Amphicyon

Large Beast, Unaligned

Armor Class: 14 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 102 (12d10 + 36)
Speed: 40 ft., climb 20 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
20 (+5)	14 (+2)	17 (+3)	4 (−3)	14 (+2)	7 (−2)

Saving Throws: STR +8, CON +6, WIS +5
Skills: Perception +5, Stealth +5
Damage Resistances: bludgeoning from nonmagical attacks
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 15
Languages: —
Challenge: 5 (1,800 XP)

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Traits

Keen Smell. Advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

Ambush Predator. If the Amphicyon surprises a creature or attacks from hiding, it deals an extra 7 (2d6) damage on its first bite attack.

Multiattack. It makes two attacks: one with its Bite and one with its Claw.

Pounce. If the Amphicyon moves at least 20 ft. straight toward a creature and hits with a claw attack, the target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the Amphicyon can make one bite attack against it as a bonus action.

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Actions

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 18 (2d10 + 5) piercing damage.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 14 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage.

Roaring Howl (Recharge 5–6). The Amphicyon lets out a terrifying roar. Each creature of its choice within 30 feet that can hear it must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of its next turn.

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Reactions

Riposte. When a creature the Amphicyon can see hits it with a melee attack, the Amphicyon can make one claw attack against that creature.

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Tactics

They rely on stealth and ambush, striking first with claws to knock targets prone before finishing with a crushing bite. They use terrain to their advantage, preferring cover and forests to approach undetected. In groups, they attempt flanking maneuvers and separate foes, while their Roaring Howl can break enemy morale. They fight intelligently for a beast, retreating only when heavily injured or outnumbered.

Amphicyon

This hulking, wolf-faced beast lumbers through the trees on thick, muscular limbs. Its amber eyes gleam with cunning hunger as it lowers its head to sniff the air.

Amphicyon CR 6
XP 2,400
N Large animal
Init +2; Senses low-light vision, darkvision 60 ft., scent; Perception +12
Aura terrifying presence (30 ft., DC 16)

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DEFENSE

AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 16 (+5 natural, +2 Dex, +1 size)
hp 85 (10d10+30)
Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +4
Defensive Abilities hard hide (+2 natural armor), evasion

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OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee bite +13 (2d8+5 plus grab), 2 claws +11 (1d8+5)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks pounce, trip, ambush strike (+2d6), terrifying presence (DC 16)

Spell-Like Abilities —

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STATISTICS

Str 21, Dex 14, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 7
Base Atk +10; CMB +15; CMD 28 (30 vs. trip)
Feats Cleave, Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack (bite), Multiattack, Power Attack
Skills Perception +12, Stealth +10, Survival +8; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception (scent)
SQ keen smell
Languages —

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SPECIAL ABILITIES

Ambush Strike (Ex)
When the Amphicyon attacks a flat-footed or surprised creature, it deals an additional +2d6 precision damage on its first attack.

Grab (Ex)
If the Amphicyon hits with its bite, it can attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.

Keen Smell (Ex)
The Amphicyon gains a +4 racial bonus on Perception checks that rely on smell.

Pounce (Ex)
When the Amphicyon charges, it can make a full attack at the end of its charge.

Terrifying Presence (Su)
Creatures within 30 feet that can see the Amphicyon must succeed at a DC 16 Will save or be shaken for 1 round. A creature that successfully saves is immune to this Amphicyon’s terrifying presence for 24 hours. The save DC is Wisdom-based.

Trip (Ex)
If the Amphicyon hits with a claw or bite attack, it can attempt to trip its target as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.

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TACTICS

Before Combat
It stalks its prey for hours, moving silently and circling to approach from downwind. It prefers ambushes from cover or elevated ground.

During Combat
The Amphicyon begins combat with a charge and pounce, using its claws to knock prey prone before sinking in its jaws. It uses its terrifying presence to scatter groups, isolating weaker targets, and relies on its grab ability to pin down a single foe while warding off others with cleaving blows.

Morale
Driven by hunger rather than malice, it retreats if gravely injured (reduced below 25% of its hit points) or if prey escapes its immediate grasp.

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ECOLOGY

Environment temperate or subtropical forests, river valleys, and open woodlands
Organization solitary, pair, or family (2–3)
Treasure none

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DESCRIPTION

A distant cousin to both wolf and bear, the Amphicyon is a primeval predator known for its cunning and brute power. It combines the patience of a stalking hunter with the sheer physical strength to bring down creatures much larger than itself. Its diet consists of deer, elk, and other large beasts, though it is not above scavenging. Despite its intelligence being low, its hunting instincts are sophisticated, often involving ambush patterns and the use of terrain to trap prey.

Legends among hunters claim that forests haunted by Amphicyons grow eerily quiet before dusk—only to erupt with a single, shattering roar that marks the moment the beast strikes.

Amphicyon

This creature somewhat resembles a bear, but its tail is heavier, its neck thicker, and its mouth more wolflike than ursine. Its body is almost leonine.

Originally Posted by Shade of the En World forums.

On this Thread

Neither bears nor dogs, the amphicyon shares traits of both. Unlike its omnivorous cousins, an amphicyon is a powerful carnivore.

These massive carnivores weigh more than 1,800 pounds and stand nearly 9 feet tall when they rear up on their hind legs. They are bad-tempered and territorial.

Amphicyon (Bear Dog)
Large animal
Hit Dice	7d8+28 (59 hp)
Initiative	+1
Speed	40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class	15 (–1 size, +1 Dexterity, +5 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple	+5/+17
Attack	Claw +12 melee (1d8+8)
Full Attack	2 claws +12 melee (1d8+8) and bite +7 melee (3d6+4)
Space/Reach	10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks	Trip
Special Qualities	Low-Light Vision, Scent
Saves	Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +3
Abilities	Strength 27, Dexterity 13, Constitution 19, Intelligence 2, Wisdom 12, Charisma 6
Skills	Listen +5, Spot +7, Swim +12
Feats	Endurance, Improved Natural Attack (Bite), Run, Track
Environment	Temperate plains
Organization	Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating	4
Treasure	None
Alignment	Always neutral
Advancement	8-12 HD (Large), 13-16 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment	–

COMBAT

An amphicyon attempts to grab prey with its powerful claws and then sink its powerful jaws into the neck or ribcage to finish it off.

Trip (Ex): An amphicyon that hits with its bite attack can attempt to trip the opponent (+x check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the amphicyon.

Skills: An amphicyon has a +4 racial bonus on Swim checks.

Originally found in Dragon #167, “Back To the Age of Mammals”, David Howery, 1991.