The Giant Praying Mantis
The Giant Praying Mantis is one of the former Apex predators in the Crystal grove. Their consumption of the creatures in the grove enhanced their eyesight and allowed them to adapt to the rise of defensive abilities in the grove.
Unearing Accuracy
The praying mantis is an ambushing creature. It patiently waits until the perfect way to strike after identifying its targets weak spots. Their attack is quick and deadly, and usually the strike alone is enough to fell the creature. The tougher ones have it more difficult; they are eaten alive as the Mantis’ jaws feast on its flesh.
Odd Weaponry
The Giant Praying Mantis hunts silently, waiting to strike with two spiked appendages. These appendages are used to apprehend creatures within their range to its mouth, so it can start eating.
Reproduction
Reproduction of these creatures is rather dangerous for the male. When attempting to seduce a female, the male will perform a courtship. The male must generally provide the female with food, as without food, after copulation he would be the meal. A female generally lays 10-100 eggs, although many do not hatch because of predators or other circumstances.
Nerfing the Critical Strikes
The critical strikes might be too much for your party to handle, but the praying mantis seems cool? You can modify the creature’s Compound strereovision to only trigger on one of its Raptorial Appendage attacks
Clean Killers
After a feast, the Giant Praying Mantis searches for a body of water to cleans itself. Together with its mandibles and appendages, it cleans the remaining viscera of its body. This time is when the Giant Praying Mantis is most vulnerable, as it is occupied and not able to camouflage itself.
Weak body, Strong defense
The Giant Praying Mantis only wants to fight if it initiates, as its defensve prowess is lacking. as a response, the creature has developed color camouflage, and hides in plain sight against other predators. Although the Giant Praying Mantis does not have many natural predators, Crystalshard goblins tend to kill them on sight to prevent being ambushed by them.
Giant Praying Mantis (F)
Large beast, unaligned
Armor Class 12 (natural armor)
Hit Points 58 (9d10 + 9)
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
| 16 (+3) | 12 (+1) | 12 (+1) | 2 (-4) | 14 (+2) | 3 (-4) |
Senses passive perception 12
Language None
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Compound stereovision. The Giant Praying Mantis (f)’ eyes are specialized at noticing the perfect place to strike. When this creature attacks a character that it surprised by it, the strike automatically counts as a critical hit.
Camouflage. The Giant Praying Mantis (f) has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in terrain matching its color.
Living Meal. The Giant Praying Mantis (f) eats its prey alive. Its claes are specialized to hold squirming creatures in place. The Giant Praying Mantis (f) has advantage on attack rolls against creatures it has grappled.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Giant Praying Mantis (f) makes two Raptorial Appendage attacks. If it has a creature grappled, it can make one Horrid Mandibles attack .
Raptorial appendage. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 15ft., one target. Hit 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing
damage. If a creature sized medium or smaller gets hit by two raptorial appendage attacks, it is considered grappled and pulled up to 10 feet towards the creature. The creature can use its action to attempt to break free from this grapple. It must succeed on a DC 13 Strenght (Athletics) check to break free. The Giant Praying Mantis (f) can not use its Raptorial Appendages if it has a creature grappled.
Horrid Mandibles. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit 13 (4d4 + 3) piercing damage
Deimatic Display. As an action, the Giant Praying Mantis (f) performs a deimatic display of hissing and waving with its claws. Any creature within 30 feet of it must succeed on a DC 11 Wisdom (Insight) check or become frightened of the Giant Praying Mantis (f) until the start of its next turn.
Giant Prating Mantis (M)
Medium beast, unaligned
Armor Class 12 (natural armor)
Hit Points 38 (7d8 + 7)
Speed 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
| 14 (+2) | 12 (+1) | 12 (+1) | 2 (-4) | 14 (+2) | 3 (-4) |
Senses passive perception 12
Languages None
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Compound stereovision. The Giant Praying Mantis(m)’ eyes are specialized at noticing the perfect place to strike. When this creature attacks a character that it surprised by it, the strike automatically counts as a critical hit.
Camouflage. The Giant Praying Mantis (m) has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in terrain matching its color.
Living Meal. The Giant Praying Mantis (m) eats its prey alive. Its claes are specialized to hold squirming creatures in place. The Giant Praying Mantis (m) has advantage on attack rolls against creatures it has grappled.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The Giant Praying Mantis (m) makes two Raptorial Appendage attacks. If it has a creature grappled, it can make one Horrid Mandibles attack .
Raptorial appendage. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 15ft., one target. Hit 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage. If a creature sized medium or smaller gets hit by two raptorial appendage attacks, it is considered grappled and pulled up to 10 feet towards the creature. The creature can use its action to attempt to break free from this grapple. It must succeed on a DC 12 Strenght (Athletics) check to break free. The Giant Praying Mantis (m) can not use its Raptorial Appendages if it has a creature grappled.
Horrid Mandibles. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit 12 (4d4 + 3) piercing
damage
Deimatic Display. As an action, the Giant Praying Mantis (m) performs a deimatic display of hissing and waving with its claws. Any creature within 30 feet of it must succeed on a DC 11 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of the Giant Praying Mantis (m) until the end of its next turn.
