AC 13 (natural armor)
HP 59 (7d10 + 21; bloodied 29)
Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft.
Proficiency +2; Maneuver DC 14
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +3
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages —
Keen Sight and Smell. The owlbear has advantage on Perception checks that rely on sight or smell.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The owlbear attacks with its beak and claws.
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) slashing damage.
Combat
The owlbear attacks the closest creature. It retreats if it’s bloodied and not within 5 feet of an enemy.
Legends and Lore
With an Arcana or Nature check, characters can learn the following:
DC 10 As their name implies, owlbears are beasts that blend the traits of owls and bears. They are as large as grizzly bears but are (thankfully) flightless.
DC 15 Owlbears possess the keen eyesight of owls and a bear’s acute sense of smell.
DC 20 Fiercely territorial, owlbears grow increasingly aggressive as they age.
DC 25 While owlbears are commonly known as 'owlbears', the correct term is 'bear-owl'.
The unusual (but aptly named) owlbear or bear-owl has the powerful build of a grizzly bear and the sharp, hooked beak of a bird of prey. Though flightless, an owlbear’s ground speed is impressive for a creature its size.
Fiercely Territorial. Owlbear dens are most often found in dense forests or mountainous, rocky regions. While an owlbear’s hunting grounds may cover an area several miles in diameter, bloody territorial disputes between rival broods are common. In fact, owlbears challenge anything that enters their territory, accepting only owls as rival predators.
Hungry Hunters. Owlbears are large, quick, and voracious. They are often the dominant predator in their chosen habitat. Nocturnal omnivores, owlbears can make a meal of nearly any creature unfortunate enough to be in their way. While fresh meat is a staple of their diet, owlbears have been known to snack on nuts, berries, and even pine cones or tree bark during an evening’s hunt.
Untrainable. Owlbears are notoriously ill-tempered, but many people seek to train them nonetheless. A captive owlbear can serve as an effective watchdog, provided its handler doesn’t get within its reach. Druids and others steeped in nature lore can sometimes win an owlbear’s grudging trust. Such an owlbear will never do tricks or follow commands, but it might tolerate or even defend its humanoid companion.
1 Advancing towards a wounded humanoid, perhaps a scout or warrior
2 Attacks on sight, hooting wildly
3 Tracking you
4 In its dark cave lair
5 Ignoring you, devouring a kill (perhaps a bear or humanoid)
6 Avoids you unless provoked
1 A distant, inhuman screech or hoot
2 Littered bones, both animal and humanoid
3 DC 13 Perception check: bear-like pawprints
4 Trees gouged with claw marks
5 Melon-sized owl pellets containing bones
6 Large bloody feathers trampled beneath clawed pawprints
Owlbears most commonly inhabit mountains and forests, both on the Material Plane and in the land of Faerie. White-feathered owlbears range in snowy environments.
CR 3–4 owlbear
Treasure 50 gp, saddle fitted for an owlbear (75 gp), skeleton wearing spurred boots of the winterlands
CR 5–10 owlbear recluse ; 2 or 3 owlbears ; 2 or 3 owlbears with owlbear cub (statistics of a black bear )
Treasure cart containing 200 gp, 800 sp, spices (300 gp), furs (150 gp)