Buy me a coffee“Clockwork Leviathan: The Titanic Arcane Engine of the Deep”
Clockwork Leviathan – “The Gilded Terror of the Deep, A Colossal Engine of Brass and Fury”
Forged from gleaming brass, whirring gears, and arcane cores, the Clockwork Leviathan prowls the depths as both machine and monstrosity, a legendary fusion of technology and terror. Designed for wikis, monster databases, and tabletop campaigns, this entry condenses its awe-inspiring presence into a clear, authoritative bestiary format.
Appearance
The Clockwork Leviathan is a titanic construct, its sinuous body armored with overlapping bronze and steel plates that shimmer like liquid metal. Articulated joints reveal intricate gears and pistons, while its head boasts cavernous, glowing eyes and a gaping maw lined with serrated, metallic teeth. Steam vents hiss along its flanks, and the tip of its tail glows with an arcane reactor, giving it a constantly humming, almost sentient presence.
Behaviour
Calculating and relentless, the Leviathan moves with precision, each segment of its massive body coordinated like a living clock. Though devoid of true emotion, it exhibits patterns akin to predatory intelligence, striking with surgical efficiency while scanning its surroundings for threats or prey.
Habitat
Found in the deepest oceans, expansive lakes, or magically-engineered aquatic arenas, the Clockwork Leviathan claims vast territories, often patrolling submerged ruins, sunken fortresses, or steam-powered naval battle zones.
Modus Operandi
This construct hunts with mechanical cunning, launching rapid, hydraulic-assisted lunges and unleashing steam blasts or arcane discharges. It can crush ships, entangle prey with its segmented body, or breach water surfaces to deliver devastating strikes with a tail swipe.
Motivation
Programmed to protect, dominate, or annihilate, the Leviathan’s driving goal is determined by its creator—whether guarding treasure, serving as a siege weapon, or seeking to neutralize any intrusion into its designated domain. Its instincts mirror the cold efficiency of its clockwork design rather than natural predation.
Clockwork Leviathan 5e 2024
Clockwork Leviathan, Pathfinder
Clockwork Leviathan
Gargantuan Construct, Unaligned
Armor Class: 22 (Adamantine Plating)
Hit Points: 720 (35d20 + 350)
Speed: 10 ft., swim 80 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 (+11) | 14 (+2) | 32 (+11) | 20 (+5) | 18 (+4) | 12 (+1) |
Saving Throws: Str +19, Dex +9, Con +19, Int +12, Wis +11
Skills: Perception +11, Insight +11, Stealth +9 (in water)
Damage Resistances: Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Weapons
Damage Immunities: Poison, Psychic, Lightning, Fire
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed, Poisoned, Exhaustion
Senses: Darkvision 120 ft., Tremorsense 60 ft., Passive Perception 21
Languages: Understands all languages of its creator, Telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge: 30 (155,000 XP)
Regional Effects
While in its lair (deep oceans, submerged fortresses, or magical lakes), the Leviathan causes:
- Arcane Currents: Magical and technological devices function erratically; spellcasters have disadvantage on concentration checks.
- Pressure Waves: Ships and underwater vehicles must succeed on DC 18 Strength checks to maintain course.
- Aura of Dread: Creatures have disadvantage on saving throws against fear effects.
- Tremors: Non-magical structures may collapse or crack under the Leviathan’s movements.
Spellcasting
The Leviathan is a 20th-level spellcaster (Intelligence, DC 21, +12 to hit). It can innately cast without components:
- At Will: Mage Hand (giant spectral claw), Detect Magic, Arcane Eye
- 3/day: Lightning Bolt (6th), Wall of Force (5th), Chain Lightning (6th)
- 1/day: Control Water, Disintegrate (6th), Meteor Swarm (9th, only in lair)
Actions
Multiattack. The Leviathan makes three attacks: one bite, two tail slams, and may use Arcane Pulse.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +19 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 55 (8d10 + 11) piercing damage.
Tail Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +19 to hit, reach 25 ft., all creatures in a 25-ft. line must succeed on DC 27 Strength save or take 48 (6d12 + 11) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone.
Steam Jet (Recharge 5–6). 60-ft. cone; DC 27 Constitution save, 63 (14d8) fire damage on a fail, half on success.
Arcane Pulse (Recharge 6). 30-ft. radius; DC 21 Intelligence save or stunned until end of next turn.
Magnetic Crush (Recharge 6). 60-ft. radius; creatures wearing metal or holding weapons must succeed on DC 21 Strength save or be pulled 20 ft. toward the Leviathan.
