This lumbering hard-shelled crab stands as tall as a dwarf, its massive pincers waving menacingly.
Giant Crab CR 2
XP 600
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +4
Defense
AC 16, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (+1 Dex, +5 natural)
hp 19 (3d8+6)
Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +1
Immune mind-affecting effects
Offense
Speed 30 ft., swim 20 ft.
Melee 2 claws +4 (1d4+2 plus grab)
Special Attacks constrict (1d4+2)
Statistics
Str 15, Dex 13, Con 14, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2
Base Atk +2; CMB +4 (+8 grapple); CMD 15 (27 vs. trip)
Skills Perception +4, Swim +10; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception
SQ water dependency
Ecology
Environment any aquatic
Organization solitary or cast (2–12)
Treasure none
Special Abilities
Water Dependency (Ex) Giant crabs can survive out of the water for 1 hour per point of Constitution. Beyond this limit, a giant crab runs the risk of suffocation, as if it were drowning.
Giant crabs behave much like their smaller cousins, feeding on both plant material like algae and fungus and animal matter such as fish, seabirds, and even unwary humanoids. The coloration of a giant crab's hard exoskeleton varies widely depending on species, and over time even shifts in response to its diet.
Other species of giant crab exist as well, some smaller but most quite a bit larger. You can adjust the stats given here by changing Hit Dice and size (changing Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution as appropriate) to represent a wide range of different species of giant crab. The following table lists the most common variants.
| Species | CR | Size | HD |
|---|---|---|---|
| King crab | 1/4 | Tiny | 1d8 |
| Coconut crab | 1/2 | Small | 1d8 |
| Rock crab | 4 | Large | 5d8 |
| Shark-eating crab | 7 | Huge | 8d8 |
| Great reef crab | 10 | Gargantuan | 11d8 |
| Shipwrecker crab | 13 | Colossal | 14d8 |
A writhing mass of clacking shells and snapping pincers rushes from the surf, their spider-like legs twitching across the sand.
Crab Swarm CR 4
XP 1,200
N Diminutive vermin (aquatic, swarm)
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +0
Defense
AC 18, touch 16, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dex, +2 natural, +4 size)
hp 38 (7d8+7)
Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +2
Immune mind-affecting effects, swarm traits, weapon damage
Offense
Speed 30 ft., swim 20 ft.
Melee swarm (2d6)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks distraction (DC 14)
Statistics
Str 1, Dex 14, Con 13, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2
Base Atk +5; CMB —; CMD —
Skills Swim +10; Racial Modifiers uses Dex to modify Swim
Ecology
Environment any aquatic
Organization solitary, pair, or wave (3–8 swarms)
Treasure none
Crab swarms contain over a thousand normal-sized crabs that rush over their victims, plucking flesh with thousands of pinching claws. Some fishermen claim tides and phases of the moon cause these creatures to swarm as they do.