Megalania

Huge beast, unaligned
Challenge: 6 (2,300 XP)
Proficiency Bonus: +3

Armor Class: 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 110 (13d12 + 30)
Speed: 40 ft., climb 20 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
20 (+5)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)	3 (–4)	12 (+1)	7 (–2)

Saving Throws: Dex +5, Con +6
Skills: Stealth +6, Perception +4
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Tremorsense 30 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages: —

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Traits

Ambush Predator. The Megalania has advantage on attack rolls against surprised creatures.

Keen Smell. The Megalania has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

Climber. The Megalania can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Mild Venom. When the Megalania hits a creature with its Bite attack, the target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or take 7 (2d6) poison damage at the start of each of its turns for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.

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Actions

Multiattack. The Megalania makes two attacks: one with its Bite and one with its Claws.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 21 (3d10 + 5) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be grappled (escape DC 15). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the Megalania can’t bite another target.
Additionally, the target suffers from the Mild Venom trait.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) slashing damage.

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Legendary Actions

The Megalania 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 Megalania regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Quick Lunge. The Megalania moves up to its speed toward a creature and makes one claw attack.
• Tail Swipe (Costs 2 Actions). The Megalania sweeps its tail in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw or take 18 (4d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone.

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Tactics

• Uses Ambush Predator to strike first from hiding, grappling key targets with its bite to restrain them.
• Applies claws to rend and tear at restrained prey, focusing damage efficiently.
• Utilizes climbing ability to ambush from unexpected angles, like trees or rocks.
• Uses Quick Lunge legendary action to close distance or reposition and Tail Swipe to control groups of foes or create escape opportunities.

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Environment

Dense forests, rocky outcrops, caves, and warm semi-arid scrublands where it can hunt stealthily.

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Treasure

Its shed skin and teeth are prized by shamans and collectors for use in rituals and as trophies of power.

Megalania

This massive lizard has a heavy build. A small crest arises between its eyes, and its massive  maw is lined with serrated, swordlike teeth. A powerful tail lashes back and forth.

Originally Posted by Shade of the En World forums.
On this Thread

The megalania, or giant goanna, is a giant monitor lizard. This fearsome predator hunts birds, mammals, and reptiles smaller than itself, as well as scavenging to supplement its diet. Its name means “great roamer”, although  in some dialects it is known as “Ancient Giant Butcher”. A megalania hunts  during the day, although it rests during the hottest hours. A megalania is 24 to 26 feet long and weighs nearly a ton.

Megalania (Giant Plains Lizard)
Huge animal
Hit Dice	12d8+84 (138 hp)
Initiative	+0
Speed	40 ft. (8 squares), Swim 30 ft.
Armor Class	16 (-2 size, +8 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple	+9/+28
Attack	Bite +18 melee (3d6+11/18-20/x3 plus disease)
Full Attack	Bite +18 melee (3d6+11/18-20/x3 plus disease) or tail slap +18 melee (2d6+16)
Space/Reach	15 ft./15 ft.
Special Attacks	Augmented critical, disease, tail sweep
Special Qualities	Low-Light Vision, Scent
Saves	Fort +17, Ref +8, Will +5
Abilities	Strength 33, Dexterity 11, Constitution 25, Intelligence 1, Wisdom 12, Charisma 2
Skills	Climb +14, Hide +5*, Listen +4, Move Silently +4, Spot +4, Swim +19
Feats	Alertness, Awesome Blow, Great Fortitude, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Trip (B), Power Attack
Environment	Warm plains
Organization	Solitary
Challenge Rating	8
Treasure	None
Alignment	Always neutral
Advancement	13-24 HD (Huge); 25-36 HD (Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment	–

COMBAT

Despite its size and strength, a megalania is an ambush hunter, lying in wait within grass and shrubs. It shreds foes with its mouth full of serrated teeth, which also spreads a painful disease. If bothered by multiple smaller foes, it sweeps with its tail to knock them down.

Augmented Critical (Ex): A megalania’s bite threatens a critical hit on a natural attack roll of 18–20, dealing triple damage on a successful critical hit.

Disease (Ex): Red Ache – bite, Fortitude DC 23, incubation period 1d3 days, damage 1d6 Strength. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Tail Sweep (Ex): A megalania can sweep with its tail as a standard action. The sweep affects a half-circle with a radius of 5 feet, extending from an intersection on the edge of the megalania’s space in any direction. Creatures within the swept area are affected if they are one or more size categories smaller than the megalania. A tail sweep automatically deals tail slap damage and affected creatures must make DC 27 Reflex saves to or be knocked prone. The save DC is Strength-based.

Skills: A megalania has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line. Megalania have a +4 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks. *In forested or overgrown areas, the Hide bonus improves to +8.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #167 (1991).