Buy me a coffee“Goliath Frog: The Marshland Predator with a Lethal Tongue”
“Massive, slime-slick amphibians with lightning-fast tongues and a taste for prey far larger than themselves, Goliath Frogs lurk in marshy shadows, ready to ambush anything that stirs in their misty domain.”
Goliath Frogs are colossal amphibians, their mottled green-and-brown hides glistening with a slick layer of mucus. Powerful limbs end in webbed, clawed digits, while their massive mouths are capable of engulfing prey whole. Their bulbous eyes sit high on their heads, giving them a predatory gaze that is both calculating and unnerving. The sheer size and muscular bulk of a Goliath Frog give it an imposing presence in any wetland or riverbank.
Behaviour:
Solitary or found in small groups, these frogs are fiercely territorial and surprisingly cunning for their kind. They move with stealthy patience, often remaining motionless for hours to ambush prey. When threatened, they exhibit aggressive posturing, leaping with surprising speed or using their massive mouths and powerful tongues to grapple opponents.
Habitat:
Goliath Frogs inhabit warm marshes, shallow rivers, and densely vegetated wetlands. They favor areas with abundant cover, such as reeds, mossy tree roots, and submerged logs, which conceal them while hunting. Their territories often span a stretch of river or marsh sufficient to sustain their considerable appetites.
Modus Operandi:
These predators rely on ambush and reach. Using their long, muscular tongues, they can snatch prey from surprising distances, pulling it within reach of their jaws. They are adept swimmers and climbers, often hunting both in water and along low branches or riverbanks. When confronting larger threats, they may attempt to overwhelm prey with coordinated strikes if in small groups, or retreat into dense vegetation if outmatched.
Motivation:
Driven by instinctive hunger, Goliath Frogs are opportunistic feeders, motivated primarily by survival and the pursuit of prey. Their intelligence is limited, but their behavior reveals a patient, calculating predator that seeks to dominate its territory and maintain access to food resources.
Goliath Frog 5e 2024
Goliath Frog, Pathfinder
Goliath Frog
Large beast, unaligned
Armor Class: 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 102 (12d10 + 36)
Speed: 30 ft., swim 40 ft., climb 20 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 (+4) | 14 (+2) | 17 (+3) | 1 (-5) | 12 (+1) | 6 (-2) |
Saving Throws: Dex +5, Con +6
Skills: Acrobatics +6, Athletics +7, Perception +4, Stealth +4
Damage Resistances: Bludgeoning from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities: Prone
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages: —
Challenge: 5 (1,800 XP)
Traits
Amphibious. The Goliath Frog can breathe air and water.
Grappler Tongue. The frog’s tongue is a melee weapon with a 15 ft. reach. On a hit, the target is grappled (escape DC 16). The frog does not gain the grappled condition when grappling with its tongue.
Powerful Leap. The frog’s long jump and high jump distances are tripled, and it can land without provoking opportunity attacks.
Keen Predator. The frog has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell.
Actions
Multiattack. The Goliath Frog makes two attacks: one bite and one tongue attack.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (3d10 + 4) piercing damage. If the target is Medium or smaller, the frog can attempt to swallow it (see Swallow).
Tongue. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: The target is grappled (escape DC 16).
Swallow. The frog can swallow a Medium or smaller creature it has grappled. The swallowed target is blinded and restrained, takes 14 (4d6) bludgeoning damage at the start of each of the frog’s turns, and can escape by dealing 15 damage to the frog or succeeding on a DC 16 Strength check.
Croak of Terror (Recharge 5–6). The frog emits a thunderous croak in a 30-foot radius. Each creature of the frog’s choice that can hear it must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of their next turn.
Reactions
Snap Reflex. When a creature the frog can see moves within 10 ft., it can make one tongue attack against that creature.
Legendary Actions
The Goliath Frog 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.
- Tongue Grab. The frog makes one tongue attack.
- Leap. The frog jumps up to half its movement without provoking opportunity attacks.
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the frog can take one lair action:
- Water Surge. The frog causes a 20-foot cube of water to surge up, moving creatures within it 10 feet in a direction of its choice.
- Mist of Concealment. The frog summons a foggy spray in a 15-foot radius; all creatures inside have disadvantage on attack rolls until the start of the frog’s next turn.
Combat Tactics
Goliath Frogs are patient ambush predators. They often strike from hidden cover, using their long tongues to isolate prey and swallowing smaller creatures whole. When in groups, they coordinate attacks, combining tongue grapples and frightful croaks to divide opponents. Their mobility—swimming, climbing, and leaping—allows them to attack from unexpected angles or retreat strategically. They rely on their lair to control the battlefield and maximize the effect of environmental hazards.
Goliath Frog
This massive, mottled amphibian glistens with slime, and its tongue drips with saliva.
These hulking frogs haunt warm marshlands and river shallows where thick undergrowth can conceal them.
They are dangerous, aggressive predators that gorge themselves on smaller creatures or team up to bring down larger prey. They often climb to the low branches of ancient, mossy trees, picking off prey from the wetland’s floor before their existence is even suspected.
Goliath Frog CR 3
XP 800
N Large animal
Init +1; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +8
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 10, flat-footed 14 (+1 Dex, +5 natural, –1 size)
hp 34 (4d8+16)
Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +1
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 30 ft.
Melee bite +6 (2d6+6 plus grab) or tongue +6 (grab)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (15 ft. with tongue)
Special Attacks fast swallow, pull (tongue, 5 ft.), swallow whole (1d6 bludgeoning damage, AC 12, 3 hp) , tongue
STATISTICS
Str 19, Dex 13, Con 18, Int 1, Wis 10, Cha 6
Base Atk +3; CMB +8 (+12 grapple); CMD 19 (23 vs. trip)
Feats Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Acrobatics)
Skills Acrobatics +12 (+20 when jumping), Climb +16, Perception +8, Stealth +5, Swim +12; Racial Modifiers +4 Acrobatics (+12 when jumping), +4 Perception, +4 Stealth
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Tongue (Ex)
A goliath frog’s tongue is a primary attack with three times the reach of its bite.
Its tongue deals no damage but can be used to grab. The frog does not gain the grappled condition when grappling with its tongue.
ECOLOGY
Environment warm marshes or water
Organization solitary, pair, or army (3–6)
Treasure none
Section 15: Copyright Notice
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 5 © 2015, Paizo Inc.; Authors: Dennis Baker, Jesse Benner, John Bennett, Logan Bonner, Creighton Broadhurst, Robert Brookes, Benjamin Bruck, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, Thurston Hillman, Eric Hindley, Joe Homes, James Jacobs, Amanda Hamon Kunz, Ben McFarland, Jason Nelson, Thom Phillips, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Alistair Rigg, Alex Riggs, David N. Ross, Wes Schneider, David Schwartz, Mark Seifter, Mike Shel, James L. Sutter, and Linda Zayas-Palmer.