Lockmaw Axolotl
Medium • Beast • Unaligned
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 13 (2d8 + 4)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
Initiative +0 (10)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 (+2) | 10 (+0) | 14 (+2) | 3 (-4) | 10 (+0) | 6 (-2) |
Saving Throws Con +4
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages –
CR 1/4 (XP 50; PB +2)
Hold Breath. The axolotl can hold its breath for 30 minutes.
Lockmaw. Checks made to escape a grapple of the axolotl automatically fail. Creatures can’t escape a grapple except through magical means. This trait doesn’t function if the axolotl is incapacitated or dead.
Regeneration. The axolotl regains 5 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point.
Water Breathing. The axolotl can only breathe underwater.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4, reach 5 ft. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage, and the target is grappled. Until this grapple ends, the axolotl can’t attack, and at the start of the target’s turn, the target loses 5 (2d4) hit points. Additionally, the target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or contract the lockmaw disease. 2d10 hours after contracting the disease, the jaw muscles of the diseased creature stiffen so that it can’t open or close its mouth, preventing it from speaking or forming verbal spell components.
Lockmaw Axolotl
Medium • Beast • Unaligned
Armor Class 11
Hit Points 9 (2d8)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
Initiative +0 (10)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 (+1) | 10 (+0) | 11 (+0) | 3 (-4) | 10 (+0) | 6 (-2) |
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages –
CR 1/8 (XP 25; PB +2)
Hold Breath. The axolotl can hold its breath for 30 minutes.
Lockmaw. Checks made to escape a grapple of the axolotl automatically fail. Creatures can’t escape a grapple except through magical means. This trait doesn’t function if the axolotl is incapacitated or dead.
Regeneration. The axolotl regains 5 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point.
Water Breathing. The axolotl can only breathe underwater.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3, reach 5 ft. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) piercing damage, and the target is grappled. Until this grapple ends, the axolotl can’t attack, and at the start of the target’s turn, the target loses 3 (1d6) hit points. Additionally, the target must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or contract the lockmaw disease. 2d10 hours after contracting the disease, the jaw muscles of the diseased creature stiffen so that it can’t open or close its mouth, preventing it from speaking or forming verbal spell components.
Lockmaw Axolotl
Medium • Beast • Unaligned
Armor Class 13
Hit Points 22 (3d8 + 9)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
Initiative +0 (10)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 (+2) | 10 (+0) | 16 (+3) | 3 (-4) | 10 (+0) | 6 (-2) |
Saving Throws Str +4, Con +5
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages –
CR 1/2 (XP 100; PB +2)
Hold Breath. The axolotl can hold its breath for 30 minutes.
Lockmaw. Checks made to escape a grapple of the axolotl automatically fail. Creatures can’t escape a grapple except through magical means. This trait doesn’t function if the axolotl is incapacitated or dead.
Regeneration. The axolotl regains 5 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point.
Water Breathing. The axolotl can only breathe underwater.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4, reach 5 ft. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) piercing damage, and the target is grappled. Until this grapple ends, the axolotl can’t attack, and at the start of the target’s turn, the target loses 7 (3d4) hit points. Additionally, the target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or contract the lockmaw disease. 2d10 hours after contracting the disease, the jaw muscles of the diseased creature stiffen so that it can’t open or close its mouth, preventing it from speaking or forming verbal spell components.
QUICK REFERENCE
Habitat
- Swampy riverbanks and marshes
- Underground lakes and flooded caverns
- Murky jungle waterways
Behavior
- Ambush predator (if possible) that lurks just beneath the water’s surface like a crocodile,
- Grabs prey with its massive jaws and never lets go, just takes hits and trusts in regenerative capabilities to outlast the prey
- Territorial but not intelligent; patient and not overly aggressive
Information (Intelligence Check)
- DC 10 Nature: Recognized as a large variant of axolotl with a powerful bite
- DC 12 Medicine: Known to spread lockmaw disease, which stiffens the victim’s jaw, making them unable to speak
- DC 14 Animal Handling: Knows that its bite and therefore grapple can’t be unlocked until the axolotl is killed or incapacitated
Combat
- Attacks with its Bite never releases its prey
- If alone, tries to drag the grappled creature into mud or below water or at least tries to separate it from a group
Loot Ideas
- Lockmaw fangs (valuable for crafting cursed weapons or disease-related potions)
- Axolotl skin with self-repairing properties (used in alchemy)
- Potentially coins or other small valubales inside its stomach of previously consumed travelers
USING MONSTER VARIANTS
Monster variants allow the GM to adjust encounters to better match the party’s strength, narrative needs, or world-building logic. A weaker variant may represent a juvenile, wounded, or lesser specimen, while a stronger variant can serve as a leader, champion, ancient creature, or apex predator.
Variants can be used to fine-tune difficulty without changing the core identity of the monster, making them ideal for scaling encounters, reinforcing hierarchy within a faction, or creating memorable boss-style enemies. You can even use the same stat block but different variants in the same encounter if you want.
Design Note. Each monster is primarily balanced around its normal version. Weaker and stronger variants are derived adjustments and may not always preserve every tactical nuance or “feel” of the original creature. GMs are encouraged to review variants carefully and adjust abilities or tactics as needed to best suit their table.