Rift Drake

Large dragon, chaotic evil

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Armor Class 23 (natural armor)
Hit Points 126 (11d12 + 55)
Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft., fly 60 ft. (average)

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
25 (+7)	17 (+3)	20 (+5)	8 (-1)	12 (+1)	11 (+0)

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Saving Throws Str +10, Dex +6, Con +8
Skills Athletics +10, Perception +5, Stealth +6
Damage Resistances acid
Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, passive Perception 15
Languages Draconic
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)

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Actions

• Multiattack. The rift drake makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its tail slap.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 20 (2d10 + 7) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) acid damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or suffer from a bleeding wound, taking 5 (1d10) slashing damage at the start of each of its turns until it receives magical healing or succeeds on a DC 16 Wisdom (Medicine) check.
• Tail Slap. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d6 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
• Clinging Corrosion (Recharge 5-6). The rift drake spits a ball of caustic gas that bursts into a cloud upon impact. Each creature in a 15-foot-radius sphere centered on the point where the gas hits must make a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw, taking 35 (10d6) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Any creature damaged by this attack is also affected as though by the slow spell for 1d4 rounds.

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Reactions

• Speed Surge (3/Day). When the rift drake is hit by a melee attack, it can use its reaction to move up to its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

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Description

Creatures of the badlands and regions scarred by the gods, rift drakes are as savage and brutal as the lands they hunt. Their strength and savagery often make them seem like mere deadly beasts, but rift drakes simply delight in battle more than most drakes, frequently clashing even with other members of their own kind. They rarely deign to talk with other creatures, often doing so only as a cruel game in which they make more and more outrageous demands until their victims realize the drakes are toying with them or the manipulative drakes grow bored.

A rift drake is around 14 feet long, end to end. Its burly, spiky body weighs about 2,500 pounds.

“Rift Drake” – Horns jut from this muscular dragon’s beaked head, and spikes cover the dragon’s hide even in places on its winged arms.

Rift Drake CR 9

XP 6,400
CE Large dragon (earth)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +14

DEFENSE

AC 23, touch 12, flat-footed 20 (+3 Dex, +11 natural, -1 size)
hp 126 (11d12+55)
Fort +12, Ref +10, Will +8
Immune paralysis, sleep; Resist acid 30

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft., fly 60 ft. (average)
Melee bite +18 (2d8+10/19-20 plus bleed), tail slap +12 (1d10+3 plus trip)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks bleed (1d6), clinging corrosion, pounce, savage bite

STATISTICS

Str 25, Dex 17, Con 20, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 11
Base Atk +11; CMB +19; CMD 32
Feats Bleeding Critical, Critical Focus, Flyby Attack, Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (bite)
Skills Climb +15, Fly +14, Intimidate +12, Perception +14, Sense Motive +11, Stealth +12, Survival +13
Languages Draconic
SQ speed surge

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Clinging Corrosion (Su)

As a standard action, a rift drake can spit a ball of caustic gas that bursts into a cloud upon impact. This attack has a range of 60 feet and deals 5d10 points of acid damage to all creatures within the resulting 15-foot-radius spread. Additionally, any creature damaged by this attack is affected as though by the spell slow for 1d4 rounds. A successful DC 20 Reflex save halves the damage and negates the slowing effect. Once a rift drake uses its breath weapon, it cannot do so again for 1d6 rounds. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Savage Bite (Ex)

A rift drake applies 1-1/2 times its Strength bonus to damage dealt with its bite attack, and it threatens a critical hit on a 19-20.

Speed Surge (Ex)

Three times per day as a swift action, a rift drake can draw on its draconic heritage for a boost of strength and speed that allows it to take an additional move action that round.

ECOLOGY

Environment warm hills or mountains
Organization solitary, pair, or rampage (3-12)
Treasure standard

Creatures of the badlands and regions scarred by the gods, rift drakes are as savage and brutal as the lands they hunt. Their strength and savagery often make them seem like mere deadly beasts, but rift drakes simply delight in battle more than most drakes, frequently clashing even with other members of their own kind. They rarely deign to talk with other creatures, often doing so only as a cruel game in which they make more and more outrageous demands until their victims realize the drakes are toying with them or the manipulative drakes grow bored.

A rift drake rarely stays on land for long, preferring to circle high above near ominous peaks or spires and roosting in the crevices of the same. When a rift drake spies prey from such heights, it breaks from its flight to dive onto victims, scattering groups and sowing terror with its sudden emergence. With particularly agile foes, a rift drake will use its breath to slow victims first, then pick them off one by one. Rift drakes enjoy the taste of blood, and focus their attacks on the fleshiest-looking creatures.

A rift drake is around 14 feet long, end to end. Its burly, spiky body weighs about 2,500 pounds.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 3, © 2011, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors Jesse Benner, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, James Jacobs, Michael Kenway, Rob McCreary, Patrick Renie, Chris Sims, F. Wesley Schneider, James L. Sutter, and Russ Taylor, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.