Legendary Actions
The Leviathan can take 5 legendary actions, one at a time at the end of another creature’s turn:
- Detect. Makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
- Tail Swipe. One tail slam attack.
- Arcane Discharge (2 Actions). Magical bolt to a creature within 120 ft., 30 (6d10) force damage.
- Hydraulic Lunge (3 Actions). Move up to speed and bite one target.
- Steam Overload (3 Actions). 30-ft. radius; DC 21 Constitution save, 45 (10d8) fire damage or half.
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the Leviathan can:
- Tidal Surge: 60-ft.-radius wave; DC 21 Strength save or knocked prone and pushed 20 ft.
- Arcane Distortion: Randomly alter magical effects in the lair; roll d6: 1–2 = dispel one effect, 3–4 = double duration, 5–6 = target spellcaster must succeed on DC 21 Intelligence save or lose concentration.
- Mechanical Collapse: One structure partially collapses; 30 (6d10) bludgeoning damage to creatures in the area.
Reactions
Defensive Plating. Add +5 AC against one melee attack.
Tactics
The Leviathan dominates its battlefield, prioritizing aquatic engagement. On land, its movement is slow and awkward (10 ft.), so it relies on ranged and area attacks while avoiding being flanked. In water, it uses Arcane Pulse, Steam Jet, and Hydraulic Lunge to control movement, while lair actions disrupt enemy formations and create kill zones.
Clockwork Leviathan
Long and metallic, this serpentine construction resembles a mechanical eel with several paddle-like limbs.
Source Bestiary 3 pg. 1
Clockwork leviathans are equally capable of functioning on land and in water. Sailors who are haunted by the memories of these treacherous machines need not exaggerate their yarns, for the reality of an aquatic construct such as this holds enough terror in its story for even the hardiest of seafarers.
A clockwork leviathan’s numerous metal plates and links are made of such resilient material that they never rust, even after long exposure to the briny sea waters that leviathans often patrol.
Clockwork leviathans are 25 feet long and weigh just over 3 tons.
| Clockwork Leviathan CR 12 |
| N Huge construct (clockwork) Init +8; Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Low-Light Vision; Perception +0 |
| DEFENSE |
| AC 28, touch 14, flat-footed 22 (+4 Dexterity, +2 dodge, +14 natural, -2 size)hp 128 (16d10+40) Fort +5, Ref +11, Will +5 DR 10/adamantine; Immune fire, construct traits Weaknesses vulnerable to electricity |
| OFFENSE |
| Speed 30 ft., swim 60 ft. Melee bite +25 (2d6+11), 2 slam +25 (1d8+11 plus grab) Space 15 ft., Reach 15 ft. Special Attacks breath weapon (60-ft. line, 12d8 fire damage, DC 18 for half, usable every 1d4 rounds, 3/day), grind, swallow whole (2d8+16 slashing damage plus 2d6 fire damage, AC 17, 20 hp) |
| STATISTICS |
| Strength 33, Dexterity 18, Constitution -, Intelligence -, Wisdom 11, Charisma 1 Base Atk +16; CMB +29 (+33 grapple); CMD 45 (cant be tripped) Feats Improved InitiativeB, Lightning ReflexesB Skills Stealth +8 (+12 in water), Swim +19; Racial Modifiers +12 Stealth (+16 in water) SQ swift reactions, winding |
| SPECIAL ABILITIES |
| Breath Weapon (Su) A clockwork leviathans breath weapon is a powerful jet of scorching steamit functions equally well above and under water. Grind (Ex) A clockwork leviathan deals an additional 1d8+16 points of slashing damage when it makes a successful grapple check because of the myriad twisting gears and churning pistons that make up its jagged underbelly. Swallow Whole (Ex) A clockwork leviathan’s interior is filled with injurious grinding gears and superheated water – in addition to taking damage, a swallowed creature must hold its breath or risk drowning as long as it remains inside a clockwork leviathan’s ‘stomach.’ |
| ECOLOGY |
| Environment any Organization solitary or pod (2-4) Treasure none |
Construction
When creating these clockworks, great care must be taken to waterproof their components. The creator must start with crafted clockwork pieces worth 10,000 gp.
Clockwork Leviathan
CL 12th; Price 130,000 gp
Construction Requirements Craft Construct, freedom of movement, geas/quest, heat metal, and limited wish, creator must be at least caster level 12th; Skill Craft (clockwork) DC 20; Cost 70,000 gp