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Deadly Mantis

Creature 11 — animal

CrasherSnareLANDVERTICALanimal

These gigantic mantids make their homes within prehistoric forests. These predators possess lightning-quick forelegs and a bone-breaking bite.

Source: pathfinder-monster-core

Perception +20; darkvision
Skills acrobatics +18, athletics +25, stealth +22
Str
+8
Dex
+3
Con
+5
Int
-5
Wis
+3
Cha
-2
AC 31 Fort +24 Ref +20 Will +18
HP 220
Speed 50 feet, climb 50 feet

Offense

Melee Mandibles (reach-10) +25, Damage 2d12+14 piercing
Melee Leg (agile, reach-20) +24, Damage 2d10+14 piercing plus Grab

Abilities

Fling — The deadly mantis flings a Grabbed creature into the air, up to 30 feet overhead and up to 30 feet away from the mantis (the creature takes damage from the fall as normal). If the flung creature lands on another creature, the creature it lands on takes the same amount of bludgeoning damage with a DC 31 Reflex save.
Leaping Grab — The mantis Leaps up to 40 feet vertically and 20 feet horizontally. At any point during the jump, it can make a leg Strike. If it hits, it automatically Grabs the target, bringing the creature along until the end of the jump.
Rending Mandibles — The mantis makes a mandibles Strike against a creature it has Grabbed. If that Strike hits and the creature is wearing armor with Hardness 12 or lower, the armor is broken. This Strike doesn't further damage armor that's already broken.
Sudden Strike — On the first round of combat, creatures that haven't acted are Off-Guard to the deadly mantis.
Grab

WORKS WELL WITH

AnvilLAND / VERTICALA durable frontline pins attention at ground level while the mantis leaps in from above for the alpha strike.
SniperLAND / VERTICALRanged damage finishes off a target the mantis has flung or grabbed out of position.
WeaverLANDA caster's save-lowering debuff makes the mantis's Leaping Grab more likely to land on the opening round.

PUNISHES

✖ slow to act✖ isolated targets✖ armor reliance
Avoid stacking with another burst alpha-striker; both want the same undefended opening round.
Works well with · Punishes · Pairing advice Unlock with Tactics

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Stat block data sourced from the Foundry VTT PF2E system under the Apache License 2.0. Source book: Pathfinder Monster Core.

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