Shark
Aggressive, predatory fish of low intelligence and unpredictable behaviour
Stat Blocks
Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy
Monster statistics extracted from online SRD wiki, not the published hardcover edition.
Aggressive, predatory fish of low intelligence and unpredictable behaviour. Live in saltwater.
Special Abilities
Blood scent: Can detect blood in water up to 300’ away.
Feeding frenzy: Triggered by the scent of blood: always attack; no morale checks.
Variants
Bull Shark
(encountered)
8’ long; brown colouration. Attack by ramming, then biting the stunned prey.
Blood scent; Feeding frenzy: See main entry. Ram: Stunned for 3 rounds (save versus paralysis).
| Armor Class | 4 [15] |
|---|---|
| Hit Dice | 2 (9hp) |
| Number Appearing | 0 (3d6) |
| Attacks | 1 × bite (2d4) or 1 × ram (stun) |
| THAC0 | 18 [+1] |
| Movement | 180' (60') |
| Saving Throws | D12 W13 P14 B15 S16 (1) |
| Morale | 7 |
| Alignment | Neutral |
| XP | 20 |
| Treasure Type | None |
Great White Shark
(encountered)
30’ long (or bigger!); grey colouration with white belly. Sometimes attack small boats.
Blood scent; Feeding frenzy: See main entry.
| Armor Class | 4 [15] |
|---|---|
| Hit Dice | 8 (36hp) |
| Number Appearing | 0 (1d4) |
| Attacks | 1 × bite (2d10) |
| THAC0 | 12 [+7] |
| Movement | 180' (60') |
| Saving Throws | D10 W11 P12 B13 S14 (4) |
| Morale | 7 |
| Alignment | Neutral |
| XP | 650 |
| Treasure Type | None |
Mako Shark
(encountered)
15’ long; bluish-grey or tan colouration.
Blood scent; Feeding frenzy: See main entry. Unpredictable: May ignore other creatures, only to attack moments later.
| Armor Class | 4 [15] |
|---|---|
| Hit Dice | 4 (18hp) |
| Number Appearing | 0 (2d6) |
| Attacks | 1 × bite (2d6) |
| THAC0 | 16 [+3] |
| Movement | 180' (60') |
| Saving Throws | D12 W13 P14 B15 S16 (2) |
| Morale | 7 |
| Alignment | Neutral |
| XP | 75 |
| Treasure Type | None |
OSRIC
| Armor Class | 6 |
|---|---|
| Hit Dice | 3, 5 or 8 |
| Number Encountered | 3d4 |
| Attacks | 1 |
| Damage | 1d4+1, 2d4 or 3d4 |
| Move | 240-ft swimming |
| Alignment | Neutral |
| Intelligence | Non- |
| XP | 3/50+2/hp or more |
| Size | Medium to large |
| Frequency | Common |
| Lair | Nil |
Monster statistics extracted from online SRD wiki, not the published hardcover edition.
Sharks are scavengers of the seas who viciously attack anything that seems wounded or dying. They are attracted to splashing, kicking, or any other sound that can be mistaken for a fish in distress. The smell of blood in the water can attract sharks from miles away. While sharks come in all sizes there are basically three that can be considered man-eaters. When sharks have targeted their prey they will enter a feeding frenzy and attack everything in sight, sometimes even each other. They will swim up and take a bite out of whatever they consider food. Once they have swallowed what they have bitten, they will return for another bite until nothing is left.