From what I recall lore-wise, they were at some point affected by magic and making them how they are now so, they would technically be considered monstrosities. Not to mention they meet the requirements for being considered intelligent both through scores and their ability to communicate.

I have to agree though they are fun as companions.

Haha. My character, Faen can speak with one of these. She speaks giant.

Awesome creations, very simple yet effective and aestetic!

I rescued one from a thives den last night. I am a goliath barbarian with wolf totem . This is going to be a perfect companion for me.

Quote from JrakeBaileyShallow >>

It should be a beast, as it isn't a monster. It is simply an evil wolf. Also, these things are pretty cool as companions.

Well worgs are similar and are also considered monstrosities. And this is a hell of a lot more than an evil wolf. They are even bigger than worgs, have complete immunity to cold, and can EXHALE ICY WIND LIKE A BLOODY WHITE DRAGON! 

Also, while their origin is not stated, they are clearly connected to giants. And there is another monstrosity that is connected to giants, and has a breath weapon: the behir. And it's outright said that Behir were made by Storm Giants. This could be a similar case. But even if it isn't, anything that expel elemental AOEs from it's maw isn't some normal animal. Especially if it can speak. No, if this thing has to be a beast then so should basilisks and yetis.

Quote from _Frogman07_ >>

It's a monstrosity due to how its size plus its alignment so it makes him a monstrosity. If it was unaligned like the dire wolf then it would be a beast like the dire wolf but until it becomes unaligned or good it's a monstrosity!

Wait what? Monstrosities can't be good or unaligned? There are plenty of unaligned monstrosities. Hippogriffs, Hydras, Purple Worms, and the TARRASQUE to name a few. And good monstrosities may be rare, but they exist The Guardian Naga is one, the Centaur from the MM is another. 

The winter wolf is a monstrosity because its a giant, intelligent wolf, that is immune to the cold and has an icy breath weapon like a dragon. A creature is only unaligned if it lacks the mental faculties to have good or evil intent.

I tamd it :)

yes if you are short

I'm playing as one idc

Probably as long as you don’t roll a bunch on Nat 20s in front of them

cold doggo

me too

I wonder if there's such thing as a were winter wolf?

A frost breathing wolf the size of a horse.

One of my players rolled two nat 20s back to back to tame one. They don’t know yet that it can talk. Once I finally reveal that it does, it’s just going to continually insult them when they mess up 

this might sound a dumb but i really want to know: can winter wolves be good pets? is the neutral evil part nurture or are they just like that?

Pretty sure, like with much of the Monster Manual, this is some kind of adaptation of Fenrir from Norse Mythology or an aspect of him, like how the Drow are just the Dokkalfar. Would also make sense if they're commonly found among Frost Giants. Not sure what the actual lore is, but it'd probably be easy enough to say their origins come from the wailing howl of some kind of wolf god or ancient wolf being echoing across the land, magically transforming arctic wolves into these intelligent and deadly creatures. 

Quote from anai1 >>

this might sound a dumb but i really want to know: can winter wolves be good pets? is the neutral evil part nurture or are they just like that?

Well the fact that it's fairly intelligent, I would think it can't really be a pet at all. A good companion however, perhaps. It all really depends on your interpretation of "evil" within D&D. If you interpret it as self obsessed, narcissistic, and/or generally more concerned with it's own needs and desires over the needs and desires of others, then it absolutely can work as a companion. But if you interpret it as a murderous, devouring, aggressive creature of hate then no, probably not. I would think, with its level of intellect, it would tend toward more of the scheming kind of evil, not being above feeding on companions if they prove useless but otherwise understanding that fighting as a pack is more profitable than fighting alone. You may even be able to change its alignment gradually with time and convincing arguments. But I wouldn't think, if you're playing it as intended according to the monster manual, that it'd ever get as far as a puppy or loyal dog's cheerfulness and innocence. 

I believe the game designers made this a monstrosity because it is both too intelligent (it can speak three languages), and they didn't want Druids to be able to Wild Shape into this.

Quote from TheRoleplayer98 >>

Quote from _Frogman07_ >>

It's a monstrosity due to how its size plus its alignment so it makes him a monstrosity. If it was unaligned like the dire wolf then it would be a beast like the dire wolf but until it becomes unaligned or good it's a monstrosity!

 

Wait what? Monstrosities can't be good or unaligned? There are plenty of unaligned monstrosities. Hippogriffs, Hydras, Purple Worms, and the TARRASQUE to name a few. And good monstrosities may be rare, but they exist The Guardian Naga is one, the Centaur from the MM is another. 

The winter wolf is a monstrosity because its a giant, intelligent wolf, that is immune to the cold and has an icy breath weapon like a dragon. A creature is only unaligned if it lacks the mental faculties to have good or evil intent.

 

 

Beyond 20

 

 

 

 

 

 Think he was saying alignment makes it NOT a beast. Not trying to prove it is a monstrosity.