This long, lean fish has a muscular body and a head with long jaws filled with sharp teeth.
Gar CR 1
XP 400
N Medium animal (aquatic)
Init +6; Senses low-light vision; Perception +6
Defense
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 11 (+2 Dex, +1 natural)
hp 13 (2d8+4)
Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +1
Offense
Speed swim 60 ft.
Melee bite +3 (1d6+3 plus grab)
Statistics
Str 14, Dex 14, Con 15, Int 1, Wis 13, Cha 2
Base Atk +1; CMB +3 (+7 grapple); CMD 15 (can't be tripped)
Feats Improved Initiative
Skills Perception +6, Swim +10
Ecology
Environment temperate freshwater
Organization solitary, pair, or school (3–6)
Treasure none
Gars are predatory fish that live in deep lakes and rivers. Sleek and swift, they regard anything their own size or smaller as food. A typical gar is 7 feet long and weighs 200 pounds. One species known as the alligator gar can grow to lengths of 10 feet. An alligator gar is a gar with the advanced creature template.
Gar Companions
Starting Statistics: Size Medium; Speed swim 60 ft., AC +1 natural, Attack bite 1d6; Ability Scores Str 14, Dex 14, Con 15, Int 1, Wis 13, Cha 2; Special Ability grab.
7th-Level Advancement: Size Large; AC +3 natural, Attack bite 1d8, Ability Scores +8 Str, –2 Dex, +4 Con.
This fish is enormous—a sleek predator with bony scales and a long set of toothy jaws.
Giant Gar CR 6
XP 2,400
N Huge animal (aquatic)
Init +4; Senses low-light vision; Perception +11
Defense
AC 19, touch 8, flat-footed 19 (+11 natural, –2 size)
hp 73 (7d8+42)
Fort +11, Ref +7, Will +5
Offense
Speed swim 60 ft.
Melee bite +13 (2d6+15 plus grab)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Special Attacks swallow whole (2d6+10 bludgeoning damage, AC 15, hp 7)
Statistics
Str 30, Dex 10, Con 23, Int 1, Wis 13, Cha 2
Base Atk +5; CMB +17 (+21 grapple); CMD 27 (can't be tripped)
Feats Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack
Skills Perception +11, Swim +18
Ecology
Environment temperate freshwater
Organization solitary, pair, or school (3–6)
Treasure none
Although typical gars are frightening enough, tales of enormous giant gars that lurk in the deepest rivers and lakes persist in many regions. These creatures are true monsters, often growing to lengths of 30 feet or more and capable of swallowing a horse and rider in a single gulp. Fortunately, giant gars are much rarer than their smaller kin.
Giant gars are often kept as pets and guard animals by aquatic creatures such as merrows, scrags (aquatic trolls), and the rare sea hags who dwell in freshwater dens.
