So, the young Horizonback Tortoise is classed as a huge beast, making it eligible for a polymorph form, and even a wildshape form for moon druids eventually, but the adult Horizonback is classed as a monstrosity, which you can’t polymorph into. Why is one a beast and the other a monstrosity, if they’re the same creature just at different ages?
And would it be reasonable to allow players to select it as a polymorph form? There are already CR 8+ beasts that exist, like the T-Rex, so it wouldn’t be a challenge rating issue.
I solved it. The young horizonback tortoise is not a unique monster like the adult is, but is rather a template applied to the ankylosaurus for 1 specific chapter of CR:CotN :
It does seem that way, they have nearly the same statblock, the only difference being the amphibious trait.
It’s just strange to have them listed as different types, if they’re supposed to be the same creature. Hypothetically if a “young t-rex” was released, but as something besides a beast, would it also not be a valid polymorph? Even if the adult is a beast?
It does seem that way, they have nearly the same statblock, the only difference being the amphibious trait.
It’s just strange to have them listed as different types, if they’re supposed to be the same creature. Hypothetically if a “young t-rex” was released, but as something besides a beast, would it also not be a valid polymorph? Even if the adult is a beast?
It doesn't "seem," it is. I linked the section of the adventure that uses it. The young horizonback is also not in the bestiary of the adventure, because it is not its own stat block.
DDB has started listed variants and templates from adventures as unique entries in the listing for the encounter builder, but technically this stat block does not officially exist outside the 1 scenario. They need to lable it better...
Hypothetically, if a new variant of a beast came out that was not a beast in the bestiary, it would not be selectable. Like how the dracolich and elder brain dragon are not a dragons.
So, the young Horizonback Tortoise is classed as a huge beast, making it eligible for a polymorph form, and even a wildshape form for moon druids eventually, but the adult Horizonback is classed as a monstrosity, which you can’t polymorph into. Why is one a beast and the other a monstrosity, if they’re the same creature just at different ages?
And would it be reasonable to allow players to select it as a polymorph form? There are already CR 8+ beasts that exist, like the T-Rex, so it wouldn’t be a challenge rating issue.
I solved it. The young horizonback tortoise is not a unique monster like the adult is, but is rather a template applied to the ankylosaurus for 1 specific chapter of CR:CotN :
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/cotn/a-fateful-competition#J6HerdingtheHorizonbacks
So... No, you would not (and should not) be able to polymorph/wildshape into a horizonback tortoise.
It does seem that way, they have nearly the same statblock, the only difference being the amphibious trait.
It’s just strange to have them listed as different types, if they’re supposed to be the same creature. Hypothetically if a “young t-rex” was released, but as something besides a beast, would it also not be a valid polymorph? Even if the adult is a beast?
It doesn't "seem," it is. I linked the section of the adventure that uses it. The young horizonback is also not in the bestiary of the adventure, because it is not its own stat block.
DDB has started listed variants and templates from adventures as unique entries in the listing for the encounter builder, but technically this stat block does not officially exist outside the 1 scenario. They need to lable it better...
Hypothetically, if a new variant of a beast came out that was not a beast in the bestiary, it would not be selectable. Like how the dracolich and elder brain dragon are not a dragons.