FRENCH LITERARY LEGEND · UNIQUE TITAN-DESCENDED GIANT
Pantagruel, son of Gargantua and Badebec, is a prince, scholar and warrior of immense stature. He delights in learned debate, fine company and good food, but his courtesy conceals strength capable of breaking the charge of an army. Across France he is welcomed as a protector by those he has helped and feared by those who have witnessed the devastation of a giant’s war.
At a Glance
| Identity | Unique legendary giant, prince and learned traveller |
|---|---|
| Family | Son of Gargantua and the giantess Badebec |
| Ancestry | Descended from primordial Titans through an ancient giant bloodline; the specific Titan ancestor is unknown |
| Creature | Giant (Pathfinder 1e: humanoid with giant subtype) |
| Habitat | Roads, cities of learning, ports, battlefields and the company of his friends |
| Campaign range | France and the wider world he travels |
| Disposition | Generous, shrewd, inquisitive and proud; fiercely protective of companions |
| Challenge | CR 25 (original, untested encounter design in each edition) |
A Prince of Giants
Pantagruel was born to Gargantua and Badebec, daughter of the king of the Amaurotes. His mother died in childbirth. In his grief Gargantua nonetheless gave his son an education worthy of both his ancestry and the burdens of his birth. Pantagruel grew into a giant whose prodigious thirst is surpassed only by his appetite for learning.
All the great giant families descend from the primordial Titans. The bloodline stretches across many lands and traditions: the northern jötnar are one branch, not the whole ancestry of the giants. Pantagruel belongs to the great French giant family; no known genealogy establishes a specific divine forebear for him. Titan descent does not make every giant a Titan or a god.
Pantagruel sought out teachers, books and disputations, and became renowned for the fairness of his judgements. His wit drew to him Panurge, a charming, ingenious and frequently scandalous companion. The two have travelled through learned cities and remote kingdoms. Pantagruel has also fought the Dipsodes and opposed Loupgarou, captain of a host of giants. What he has learned from victory matters to him as much as victory itself.
Beloved, Feared and Frequently Misunderstood
Protector. He lends his strength to frightened towns, listens to scholars and petitioners, and remembers those who offer kindness without calculating its worth. A bridge is no obstacle when he can lift a fallen span into place, provided that its piers survive the work.
Menace. His size makes a crowded street dangerous even on a peaceful visit. He can drink a settlement’s water supply before realising what he has done. Soldiers facing him in battle see little of the generous prince praised by his friends. A family who lost its home beneath his step may fear him as deeply as its neighbours love him.
Companions. His affection for Panurge does not mean he approves of every scheme the man devises. Pantagruel values wit, but takes responsibility for its consequences when others suffer. His father, Gargantua, is the greater public legend in many valleys; the son is better known to students, disputants and those rescued by his command.
Approaching him. A clear account of a real wrong is more likely to win his help than flattery. He listens, questions witnesses and makes up his own mind. Those who bring news of his father receive immediate attention, though not necessarily agreement.
Encounters with Pantagruel
- A giant at the college gate. A university has welcomed Pantagruel for a formal disputation, but its narrow streets cannot accommodate him. A scholar wants the event cancelled; a rival has hired provocateurs to make the giant lose his temper. Clear a safe place for the debate before an angry crowd gathers.
- Panurge’s reckless promise. Panurge has sold a company of merchants the promise of Pantagruel’s personal protection. The giant has made no such bargain. The merchants are already deep in a dangerous pass, convinced that their immense guardian will appear if needed.
- Water for the thirsty. A drought-stricken settlement begs Pantagruel to dig a new channel, yet digging it would flood neighbouring farmland. He refuses to move the earth until both villages speak. The characters must find a solution before the wells fail.
- Giant against giant. Survivors of Loupgarou’s followers threaten a town loyal to Pantagruel. The prince is far away. They have one chance to send word, organise a defence and determine whether their attackers seek revenge or a settlement.
In battle. Pantagruel offers surrender, keeps his companions clear of his feet, and strikes enemy formations with his immense staff. He hurls boulders at artillery and siege engines rather than deliberately crushing civilians. Enemies who threaten his friends discover how quickly courtesy can turn to righteous anger. Those who lower their weapons have a chance to live.
Pantagruel — Four Editions
Each version is an original, untested encounter design for this legendary giant, not an official monster. CR 25 represents the dangerous combination of colossal physical power, battlefield leadership and tactical judgement; it requires playtesting. His strength is extraordinary even among his Titan-descended kin.
