Merrow
Large Monstrosity · · CR 2
- Monstrosity
- Large
- Tier 1
Ranges across coastal and underwater; Merrow lists at CR 2 as a large monstrosity (chaotic evil). Sourced from Monster Manual (5e 2014) and Monster Manual (5.5e 2024).
Stat Block
- Challenge Rating
- 2
- Type
- Monstrosity
- Size
- Large
- Alignment
- —
- Speed
- —
- Habitats
- Coastal, Underwater
- Sources
- Monster Manual (5e 2014), Monster Manual (5.5e 2024)
Ecology
Merrow infest cold coastal waters, drowned ruins, and sunken sea caves. They prey on shipping, coastal villages, and rival merfolk kingdoms. Unlike merfolk, they do not farm or build; they raid, hoard, and devour, leaving piles of bones in their lairs. They breed quickly when prey is plentiful and starve in lean years. Other sea creatures avoid merrow territory, leaving these stretches of coast notably depopulated of fish, seals, and seabirds within a few seasons of merrow arrival.
Behaviour
Merrow are cruel, hungry, and quick to anger. They speak a debased dialect of Aquan, mocking merfolk language deliberately. They cooperate in small groups for hunts but turn on each other readily over food. They take trophies from kills, stringing teeth and trinkets along their harpoons. Surface contact rarely ends in conversation; merrow consider talk inferior to feeding and treat captives as future meals rather than potential bargaining chips.
Origin
Most lore agrees merrow descended from merfolk, corrupted by demonic influence, sometimes specifically named as Demogorgon's touch on a coastal community generations ago. The transformation passes hereditarily, and merrow children are born with the changes already complete: tusks, hunger, and hostility. Some merfolk priests work to redeem isolated merrow communities through ritual purification, but successful conversions are rare, and most merfolk simply hunt merrow on sight.
Related Monsters
Frequently Asked Questions about Merrow
- What is the challenge rating of Merrow?
- Merrow's challenge rating is 2. A party in this band matches tier-1 encounter math.
- What type of creature is Merrow?
- By creature type, Merrow is a monstrosity, large size.
- Where does Merrow live?
- You'll find Merrow in Coastal, Underwater according to the bestiary entry.