Buy me a coffeePostosuchus, “The Bone-Crushing Predator”
“With bone-crushing jaws and armored hide, the Postosuchus is the Triassic terror that even early dinosaurs feared to face.”
Postosuchus is a heavily built quadrupedal predator with a crocodilian silhouette and a deep, muscular chest. Its long skull is filled with serrated, blade-like teeth capable of shearing through bone. Bony scutes armor its back in overlapping rows, offering both protection and an intimidating appearance. Its front limbs are shorter than its hind legs, suggesting it could rise into a semi-upright stance for quick bursts of speed or intimidation.
Behaviour
Solitary and territorial, Postosuchus is a patient ambush predator. It is mostly silent, relying on camouflage and stillness to let prey approach before exploding into action. It often patrols its territory in looping circuits, scent-marking and investigating disturbances with surprising intelligence for a reptile. Though not pack-oriented, mating pairs may defend adjacent hunting grounds seasonally.
Habitat
Postosuchus thrives in arid floodplains, primeval forests, and Triassic badlands, often near water sources where prey traffic is high. In magical or lost-world settings, it may dominate stretches of jungle rivers, ancient mesas, or forgotten valleys deep within hollow-earth ecosystems. Signs of its presence include clawed tree trunks, partially buried kills, and trails of disturbed earth near ambush sites.
Modus Operandi
It hunts primarily by ambush and short-range pursuit, hiding behind rocks, foliage, or terrain breaks. Once within range, it lunges with its powerful jaws to deliver a crushing bite. Postosuchus then pulls down the prey with its body weight, often aiming to sever limbs or tear open the throat. It will pursue briefly if prey escapes but rarely chases long distances, preferring to hunt with efficiency.
Motivation
Driven by instinct, hunger, and territorial dominance, Postosuchus is less a mindless killer and more a calculating survivor. It avoids unnecessary conflict but is unflinching when threatened. In magical realms, some believe Postosuchus serves as a guardian spirit of the wilds—ancient, primal, and uncorrupted by time.
Postosuchus 5e
Postosuchus 3.5
Postosuchus
Large Beast, Unaligned
“Armored jaws of the Triassic wilds, stalking the edge of extinction.”
Challenge: 5 (1,800 XP) Proficiency Bonus: +3
Armor Class 15 (Natural Armor, bony scutes)
Hit Points 110 (13d10 + 39)
Speed 40 ft., climb 10 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 (+5) | 14 (+2) | 17 (+3) | 2 (–4) | 14 (+2) | 7 (–2) |
Saving Throws
Dex +5, Wis +5
Skills
Perception +5, Stealth +5, Survival +5
Senses
Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 15
Languages
—
Traits
Ambush Predator
If the Postosuchus surprises a creature and hits it with a melee attack on the first round of combat, the target takes an extra 10 (3d6) damage.
Crocodilian Resilience
The Postosuchus has advantage on saving throws against being prone or grappled, and resistance to nonmagical piercing damage from weapons smaller than it (e.g., daggers, shortswords).
Loping Pursuit
If the Postosuchus moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a Bite attack on the same turn, the target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Actions
Multiattack
The Postosuchus makes two attacks: one with its Bite, and one with its Claw or Tail Swipe (its choice).
Bite
Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 21 (3d10 + 5) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be grappled (escape DC 15).
Claw
Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 13 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage.
Tail Swipe
Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 15 (2d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or be pushed 10 feet and knocked prone.
Bonus Actions
Sudden Lunge (Recharge 5–6)
The Postosuchus moves up to 20 feet without provoking opportunity attacks and makes a single Bite attack at the end of this movement. If it hits, the attack deals an additional 7 (2d6) damage.
Tactics
- Ambush and burst: The Postosuchus hides using natural camouflage or lies in wait in cover (fallen logs, mud banks, ravines), striking with Sudden Lunge to close the gap.
- Control through prone: It knocks foes down using its Tail Swipe or Loping Pursuit, then uses multiattack combos to keep them down.
- Territorial predator: If outmatched or surrounded, it retreats only if wounded below half health—otherwise, it fights ferociously to defend its lair or hunting ground.
- No mercy for the isolated: It focuses on weak or separated targets, especially medium or smaller creatures, aiming to grapple and drag them off.
Postosuchus
A large crocodilian creature charges forward with unbelievable speed. Its mouth drips saliva as it opens with eagerness. Massive teeth rim its short, deep jaw. There is a strip of red that runs down its back.
Originally Posted by Darknecromancer of the Wizards Community forums.
Postosuchus are an early predator that resemble crocodiles in body, but they are much faster and their jaws are built for crushing rather than thrashing. They are some 20 ft in length, with a large portion of that length taken up by their massive maws. They are capable of standing on their back legs for a time is they need to Intimidate larger creatures or to reach prey that thought they were safe in trees. They can stand up to about 6 ½ feet. While not truly dinosaurs, they were the top predators in their time and were unopposed for 7 million years.
| Postosuchus | |
| huge animal | |
| Hit Dice | 12d8 +36 ( 90 hp) |
| Initiative | +2 (+2 Dexterity) |
| Speed | 40 feet (8 squares) |
| Armor Class | 17 (+7 natural, +2 Dexterity, -2 size) , Touch 10, Flat Footed 15 |
| Base Attack | +9 |
| Attack | Bite +16 melee (2d8 +9) |
| Space/Reach | 15 ft/ 15 ft |
| Special Attacks | Crushing Bite |
| Special Qualities | Low Light Vision, Scent |
| Saves | Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +6 |
| Abilities | Strength 22, Dexterity 14, Constitution 17, Intelligence 2, Wisdom 14, Charisma 7 |
| Skills | Hide +13, Listen +15, Spot +15 |
| Feats | Alertness, Improved Natural Attack (Bite), Weapon Focus (Bite) |
| Environment | Warm Lands |
| Organization | Solitary, or pair |
| Challenge rating | 10 |
| Treasure | none |
| Alignment | Always Neutral |
| Advancement | 13-20 HD (Huge) |
Combat
Crushing Bite The bite of a Postosuchus deals significant damage on its own, but also has a crippling effect on those bitten in case the Postosuchus is unable to keep up with it. Creatures bitten by a Postosuchus take 1 point of strength damage for ever bite they receive.