diff --git a/game/combat.py b/game/combat.py
index 78abc3e..eefab6c 100644
--- a/game/combat.py
+++ b/game/combat.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from game.messages import MessageLog
 
 
-@dataclass(slots=True)
+@dataclass(eq=False, slots=True, kw_only=True)
 class Stats:
     # current hit points
     hp: int = field(init=False)
@@ -18,15 +18,19 @@ class Stats:
     ac: int
     # hit dice (character level)
     hd: int
-    # damage die (unarmed strike)
-    dmg: int
+    # damage dice (unarmed strike)
+    base_dmg: tuple[int, int] = field(init=False)
     # xp value (current experience)
     xp: int
     # strength
     strength: int = 10
 
-    def __post_init__(self) -> None:
+    # damage dice expression
+    dmg_dice: InitVar[str]
+
+    def __post_init__(self, dmg_dice: str) -> None:
         self.hp = self.max_hp
+        self.base_dmg = parse_dice(dmg_dice)
 
 
 @dataclass(eq=False, slots=True, kw_only=True)
@@ -73,7 +77,7 @@ def melee_attack(attacker: Actor, defender: Actor, level: Level, log: MessageLog
     thac0 = 21 - attacker.stats.hd
     hit = roll(1, d=20) + to_hit_bonus >= thac0 - armor_class
     if hit:
-        damage_dice = 1, attacker.stats.dmg
+        damage_dice = attacker.stats.base_dmg
         if isinstance(attacker, Player) and attacker.inventory.weapon_slot:
             damage_dice = attacker.inventory.weapon_slot.weapon.base_dmg
         damage = roll(*damage_dice) + damage_bonus
diff --git a/game/game_loop.py b/game/game_loop.py
index 31f5d7f..591b227 100644
--- a/game/game_loop.py
+++ b/game/game_loop.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def new_game() -> tuple[Player, Level, MessageLog]:
         y=level.entry_y,
         glyph=Glyph.PLAYER,
         name="Rodney",
-        stats=Stats(max_hp=12, ac=10, hd=1, dmg=4, xp=0, strength=16),
+        stats=Stats(max_hp=12, ac=10, hd=1, dmg_dice='1d4', xp=0, strength=16),
         gold=0,
         inventory=inventory,
     )
diff --git a/game/monsters.py b/game/monsters.py
index 2ba8ea6..8b239fb 100644
--- a/game/monsters.py
+++ b/game/monsters.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-from dataclasses import KW_ONLY, dataclass
+from copy import deepcopy
+from dataclasses import KW_ONLY, InitVar, dataclass, field
 
 from game.actor_ai import ActorAI, GreedyAI, IdleAI, MeanAI
 from game.combat import Stats
@@ -14,46 +15,51 @@ class MonsterType:
     ch: str
     name: str
     _: KW_ONLY
-    hd: int
-    ac: int
-    dmg: int
-    xp_value: int
+    stats: Stats = field(init=False)
     ai: type[ActorAI] = MeanAI
     generate: bool = True
 
+    hd: InitVar[int]
+    ac: InitVar[int]
+    dmg_dice: InitVar[str]
+    xp_value: InitVar[int]
+
+    def __post_init__(self, hd: int, ac: int, dmg_dice: str, xp_value: int) -> None:
+        object.__setattr__(self, 'stats', Stats(max_hp=0, hd=hd, ac=ac, dmg_dice=dmg_dice, xp=xp_value))
+
     def spawn(self, x: int, y: int) -> Actor:
-        return Actor(x=x, y=y, glyph=Glyph.MONSTER, char=self.ch, name=self.name,
-                     stats=Stats(max_hp=roll(self.hd, d=8), hd=self.hd, ac=self.ac, dmg=self.dmg, xp=self.xp_value),
-                     ai=self.ai())
+        stats = deepcopy(self.stats)
+        stats.hp = stats.max_hp = roll(stats.hd, d=8)
+        return Actor(x=x, y=y, glyph=Glyph.MONSTER, char=self.ch, name=self.name, stats=stats, ai=self.ai())
 
