Dire beast

Dire beasts are a collective term for multiple types of beasts that are large, aggressive, and have bony spines growing from their bodies.

Description
Many dire beasts appear to live in areas of Exandria that have been magically corrupted, such as the Savalirwood, the Barbed Fields, the Lotusden Greenwood, and the Mirescar. Orcish tribes often tame dire beasts to use as hunting animals.

Dire beasts are typically larger, stronger, and more aggressive than their non-dire counterparts. Additionally they often have bony spines that protrude from their bodies.

Known beasts

 * Dire wolves: Live in the Vesper Timberland of Issylra, as well as the Cyrengreen Forest of Wildemount.
 * Dire bears: Live in the Frostweald of Tal'Dorei and the Savalirwood of Wildemount.
 * Dire armadillos: Live in the Barbed Fields of Wildemount.
 * Dire honey badger: Not confirmed to actually exist, but the form of one was once taken by Jester Lavorre using the spell Polymorph.

Trivia
Druids of the Circle of the Blighted can gain bony spines similar to dire beasts, as do their Wild Shape forms.