Bratten's Bestiary:
Megalodon
The megalodon is a prehistoric horror of the deeps. Its appetite, better suited for a world of behemoths, can bring entire ocean ecosystems to ruin. This leviathan shark haunts trenches and ridges in the ocean depths, a relic of times long forgotten.
A Beast Out of Time. As the world changed from its primal state, conquered by the meteoric rise of giants and dragons and gods, the megalodons' presence faded. They were either hunted for meat and glory or starved by dwindling prey populations. If not for the timely intervention of various undersea societies, they would have faced extinction long ago.
In modernity, the megalodon is a domestic breed, though such words hardly do them justice. They are kept by dedicated caretakers including ancient sharkfolk cults and druidic circles dedicated to the lost world of "before." Some great kings have taken megalodons as vanity pets, harboring them in deep lagoons and harbors. Under these conditions, the megalodon thrives, but it's not impossible for some to wander.
It's difficult to restrain a megalodon except by barriers like treacherous reefs and enclosing breakwaters. If abused or left hungry, they will abandon their territory and roam free through the vast oceans. These are potentially disastrous situations, as the megalodon can derail generations of sea life if allowed to feed unchecked. Servants of the natural world and soldiers of fortune may be called to resolve the crisis, either by capturing or killing the shark.
Such quests prove worthy challenges for even the greatest adventurers. Not only are megalodons a great threat on their own, poachers both worldly and supernatural desire these creatures, and they will wage war to claim them. Eldritch monstrosities take a particular interest in the megaloddon, desiring control of their great power.
Ecology. The megalodon is a long-lived creature. Individuals can live for centuries. They are known to mate for life, and live alone until they are sure of a mate's death. Due to the low population, mated pairs are incredibly rare.
Through an extraordinary adaptation, lone females of the species can give birth without a mate. These offspring are exclusively female and nearly identical to the mother. Unfortunately, this limited variation can leave populations vulnerable to disease and harmful evolutions. Thus, a male megalodon is worth ten times its female counterpart in trade.
Megalodons themselves, being giant creatures, form the backbone of deep sea ecosystems. They are surrounded by feeder fish that are too small to nourish the shark which aremostly left alone. Large to huge beasts form the bulk of the megalodon's diet, primarily tuna and whales. The shark hunts daily and needs just two percent of its body weight to sustain itself. Unfortunately, they average 50 tons, and two percent of its body weight averages 2,000 pounds of meat.
Behavior and Strategies. Left alone, the megalodon behaves like any normal shark--a territorial predator. They desire to fill their bellies and dwell in safe waters. They can even tell apart friend and foe, though one may prioritize appetite over friendship.
When roused to anger, the megalodon is a ferocious opponent. It will strike quickly and flee to the depths with a mouthful of its enemies. They do not brawl, instead preferring to scatter, isolate, and pick off weaker prey. When tides turn against them, they will make their retreat.
Author's Note. Because the spell polymorph was not designed with beasts above CR8 in mind, you should restrict it to beasts of CR8 or lower when using this stat block. While an enemy spellcaster might have exceptional power that lets them circumvent this limit, you do not want player megalodons!
Credits.
- Design and Lore by Fizzle Dimglow.
- Megalodon by Herschel Hoffmeyer.
Megalodon
Gargantuan beast, unaligned
- Armor Class 16 (Natural Armor)
- Hit Points 233 (15d20 + 75)
- Speed 0 ft., Swim 120 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 25 (+7) 12 (+1) 20 (+5) 1 (-5) 12 (+1) 5 (-3)
- Saving Throws Str +13, Con +11, Wis +7
- Skills Perception +7
- Damage Resistances cold
- Senses blindsight 120 ft., passive perception 17
- Challenge 17 (18,000 XP)
Blood Frenzy. The megalodon has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit points.
Predatory Sense. The megalodon has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks related to scent.
Water Dwelling. The megalodon can breathe only underwater.
Siege Monster. The megalodon deals double damage to objects and structures.
Sharp Skin. At the start of each of its turns, the megalodon can deal 7 (2d6) slashing damage to any creature or non-magical, non-metal object grappling or restraining it. When the shark enters a creature's space for the first time on a turn, the enemy must succeed on a DC 19 Strength Dexterity saving throw or take this damage and be knocked prone.
Actions
Multiattack. The megalodon makes four attacks: two with its bite and two with its tail. It can't make a tail attack against the same target as any of its bite attacks, and it can replace one bite attack per turn with its swallow.
Bite. Melee weapon attack: +13 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 33 (6d12 + 7) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it is grappled (escape DC 20). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the shark can’t bite another target.
Swallow. The shark makes a bite attack against a Large or smaller creature it is grappling. If the attack hits, the target takes the bite’s damage, the target is swallowed, and the grapple ends. While swallowed, the creature is blinded and restrained, it has total cover against attacks and other effects outside the megalodon, and it takes 21 (6d6) acid damage at the start of each of the megalodon's turns. If the megalodon takes 30 damage or more on a single turn from a creature inside it, the megalodon must succeed on a DC 21 Constitution saving throw at the end of that turn or regurgitate all swallowed creatures, which fall prone in a space within 10 feet of the megalodon. If the megalodon dies, a swallowed creature is no longer restrained by it and can escape from the corpse by using 20 feet of movement, exiting prone.
Tail. Melee weapon attack: +13 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (4d6 + 7) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC17 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Feeding Frenzy (Recharge 5-6). The megalodon makes up to four bite attacks. It can replace only one of these attacks with its swallow. It can move between these attacks provided it has movement remaining this turn.