Pantagruel — D&D 2024
Gargantuan Giant, Chaotic Good
Original epic conversion; Strength 32 exceeds the standard 30-point cap by campaign design.
AC 21 (natural armor) Initiative +1 (11)
HP 592 (32d20 + 256)
Speed 50 ft.
| Ability | Score | Mod | Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Str | 32 | +11 | +19 |
| Dex | 12 | +1 | +1 |
| Con | 26 | +8 | +16 |
| Int | 22 | +6 | +14 |
| Wis | 20 | +5 | +13 |
| Cha | 22 | +6 | +6 |
Skills Arcana +14, History +14, Insight +13, Persuasion +14
Senses Passive Perception 15; Languages Common (French), Giant, several scholarly languages
CR 25 (XP 75,000; PB +8)
Traits
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Pantagruel fails a saving throw, he can succeed instead.
Siege Giant. Pantagruel deals twice the damage to objects and structures with his attacks.
Wise Counsellor. Pantagruel has Advantage on Intelligence (History) checks and Wisdom (Insight) checks made to interpret a story, decipher a learned dispute or recognise an attempt to mislead him in conversation.
Actions
Multiattack. Pantagruel makes three Greatstaff attacks; he can replace one with a Boulder attack.
Greatstaff. Melee Attack Roll: +19, reach 30 ft. Hit: 50 (6d12 + 11) Bludgeoning damage.
Boulder. Ranged Attack Roll: +19, range 120/360 ft. Hit: 49 (7d10 + 11) Bludgeoning damage.
Earthshaking Passage (Recharge 5–6). Pantagruel moves up to 40 feet along a straight path, 20 feet wide, instead of making Multiattack. Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 27, each creature on the ground in that path. Failure: 66 (12d10) Bludgeoning damage, and the target has the Prone condition. Success: Half damage only. Creatures flying above the path are unaffected.
Reactions
Protective Hand. When a creature within 20 feet of Pantagruel is targeted by an attack roll, he gives the creature Half Cover against that attack, potentially turning a hit into a miss.
Legendary Actions
Pantagruel has 3 Legendary Action uses, regained at the start of his turn. He can spend them at the end of another creature’s turn, one at a time.
- Measured Step (1 use). Pantagruel moves up to half his Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks.
- Rally Companions (1 use). One ally within 60 feet who can hear him can move up to half its Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks.
- Greatstaff (2 uses). Pantagruel makes one Greatstaff attack.
Pantagruel — D&D 2014
Gargantuan giant, chaotic good
Original epic conversion; Strength 32 is a deliberate exception to the normal 30-point ability limit.
Armor Class 21 (natural armor)
Hit Points 592 (32d20 + 256)
Speed 50 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 (+11) | 12 (+1) | 26 (+8) | 22 (+6) | 20 (+5) | 22 (+6) |
Saving Throws Str +19, Con +16, Int +14, Wis +13
Skills Arcana +14, History +14, Insight +13, Persuasion +14
Senses passive Perception 15
Languages Common (French), Giant, several scholarly languages
Challenge 25 (75,000 XP)
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Pantagruel fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
Siege Giant. Pantagruel deals double damage to objects and structures.
Wise Counsellor. Pantagruel has advantage on Intelligence (History) and Wisdom (Insight) checks made to interpret testimony or recognise an attempt to deceive him in conversation.
Actions
Multiattack. Pantagruel makes three greatstaff attacks, replacing one with a boulder attack if he chooses.
Greatstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +19 to hit, reach 30 ft., one target. Hit: 50 (6d12 + 11) bludgeoning damage.
Boulder. Ranged Weapon Attack: +19 to hit, range 120/360 ft., one target. Hit: 49 (7d10 + 11) bludgeoning damage.
Earthshaking Passage (Recharge 5–6). Instead of his Multiattack, Pantagruel moves up to 40 feet along a 20-foot-wide straight path. Each grounded creature in that path makes a DC 27 Dexterity saving throw, taking 66 (12d10) bludgeoning damage and being knocked prone on a failure, or half damage and not falling prone on a success.
Reactions
Protective Hand. When a creature within 20 feet of Pantagruel is targeted by an attack roll, he grants that creature half cover against the attack.
Legendary Actions
Pantagruel can take 3 legendary actions, one at a time at the end of another creature’s turn, regaining spent actions at the start of his turn.
- Measured Step (Costs 1 Action). Pantagruel moves up to half his speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
- Rally Companions (Costs 1 Action). One ally within 60 feet who can hear him moves up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
- Greatstaff (Costs 2 Actions). Pantagruel makes one greatstaff attack.
