Homebrew Crustari Species Details

“From the tides we rise, not as beasts of instinct—but as kin of the sea, shaped by pressure, tempered by salt, and crowned in coral.”
— Elder Tarras'Kin, Shellguard Philosopher

The Crustari are a proud aquatic people born of ancient ocean depths, a race of sentient crustacean-like beings who have thrived in the deep long before surface dwellers ever tamed the land. With thick exoskeletons, claws, and eyes adapted to the gloom of the sea, the Crustari are not merely animalistic—they are civilizers, warriors, artisans, and sages of the deep.

Unified by ancestry but distinct in adaptation, the Crustari are divided into three primary kinships, each embodying a unique form of survival and excellence beneath the waves:

• The Shrimpkin are lithe and clever, thriving as scouts, saboteurs, and swift explorers. Their agility and burst mobility make them perfect for navigating treacherous coral caverns or darting through enemy lines like shimmering bolts of light.

• The Shellguard Crabs are the bastions of Crustari resilience, sporting massive armored bodies and an unshakable presence. Their great size and natural defense make them ideal protectors of sacred sites and frontline defenders in war.

• The Clawborn Lobsters are regal and ferocious, channeling raw strength and martial discipline. Their claws are not only weapons, but sacred instruments of combat, art, and ceremony. Among the Crustari, they are often generals, duelists, or enforcers of clan law.

Though their society is rooted deep beneath the waves, the Crustari are not isolationist. With tensions rising in the seas—ancient predators stirring, polluted waters, and magic-scarred trenches cracking into the abyss—they've begun to send emissaries to the surface. Adventuring Crustari are often champions of their people, exiles on sacred quests, or curious youths drawn to the mysteries of dry land.

Born of salt and shell, Crustari embody the resilience of the deep sea. Their biology grants them natural armor, aquatic adaptability, and formidable claws shaped by countless generations of survival beneath the waves.

Crustari Legacy

All Crustari share a bond with the ocean, but their forms—and the roles they’ve played beneath the waves—have shaped distinct legacies passed through generations. Whether quick and clever, stalwart and wise, or powerful and direct, your Crustari legacy reflects your heritage and the life you've led.

When you create a Crustari character, choose one of the following legacies:

• Currentborn Legacy (Shrimpkin)

• Tidewarden Legacy (Shellguard)

• Deepgrasp Legacy (Clawborn)

Each legacy offers unique traits that define your Crustari’s strengths and place in their oceanic society.

Amphibious

You can easily breathe in both water and air

Carapace Shell

When you are not wearing armor, your AC is equal to 13 + your Constitution modifier. You can still benefit from a shield.

Crushing Claws

Your claw strikes deal 1d6 bludgeoning damage instead of the normal damage for unarmed strikes.
When you hit a creature with this claw strike, you can immediately attempt to grapple the target as part of the same action (no extra attack or bonus action needed). You may still only maintain one grapple at a time unless a feature states otherwise.