
Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

Pathfinder RPG (1st Edition) Pathfinder RPG (2nd Edition) Starfinder RPG

All Creatures
Abilities | Monsters | NPCs
All | Families | Templates
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

PFS StandardDesert Giant

Desert giants are nomadic humanoids who have dwelled in the world's most arid regions since time immemorial. Smaller peoples know that desert giants are the undisputed masters of desert living, and ignorant humans often claim that it is a desert giant's unique physiology, like a camel, that enables them to survive without water for 2 weeks. The few desert giants who mingle in the societies of smaller humanoids don't bother to dispute such ridiculous rumors.

In fact, desert giants' strong cultural traditions play a large part in their ability to prosper in such harsh environs. Desert giant elders encourage their descendants to maintain abstemious lifestyles, particularly with regard to the consumption of food and drink. Alcohol is particularly disdained by desert giants, who view mind-altering diuretics like liquor and ale as dangerous temptations in an environment as unforgiving as the desert. Instead, most desert giants follow a simple vegetarian diet and maintain an incredible internal map of their home region's seasonal waterways and oases.

Their austere habits and intolerance for foolishness have earned desert giants a reputation as being ill-humored and no-nonsense, but many of their communities boast a wide variety of humorous tales in their vast oral histories and legends. Since desert giants' journeys across the wastes can span weeks or even months at a time, an individual who can make their companions laugh with a witty joke or amusing parable remains a prized member of the community.

Desert giants stand 15 feet tall, tending toward lean physiques that are ideal for traveling across vast expanses of sand for long sojourns.

Recall Knowledge - Humanoid (Society): DC 26
Unspecific Lore: DC 24
Specific Lore: DC 21

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Changes from being Weak are marked in red below.
NOTE: The -2 damage penalty to non-strike offensive abilities (-4 if the ability is limited, such as spells) is NOT factored in.

Weak Desert GiantCreature 8

Legacy Content

LN Large Giant Humanoid 
Source Bestiary 3 pg. 109
Perception +19
Languages Common, Jotun
Skills Acrobatics +19, Desert Lore +16, Intimidation +13, Survival +17
Str +6, Dex +6, Con +5, Int +3, Wis +4, Cha +0
Items +1 striking scimitar, doubling rings, leather armor, sack with 5 rocks, scimitar
AC 25; Fort +16, Ref +19, Will +13
HP 165
Catch Rock [reaction]
Speed 40 feet
Melee [one-action] scimitar +19 [+14/+9] (forceful, magical, reach 10 feet, sweep), Damage 2d6-2+12 slashingRanged [one-action] rock +17 [+12/+7] (brutal, range increment 120 feet), Damage 2d8-2+12 bludgeoningSand Spin [one-action] Requirements The desert giant is standing in sandy terrain; Effect The desert giant spins around and stirs up loose sand in a 10-foot emanation. Until the beginning of the giant's next turn, creatures in the area are concealed, and other creatures are concealed to them.Sandwalking Desert giants have adapted to the loose sands of the desert and can move across them with ease. Desert giants ignore non-magical difficult terrain and uneven ground caused by sand.Scimitar Blitz [two-actions] The desert giant Strides up to their Speed, Striking once with each of their scimitars at any point during the movement.Throw Rock [one-action]

Sidebar - Locations Oasis Protectors

Desert giants are keenly aware of their native environs' fragile ecosystem. They fiercely protect their favorite watering holes and ancestral oases from newcomers— from humans to divs— who might despoil the local flora or chase away scarce fauna.

All Monsters in "Giant"

NameLevel
Cave Giant6
Cloud Giant11
Desert Giant9
Fire Giant10
Frost Giant9
Hill Giant7
Marsh Giant8
Plague Giant14
Rune Giant16
Shadow Giant13
Giant, Smog7
Stone Giant8
Storm Giant13
Taiga Giant12
Tomb Giant12
Wood Giant6

Giant

Source Bestiary pg. 170
Giants are massive humanoid creatures who live in remote regions throughout the world. They are divided into a number of subtypes.

Sidebar - Treasure and Rewards Giant Bags

Giants often keep an eclectic collection of treasures in their knapsacks or bags. Among these can be found a staggeringly wide range of unexpected and odd treasures and valuables.

Sidebar - Locations Giant Locations

As oversized as they are, giants tend to dwell in remote regions of the world, where they have the luxury of claiming larger territories of their own.

Sidebar - Related Creatures Giant Pets

As with many people, giants enjoy keeping pets. Yet for giants, what constitutes a pet is often categorized as beast to others. Large animals like bears and lions, and megafauna like woolly mammoths and dinosaurs are popular, as are more magical creatures like hell hounds, manticores, griffons, and the like.

Sidebar - Related Creatures Other Giants

Beyond the giants detailed here, many others dwell in remote regions of the world. Marsh giants are cultists who worship strange sea deities, shadow giants have ties to the Shadow Plane, and mountain giants are horrific butchers even other giants fear.

Sidebar - Advice and Rules Oversized Themes

Giants are larger-than-life foes. While many giants have themes that tie them to elemental or magical forces, the primary theme giants share is that they embody a classic cultural trope as their basis. Fire giants, for example, can be seen as oversized smiths, while hill giants should evoke the flavor of an oversized bully.