A GeekChamp article says The Crooked Moon adds two playable D&D species, Lunar Wretches and Shardkin, and frames the choice as the book having “had to get weird.” But the names do not appear in D&D Beyond’s official Part One species list. Until matching rules text or a publisher clarification is available, treat the species, lore, and mechanics in that article as unverified—not confirmed options from the book.
Are Lunar Wretches and Shardkin official species in The Crooked Moon?
That claim is not corroborated by the official contents examined here. GeekChamp’s February 19, 2026 article presents Lunar Wretches and Shardkin as new playable species and describes their traits. D&D Beyond’s Part One contents page, dated June 16, 2025, lists 13 species, and neither name appears there. GeekChamp’s article D&D Beyond’s Part One contents
This discrepancy does not establish that no other Crooked Moon material exists. It does mean the article’s species rules and lore should be treated as secondary claims unless the matching primary rules text or an official publisher clarification can be found. The available evidence does not resolve whether the names belong to another release, reflect an error, or have another explanation.
| Claim or source | What it establishes |
|---|---|
| GeekChamp, February 19, 2026 | Claims Lunar Wretches and Shardkin are playable species; this is a secondary report, not confirmation from the rules text. Source |
| D&D Beyond Part One contents, June 16, 2025 | Names 13 species; Lunar Wretches and Shardkin are not among them. Source |
Which species does the official Part One contents page list?
D&D Beyond names these 13 species in Part One:
- Ashborn
- Azureborn
- Bogborn
- Curseborn
- Deepborn
- Gnarlborn
- Graveborn
- Harvestborn
- Plagueborn
- Relicborn
- Silkborn
- Stoneborn
- Threadborn
The same contents page also lists 15 folk-horror subclasses and chapters covering backgrounds, feats, dark bargains, spells, familiars, and monsters. Its list is specific to Part One; it should not be stretched into a claim about every possible Crooked Moon release. D&D Beyond Part One contents
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What is The Crooked Moon?
Avantris describes The Crooked Moon as a 632-page fifth-edition folk-horror book inspired by grim folklore, legendary horror films, and classic Halloween aesthetics. Its publisher page lists Druskenvald, 13 species, 15 subclasses, 85 monsters, and a campaign adventure. These are publisher-stated product details, not independent counts. Avantris product page
The creators’ 2023 BackerKit FAQ characterizes its folk-horror approach through folklore-driven dread, conflict between old and new, and dangers in nature and the wilds. That description offers context for the setting’s tone, but it does not verify the disputed species. The same FAQ says the project follows Open Gaming License version 1.0a guidelines; that historical statement is not current legal advice. Creators’ FAQ
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Why do the adventure level ranges differ?
The product pages describe different campaign ranges. Avantris’s store says the adventure is for levels 1–14. D&D Beyond presents a campaign from levels 1–13, with postgame content to level 20. Keep those descriptions attributed to their respective pages rather than combining them into one definitive range. Avantris product page D&D Beyond marketplace
Where is the book listed, and what does the listing show?
When accessed on October 8, 2026, D&D Beyond listed the product digitally, with a full bundle displayed at $69.99 and two parts at $39.99 each. Those are marketplace prices at that time, not guaranteed current prices. The reviewed material does not confirm a physical Amazon listing, so check the publisher or marketplace directly for current formats, contents, and availability. D&D Beyond marketplace Avantris product page
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Did a creator say the book “had to get weird”?
No verified named-person quote or interview in the available sources explains that wording. “Had to get weird” is headline phrasing, not an attributable designer or publisher quotation. The sources also provide no relevant published study or reception statistic about Lunar Wretches, Shardkin, or player response.
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