Coral-Antlered Strand Crab

large beast, unaligned

D&D 5.5 / SRD 5.2

Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Available with DM subscription
STR
16 (+3)
DEX
13 (+1)
CON
14 (+2)
INT
2 (-4)
WIS
12 (+1)
CHA
6 (-2)

Defense

Armor Class
15 (natural armor)
Hit Points
45 (6d10 + 12 +2)
Speed
30 ft., swim 20 ft.

Treasure & Loot Common

No significant treasure

Proficiencies & Senses

Saving Throws —
Skills
Stealth +3, Perception +3
Senses
darkvision 30 ft.
passive Perception 13

Characteristics

Damage Vulnerabilities
—
Damage Resistances
—
Damage Immunities
—
Condition Immunities
—
Languages —

Traits and Actions

Bone Camouflage

Trait
Stealth Rule
The crab has Advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide while it is on the Strand of Bones, where its bone-white shell blends with the litter of skeletons.

Crushing Grip

Trait
Grappling Custom
The crab has Advantage on ability checks made to grapple a creature or to maintain a grapple.

Grappling. The trait modifies the crab's ability checks to start and hold a grapple.

Multiattack

Action
The crab makes one Claw attack and one Antler Gore attack.

Claw

Action
Grappled Condition
Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) Bludgeoning damage, and the target has the Grappled condition (escape DC 13). The crab has one oversized claw.

Antler Gore

Action
Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) Piercing damage.

Shell Slam

Bonus Action
Grappled Condition
The crab slams its coral-crusted shell into one creature it is grappling. That creature must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or take 3 (1d6) Bludgeoning damage.

Running the encounter

Combat Behavior

Tactics

  • Hides among bones using Bone Camouflage, then ambushes the nearest isolated target.
  • Grapples with its oversized Claw and drags prey toward the strand's shrine while Shell Slam wears it down.
  • Pairs with a Chorus patrol, letting the patrol flank while the crab pins a defender.

Combat Style

Ambush grappler that pins one victim and drags it away from the party.

Morale

Fights while prey is grappled; releases and scuttles to the surf if reduced below half its Hit Points.

Appearance & presence

Monster Description

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