
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 StandardCarbuncle

Never have legend and misinformation met upon a more inauspicious brow than that of the lowly carbuncle. At first glance, carbuncles appear to be little more than ungainly reptiles. What sets them apart is their strange magical abilities and the gemstone-like horn protruding from between their goggling eyes. Although rumors suggest various uses for carbuncle horns, ranging from miracle cure-alls to potent magical components, the truth is much more mundane: a carbuncle's horn is merely a highly reflective growth, not unlike a fingernail.

Recall Knowledge - Beast (Arcana, Nature): DC 20
Unspecific Lore: DC 18
Specific Lore: DC 15

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 CarbuncleCreature -1

Legacy Content

Rare N Tiny Beast 
Source Bestiary 2 pg. 47 2.0
Perception +7; darkvision
Languages carbuncle empathy 30 feet
Skills Stealth +1 (+5 in grass or undergrowth), Survival +4
Str -3, Dex +0, Con +3, Int -2, Wis +3, Cha +0
Carbuncle Empathy The carbuncle can telepathically send mild feelings and sensations to nearby creatures. It can't use this ability to communicate in language or hinder a target, but it might convey a feeling of dread or the scent of food cooking nearby.
AC 14; Fort +6, Ref +1, Will +4
HP 10
Easy to Influence Any mental spell can affect a carbuncle, regardless of creature type limitations. Against a suggestion spell, a carbuncle always gets an outcome one degree of success worse than it rolled on its saving throw.Fatal Faker [reaction] (arcane, conjuration, teleportation) Trigger The carbuncle takes damage; Effect The carbuncle feigns death by teleporting away and leaving a replica of its corpse behind, creating a colorful flash of light and a croaking sound. The real carbuncle transports to a clear space within 30 feet that it can see, and a hollow shell remains behind. The fake body appears solid until it is touched, at which point it crumbles to dust.
Speed 15 feet
Melee [one-action] jaws +3 [-2/-7] (finesse), Damage 1d6-2 piercingPrimal Innate Spells DC 16 (-4 dmg); 3rd levitate (at will; self only); 1st jump (at will); Cantrips (1st) daze
Specious Suggestion [two-actions] (enchantment, incapacitation, mental) Frequency three times per day; Effect The carbuncle concentrates on a creature it can see and tries to manipulate that creature. The target must attempt a DC 16 Will save. The target then becomes temporarily immune for 24 hours.
Critical Success The attempt backfires and bolsters the target's mind instead, granting it a +1 status bonus to Will saving throws for 1 hour.
Success The target briefly experiences an unusual but harmless sensation like an unexpected flavor or scent, an urge to eat something strange, or an amusing half-forgotten memory.
Failure The target is compelled to spend all of its actions on its next turn performing harmless, pointless, and usually embarrassing actions.
Critical Failure As failure, but the compulsion persists for 1 minute. The target can attempt a new save at the end of its turn each round to end the effect.

Sidebar - Additional Lore Carbuncle Chatter

“A lizard with an apple-sized gem sticking out of its forehead? Wishful thinking!”

“Carbuncles are real! I almost caught one, but even though it could barely walk, its magic allowed it to escape my clutches.”

“Their mind control powers could make them useful familiars, but if you ever catch one, it dies of fright.”

“My advice is to stay away from these pests. They drink your hopes and aspirations through their horns, leaving you empty except for bad luck and bellyaches.”

“Planning a carbuncle hunt? You'd better leave your self-respect at home, and be ready to emerge with fewer friends than you had at the start!”