Shark (/ʃɑːk)

Man-eaters of the Sea

Sharks were aggressive carnivorous fish. They could be found hunting alone or in groups and were known for attacking anyone approaching them without provocation.

The Menagerie fought some Reef Sharks in the hollow tree on Outding Refuge

— Session 10: The Baron Report

Basic Information

Anatomy

Species

Sharks were categorized into medium, large, and huge species.

Medium shark

Reef sharks

the species of shark that usually inhabited shallow waters and coral reefs. They hunted in packs.

Reef Shark Shark MM p336 Smaller than giant sharks and hunter sharks, reef sharks inhabit shallow waters and coral reefs, gathering in small packs to hunt. A full-grown specimen measures 6 to 10 feet long.

Goblin sharks

the species of ugly deepwater sharks, vicious predators that could be found in the deepest parts of the seas.

Mako sharks

the most agile and fierce of their kind. They hunted in packs akin to their reef cousins.

Hammerhead sharks

the species of shark notorious for their agility and their distinct hammer-like head shape.

Large Sharks

Large sharks included hunter sharks that preyed on deep waters, and fleshtearer sharks, which were found in various environments, including underground rivers and lakes. They usually hunted alone, but could also be found in groups. A species of muck-dwelling freshwater shark known as barbfish inhabited lower reaches of the Riven Specie in Amn.

Huge Sharks

Dire Shark

The second largest species of the shark in the Realms, they behaved in a similar manner to great whites. They were prone to attacking anything that they perceived to be edible, no matter how large.

Great White

Also known as "huge sharks" or "giant sharks," they were the third largest type of shark in the Realms. This species could be found in deep oceans and attacked anything that approached them, including whales and ships.

Megalodon

An ancient and monstrous species of shark, sometimes known as "giant sharks". They were one of the largest species of shark in the Realms.

Hunter Shark MM p330 Smaller than a giant shark but larger and fiercer than a reef shark, a hunter shark haunts deep waters. It usually hunts alone, but multiple hunter sharks might feed in the same area. A fully grown hunter shark is 15 to 20 feet long.

Giant Shark MM p328 A giant shark is 30 feet long and normally found in deep oceans. Utterly fearless, it preys on anything that crosses its path, including whales and ships.

Ecology and Habitats

Habitats

The smaller types of sharks were very common in the waters surrounding Chult. The Bay of Chult and Refuge Bay contained large groups of reef sharks. Hunter sharks and reef sharks hunted off the coast of Ishau, as well as Jahaka Anchorage. In the Shining Sea, they lurked in the sunken ruins of Untisczer.
Mako, goblin, and hammerhead sharks lived and hunted in the close vicinity of the Temple-Under-The-Sea, the submerged temple to Umberlee in the Fiddler's Green underwater region of the Sea of Swords.
Outside of the Prime Material plane, sharks were extremely prevalent in Draga Salt-Biter's domain of Saragoss in the Domains of Dread.

Behaviour

Behavior

All shark species were utterly fierce, aggressive, and fearless. They were relentlessly hungry.

Combat

Sharks were tactical hunters, using their keen senses to circle their prey just outside of their field of view and charging to attack at the most opportune moment. Their powerful jaws and sharp teeth were effective against many different targets, sometimes even ship hulls.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Usages

Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue sold shark hides for 15 gp a piece.

Civilization and Culture

History

These creatures had been swimming in the oceans for thousands of years with little change in their appearance or methods.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Relationships

Sharks were revered by sahuagin and could be trained by them. Their kinship to sahuagin was so strong that even wild sharks considered them allies and did not attack them. Sahuagin could also telepathically issue commands to nearby sharks.

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Sources

Source(s):

• Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 330, 336. ISBN 978-0786965614.
• Rob Heinsoo, Stephen Schubert (May 19, 2009). Monster Manual 2 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 182. ISBN 0786995101.
• Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 279. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
• Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 87. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
• BioWare (June 2005). Designed by Keith Hayward, Rob Bartel. Neverwinter Nights: Pirates of the Sword Coast. Atari.
• Ed Greenwood (July 2000). Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate II. Edited by Duane Maxwell, David Noonan. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 60–61. ISBN 0-7869-1626-5.
• Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 64–65. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
• Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 328. ISBN 978-0786965614.
• Ed Bonny, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Skip Williams, and Steve Winter (September 2002). Monster Manual II 3rd edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 147. ISBN 07-8692-873-5.
• Christopher Perkins, Will Doyle, Steve Winter (September 19, 2017). Tomb of Annihilation. Edited by Michele Carter, Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 43, 64, 66–67, 82. ISBN 978-0-7869-6610-3.
• Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader (July 2004). Serpent Kingdoms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 102. ISBN 0-7869-3277-5.
• Colin McComb, Scott Bennie (April 1992). Islands of Terror. Edited by Anne Gray McCready. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 47–48. ISBN 1-56076-349-3.
• Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 263–264. ISBN 978-0786965614.
• Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore. (TSR, Inc.), p. 32. ISBN 978-1560766476.
• Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 75. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Beasts

Genetic Descendants

• Reef Shark

Scientific Name

Animalia, Materia, Bestia (Chordata, Chondrichthyes, Euselachii, Neoselachii, Selachimorpha)

Origin/Ancestry

Animal, Aquatic Fish (Shark)

Lifespan

Varies

Conservation Status

Sharks are not currently protected by most "civilized" cultures.

Average Height

Varies

Average Weight

Varies

Average Length

Varies

Geographic Distribution

• Aquatic Terrain

Related Ethnicities

• Beast Creatures

5E Statistics
Shark

Size	Reef (Medium) Hunter (Large) Giant (Huge)
Type	Beast
Alignment	Unaligned
Challenge Rating	Reef (1/2) Hunter (2)

General Information

Movement	Swimming
Vision	Blindsight
Favored Climate	Cold
Favored Terrain	Seas & Ocean

Appearance (Reef)

Appearance (Hunter)

Average length	6' - 10'”
Average Weight	150-275 lb.

Average length

15' - 20'

Session Reports

• Session 10: The Baron Report

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See Also: Sahuagin on Forgotten Realms Wiki