Stranger Things 5 Theory Proves Vecna Might Not Be Hawkins’ Biggest Threat

The new trailer for Stranger Things Season 5 has sparked a major theory that Vecna might not be Hawkins’ ultimate threat, but rather this Dragon-like monster. Eagle-eyed fans have noticed a small detail, a set of Dungeons & Dragons figurines on Mike’s table. Among them, one figure looks like Thessalhydra, a multi-headed dragon from D&D.

GUYS I've not seen ANYONE talking about this in the new trailer but look! LOOK AT THE TABLE!! We have our DND figures of the party and a suspiciously familiar dragon figure in the middle… We really ARE fighting the thessalhydra this season!! pic.twitter.com/JqAHJVH904

— 🏳️‍🌈ǝɐɹɥʇʎl∀ (@alythrae_) October 30, 2025

Thessalhydra has never appeared in Hawkins before, but the series often uses the kids’ D&D games to foreshadow real-world events. With Vecna already a formidable villain, many fans are now speculating that Thessalhydra could be an even bigger danger. It could be the true villain, the final boss.

Stranger Things and D&D fans have already speculated the presence of this character in season 5, and the new trailer strongly suggests that their theories might be accurate.

Will’s Vision Foreshadowed Thessalhydra in Stranger Things

Thessalhydra was first mentioned in Season 1 during a D&D session with Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Will Byers. You might recall that Will’s character, the prophet, defeated this monster with a fireball spell. The parallels between the D&D campaigns and the gang’s real-life battles have been a recurring motif throughout the series.

Season 4 also added fuel to the speculation. Will’s painting shows the group fighting a multi-headed dragon, matching Thessalhydra’s description. Fans are calling Will a “prophet” because his visions appear to predict future dangers in Hawkins. Furthermore, in the season 4 ending, Vecna also showed Nancy a vision where she saw a monster with many heads.

Fans on social media are connecting these dots and theorizing Thessalhydra could be the true villain of Season 5. It could be a threat even more formidable than Vecna.

— THE STARCOURT FOODCOURT (@starcourtfc) July 3, 2022

When did you realize that the monster that defeated Will in the last D&D game of the first season is the same one he made in the drawing he showed Mike? The Tessalhydra. And in the vision that vecna made Nancy see where she said there was a monster with MANY HEADS, like him (+) pic.twitter.com/coTWiendGM

— ʎssoɾ • 27 DAYS (@apocalypsebyler) August 1, 2022

WILLIAM BYERS THE PROPHET YOU ARE!! pic.twitter.com/IdUKM7R8s6

— 🏳️‍🌈ǝɐɹɥʇʎl∀ (@alythrae_) October 30, 2025

Since Vecna learns from the experiences I don't think he gets affected by fire now. He probably found a way to prevent it. I expect the fireball to be against a Demogorgon or Thessalhydra.

— bubble (@byersveil) October 19, 2025

Others theorize it might appear alongside Vecna, forcing the gang to confront multiple threats at once. Some viewers speculate that Vecna has adapted to counter common attacks, such as fire-based spells, which could make him vulnerable but no longer insurmountable.

Stranger Things Season 5 Trailer Hints at Vecna’s New Base

Vecna previously operated out of the Creel house, his childhood home. But the trailer suggests he has now relocated, probably after the attack by Nancy and her gang. He is shown in the Upside Down version of Hawkins’ Town Hall. An army of Demogorgons and Demodogs is also visible in the trailer.

Moving to a larger, secure building allows Vecna to prepare for a large-scale invasion. Hawkins remains central to his plan, as the town is tied to his traumatic past as Henry Creel.

The trailer also begins with Vecna saying, “At long last… we can begin.” Is he speaking to the creature under his control, as we have seen in prior seasons, that he uses the hive mind to command? Or is he being controlled this time?

However, Vecna will still be a threat to our heroes. In the last scene, Vecna was seen levitating Will and ominously saying, “William, you are going to help me, one last time.” If Will is manipulated and controlled, it could be a game-changer. Watch the trailer below:

With the military enforcing a strict quarantine and Eleven forced into her own quest, the series is poised to explore battles on a much larger scale. If the theory proves correct, Hawkins’ final battle could redefine what it means to face the ultimate evil in the Stranger Things universe.

Show Name	Stranger Things
Creators	The Duffer Brothers
Main cast	Millie Bobby Brown Finn Wolfhard Noah Schnapp Winona Ryder David Harbour Gaten Matarazzo Caleb McLaughlin Sadie Sink Natalia Dyer Charlie Heaton Maya Hawke Joe Keery
No of Seasons	5
No. of Episodes	Season 1: 8 episodes Season 2: 9 episodes Season 3: 8 episodes Season 4: 9 episodes Season 5: 8 episodes (Part 1- 4, Part 2 – 3, and Finale)
IMDb	8.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes	92%

Could Thessalhydra outmatch Vecna as Hawkins’ deadliest threat? Let us know your theories in the comments.

Stranger Things Season 5 Vol. 1 will premiere on November 26, followed by Vol. 2 on December 25, and the finale on December 31, 2025, on Netflix (US).