Hippopotatomus

Huge plant, unaligned

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• Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 105 (10d12 + 40)
• Speed 25 ft. (40 ft. while in sunlight)

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
22 (+6)	8 (-1)	18 (+4)	6 (-2)	13 (+1)	7 (-2)

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• Saving Throws Wis +4
• Skills Athletics +9, Perception +4
• Damage Resistances poison, radiant
• Condition Immunities prone
• Senses tremorsense 30 ft., passive Perception 14
• Languages —
• Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)

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Photosynthesis. While in direct sunlight, the hippopotatomus's walking speed increases to 40 feet, and it regains 13 (2d8 + 4) hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point. If the hippopotatomus takes fire or necrotic damage, this trait is disabled until the end of its next turn.

Charge. If the hippopotatomus moves at least 20 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a bite attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 9 (2d8) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 16 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Power Over Earth!. The hippopotatomus ignores difficult terrain caused by vegetation or disturbed earth. Additionally, the hippopotatomus's attacks get advantage from attacking a prone creature from further than 5 feet away instead of disadvantage.

Actions

Multiattack. The hippopotatomus makes one Bite attack and two Root Whip attacks. It can use its Ground Slam action in place of a Bite attack.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) piercing damage.

Root Whip. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage, and the target is moved 10 feet in a direction of the hippopotatomus's choice.

Potato Slam (Recharge 6). The hippopotatomus slams down its front hooves, causing an eruption of rocks, soil and roots in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 16 Strength saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 13 (3d8) bludgeoning damage and is pushed 15 feet away from the hippopotatomus and 15 feet upwards, suffering the usual effects of falling. On a successful save, a creature takes half as much damage and is pushed only 5 feet.

Additionally, the ground in the area becomes difficult terrain until cleared, the hippopotatomus isn't affected by this difficult terrain. A prone creature in the area can only stand up with a successful DC 12 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check, on a failed check, the creature can only stand up by using its action.

Legendary Actions

The hippopotatomus has can take 2 legendary actions, regaining spent actions at the end of its turn.

Steadfast (1/Round). The hippopotatomus repeats a saving throw to end a spell or effect affecting it.

Suppressive Fire (Costs 1-2 Actions). The hippopotatomus launches a volley of potatoes that rain down from the sky in 10-foot-radius, 60-foot-high cylinder centered on a point within 60 feet of the hippopotatomus. Each creature within the area when it appears or that enters the area must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or take 5 (2d4) bludgeoning damage and have its speed reduced by 10 feet. If the hippopotatomus spends two legendary actions, suppressive fire does 10 (4d4) damage on a failed saving throw, and half as much on a successful one.

Whip (Costs 1-2 Actions). The hippopotatomus makes one Root Whip attack for each legendary action it spends. If the Hippopotatomus hits two attacks against different targets as a part of this action and moves them within 5 feet of eachother, both creatures must make a DC 14 Consitution saving throw or be under the effect of the Slow spell until the end of their next turn.

Hippopotatomus: Do's and Don'ts

First of all, the 'potato' in 'hippopotatomus' is pronounced po-tah-toe, this is crucial.
Secondly, there are a few things that are important to know in order to run a hippopotatomus encounter smoothly.
Tbh every monster should have something like this.

As for target prioritization, generally start off by trying to maul whoever is closest, before switching to spreading out the damage more, and hitting whoever it can.

Rewards

Here are some things that may
serve as appropriate rewards for a party
that defeats one of these fearsome beasts.

Potato Slam

3rd-level transmutation

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• Casting Time: 1 action
• Range: 30 feet
• Components: S, M (a potato)
• Duration: 1 round

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You slam the ground, causing an eruption of rocks, soil and roots in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 3d8 bludgeoning damage and is pushed 15 feet upwards and 15 feet away from you, suffering the usual effects of falling. On a successful save, a creature takes half as much damage and is pushed only 5 feet.

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Additionally, the ground in the area becomes difficult terrain until the start of your next turn. A prone creature in the area can only stand up by making a Dexterity (Actobatics) check against your spell save DC. On a failed check, the creature can only stand up by using its action.

Potato Charm

Wondrous item, rare

While wearing this charm, starting your turn on the ground and in direct sunlight grants you the power of the potato until the start of your next turn, conferring the following benefits:

• Your walking speed is increased by 10 feet.
• You have advantage on saving throws and ability checks against being knocked prone.
• Your attacks do an additional 1d6 damage against prone targets, and do not get disadvantage from attacking a prone target.
• for each hour you spend with the power of the potato, you regain 2d6 hit points.

A piece of root broken off of the hippopotatomus, as you hold it to the sunlight, you can feel the power of the potato coursing through you.