Giant Pufferfish

Small beast, unaligned

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 52 (8d8 + 16)
Speed 0 ft., swim 40 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16 (+3) 12 (+1) 15 (+2) 2 (–4) 10 (+0) 5 (–3)

Skills Perception +2
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +2

SPECIAL TRAITS

  • Spiny Body. A creature that touches the giant pufferfish or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet of it takes 2 (1d4) piercing damage. While the pufferfish is puffed up, this damage increases to 5 (2d4).
  • Water Breathing. The giant pufferfish can breathe only underwater.

ACTIONS

  • Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d8 + 3) piercing damage, or 12 (2d8 + 3) piercing damage while puffed up.
  • Spine. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage, or 8 (2d4 + 3) piercing damage while puffed up. The target must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw, taking 5 (2d4) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. If the target fails the saving throw by 5 or more, it takes 2 (1d4) poison damage at the end of its next turn. When this colossal puffer fish floats at the sea’s surface, the sun glints off its golden skin and sharp spikes.

BONUS ACTIONS

  • Burst of Speed (Recharges 5–6). The giant pufferfish takes the Dash action.
  • Puff Up (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). For 1 minute, the giant pufferfish increases in size by filling its stomach with air or water. While puffed up, the pufferfish is Medium, doubles its damage dice on Bite and Spine attacks (included in the attacks), and makes Strength checks and Strength saving throws with advantage. If the pufferfish lacks the room to become Medium, it attains the maximum size possible in the space available.

ABOUT

Giant pufferfishes live in brackish waters near shorelines. Their gold and silver skin sports long, piercing spines that are coated in potent poisons. The giant pufferfish’s smaller cousins have few natural predators due to their toxic organs, and the giant versions have even fewer predators.

Carnivorous Glutton. Most pufferfish subsist on algae and small invertebrates, while some might hunt clams, mussels, and other shellfish. Giant pufferfishes reach their great size by poisoning and then dining on fish, small sharks, and sailors.

Expanding Danger. Like their smaller cousins, giant pufferfish can fill its stomach with air or water when threatened or agitated. When it does so, it nearly doubles in size, and most creatures give it a wide berth until it calms.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Tome of Beasts 3 © 2022 Open Design LLC; Authors: Eytan Bernstein, Celeste Conowitch, Benjamin L. Eastman, Robert Fairbanks, Scott Gable, Basheer Ghouse, Richard Green, Jeremy Hochhalter, Jeff Lee, Christopher Lockey, Sarah Madsen, Ben Mcfarland, Jonathan Miley, Kelly Pawlik, Sebastian Rombach, Chelsea Steverson, Brian Suskind, Mike Welham

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