Buy me a coffeeHammerhead Shark, “The Cephalofoil Reaper”
Beware the Hammerhead Shark: the ocean’s sideways-sighted predator with a head that’s as deadly as it is bizarre!
A fearsome marine predator characterized by its wide, flattened, hammer-shaped head (cephalofoil) that extends laterally with eyes perched at each end, granting it a panoramic view of its surroundings. Its streamlined body is covered in rough, sandpaper-like skin with shades ranging from gray to olive-green on top, fading to a lighter underbelly. Rows of sharp, serrated teeth line its powerful jaws, capable of delivering devastating bites.
Behaviour:
Hammerhead Sharks are both solitary hunters and social creatures, sometimes forming large schools during daylight hours. They are highly agile swimmers, using their uniquely shaped head for enhanced sensory perception, including electroreceptors to detect hidden prey. They exhibit curious intelligence and are known to circle their targets before striking.
Habitat:
Preferring warm, tropical, and temperate coastal waters, hammerheads inhabit continental shelves and deep oceanic zones, often near reefs and seamounts. They traverse vast distances, sometimes migrating seasonally in search of food or mating grounds.
Modus Operandi:
Utilizing their cephalofoil, hammerheads pin down stingrays and other benthic prey to the ocean floor, while their keen electroreception pinpoints even the faintest biological signals. Their attacks are swift and calculated, often involving ambush tactics or coordinated movements when in groups.
Motivation:
Driven by primal survival instincts, hammerheads seek sustenance and territory, fiercely defending hunting grounds and mating rights. Their combination of intelligence and predatory skill makes them apex hunters, feared by all but the largest oceanic predators.
Hammerhead Shark 5e
Hammerhead Shark, Pathfinder
Hammerhead Shark
Large beast, unaligned
Armor Class 14 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 85 (10d10 + 30)
Speed 0 ft., swim 50 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 (+4) | 15 (+2) | 16 (+3) | 3 (–4) | 12 (+1) | 6 (–2) |
Saving Throws Str +7, Dex +5
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +5
Damage Resistances Cold
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Tremorsense 30 ft., Passive Perception 14
Languages —
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3
Traits
Amphibious. The hammerhead shark can breathe both air and water.
Electroreception. The shark has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks to locate creatures in water that are not obscured by total cover, even if they are invisible, due to its ability to sense electrical impulses.
Water Camouflage. The shark has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in water.
Actions
Multiattack. The hammerhead shark makes two attacks: one with its Bite and one with its Hammerhead Bash.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 18 (3d8 + 4) piercing damage.
If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be grappled (escape DC 15). While grappled in this way, the target is restrained, and the shark can’t bite another target.
Hammerhead Bash. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 14 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
If the target is grappled by the shark, it takes an additional 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage and is pushed up to 10 feet away.
Legendary Actions
The hammerhead shark can take 2 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The shark regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
- Bite Attack. The shark makes one bite attack.
- Hammerhead Bash. The shark makes one hammerhead bash attack.
Tactics
The hammerhead shark is an intelligent predator in its domain. It prefers to ambush prey from below, using its superior vision and electroreception to detect and isolate targets. It often grapples a foe with its bite, then uses Hammerhead Bash to slam and scatter others. Against groups, it may prioritize the weakest swimmer or most vulnerable caster, dragging them down and away from allies.
Hammerhead Shark
[This content is based on content mentioned but only partially described by Paizo Publishing.]
This shark has a distinctive hammer-shaped head. It is an advanced shark. Hammerhead sharks are 400 pounds and 12 feet in length.
| Shark, Hammerhead XP 800 CR 3 |
| Advanced shark N Large animal (aquatic) Init +7 Senses Blindsense 30 ft., keen scent; Perception +10 |
| DEFENSE |
| AC 16 touch 12, flat-footed 13 (+3 Dexterity, +4 natural, -1 size) hp 30 (4d8+12) Fort +9, Ref +7, Will +4 |
| OFFENSE |
| Speed Swim 60 ft. Melee bite +8 (1d8+7) Space 10 ft. Reach 5 ft. |
| STATISTICS |
| Strength 21, Dexterity 16, Constitution 17, Intelligence 2, Wisdom 16, Charisma 6 Base Atk +3 CMB +9 CMD 22 Feats Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative Skills Perception +8, Swim +18 |
| ECOLOGY |
| Environment any ocean Organization solitary, pair, school (3-6), or pack (7-13) Treasure none |