Buy me a coffeeDeinosuchus, “Behemoth of the Marshlands”
“Discover the terrifying truth behind the Deinosuchus: the prehistoric alligator that rules the waters with a jaw stronger than a T. rex!”
The Deinosuchus is an awe-inspiring reptile, stretching between 35 to 50 feet in length and weighing up to 6 tons. With its broad, rounded snout, it resembles a gigantic alligator rather than a typical crocodile. Its robust body is armored with tough, scaly plates, providing protection against rivals and environmental threats. The creature’s powerful jaws are equipped with sharp, conical teeth designed for crushing bone and tearing flesh. Deep-set eyes provide excellent vision, allowing the Deinosuchus to detect prey just beneath the water’s surface.
Behavior:
As a patient and stealthy hunter, Deinosuchus is an expert in ambush tactics. Most of its time is spent submerged, with only its nostrils breaking the surface, enabling it to blend seamlessly into its aquatic environment. When threatened, it exhibits territorial behavior, using vocalizations and physical displays to assert dominance over rivals. Despite its size, the Deinosuchus can be remarkably agile, often utilizing quick bursts of speed to capture prey.
Habitat:
Deinosuchus thrives in a variety of aquatic environments, including warm rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. These habitats are rich with lush vegetation, providing ample cover for hunting and nesting. Fossil evidence suggests that it occupied regions that now comprise parts of North America, where warm, shallow waters offered perfect hunting grounds. The diverse ecosystem surrounding these habitats supported a wide range of prey, including both aquatic and terrestrial animals.
Modus Operandi:
The hunting strategy of Deinosuchus is highly effective. It silently stalks its prey in murky waters, remaining almost invisible until the moment of attack. When a potential meal approaches the water’s edge, it launches a sudden, powerful ambush, using its massive jaws to seize and crush its victim within seconds. In addition to hunting, Deinosuchus also scavenges, taking advantage of carcasses left behind by other predators. In combat, it uses its formidable tail to ward off threats and knock back rivals, ensuring its dominance in the ecosystem.
Motivation:
The primary motivations of Deinosuchus revolve around survival, dominance, and reproduction. As an apex predator, it seeks to establish and defend its territory, ensuring access to food resources essential for sustaining its massive size. The need to hunt effectively drives its behaviors, especially in competitive environments filled with other large predators. Additionally, breeding and nurturing young are crucial aspects of its life cycle, with seasonal behaviors focused on nesting and protecting offspring, ensuring the continuation of its lineage. Deinosuchus embodies the fierce survival instincts essential for thriving in its prehistoric ecosystem.
Deinosuchus 5e
Deinosuchus Pathfinder
Deinosuchus
Gargantuan beast, unaligned
Armor Class: 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 200 (16d20 + 80)
Speed: 50 ft., swim 60 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 (+9) | 10 (+0) | 20 (+5) | 1 (-5) | 12 (+1) | 1 (-5) |
Saving Throws: Str +15, Con +11, Wis +7
Damage Immunities: Poison, Psychic
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened
Senses: Blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius), Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages: —
Challenge: 14 (11,500 XP)
Proficiency Bonus: +5
Traits
- Legendary Resistance (1/Day): If the Deinosuchus fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
- Keen Smell: The Deinosuchus has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
- Predator’s Camouflage: While submerged, the Deinosuchus has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.
Actions
- Multiattack: The Deinosuchus makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its tail.
- Bite:
Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 36 (4d10 + 9) piercing damage. The target must succeed on a DC 20 Strength saving throw or be grappled (escape DC 20). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the Deinosuchus cannot bite another target. - Tail Swipe:
Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target.
Hit: 24 (4d6 + 9) bludgeoning damage. If the target is Medium or smaller, it must succeed on a DC 20 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. - Swallow:
The Deinosuchus makes one bite attack against a grappled target. If the attack hits, the target is swallowed, and the grapple ends. The swallowed target is blinded and restrained, taking 49 (7d12) acid damage at the start of each of the Deinosuchus’s turns. If the Deinosuchus takes 30 damage or more on a single turn from a creature inside it, the Deinosuchus must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw at the end of that turn or regurgitate the swallowed creature, which falls prone in a space within 10 feet of the Deinosuchus.
Legendary Actions
The Deinosuchus 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. The Deinosuchus regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
- Detect: The Deinosuchus makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
- Tail Lash (Costs 2 Actions): The Deinosuchus makes one tail swipe attack.
Tactics
- Ambush Predator: The Deinosuchus prefers to hide just below the water’s surface, using its Predator’s Camouflage to remain undetected. It will wait for prey to approach the water’s edge before launching a surprise attack.
- Grappling Technique: Once it has a target grappled with its bite, the Deinosuchus will focus on using its Swallow action to eliminate threats quickly. It will also use its tail to knock prone any foes that try to interfere.
- Legendary Actions: The Deinosuchus uses its legendary actions to maintain control of the battlefield, often making tail swipe attacks to clear space and keep opponents at bay.
Environment
Deinosuchus is commonly found in warm rivers, swamps, and coastal areas. These environments provide ample opportunities for ambushes and stealthy hunting. The creature prefers areas with dense vegetation and murky waters that help it remain hidden.
Deinosuchus
This immense reptile, an alligator of overwhelming size, emerges from the water with rapidly snapping jaws that grind menacingly between each bite.
The largest of all known crocodilians, the 35- to 50-foot-long, 6-ton deinosuchus is a massive beast. This crocodilian possesses a shorter, rounder snout than the typical crocodile, and thus resembles a giant alligator. A patient hunter, the deinosuchus is all but invisible beneath the surface of the water. Only its nostrils breach the water’s surface, allowing the rest of its formidable mass to remain out of sight from even highly perceptive prey.
In combat, the deinosuchus grinds its prey between its powerful jaws, knocking back other foes with its formidable tail while it snaps bones and tears the flesh of its captured meal.
Deinosuchus CR 8
XP 4,800
N Gargantuan animal
Init +5; Senses low-light vision; Perception +14
DEFENSE
AC 21, touch 7, flat-footed 20 (+1 Dex, +14 natural, –4 size)
hp 104 (11d8+55)
Fort +12, Ref +10, Will +7
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., swim 40 ft.
Melee bite +18 (2d6+13 plus grab), tail slap +12 (2d8+6)
Space 20 ft.; Reach 20 ft.
Special Attacks constrict (2d6+13), snap bite
STATISTICS
Str 36, Dex 12, Con 21, Int 1, Wis 15, Cha 2
Base Atk +8; CMB +25 (+29 grapple); CMD 36 (40 vs. trip)
Feats Awesome Blow (tail slap only)B, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Perception, Stealth), Weapon Focus (bite)
Skills Perception +14, Stealth +0 (+12 in water), Swim +21; Racial Modifiers +12 Stealth in water
SQ hold breath
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Hold Breath (Ex)
A deinosuchus can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 4 times its Constitution score before it risks drowning.
Snap Bite (Ex)
A deinosuchus making a full attack can make a second bite attack at a –2 penalty if its primary bite attack misses.
ECOLOGY
Environment any water
Organization solitary, pair, or float (3–6)
Treasure none
Section 15: Copyright Notice
Pathfinder Adventure Path #58: Island of Empty Eyes © 2012, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Neil Spicer.