 
 monsters: list[MonsterType] = [
-    MonsterType('K', "kobold", hd=1, ac=7, dmg=4, xp_value=1),
-    MonsterType('J', "jackal", hd=1, ac=7, dmg=2, xp_value=2),
-    MonsterType('B', "bat", hd=1, ac=3, dmg=2, xp_value=1, ai=IdleAI),
-    MonsterType('S', "snake", hd=1, ac=5, dmg=3, xp_value=2),
-    MonsterType('H', "hobgoblin", hd=1, ac=5, dmg=8, xp_value=3),
-    MonsterType('E', "floating eye", hd=1, ac=9, dmg=0, xp_value=5, ai=IdleAI, generate=False),
-    MonsterType('A', "giant ant", hd=2, ac=3, dmg=6, xp_value=9),
-    MonsterType('O', "orc", hd=1, ac=6, dmg=8, xp_value=5, ai=GreedyAI),
-    MonsterType('Z', "zombie", hd=2, ac=8, dmg=8, xp_value=6),
-    MonsterType('G', "gnome", hd=1, ac=5, dmg=6, xp_value=7, ai=IdleAI),
-    MonsterType('L', "leprechaun", hd=3, ac=8, dmg=1, xp_value=10, ai=IdleAI, generate=False),
-    MonsterType('C', "centaur", hd=4, ac=4, dmg=13, xp_value=15, ai=IdleAI),
-    MonsterType('R', "rust monster", hd=5, ac=2, dmg=0, xp_value=20, generate=False),
-    MonsterType('Q', "quasit", hd=3, ac=2, dmg=10, xp_value=32),
-    MonsterType('N', "nymph", hd=3, ac=9, dmg=0, xp_value=37, ai=IdleAI, generate=False),
-    MonsterType('Y', "yeti", hd=4, ac=6, dmg=13, xp_value=50, ai=IdleAI),
-    MonsterType('T', "troll", hd=6, ac=4, dmg=31, xp_value=120),
-    MonsterType('W', "wraith", hd=5, ac=4, dmg=6, xp_value=55, ai=IdleAI),
-    MonsterType('F', "violet fungi", hd=8, ac=3, dmg=0, xp_value=80, generate=False),
-    MonsterType('I', "invisible stalker", hd=8, ac=3, dmg=19, xp_value=120, ai=IdleAI, generate=False),
-    MonsterType('X', "xorn", hd=7, ac=-2, dmg=39, xp_value=190),
-    MonsterType('U', "umber hulk", hd=8, ac=2, dmg=41, xp_value=200),
-    MonsterType('M', "mimic", hd=7, ac=7, dmg=14, xp_value=100, ai=IdleAI, generate=False),
-    MonsterType('V', "vampire", hd=8, ac=1, dmg=10, xp_value=350),
-    MonsterType('P', "purple worm", hd=15, ac=6, dmg=35, xp_value=4000, ai=IdleAI),
-    MonsterType('D', "dragon", hd=10, ac=-1, dmg=50, xp_value=6800),
+    MonsterType('K', "kobold", hd=1, ac=7, dmg_dice='1d4', xp_value=1),
+    MonsterType('J', "jackal", hd=1, ac=7, dmg_dice='1d2', xp_value=2),
+    MonsterType('B', "bat", hd=1, ac=3, dmg_dice='1d2', xp_value=1, ai=IdleAI),
+    MonsterType('S', "snake", hd=1, ac=5, dmg_dice='1d3', xp_value=2),
+    MonsterType('H', "hobgoblin", hd=1, ac=5, dmg_dice='1d8', xp_value=3),
+    MonsterType('E', "floating eye", hd=1, ac=9, dmg_dice='0d0', xp_value=5, ai=IdleAI, generate=False),
+    MonsterType('A', "giant ant", hd=2, ac=3, dmg_dice='1d6', xp_value=9),
+    MonsterType('O', "orc", hd=1, ac=6, dmg_dice='1d8', xp_value=5, ai=GreedyAI),
+    MonsterType('Z', "zombie", hd=2, ac=8, dmg_dice='1d8', xp_value=6),
+    MonsterType('G', "gnome", hd=1, ac=5, dmg_dice='1d6', xp_value=7, ai=IdleAI),
+    MonsterType('L', "leprechaun", hd=3, ac=8, dmg_dice='1d1', xp_value=10, ai=IdleAI, generate=False),
+    MonsterType('C', "centaur", hd=4, ac=4, dmg_dice='2d6', xp_value=15, ai=IdleAI),
+    MonsterType('R', "rust monster", hd=5, ac=2, dmg_dice='0d0', xp_value=20, generate=False),
+    MonsterType('Q', "quasit", hd=3, ac=2, dmg_dice='1d10', xp_value=32),
+    MonsterType('N', "nymph", hd=3, ac=9, dmg_dice='0d0', xp_value=37, ai=IdleAI, generate=False),
+    MonsterType('Y', "yeti", hd=4, ac=6, dmg_dice='2d6', xp_value=50, ai=IdleAI),
+    MonsterType('T', "troll", hd=6, ac=4, dmg_dice='4d7', xp_value=120),
+    MonsterType('W', "wraith", hd=5, ac=4, dmg_dice='1d6', xp_value=55, ai=IdleAI),
+    MonsterType('F', "violet fungi", hd=8, ac=3, dmg_dice='0d0', xp_value=80, generate=False),
+    MonsterType('I', "invisible stalker", hd=8, ac=3, dmg_dice='4d4', xp_value=120, ai=IdleAI, generate=False),
+    MonsterType('X', "xorn", hd=7, ac=-2, dmg_dice='5d7', xp_value=190),
+    MonsterType('U', "umber hulk", hd=8, ac=2, dmg_dice='7d5', xp_value=200),
+    MonsterType('M', "mimic", hd=7, ac=7, dmg_dice='3d4', xp_value=100, ai=IdleAI, generate=False),
+    MonsterType('V', "vampire", hd=8, ac=1, dmg_dice='1d10', xp_value=350),
+    MonsterType('P', "purple worm", hd=15, ac=6, dmg_dice='4d8', xp_value=4000, ai=IdleAI),
+    MonsterType('D', "dragon", hd=10, ac=-1, dmg_dice='3d16', xp_value=6800),
 ]