Buy me a coffeeGiant Grasshopper, the Leaping Horror
A towering leap predator with a crushing kick and a bite that strikes like lightning—meet the Giant Grasshopper!
The giant grasshopper is a towering insectoid creature, roughly the size of a large dog but with an elongated, segmented body covered in a tough, glossy exoskeleton. Its powerful hind legs are muscular and spring-loaded, capable of launching it incredible distances in a single bound. Its large compound eyes shimmer with a kaleidoscope of green and gold, and two long, sensitive antennae twitch constantly, detecting the slightest changes in the environment.
Behavior:
These creatures are solitary hunters, relying on their agility and keen senses to ambush prey or avoid predators. They prefer to stay concealed within tall grasses and dense undergrowth, waiting patiently before unleashing sudden bursts of speed and powerful leaps to close the distance or escape danger. Despite their predatory nature, giant grasshoppers are not aggressive unless provoked or hungry.
Habitat:
Giant grasshoppers are native to temperate plains, grassy meadows, and lightly forested regions where tall vegetation provides ample cover. They thrive in areas rich in insect and small vertebrate populations, which serve as their primary food sources. They tend to avoid dense forests or harsh deserts.
Modus Operandi:
The giant grasshopper uses stealth and patience as its primary hunting tools. It waits motionless among the grasses, using its antennae to sense vibrations and movements around it. When prey draws near, it strikes with a vicious bite, then follows up with a powerful hind leg kick that can send foes flying or off balance. Its remarkable jumping ability allows it to pounce from unexpected angles or quickly retreat if threatened.
Motivation:
Survival and sustenance drive the giant grasshopper. It seeks to avoid larger predators while maintaining its dominance over smaller creatures within its territory. It is motivated primarily by instinct — to feed, evade danger, and reproduce — rather than malice or territorial aggression.
Giant Grasshopper 5e
Giant Grasshopper 3.5
Giant Grasshopper
Medium beast, unaligned
Armor Class: 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 65 (10d8 + 20)
Speed: 50 ft., jump 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 (+2) | 20 (+5) | 14 (+2) | 2 (–4) | 10 (+0) | 5 (–3) |
Saving Throws: Dex +7
Skills: Athletics +4, Perception +2
Senses: passive Perception 12
Languages: —
Challenge: 2 (450 XP)
Traits
Leaper. It can jump up to 30 feet without provoking opportunity attacks.
Tough Exoskeleton. It has resistance to piercing and bludgeoning damage from nonmagical weapons.
Actions
Multiattack. The giant grasshopper makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with a powerful hind leg kick.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage.
Hind Leg Kick. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 8 (1d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage.
Special
Sensitive Antennae. The giant grasshopper has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell or vibration detection.
Grasshopper, Giant
Originally Posted by Shade of the En World forums.
| Grasshopper, Giant | |
| Large vermin | |
| Hit Dice | 3d8+6 (19 hp) |
| Initiative | +1 |
| Speed | 30 ft. (6 squares) |
| Armor Class | 15 (-1 size, +1 Dexterity, +5 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 14 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +2/+9 |
| Attack | Slam +4 melee (1d8+3) or bite +4 melee (1d4+3) |
| Full Attack | Slam +4 melee (1d8+3) or bite +4 melee (1d4+3) |
| Space/Reach | 10 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks | — |
| Special Qualities | Darkvision 60 ft., great leaper, limited flight, vermin traits |
| Saves | Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +1 |
| Abilities | Strength 17, Dexterity 12, Constitution 15, Intelligence —, Wisdom 10, Charisma 11 |
| Skills | Hide +1, Jump +33, Spot +4 |
| Feats | — |
| Environment | Any temperate or warm land |
| Organization | Solitary or swarm (2-20) |
| Challenge Rating | 2 |
| Treasure | None |
| Alignment | Always neutral |
| Advancement | 4-10 HD (Large), 11-17 HD (Huge), 18-20 HD (Gargantuan) |
| Level Adjustment | – |
Combat
A giant grasshopper is non-aggressive, preferring flight to fight. It normally injures others only if they get in its way as it attempts its escape…or happen to be too close to where it lands. A giant grasshopper trained as a mount fights alongside its rider.
Great Leaper (Ex): It has a +30 racial bonus on Jump checks. A giant grasshopper treats all Jump checks as if it had a 20-foot running start. For purposes of determining distance, a giant grasshopper treats vertical leaps as if they were horizontal leaps. Thus, a giant grasshopper with a Jump check result of 40 can leap 40 feet vertically or horizontally.
Limited Flight (Ex): A grasshopper may Fly at at a speed of 60 feet (average), but must begin and end its flight in the same round. As a full-round action, a giant grasshopper may combine its limited flight and great leaper abilities to cover greater ground.
Skills: A giant grasshopper has a +4 racial bonus on Hide and Spot checks. *Because of its camouflage, the Hide bonus increases to +12 when a grasshopper is surrounded by foliage.
Originally appeared in Rules Cyclopedia (1991).