Huge beast (giant animal), unaligned
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 126 (11d12 + 55)
Speed 0 ft., swim 50 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +5 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 (+6) | 11 (+0) | 21 (+5) | 1 (-5) | 10 (+0) | 5 (-3) |
Skills Perception +3
Senses blindsight 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages –
Challenge 5 (1800 XP)
Blood Frenzy. The shark has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn’t have all its hit points.
Keen Smell (suggested). The giant shark has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Water Breathing. The shark can breathe only underwater.
ACTIONS
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 22 (3d10 + 6) piercing damage.
- Bite (suggested). Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (6d4 + 6) piercing damage. A Medium or smaller creature is swallowed whole (escape DC 11) to avoid being swallowed. A swallowed creature is restrained and suffer 15 (2d8+6) bludgeoning damage due to constriction in the first round, and 27 (4d10+5) acid damage once in the stomach any subsequent round.
DESCRIPTION
The megalodon is a colossal shark that once ruled the oceans of the world. It is an ancient relative of the great white shark, but much larger and more powerful. The megalodon’s name means “big tooth”, and for good reason: its teeth are huge triangular blades that can slice through flesh and bone with ease. The megalodon’s body is streamlined and muscular, with a dark gray or black coloration on the back and a lighter belly. The megalodon can grow up to 65 feet long and weigh up to 60 tons, making it one of the largest predators ever to exist. The megalodon almost never reaches a blood frenzy, since it is capable of swallowing most creatures whole. Swallowed creatures suffer acid damage for every round they remain inside the shark. A creature trapped within a megalodon can attack the beast from within with disadvantage and inflicts minimum damage. The victim must take the shark to 0 points or less before the shark’s digestive juices finish their work. Since most creatures are swallowed quickly by a megalodon there is usually not enough blood in the vicinity to trigger a feeding frenzy. On occasion, however, fisherman out hunting for whales and other large water creatures have wounded their prey, only to have a swarm of huge prehistoric-sized megalodon sharks strip it to the bone within seconds. Few fishermen argue the point.
COMBAT
The megalodon is a fearless hunter that will attack anything that crosses its path, including whales, ships, and even other megalodons. It relies on its keen senses of smell, hearing, and motion detection to locate its prey, and then uses its speed and strength to deliver a devastating bite. The megalodon can swallow some creatures whole, or tear them apart with its powerful jaws. The megalodon is also capable of leaping out of the water to snatch low-flying creatures or surprise its enemies. The megalodon has few natural enemies, except for other megalodons or larger sea monsters.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
The megalodon prefers to dwell in deep oceans, where it can find plenty of food and avoid competition. It is a solitary creature, except when mating or competing for territory. The megalodon is territorial and will defend its hunting grounds from intruders. The megalodon mates once every few years, and produces a litter of two to ten pups. The pups are born live and are about 10 feet long at birth. They are independent from their mother and must fend for themselves. The megalodon has a lifespan of about 100 years.
ECOLOGY
The megalodon is a vital part of the ocean’s ecosystem, as it helps regulate the population of other marine creatures. It feeds on a variety of prey, such as fish, seals, dolphins, turtles, squid, octopus, crustaceans, and even smaller sharks. The megalodon has no known predators, except for humans who hunt it for sport or profit. The megalodon’s teeth are highly prized by collectors and traders, as they are rare and valuable. The megalodon’s bones are made of cartilage, which decomposes quickly after death, leaving behind only its teeth as fossils.