Every New Monster in Stranger Things’ First Spinoff, Ranked By Threat Level

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Netflix recently launched the first official spin-off of Stranger Things, called Tales From ’85. Taking place between seasons 2 and 3, the show features a new adventure with surprising monsters, even though the portal to the Upside Down is closed. According to Anna Baxter, this is explained by the idea of evolution. She explains that evolution helps creatures adapt and improve, especially when facing near-extinction. So, something managed to survive after Eleven closed the gate, possibly due to some risky experiments.

In Tales From ’85, Eleven and her friends constantly battle a series of increasingly dangerous monsters. This guide ranks all the new creatures from Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 based on how much of a threat they pose.

8. The Queen’s “Insects”

The creatures first appear in the opening scene of Tales From ’85. They resemble tiny scorpions and, while not actively aggressive, can be dangerous if you’re caught off guard. Their main goal is to flee, and like all the monsters in the game, they are weak against fire.

7. Jerk O’Lanterns

Jerk O’Lanterns are monsters that come from pumpkin patches, and they appear quite intimidating. However, they rely on attacking in large groups and trying to overwhelm their opponents with sheer numbers. Luckily, they aren’t very tough, so the kids in Hawkins can usually handle them without much trouble.

6. Snow Shark

The Snow Shark is a fearsome hunter, much like the shark in Jaws. It uses the heavy snowfall in Hawkins to its advantage, quickly attacking and pulling victims away to turn them into new hosts. Luckily, it can be tricked into showing itself, and Eleven’s powers can be used against it.

5. Aboleth

The Aboleth is a monster inspired by creatures from Aliens and The Thing. It’s formed when Dustin’s enemy, Rosario, consumes tainted pumpkin pie and becomes a vessel for the Queen’s power. More dangerous than the Jerk O’Lanterns, the Aboleth can spread vines over large areas and strike from hiding. It acts as a mini-boss, requiring the Hawkins kids to cooperate to defeat it. Importantly, the Aboleth is vulnerable to both telekinetic powers and fire, and it can’t survive if separated from its host.

4. Vine Monster

The kids manage to save one of their bullies from the Queen’s influence, but they strangely don’t focus on the other one right away. Sadly, Jeff Nelson isn’t so lucky – he becomes a terrifying creature resembling a mix between a Demodog and a Demogorgon, but with dangerous, extending vines used to capture victims. He’s ultimately freed when his monstrous form is destroyed by a sewer gate, hinting at how the Queen herself might be defeated.

3. Vine Dogs

The Vine Dogs first appeared in Stranger Things merchandise and are dangerous creatures that initially needed a host to live. Now, they can survive on their own, which gives them an advantage when they ambush the kids at the lumber mill – it’s the first time the heroes truly feel in danger. The fight is so intense that Eleven is nearly killed, causing Mike to panic and almost reveal secrets to Hopper. Like many of the monsters in the series, fire is their weakness.

2. Horde Prime’s Minions

Coming in second are creatures known as Horde Prime’s Minions. These are bigger than the vine creatures Jeff Nelson faced, and unlike those creatures, they don’t need a human host. They’re clearly skilled and dangerous hunters, able to track prey using smell, sight, and sound. While strong enough to withstand Eleven’s telekinetic powers, they are thankfully susceptible to fire.

1. Horde Prime / The Queen

The biggest threat in Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is definitely the Queen (Dustin calls her Horde Prime, referencing She-Ra). She’s essentially taking over the role of the Mind Flayer from the main Stranger Things series, and she’s responsible for creating all the other monsters. At first, she acts like a plant from Dungeons & Dragons that invades and changes its surroundings. But she quickly becomes much more than that simple idea.

The Queen is easily one of the most terrifying creatures in Stranger Things. She has the unique ability to create new gateways to the Upside Down. Luckily, Eleven manages to defeat her by closing the gate and splitting the monster in half. However, even in death, the creature shows signs of change, as a blue flower quickly sprouts from its body.

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2026-04-28 17:12