Spoiler Alert? :)

These stats make for a great base for an owlbear cub if you're looking for "minions" to throw in with that scary owlbear. It really helps hit the players in the feels when their characters are getting mauled by the furry little cuties under their mother's watchful eye! XD

Can this be a Paladin mount with Find Steed?

Two of these are gonna attack my party

With DM permission

I think they should have a higher climbing speed, it really shouldn't have the same climbing speed as brown bears. Black Bears are great climbers.

not as good as an owlbear

This kind of bear is best

I am in love with owlbears, and i have run 17 campaigns, none without owlbears

Would Keen Smell negate the effects of darkness when comes to attacks(druid wild shape)?

Quote from Suvim >>

Would Keen Smell negate the effects of darkness when comes to attacks(druid wild shape)?

 

 

Beyond 20

 

 

 

 

 

 Sadly, it would not. It only helps with perception checks. What you want is a beast with blindsight or similar, although don't expect to find a beast with truesight.

Quote from Drake_Fairwater >>

Can this be a Paladin mount with Find Steed?

 With DM approval, sure. The CR is equivalent to the CR of a War Horse, which is also listed under the Find Steed spell.

I am writing this as a bear. It is good to be a bear. A bit of a smell issue but I bearly notice. 

 Aren't these stats a little weak? The polar bear is CR 2(450 XP) and this is only CR 1/2(100 XP)? Brown bears are CR 1(200 XP)?

 Get it right, WoTC

Quote from TaytayElNido >>

American Black Bears are noticeably smaller and less aggressive than Brown Bears (aka Grizzlies) and polar bears. So it being the weakest bear in D&D makes perfect sense.

Quote from GoblinGuildheart >>

 Aren't these stats a little weak? The polar bear is CR 2(450 XP) and this is only CR 1/2(100 XP)? Brown bears are CR 1(200 XP)?

 American Black Bears are noticeably smaller and less aggressive than Brown Bears (aka Grizzlies) and polar bears. So it being the weakest bear in D&D makes perfect sense.

Black bears Is the beast

bær

He is super right, sometimes brown bears even hunt black bear cubs

Quote from TaytayElNido >>

Quote from TaytayElNido >>

American Black Bears are noticeably smaller and less aggressive than Brown Bears (aka Grizzlies) and polar bears. So it being the weakest bear in D&D makes perfect sense.

 

Quote from GoblinGuildheart >>

 Aren't these stats a little weak? The polar bear is CR 2(450 XP) and this is only CR 1/2(100 XP)? Brown bears are CR 1(200 XP)?

 American Black Bears are noticeably smaller and less aggressive than Brown Bears (aka Grizzlies) and polar bears. So it being the weakest bear in D&D makes perfect sense.

 He is super right, sometimes brown bears even hunt black bear cubs