Sure-Footed. The Cave-Dwelling Minotaur Lizard has advantage on Strength and Dexterity saving throws made to avoid falling, and advantage on ability checks made to climb.
Keen Smell. The Cave-Dwelling Minotaur Lizard has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell, useful for tracking burrowing insectoid prey.
Territorial. The minotaur lizard has advantage on attack rolls against any creature that has damaged it or a nest/den it is defending within the current encounter.
Multiattack. The Cave-Dwelling Minotaur Lizard makes two claw attacks.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 14) if it is Large or smaller. Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained.
Gore (Recharge 5-6). The Cave-Dwelling Minotaur Lizard drives its horns into a creature within 5 feet of it. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) piercing damage, and the target is pushed 10 feet away and knocked prone if it is Large or smaller.
Territorial Roar. As a bonus action, the Cave-Dwelling Minotaur Lizard lets out a quaking, rumbling bellow. Each hostile creature within 15 feet that can hear it must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on attack rolls against the minotaur lizard until the end of its next turn.
Cogida. When the Cave-Dwelling Minotaur Lizard is hit by a melee attack, it can use its reaction to angle its horns into the blow, reducing the damage by 1d8 and dealing 1d6 piercing damage back to the attacker if they're within reach.
Description
Cave-Dweller Minotaur Lizards are solitary, territorial insectivores found in the hills and caverns of temperate and tropical regions. Their primary prey is large insectoid creatures such as rust monsters and ankheg eggs or juveniles, which they dig out of burrows with their powerful claws. They rarely bother with prey as large as an adventuring party and will typically retreat or posture rather than fight to the death, unless their den, eggs, or territory are directly threatened.
Their curved horns are rarely used for hunting, most kills come from claw and bite alone. The horns and the bony nose ring linking their nostrils are thought to serve a territorial or mating display function, similar to a bull's horns, and are only used offensively as a last resort against something that won't back down.
Unlike their smaller lizard cousins, cave-dweller minotaur lizards have evolved a semi-upright, broad-shouldered stance with clawed, dexterous forelimbs, allowing them to dig into insect burrows and scale cave walls with ease. Once fed, they become sluggish and territorial rather than aggressive, dragging themselves to a sunlit ledge or cave mouth to bask. During these basking hours the creature poses little threat to anyone who doesn't crowd its space.
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