Pantagruel CR 25
XP 1,638,400
CG Colossal humanoid (giant)
Init +5; Senses low-light vision; Perception +48
DEFENSE
AC 38, touch 3, flat-footed 37 (–8 size, +1 Dex, +35 natural); hp 700 (40d8+520, including Toughness); Fort +34, Ref +16, Will +20; Immune fear; Defensive Abilities rock catching
OFFENSE
Speed 50 ft.; Melee greatstaff +43/+38/+33/+28 (6d8+30/19–20) or 2 slams +42 (8d8+20); Ranged rock +24 (10d6+20; 120-ft. range increment); Space 30 ft.; Reach 30 ft.; Special Attacks rock throwing, earthshaking passage
STATISTICS
Str 50, Dex 12, Con 34, Int 20, Wis 20, Cha 22
Base Atk +30; CMB +58; CMD 69
Feats Awesome Blow, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Greater Bull Rush, Greater Cleave, Greater Vital Strike, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (greatstaff), Improved Initiative, Improved Overrun, Improved Vital Strike, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Point-Blank Shot, Power Attack, Precise Shot, Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Toughness, Vital Strike, Weapon Focus (greatstaff)
Skills Diplomacy +46, Knowledge (history) +45, Knowledge (nobility) +45, Perception +48, Sense Motive +45
Languages Common (French), Giant, scholarly tongues
ECOLOGY
Environment temperate lands, especially learned cities and great roads; Organization solitary (unique), often accompanied; Treasure personal possessions and travelling library
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Rock Throwing (Ex). Pantagruel can throw one boulder as a standard action with a 120-foot range increment. The attack bonus includes the giant’s +1 racial bonus for rock throwing.
Rock Catching (Ex). If aware and not flat-footed, once per round Pantagruel can attempt a Reflex saving throw to catch an appropriate thrown rock, using the standard size-based rock-catching DC.
Earthshaking Passage (Ex). Once every 1d4 rounds, as a standard action, Pantagruel moves up to 40 feet along a straight path 20 feet wide. Each grounded creature on the path takes 18d6 bludgeoning damage (Reflex DC 42 half) and falls prone if it fails. He cannot make a full attack during that action. The save DC is Constitution-based (10 + half his 40 Hit Dice + his Constitution modifier).
Pantagruel
Colossal giant (unique)
Hit Dice 40d8+480 (660 hp); Initiative +5; Speed 50 ft.
Armor Class 38 (–8 size, +1 Dex, +35 natural), touch 3, flat-footed 37; Base Attack/Grapple +30/+66
Attack greatstaff +43 melee (6d8+30) or rock +24 ranged (10d6+20); Full Attack greatstaff +43/+38/+33/+28 melee (6d8+30) or 2 slams +42 melee (8d8+20)
Space/Reach 30 ft./30 ft.; Special Attacks rock throwing, earthshaking passage; Special Qualities low-light vision, rock catching, immunity to fear; Saves Fort +34, Ref +16, Will +20
Abilities Str 50, Dex 12, Con 34, Int 20, Wis 20, Cha 22
Skills Diplomacy +30, Knowledge (history) +26, Knowledge (nobility) +26, Listen +48, Spot +48; Feats Awesome Blow, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Greater Cleave, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Initiative, Improved Overrun, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Point Blank Shot, Power Attack, Precise Shot, Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Weapon Focus (greatstaff)
Environment temperate land; Organization solitary (unique) or with companions; Challenge Rating 25 (untested); Treasure personal possessions; Alignment chaotic good; Advancement — (unique)
Special Abilities
Rock Throwing (Ex). One boulder as a standard action, range increment 120 ft. The attack bonus includes the racial +1 bonus.
Rock Catching (Ex). Once each round when aware and not flat-footed, he may attempt the standard Reflex save to catch an appropriately sized thrown rock.
Earthshaking Passage (Ex). As a standard action every 1d4 rounds, Pantagruel moves 40 feet in a 20-foot-wide straight path. Grounded creatures take 18d6 bludgeoning damage (Reflex DC 42 half) and fall prone on failure. The DC is Constitution-based; this replaces his full attack for the round.
Sources and Related Creatures
François Rabelais, Pantagruel (Book II) — the birth from Badebec, Gargantua’s grief, Pantagruel’s studies and his adventures with Panurge and the Dipsodes. Gustave Doré illustration of Pantagruel (1873; public-domain image). The four original stat blocks are independently authored interpretations, not official game statistics.
Related: Gargantua · Giant Bestiary · World Bestiary. Giants inherit their ancient bloodlines from the Titans; the term is not restricted to Greek mythology.
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