Buy me a coffee“Shark-Eating Crab – Titanic Apex Predator of the Deep”
Lurking in the crushing depths, the 16-foot Shark-Eating Crab tears through sharks and squid with lightning-fast claws, a mindless apex predator that turns the ocean floor into a killing ground.
The Shark-Eating Crab is a gargantuan crustacean—a fortress of chitin and jagged claws—capable of rending sharks, barracudas, and even giant squid with explosive speed and relentless strikes. Driven only by hunger and instinct, it haunts coastal trenches and coral labyrinths, ambushing anything that trespasses into its hunting grounds with its signature Darting Claws, making it one of the sea’s most terrifying predators.
Appearance
Standing 16 feet tall and weighing over 4,000 pounds, this crab is a massive wall of chitin streaked with algae. Its serrated claws curve like twin scythes, while sharp ridges line its armored shell, evoking a primeval, warlike form. Its eyestalks glimmer with only the faintest awareness, betraying its lack of higher thought.
Behaviour
The Shark-Eating Crab is guided purely by instinct. It drifts slowly across the seabed until vibrations or movement trigger sudden, violent attacks. Its actions are predictable yet deadly: crush intruders, consume prey, and retreat only when gravely wounded.
Habitat
These creatures dwell in deep coastal trenches, coral mazes, and wreck-strewn seafloors. They favor regions where large marine life congregates, patrolling the same hunting grounds ceaselessly by instinct rather than design.
Modus Operandi
Relying on brute reflexes, the Shark-Eating Crab lunges at prey with overwhelming force. Its Darting Claws allow rapid follow-up strikes, ensuring no wasted motion in its assault. Though devastating in combat, it lacks foresight or tactics, attacking reactively rather than strategically.
Motivation
The Shark-Eating Crab is driven by nothing more than hunger and territorial impulse. It neither plans nor schemes, existing only as a living engine of predation and survival—a reminder of the raw, merciless power lurking in the deep.
Shark-Eating Crab, 5e 2024
Shark Eating Crab, Pathfinder
Shark-Eating Crab
Gargantuan beast, unaligned
Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 276 (16d20 + 112)
Speed 40 ft., swim 50 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 (+7) | 14 (+2) | 25 (+7) | 1 (–5) | 12 (+1) | 6 (–2) |
Saving Throws Str +11, Con +11
Skills Perception +5, Stealth +6 (underwater only)
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, paralyzed
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages —
Challenge 13 (10,000 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +5
Traits
Amphibious. The crab can breathe air and water.
Darting Claws. When the crab misses with a claw attack, it can immediately make another claw attack against the same target.
Crushing Grip. A creature grappled by the crab is also restrained (escape DC 19). The crab can grapple up to two creatures at a time.
Siege Monster. The crab deals double damage to objects and structures.
Actions
Multiattack. The crab makes two claw attacks.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 25 (4d8 + 7) bludgeoning damage. If the target is Huge or smaller, it is grappled (escape DC 19).
Devour. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature grappled by the crab. Hit: 36 (6d10 + 7) piercing damage. If this damage reduces the creature to 0 hit points, the crab swallows it.
- A swallowed creature is blinded and restrained, has total cover against attacks and effects outside the crab, and takes 21 (6d6) acid damage at the start of each of the crab’s turns.
- If the crab takes 30 or more damage on a single turn from a creature inside it, it must succeed on a DC 19 Constitution saving throw at the end of that turn or regurgitate the creature, which falls prone within 10 feet of it.
Reactions
Sudden Snap. When a creature within 15 feet misses the crab with a melee attack, the crab makes one claw attack against that creature.
Legendary Actions
The Shark-Eating Crab can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one option can be used at a time, and only at the end of another creature’s turn. It regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
- Claw. The crab makes one claw attack.
- Chitinous Shift. The crab moves up to 10 feet without provoking opportunity attacks.
- Thrashing Charge (Costs 2 Actions). The crab moves up to half its swim speed (or speed on land) without provoking opportunity attacks, then makes one claw attack.
Combat Tactics
The Shark-Eating Crab is a patient ambush predator. It lurks in coral labyrinths, trenches, or wrecks, erupting in sudden bursts of violence against the largest prey it senses. In combat, it prioritizes grappling and restraining with its claws before attempting to devour weaker victims.
- Against groups, it exploits Darting Claws to punish evasive foes.
- Sudden Snap ensures melee attackers are constantly pressured.
- Its legendary actions let it reposition or maintain relentless claw strikes, keeping enemies off balance.
- If bloodied, it retreats deeper into the water, using Thrashing Charge to disengage before regrouping.
Shark-Eating Crab
This spiny, long-legged crab towers over its surroundings. Its quick and powerful claws thrash wildly, eager for prey.
This content was created for the Pathfinder rules by Paizo Publishing LLC and is part of the Pathfinder RPG product line.
Extremely fast and agile for such a large creature, the shark-eating crab preys on predators of the sea. Not limiting its consumption to just sharks, these crabs feed on fast-moving fish like barracudas and tuna, and even mollusks like giant squid. Their hunting skills have evolved over the ages to track the movements of fast creatures swimming above them as the Shark Eating Crabs blend into their surroundings.
The typical shark-eating crab stands 16 feet tall and weighs just over 4,000 pounds.
| Shark-Eating Crab CR 7 |
| XP 3,200 N Huge vermin (aquatic) Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +5 |
| DEFENSE |
| AC 20, touch 10, flat-footed 18 (+2 Dexterity, +10 natural, -2 size) hp 84 (8d8+48) Fort +12, Ref +4, Will +3 Immune mind-affecting effects |
| OFFENSE |
| Speed 30 ft., swim 60 ft. Melee 2 claws +13 (1d8+9 plus grab) Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft. Special Attacks constrict (1d8+9), darting claw |
| STATISTICS |
| Strength 29, Dexterity 14, Constitution 22, Intelligence -, Wisdom 12, Charisma 2 Base Atk +6; CMB +17 (+21 grapple); CMD 29 (41 vs. trip) Skills Perception +5, Swim +17; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception SQ water dependency |
| SPECIAL ABILITIES |
| Darting Claw (Ex) Evolved for snatching fast prey, a shark-eating crab is exceptionally quick with its claws. When making a full attack, if a shark-eating crab misses with both of its claw attacks, it can make an additional claw attack at a -2 penalty against any creature within its reach. |
| ECOLOGY |
| Environment any water Organization solitary or cast (2-8) Treasure none |
Section 15: Copyright Notice – Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 3
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 3, © 2011, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors Jesse Benner, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, James Jacobs, Michael Kenway, Rob McCreary, Patrick Renie, Chris Sims, F. Wesley Schneider, James L. Sutter, and Russ Taylor, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.