Buy me a coffeeFish, Dunkleosteus (Dinichthys)
You won’t believe how the ancient Dunkleosteus crushes prey with its unstoppable armored jaws!
Dunkleosteus is an enormous prehistoric fish, reaching lengths of up to 30 feet. Its body is covered in thick, bony armor plating that forms a natural suit of protection around its massive head and forebody. Instead of teeth, it has razor-sharp bony plates that snap with terrifying force, capable of slicing through flesh and bone alike. Its powerful jaws and robust frame give it an almost tank-like presence in the water.
Behaviour:
Dunkleosteus is an apex predator, ruling the ancient seas with brute strength and ambush tactics. It is largely solitary, using stealth and bursts of speed to surprise prey. Despite its armored bulk, it is surprisingly agile for short bursts and relies on its crushing bite to incapacitate or kill prey quickly. It is patient, lurking near reefs or underwater structures, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Habitat:
This colossal fish inhabits coastal marine environments, thriving around reefs, shallow seas, and ancient underwater forests. It prefers areas with plenty of hiding spots to ambush prey and avoids open waters where it is more exposed.
Modus Operandi:
Dunkleosteus approaches prey silently, using its heavily armored head to ram or corner victims. It employs a powerful bite with its shearing plates, delivering crushing damage capable of breaking bones and tearing flesh. When threatened, it uses its bulk to ram attackers, sometimes retreating to safety if injured but ready to counterattack with sudden aggression.
Motivation:
Driven by instinct, Dunkleosteus is a relentless hunter focused on feeding and survival. It seeks to dominate its territory and eliminate threats through sheer power and intimidation, ensuring its reign over the prehistoric seas remains uncontested.
Dunkleosteus 5e
Dunkleosteus, Pathfinder
Dunkleosteus
Huge beast, unaligned
Challenge: 8 (3,900 XP) • Proficiency Bonus: +3
Armor Class: 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 136 (13d12 + 52)
Speed: swim 60 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 (+6) | 12 (+1) | 19 (+4) | 3 (−4) | 12 (+1) | 7 (−2) |
Saving Throws: Str +9, Con +7
Skills: Perception +4, Stealth +4
Damage Resistances: Piercing and slashing from nonmagical weapons
Senses: darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages: —
Traits:
- Armored Hide. Due to thick bony plating, Dunkleosteus has resistance to piercing and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks.
- Keen Smell. Advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks relying on smell while underwater.
- Siege Monster. Dunkleosteus deals double damage to objects and structures.
Actions
- Multiattack. Dunkleosteus makes two attacks: one bite and one ram.
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 22 (3d10 + 6) piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end of Dunkleosteus’s next turn. - Ram. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 18 (3d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage, and the target is pushed 10 feet back and knocked prone if it fails a DC 17 Strength saving throw.
Legendary Actions
Dunkleosteus can take 2 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Dunkleosteus regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
- Tail Swipe. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target.
Hit: 14 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage and the target must succeed on a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone. - Surge. Dunkleosteus moves up to its swim speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
Tactics
Dunkleosteus uses the water to its advantage, lurking near underwater terrain to ambush prey. It stuns foes with its crushing bite, follows up with a ram to knock them down, and uses tail swipes to control the battlefield. Its thick armor makes it difficult to harm, forcing enemies to reconsider direct confrontation. If seriously injured, it retreats to deeper waters for recovery.
Dunkleosteus
pencil drawing, digital coloring March 11, 2008 ArthurWeasley
‘Dunkleosteus’ – This gigantic, prehistoric fish has a head like a snapping turtle, complete with sharp, toothlike plates.
Dunkleosteus CR 6
XP 2,400
N Huge animal (aquatic)
Init +6; Senses low-light vision; Perception +15
DEFENSE
AC 19, touch 10, flat-footed 17 (+2 Dex, +9 natural, –2 size)
hp 75 (10d8+30)
Fort +10, Ref +9, Will +6
OFFENSE
Speed swim 60 ft.
Melee bite +16 (3d8+15/19–20 plus grab)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Special Attacks gulp, swallow whole (1d10 bludgeoning damage, AC 14, 7 hp)
STATISTICS
Str 30, Dex 14, Con 17, Int 1, Wis 13, Cha 6
Base Atk +7; CMB +19 (+23 grab); CMD 31
Feats Improved CriticalB (bite), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Perception, Swim), Weapon Focus (bite)
Skills Perception +15, Swim +30; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Gulp (Ex)
A dunkleosteus can open its giant mouth in a fraction of a second, creating a vortex that draws a target in. When underwater, a dunkleosteus gains an additional 5 feet of reach with its bite attack and a +2 bonus on combat maneuver checks when attempting to grapple.
ECOLOGY
Environment any oceans
Organization solitary
Treasure none
A dunkleosteus is a massive fish with a bony head, armor plating, and a beak-like maw capable of creating a vortex that siphons in its prey. Despite growing to over 30 feet in length and weighing 8,000 pounds, dunkleosteuses are agile swimmers. These voracious predators think nothing of swimming into estuaries where the brine of the sea extends, lying in wait under piers or in the shallows along shorelines, patiently watching for a chance to lunge up and snap their jaws around unsuspecting prey that has come to the water’s edge to fish or swim.
Section 15: Copyright Notice
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 6 © 2017, Paizo Inc.; Authors: Robert Brookes, Benjamin Bruck, John Compton, Paris Crenshaw, Adam Daigle, Crystal Frasier, James Jacobs, Thurston Hillman, Tim Hitchcock, Brandon Hodge, Jason Keeley, Isabelle Lee, Jason Nelson, Tim Nightengale, F. Wesley Schneider, David Schwartz, Mark Seifter, Todd Stewart, Josh Vogt, and Linda Zayas-Palmer.