated, he single-handedly created an army of loyal, governable troops.
The Flayed are mindless drones, having lost all free will before their bodily functions are subsequently controlled by the Mind Flayer. An infected Billy takes up authority of the Hive Mind, apparently second-in-command of the army of destruction. The Flayed cannot be killed directly, as the damaged body will become a pile of red-tinged sludge capable of re-forming, and that is where things just get a lot worse!
8 D'Artagnan Aka Dart
Inheriting its name from its apparent love for Three Musketeers bars, D'Artagnan lived a relatively luxurious life as Dustin's pet. The other members of the Party are immediately suspicious of Dustin's discovery and he is forced to continue caring for Dart in secret. It is only when Mews, the Hendersons' cat, becomes a tasty treat that Dustin begins to take the situation seriously.
Starting as a type of larvae, this creature transforms into a Pollywog, then a Frogogorgon, followed by a Catogorgon, before becoming a Demodog. Surprisingly, however, even after all this metamorphosis, Dart still maintains a taste for chocolate and even appears to recognize his former owner whilst in its Demodog state.
7 Demodogs
Demodogs are infantile versions of a Demogorgons, fulfilling the penultimate stage of development of the beast's unusual life cycle. With canine-like qualities, these monsters are true hunters that work with a pack mentality that differs from the Hive Mind, although they are undoubtedly still connected. Demodogs will not run into combat mindlessly but opt for calculated stalking and strategic attacks, aided by their keen senses and reinforced skin.
Thankfully, many of the Demodogs were destroyed by Eleven when she sealed the Gate to the Upside Down in Season 2, cutting off their connection to the Mind Flayer and presumed source of power.
6 The Hospital Monster
With a concept design inspired by Hellraiser and The Thing, The Hospital Monster was almost deemed too scary for television. Formed from the "deceased" bodies of a Flayed Tom Holloway and Bruce Lowe, this horrific beast appears within the hallways of Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Season 3. Made to look like a raging mass of humanoid limbs had the desired effect, and struck fear into the hearts of Nancy Wheeler, Jonathan Byers, and viewers around the world.
With surprising agility, this monster can dissolve and reform itself at will. This ability makes the Hospital Monster virtually indestructible, as even Eleven struggles to eliminate this creature entirely from existence (those tiny bits are difficult to find!)
5 The Demogorgon
As the original antagonist of Season 1 of Stranger Things, the Demogorgon's design was plucked straight out of nightmares. More than just a mindless monster like the Flayed, the Demogorgon possesses the additional threat of intellect. They appear to also have a heightened sense of smell (particularly for blood) to make up for their lack of sight.
These grotesque creatures can heal themselves quickly and seemingly with no effort, as Demogorgons seems to be completely unaffected by bullets (unless shot directly into its gaping 'mouth') with fire as their greatest weakness. It is hard to believe that this savage monster started as an (almost) cute, little 'slug' and beloved pet of Dustin Henderson.
4 The Spider Monster
Much like the Hospital Monster, the Spider Monster consists of an amalgamation of Flayed victims, but on a much grander scale. Essentially this creature acts as the physical embodiment of the Mind Flayer's consciousness, growing to a gargantuan size as it collects body parts from the Flayed along the way.
The Spider Monster originated from Will's infection in Season 1 of Stranger Things, after he was supposedly "healed" after the monstrosity was forced out of him with heat. Overwhelmed and suffocating, the Vines' remnants went into hiding until it eventually became the source (or proxy) of all the Flayed gathered by Billy in Season 2.
3 The Mind Flayer, Aka The Shadow Monster
Assumed to be the Lord of the Upside Down, the Mind Flayer is a recurring tyrant throughout the first three seasons of Stranger Things. As the root of all evil, the Mind Flayer controls the Hive Mind, sending out its minions to cause chaos around Hawkins and potentially the rest of the globe if given the chance.
The Mind Flayer demonstrates superb intellect as it possesses Will while ensuring to remain undetected, using his new host to trick the rest of the Party into focusing their attack on the wrong location. When this monster realizes that more could be done with the possessed corpses of the Flayed, it facilitates the reconstruction of the remaining limbs to form abominations such as the Hospital Monster and Spider Monster. Anything could become a potentially deadly weapon in the "hands" of the seemingly indestructible Mind Flayer but as it turns out, this dark entity has Vecna to thank for its accomplishments!
2 Demobats
So far, these savage winged beasts have only been seen in The Upside Down, but that doesn't mean they can't pass through the Gate, which is likely to happen any day now. Poor Steve Harrington is the first to face these monstrosities in Season 4 of Stranger Things and is sliced up like swiss cheese by their razor-sharp talons, barely escaping with his life. Demobats are sensitive to sound and drawn to it like a moth to the flame; which could either be advantageous or have fatal consequences.
Much like the Demogorgons, the Demobats demonstrate an advanced intellect, particularly when taking on Eddie and Dustin, and soon discover they can enter the reinforced structure through an exposed air vent. With their first attempt unsuccessful, the swarm of Demobats immediately seeks out a similar entrance point, driving the boys from their safety and claiming a life in the process.
1 Vecna: The King Of All Monsters In Stranger Things
Viewers finally get to experience the terror that Vecna instills on his victims when he makes his epic debut in Season 4 of Stranger Things. This villain drags the storyline even further into the past, as the alleged origin story of the entire Hawkins catastrophe, although the way he sees things, Eleven is the one to blame, seeing as their pasts are so closely intertwined. When Eleven first meets Mike and the boys, her memories are quite foggy, but thanks to Nina's intervention, things are coming back to the girl at a rapid rate.
Growing up as part of a twisted experiment in Hawkins National Laboratory, El finds herself the outcast once again and leans on the kindhearted Henry Creel for support. The charming boy manipulated the situation perfectly, giving himself enough legroom to slaughter practically everyone in the vicinity, with the unstoppable force that only the infamous One could possess. El manages to overpower Henry/One, disintegrating his physical form, damning him to the alternate dimension now known as The Upside Down.
Exposed to the elements, Henry's body is mutilated and he soon loses all humanity and becomes the almighty Vecna, realizing that his powers have great potential in this new world. Inspired by horror legends such as Freddie Kruger, Pinhead, and Pennywise, the latest villain in Stranger Things is sure to crop up in one or two nightmares as Vecna preys on the darkest corners of his victims' minds, before breaking limbs, burning out eyes, and crushing souls like it's just another Tuesday. It takes Vecna four successful murders to open the Gates for good, allowing the Upside Down to begin merging with the rest of the world, permanently.