This site is games | books | films

Giant Dragonfly

Giant Dragonfly
My Images (midjourney.com)

Appearance: The Giant Dragonfly is a marvel of nature, boasting a wingspan of up to two feet and a body length of six inches. Its translucent wings shimmer with hues of blue, green, and gold when caught in the sunlight. Its compound eyes gleam with an otherworldly iridescence, and its slender abdomen is marked with intricate patterns resembling fine filigree.

Behavior: These magnificent creatures are graceful and agile flyers, darting effortlessly through the air in pursuit of prey or potential mates. Despite their imposing size, they are surprisingly delicate, their movements akin to a dancer’s pirouette as they navigate their surroundings with precision. Giant Dragonflies are solitary creatures, rarely interacting with others of their kind except during mating season.

Habitat: Giant Dragonflies prefer lush, humid environments near bodies of water such as lakes, ponds, and marshes. They can often be found skimming the surface of the water or perched on vegetation along the shoreline, basking in the warmth of the sun.

Modus Operandi: As formidable predators, Giant Dragonflies hunt smaller insects and even small vertebrates with remarkable efficiency. They use their keen eyesight to detect movement from afar before swooping in with lightning speed to snatch their prey mid-flight. Despite their carnivorous nature, they pose no threat to larger creatures, preferring to avoid confrontation whenever possible.

Motivation: The primary motivation of the Giant Dragonfly is survival and reproduction. They are driven by instinctual urges to feed and propagate their species, ensuring their continued existence in their natural habitat. Their majestic presence serves as a reminder of the delicate balance of nature and the awe-inspiring diversity of life on Earth.


  • Giant Dragonfly 5e
  • Giant Dragonfly Pathfinder
Giant Dragonfly
My Images (midjourney.com)

Large Vermin, Unaligned

Armor Class: 14 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 22 (4d10)
Speed: 30 ft., fly 60 ft.

STRDEXCONINTWISCHA
10 (+0)16 (+3)10 (+0)1 (-5)7 (-2)3 (-4)

Skills: Perception +2
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 12
Languages:
Challenge: 1/2 (100 XP)

Actions

  • Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.

Traits

  • Flyby: The giant dragonfly doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks when it flies out of an enemy’s reach.

Description:
Giant Dragonflies are large, predatory insects that flit through the air with remarkable speed and agility. They have iridescent wings that shimmer in the sunlight, and their multifaceted eyes gleam with a predatory intensity. Despite their size, they are remarkably swift flyers and can dart through the air with astonishing precision.

In terms of behavior, Giant Dragonflies are primarily hunters, preying on smaller insects and occasionally small creatures that they can overpower. They tend to inhabit areas with abundant prey, such as marshes, forests, and meadows. While not particularly intelligent, they possess keen instincts for hunting and evading predators.

Their modus operandi typically involves flying swiftly to ambush prey, using their speed and agility to outmaneuver opponents. They rely on their bite to incapacitate prey, delivering a powerful bite with their sharp mandibles.

Giant Dragonflies are motivated by their basic instincts for survival and reproduction. They seek out suitable hunting grounds and breeding sites where they can thrive and reproduce, perpetuating their species in the wild.

Dragonfly, Giant CR 4

Dragonfly, Giant
Prehistoric Dragonfly (Meganeura manyi)

This glittering blue dragonfly is about the size of a horse and is large enough to carry off small farm animals or people.

XP 1,200
N Medium vermin
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +1

DEFENSE

AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 15 (+2 Dex, +5 natural)
hp 45 (7d8+14)
Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +3
Immune mind-affecting effects

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft., fly 80 ft. (perfect)
Melee bite +9 (2d8+6 plus grab)
Special Attacks darting charge

STATISTICS

Str 19, Dex 15, Con 14, Int –, Wis 12, Cha 9
Base Atk +5; CMB +9 (+13 grappling, or +17 grappling on a charge); CMD 21 (29 vs. trip)
Feats Flyby AttackB
Skills Fly +10

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Darting Charge (Ex)

A giant dragonfly is adept at swooping in to attack prey with a powerful bite and then, just as quickly, swooping back up out of reach. As a result, a giant dragonfly gains Flyby Attack as a bonus feat. In addition, if a giant dragonfly charges while flying, it receives a +4 bonus on CMB checks made to grapple foes.

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate or warm land
Organization solitary or flight (2–5)
Treasure incidental

Giant dragonflies are rare compared to other varieties of giant insects, and fortunately so, since they are voracious hunters of warm-blooded prey, including humanoids.

The creatures typically lair in overgrown or lightly wooded areas, using foliage as cover. When they spot potential prey out in the open, the dragonflies swoop to the attack, using their superior flight speed and maneuverability to run most prey to ground or carrying off smaller foes to eat them somewhere safe. Giant dragonflies feed on carrion when fresh prey is not available, and the scent of a fresh kill often attracts them.

Many swamp-dwelling cultures attach religious significance to brightly colored and ravenous giant dragonflies, particularly boggards. The frog-men attach particular significance to a giant dragonfly’s color, and their priest-kings often refuse to eat anything but specific colors of giant dragonflies.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 2, © 2010, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors Wolfgang Baur, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, Graeme Davis, Crystal Frasier, Joshua J. Frost, Tim Hitchcock, Brandon Hodge, James Jacobs, Steve Kenson, Hal MacLean, Martin Mason, Rob McCreary, Erik Mona, Jason Nelson, Patrick Renie, Sean K Reynolds, F. Wesley Schneider, Owen K.C. Stephens, James L. Sutter, Russ Taylor, and Greg A. Vaughan, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.

Description

The Giant Dragonfly is a breathtaking sight, boasting a wingspan of up to two feet and a slender body measuring six inches in length. Its wings shimmer with iridescent hues of blue, green, and gold, catching the light as it flits gracefully through the air. Its compound eyes gleam with an otherworldly brilliance, and its delicate abdomen is adorned with intricate patterns reminiscent of fine filigree.

This majestic creature is a master of the skies, its movements akin to a dancer’s as it navigates its surroundings with effortless precision. Found in lush, humid environments near bodies of water such as lakes, ponds, and marshes, the Giant Dragonfly can often be seen skimming the surface of the water or perched on vegetation along the shoreline, basking in the warmth of the sun.

As a formidable predator, the Giant Dragonfly hunts smaller insects and even small vertebrates with remarkable efficiency. Using its keen eyesight to detect movement from afar, it swoops in with lightning speed to snatch its prey mid-flight. Despite its carnivorous nature, the Giant Dragonfly poses no threat to larger creatures and prefers to avoid confrontation whenever possible.

Driven by instinctual urges for survival and reproduction, the Giant Dragonfly plays a vital role in its ecosystem, ensuring the balance of nature and contributing to the awe-inspiring diversity of life on Earth.

Scroll to Top