Dinosaur, Archaeopteryx

Family: Dinosaurs

This flying creature looks to be a foot-long cross between a bird and a reptile, having both a beak and visible teeth. A fan-like tail flares open when it lands.

Tiny beast, unaligned

Armor Class 12 (natural armor)
Hit Points 7 (3d4)
Speed 5 ft., fly 50 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
6 (-2)	13 (+1)	10 (+0)	2 (-4)	14 (+2)	6 (-2)

Senses passive Perception 12
Languages –
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)

Special Traits

• Flyby. The archaeopteryx doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks when it flies out of an enemy’s reach.

Actions

• Multiattack. The archaeopteryx makes two attacks: one with its beak and one with its talons.
• Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing damage.
• Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) slashing damage.

About

The archaeopteryx is either a feathered lizard which flies or a bird with teeth and small claws on its wings; opinions vary. It is about the size of a raven with similar black plumage, long legs ending in talons, and a long, fan-like tail. Its beak is lined with small, sharp teeth. The archaeopteryx favors warm, coastal areas, swamps, and jungles.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Creature Codex. © 2018 Open Design LLC; Authors Wolfgang Baur, Dan Dillon, Richard Green, James Haeck, Chris Harris, Jeremy Hochhalter, James Introcaso, Chris Lockey, Shawn Merwin, and Jon Sawatsky.

Archaeopteryx CR 1/4

XP 100
N Tiny animal
Init +2; Senses low-light vision; Perception +1

DEFENSE

AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 size)
hp 4 (1d8)
Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +1

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft., climb 10 ft., fly 40 ft. (poor)
Melee bite +4 (1d4–4)
Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

STATISTICS

Str 3, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 7
Base Atk +0; CMB +0; CMD 6
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills Climb +10, Fly +6
SQ weak flier

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Familiar

The master of an archaeopteryx familiar gains a +2 bonus on Reflex saves.

Weak Flier (Ex)

An archaeopteryx can’t hover or fly up at an angle greater than 45 degrees while flying.

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate or warm forests
Organization single, pair, or nest (4–10)
Treasure none

Archaeopteryxes are primitive birds. Instead of beaks, they have lizard-like heads with serrated teeth.

Animal Companion

Source PZO1140

This primeval toothed bird has bright plumage, but it is a relatively poor flyer.

STARTING STATISTICS

Size Small; Speed 30 ft., fly 40 ft. (poor); AC +1 natural armor; Attack bite (1d4); Ability Scores Str 8, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 7; Special Qualities low-light vision.

4TH-LEVEL ADVANCEMENT

Ability Scores Dex +2, Con +2.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 4 © 2013, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors: Dennis Baker, Jesse Benner, Savannah Broadway, Ross Byers, Adam Daigle, Tim Hitchcock, Tracy Hurley, James Jacobs, Matt James, Rob McCreary, Jason Nelson, Tom Phillips, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Sean K Reynolds, F. Wesley Schneider, Tork Shaw, and Russ Taylor.