Giant Owlbear
Today, we are returning to our perhaps most commonly recurring projects; making the classics a thousand times more horrible. This time, we present an owlbear, only with many pounds of extra owl and extra bear. The giant owlbear is the apex owlbear, dangerous both in its own right, and even more dangerous for its tendency to gather normal, already-too-large-for-comfort owlbears under its proverbial owl-banner. Perfect for your next TPK, and maybe for other things? Let us know!
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Giant Owlbear
While the common owlbear is undeniably dangerous, there is a rarer kind which is even more feared. Giant owlbears tower high and ripple with muscle to rival even hill giants, extending their territory and hunting grounds much, much further than their smaller cousins.
Mutated Mutants. An unstable element in an owlbears’ biology sometimes causes excessive growth shortly after birth. Such a drastic change comes alongside much tougher hide, a stronger connection to their arcane origins, and an increased appetite—a giant owlbear can depopulate a whole countryside in less than a year if left unchecked.
Pack Leaders. Most unusual about these giant variants is their change in disposition. While common owlbears are territorial and hostile to others of their kind, giants will conscript defeated rivals into a sort of pack hierarchy. This behavior can result in a giant owlbear being followed by as many as a dozen of their common brethren, turning an already substantial threat to a region into an outright plague.
Owlbear Pack
Giant owlbears gather packs to dominate their territory.
Should you wish to include an owlbear pack led by a giant owlbear, increase the challenge rating of each owlbear to 4 (1,100 XP) and increase the challenge rating of the giant owlbear to 11 (7,200 XP), then give each the following trait:
Pack Tactics. The owlbear has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the owlbear's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.
Beware! An owlbear pack is extremely deadly and should only be taken on by well-equipped, high-level adventurers.
Giant Owlbear
Huge Monstrosity, Unaligned
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 138 (12d12 + 60)
Speed 40 ft.
STR 23 (+6)
DEX 12 (+1)
CON 20 (+5)
INT 3 (-4)
WIS 14 (+2)
CHA 8 (-1)
Saving Throws Str +10
Skills Perception +6
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages —
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP) Proficiency Bonus: +4
Keen Sight and Smell. The owlbear has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell.
Magic Resistance. The owlbear has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Magic Weapons. The owlbear’s weapon attacks are magical.
Actions
Multiattack. The owlbear makes two Claw attacks and one Beak attack. It can replace both Claw attacks with one Bear Hug.
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) piercing damage
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (3d8 + 6) slashing damage. The target must make a DC 18 Strength saving throw, becoming knocked prone on a failed save.
Bear Hug. The owlbear uses its arms to rake in a 10-foot cube directly in front of it. Each creature in that cube must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or take 11 (2d10) bludgeoning damage and become grappled (escape DC 18). Creatures grappled in this way are pulled to an unoccupied space adjacent to the owlbear, are restrained, and take an additional 11 (2d10) bludgeoning damage at the end of each of their turns. While the owlbear grapples a creature in this way, its movement speed is halved and it can’t make Claw or Bear Hug attacks as its front limbs are occupied.
Piercing Screech (Recharge 5–6). The owlbear lets out an ear-splitting screech. Each creature that can hear the owlbear within 60 feet must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or take 27 (6d8) thunder damage and become stunned until the end of the owlbear’s next turn. A creature takes half as much damage and is not stunned on a successful save.
