War Beast
These are NPC class templates. Add them to some large or bigger beasts or other monsters to diversify an encounter. Underlined abilities are added to the attack options of the original creature. If necessary, you can adjust the damage dice to match the base monster’s.
Humanoids have found many ways to use hulking beasts for war. War beasts have powers that support smaller, weaker creatures in combat situations like sieges.
Random Encounter
Loot
Check on the original beast’s stats.
Siege Beast. A beast equipped with a battering ram.
Has at least chainmail armor.
Bash. The war beast makes an attack with disadvantage (1D10); on a hit, the target is pushed prone. Objects take double damage from this attack.
Charge. The war beast pushes all creatures in its path. If they fail a save, they fall prone.
Bolt Shooter. A beast equipped with a ballista.
If the war beast does not have hands, a smaller creature needs to be handling the ballista.
Bolt Launch (3/6). The war beast makes a ranged attack against a target (1D12), it ignores armor. The war beast can then make a shove maneuver on an adjacent target.
Chain Brute. A beast dragging chains.
When the beast makes a melee attack, up to two other nearby targets must choose between taking 1D4 damage or fall prone.
Howdah Hulk. A beast carrying a platform.
Up to 4 creatures two sizes smaller than the beast can stand on top of it. They have half cover against ranged attacks. If the war beast is slain, all the creatures on the howdah fall prone.