Armor Class
14
(natural armor), 11 while prone
Hit Points
39
(6d10 + 6)
Speed
30 ft., burrow 10 ft.
STR
17
(+3)
DEX
11
(+0)
CON
13
(+1)
INT
1
(-5)
WIS
13
(+1)
CHA
6
(-2)
Senses
Darkvision 60 ft., Tremorsense 60 ft., Passive Perception 11
Languages
--
Challenge
2 (450 XP)
Proficiency Bonus
+2
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage plus 3 (1d6) acid damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it is grappled (escape DC 13). Until this grapple ends, the ankheg can bite only the grappled creature and has advantage on attack rolls to do so.
Acid Spray (Recharge 6). The ankheg spits acid in a line that is 30 feet long and 5 feet wide, provided that it has no creature grappled. Each creature in that line must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
The creature may only be able to effectively make a scraping motion which would limit its ability to attack with its legs. And why would it want to when it has incisors that chunky.
Has anyone else noticed that the bite attack does slashing damage, instead of the logical piercing?
I imagine it's because of the shape of their jaws. They look vaguely like blades and they seem to close horizontally, rather than vertically. Giant fire beetles have similar jaws and they deal slashing damage with their bite too.
Oh, okay.
i would probably flavor the claw as a bite seeing as it grapples as well
This thing is terrifying asf. Perfect for my party, I’ve been waaay too nice to them.
I'm in the middle of DMing for my friend, made up campaign. He'll get a kick out of this(or a low HP)
Add a claw attack like a praying mantis and a punch attack like a mantis shrimp, and this beast sounds like fun (for the DM to run, not for the players to fight)!!!
Ogre vs ankheg, who wins?
k
The claws seem to be for burrowing
Wait, that's illegal
Zerg Hydralisk
Just got done making a juvenile version that has wings. The idea is that when they get older, they loose them because they 1. Don't need a way to escape from predators because they are full grown, and 2. Because they outgrow them, and they just shed them off. This could be a cool low level party mount and would work in mass numbers, like maybe in a colony of ankheg.
Link: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/1518862-juvenile-ankheg
Great question, probably the Ankheg due to advantage on bites every subsequent round. It can easily surprise attack an ogre. Ogres have more constitution, but they have terrible other stats bar strength. Ankhegs have good strength, but a lot of damage and higher ac. My bet is on a dead ogre.
Its a hydralisk from starcraft 2
Do you mean that at level 1 that's a lot, but at level 20, did you stand around for 3 rounds
SHAME ON YOU!!!!
In the spirit of @RickAJr 's most excellent descriptions . . .
Describe the following to your players to provide better immersion - (show, don't tell during their first encounter):
This large insectoid looking creature is as big as a horse. It has large pincer like mandibles and its legs end in sharp hooks. Its head has a bony frill with three points which looks as if it could be used as a shovel. A proboscis protrudes from its mouth. The body is covered with a carapace type husk.
In addition, you might want to allow them an Intelligence - (Arcana or Nature) check to know the following (accumulated - a roll of 25 or above would know all):
DC5 (very easy): burrowing creature
DC10 (easy): has darkvision and termorsense to 60'
DC15 (medium): has bite attack
DC20 (hard): can grapple using its mandibles
DC25 (very hard): can spit acid up to 30' as long as doesn't have a creature already grappled
I wonder how the challenge rating would go up if say, there was a swarm of ankheg? Like players stumble across a nesting site with like, minimum, 20 adults.