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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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PFS StandardGiant Monitor Lizard

Large and seemingly ponderous, a monitor lizard is a deceptively swift and ruthless predator. It ambushes its prey by rushing out from cover and biting the target with its powerful jaws. A giant monitor lizard’s saliva is venomous, allowing it to bring down prey larger than it can easily haul away in its jaws. Giant monitor lizards grow up to 14 feet long, including their long tails, and they weigh about 350 pounds. Their bodies are normally dark brown with patches of yellow or green. When nesting, a giant monitor lizard digs a deep burrow to hide in. The burrow serves as both a safe haven and a location from which the lizard can ambush larger prey such as deer, boars, or even humanoids. A giant monitor lizard can consume nearly its own body weight in a single meal, and its loosely articulated jaws allow it to swallow surprisingly large prey.

Recall Knowledge - Animal (Nature): DC 16
Unspecific Lore: DC 14
Specific Lore: DC 11

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Giant Monitor LizardCreature 2

Legacy Content

N Medium Animal 
Source Bestiary pg. 229
Perception +5; low-light vision, scent (imprecise) 30 feet
Skills Acrobatics +4, Athletics +7, Stealth +4
Str +3, Dex +2, Con +3, Int -4, Wis +1, Cha -2
AC 16; Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +3
HP 30
Gnashing Grip [reaction] Trigger A creature grabbed by the giant monitor lizard’s jaws fails a check to Escape. Eflect The giant monitor lizard’s jaws deal 1d6 piercing damage and the triggering creature is exposed to monitor lizard venom.
Speed 30 feet, swim 30 feet
Melee [one-action] jaws +9 [+4/-1], Damage 1d10+3 piercing plus Grab and monitor lizard venomLurching Charge [two-actions] The giant monitor lizard Strides twice and then makes a jaws Strike. If the lizard moved at least 20 feet away from its starting position, it gains a +2 circumstance bonus to this attack roll.Monitor Lizard Venom (poison) Saving Throw DC 15 Fortitude; Maximum Duration 6 rounds; Stage 1 enfeebled 1 (1 round); Stage 2 1d6 poison damage and enfeebled 2 (1 round)

All Monsters in "Lizard"

NameLevel
Caustic Monitor13
Giant Chameleon3
Giant Frilled Lizard5
Giant Gecko1
Giant Monitor Lizard2
Megalania7

Lizard

Source Bestiary pg. 228
Lizards have a wide range of appearances and abilities, but most share a basic reptilian shape—long tails, wide toothy mouths, and four legs. While a few species are capable of movement on two legs for short periods of time, most are strictly quadrupedal. The three species presented here represent the most common and well-known of the larger species.

Sidebar - Locations Lizard Locations

Giant lizards can be found in all temperate or tropical climates, often in relatively close proximity to smaller villages or rural regions where they can be a dangerous threat to livestock or travelers. The two lizards presented here tend to dwell in warmer regions— jungles for giant chameleons, and savannas for megalanias.

Sidebar - Related Creatures Lizards and Lizardfolk

Giant lizards are often used as mounts or guardians or kept as pets, but never so often or as traditionally as they are by lizardfolk. The kinship these people share with giant lizards is unmistakable, valuing their companionship to an extent that equals or even exceeds that which other societies have for popular animal companions like dogs and horses.

Sidebar - Related Creatures Other Giant Lizards

The three species of giant lizard presented here are but the most common of their kind encountered in the wilds. Stories of much larger lizards persist, including the immense, 20-foot-long monster known as a megalania, a truly enormous version of the giant monitor lizard capable of swallowing creatures whole. Less dangerous is the giant chameleon, although its ability to blend into its environs makes it a much more insidious and stealthy threat than the lumbering, mighty megalania.