Most iconic monster at each level

[Bobthewizard]

If you were running a short campaign where you had 1 fight at each level and then the players leveled up, what would be the most iconic/classic monster at each level. The characters are as classic as possible - an elf wizard, a half-orc barbarian, a dwarf cleric, a halfling bard, and a LG human paladin. Not necessarily a single monster at that CR. It could be a pack of goblins at level 2, for example. Without checking CR exactly, here's how I might go:

1 - rats, either swarm or giant
2 - goblins
3 - ogres
4 - gelatinous cubes
5 - troll
6 - wyvern
7 - mind flayer
8 - hydra
9 - fire giant
10 - young red dragon
11 - djinni
12 - vampire
13 - beholder
14 - purple worm
15 - marilith
16 - death knight
17 - balor
18 - pit fiend
19 - lich
20 - ancient red dragon

I'd love to see what your whole list might be.

[MrStabby]

Hmm. I think either zombies or skeletons should be onthere somewhere.

I would also say that a mummy lord would be more iconic than a Marilith. Or maybe an iron golem - constructs are not really making an appearance?

Level 5 is also very open - I can't fault a troll, but also things like elementals are quite thematic. Adding a Fey here could be good - I think Death Hags are echnically fiends but a coven of Green Hags could be a good encounter at this level?

Andthen a Balor and Pit fiend on consecutive levels? It just feels in a progression this is maybe not having the same variety it could - maybe a clestial instead as they seem underrepresented?

[Asmotherion]

My go to monsters are Goblins, Kobolts or Orcs, followed by Necromancers or Conjurers with a number of Skeletons/Zombies/Elementals/Animated Objects.

My go to BBEG is a Dragon who's also a Spellcaster, or a Lich.

Other than that I don't realy have a list of CR appropriate Monsters, rather than make lists of monsters for Random Encounters based on what's logical to encounter, and choose a Boss Fight that would be aesthetically pleasing for the dungeon.

[1Pirate]

Do you mean iconic in terms of D&D? You should probably stick Drow(or at least Drider) on that list, maybe along with Githyanki and Grells. Oh and Intellect Devourers.