Hippopotamus
Large Beast · · CR 4
- Beast
- Large
- Tier 1
As a large beast (unaligned), Hippopotamus carries CR 4. Common in forest, grassland, swamp, and coastal environments. Sourced from Monster Manual (5.5e 2024) and Tome of Beasts 3.
Stat Block
- Challenge Rating
- 4
- Type
- Beast
- Size
- Large
- Alignment
- —
- Speed
- —
- Habitats
- Forest, Grassland, Swamp, Coastal
- Sources
- Monster Manual (5.5e 2024), Tome of Beasts 3
Ecology
Hippopotamuses dwell in slow rivers, marshes, and lakes across temperate and tropical regions. They feed on grasses at night, returning to water by day to avoid sun. They live in groups called bloats, dominated by an alpha bull. Females raise calves in water, teaching them to swim and submerge. Crocodiles share waters but rarely challenge adult hippos. Despite herbivorous diet, hippos are among the deadliest creatures, killing more humans than crocodiles annually due to aggressive territorial defense.
Behaviour
Hippos are aggressive, territorial, and unpredictable. Bulls patrol territory, charging anything that crosses invisible boundaries. Cows defend calves with terrifying force. They display dominance via wide-mouth gapes and tusk-clashes. They communicate via grunts, bellows, and underwater vocalizations. They run faster than expected on land for short bursts. They sleep underwater, surfacing reflexively to breathe. They dislike sharing waters with new arrivals, often attacking newcomers without provocation. Wounded hippos do not retreat.
Origin
Hippopotamuses are ancient mammals related to whales, with semi-aquatic ancestors dating to deep prehistory. In most settings, they are simply real beasts inhabiting tropical regions. Some druid orders revere them as river-spirits, communing with them for ancestral wisdom. African and southern empires use them as guardian symbols, depicting them in temple carvings. Their ivory tusks are valuable, often the source of poaching adventures. Hippopotamus-themed deities exist in some pantheons, embodying river-power.
Related Monsters
Frequently Asked Questions about Hippopotamus
- What is the challenge rating of Hippopotamus?
- On the bestiary CR scale, Hippopotamus sits at 4. It matches tier-1 encounter math.
- What type of creature is Hippopotamus?
- Hippopotamus is classified as a beast in D&D 5e, large size.
- Where does Hippopotamus live?
- Hippopotamus's listed habitats include Forest, Grassland, Swamp, Coastal.