Gorgon: No, Not the Greek Kind

You know, when I read ‘gorgon’ in the book, I expected… I dunno, something a bit more like Medusa. Not a metal bull thing. But hey, they can both petrify people! I… guess.

Where the hell did this thing come from?

Lore: Metal Bull Thing

The lore here is… non-existent. It’s just three paragraphs describing how the gorgon acts and how it hunts. The thing is basically just a wild animal covered in metal.

Boring. Next.

Design: The only joke I can think of is ‘Iron Bull’, but if I made that I’d have to turn in my comedy license, so I’m not going to make that joke

I have more to say in the transition to this section than the section itself.

It’s design is as boring as the lore. It’s a bull. And it’s made of metal. It’s breathing out some green smoke, which is kinda cool. But… I mean, come on. Look at it!

Metal bull thing. That’s all it is. Very boring. Next.

Stats: Build You Up to Knock You Down

Get it? Because it turns you into a statue and then crushes you? *Sigh* Alright, here you go. *Hands over Comedy License to the Comedy Police*

In terms of defenses, this is a pretty durable monster. Its AC is just shy of 20 and its HP is just into the triple digit realm. You’d think it would be resistant to non-magical melee, given that it’s made of metal, but no. It is immune to petrification, though!

As you’d expect from the bull monster, it has the Trampling Charge ability. If it moves 20ft in a straight line towards one creature, said creature needs to make a strength saving throw. Those that fail will be knocked prone.

Which makes them very vulnerable to the rest of its extremely simple moveset.

Granted, it’s a powerful moveset. If it hits you with the Gore action, you’ll be taking 2d12+5 piercing damage. Get hit by its Hooves action and you’ll be taking 2d10+5 bludgeoning.

But none of that is as dangerous as its Petrifying Breath ability. This does exactly what you’d think it would do. Fail a save, get turned into stone. And if no one in the party has the Greater Restoration spell or something even stronger, you’re going to stay that way.

Aside from that one move, though, it’s a very straight-forward fight. Once it uses its breath, all of its surprises and entertainment quickly vanishes. It just becomes another ‘hit it until it dies’ monster.

Placement

This was a very boring monster. Its lore basically doesn’t exist, its design is incredibly boring and straight-forward, and its stats make for an alright fight at best. It’s a fairly bland and forgettable entry.

With all that in mind, let’s put the Gorgon on the Best of the Bestiary!

1. Beholder
2. Death Tyrant
3. Dragon Turtle
4. Green Dragons
5. Red Dragons
6. Blue Dragons
7. Black Dragons
8. White Dragons
9. Silver Dragons
10. Couatl
11. Behir
12. Aboleth
13. Bronze Dragons
14. Brass Dragons
15. Copper Dragons
16. Gold Dragons
17. Chuul
18. Gibbering Mouther
19. Chimera
20. Death Knight
21. Fomorian
22. Bone Devil
23. Dracolich
24. Faerie Dragon
25. Ankheg
26. Storm Giant
27. Hill Giant
28. Empyrean
29. Efreeti
30. Dao
31. Cloud Giant
32. Drow (all four of ’em)
33. Shadow Demon
34. Marilith
35. Drider
36. Aarackockra
37. Azer
38. Demilich
39. Spectator
40. Marid
41. Cambion
42. Fire Giant
43. Animated Armor
44. Banshee
45. Basilisk
46. Yochlol
47. Bulette
48. Cloaker
49. Darkmantle
50. Doppelganger
51. Ghoul and Ghast
52. Ettin
53. Pit Fiend
54. Erinyes
55. Chain Devil
56. Bearded Devil
57. Barbed Devil
58. Spined Devil
59. Ice Devil
60. Djinni
61. Nalfeshnee
62. Glabrezu
63. Chasme
64. Barlgura
65. Horned Devil
66. Balor
67. Shadow Dragon
68. Vrock
69. Dretch
70. Gnolls (all three)
71. Goristro
72. Hezrou
73. Manes
74. Frost Giant
75. Duergar
76. Quasit
77. Dryad
78. Flumph
79. Goblin
80. Githyanki
81. Planetar
82. Imp
83. Clay Golem
84. Flameskull
85. Displacer Beast
86. Carrion Crawler
87. Githzerai
88. Rug of Smothering
89. Bugbear Chief
90. Bugbear
91. Flesh Golem
92. Vine Blight
93. Twig Blight
94. Needle Blight
95. Bullywug
96. Ettercap
97. Gas Spore
98. Cockatrice
99. Lemure
100. Solar
101. Deva
102. Gorgon <———————
103. Cyclops
104. Centaur
105. Ghost
106. Fire Elemental
107. Water Elemental
108. Air Elemental
109. Stone Giant
110. Deep Gnome
111. Dinosaurs (All six of them)
112. Iron Golem
113. Stone Golem
114. Earth Elemental
115. Galeb Duhr
116. Flying Sword
117. Crawling Claw
118. Violet Fungus
119. Shrieker
120. Gargoyle