Homebrew Ankhar Species Details

The Ankhar people are a race of monitor lizard like creatures that inhibit the vast western deserts and steppes on one of my continents in my homebrew world. Their most prominent characteristics are their 2 pairs of arms, their three fingered hands that feature sharp claws, their muscular body and their towering height. They live in a society that values might, physical prowess, courage and honour above anything else.


Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increase by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.

Age. Ankhari mature at the same rate as humans, however, they are considered mature by their people around 30 years old. Their lifespan can be as long as 200 years.

Alignment. Ankhari live in a kratocratic society and value courage, honour and martial prowess above all. Cowardice and scheming individuals are shunned into exile, and because of this moral guideline, Ankhari individuals tend towards lawful good or neutral.

Size. Ankhari are between 7 and 8 feet (~2.5 meters) tall and weigh between 300 (136 kg) and 350 (158 kg) pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern colour in darkness, only shades of grey.

Natural Athlete. You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.

Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Claws. Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you can deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier.

Four-armed Prowess. Your morphology granted you with two pair of limbs, a main upper pair and a second lower pair. While both pairs are able to perform regular tasks, only your main pair of limbs can perform specialised tasks, such as wielding more advanced weaponry, while your lower limbs can wield only light weapons or aid in wielding a two-handed weapon. Once per turn, you can interact with an object requiring no action, assuming you have a free hand.

When you make a melee attack with a two-handed weapon or two melee attacks in a row with a non-two-handed weapon, and the attack(s) hit the target, you can choose to follow your attack(s) with either an unarmed strike or an off-hand weapon (from your lower pair) that has the light property. This off-hand attack does not add your ability modifier to the damage rolls, following the rules of two-weapon fighting.

Furthermore, you cannot use more than one shield or wield more than one two-handed weapon simultaneously.

Wrestler. Ankhari have advantage against being grappled. In addition, you have advantage in checks to grapple creatures equal to or smaller than your size.

In addition, whenever an enemy that is within 5 feet and you can see, tries to hit you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to grapple the target. If you succeed the grapple check, the creature is now grappled by you. If the target succeeds in not being grappled, the creature automatically succeeds in hitting you, but you take half the damage from the roll. Once you have used this trait, you cannot use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Ankhar.

Ankhar Traits

+2 Strength, +1 Constitution, Darkvision, Natural Athlete, Powerful Build, Claws, Four-armed Prowess, Wrestler