Dinosaur

Dinosaurs, or terrible lizards, are ancient reptilian beasts that may be related to dragons. Among the traits that the typical predatory dinosaur shares with many dragons are sharp teeth, a savage disposition, a well-developed sense of territory, and a ruthless drive to hunt. The herbivorous dinosaurs are not usually aggressive unless wounded or defending their young, but they may attack if startled or harassed.

Dinosaurs most often live in rugged or isolated areas that humanoids seldom visit: remote mountain valleys, inaccessible plateaus, tropical islands, and the densest jungles. They may also populate a campaign’s “lost lands.”

Combat

Dinosaurs take full advantage of their size and speed. The swift carnivores stalk prey, staying hidden in cover until they can get close enough to charge. The great herbivores frequently overrun and trample their opponents.

The statistics block below contains details for more than one shape, size, or type of this creature. Use the horizontal scrollbar below it to display the desired one or select from the links below that.

Allosaurus • Ankylosaurus • Cryptoclidus • Quetzalcoatlus • Seismosaurus • Spinosaurus

Allosaurus ⬆️

Allosaurus is a big flesh-eating dinosaur that inhabits warm areas. It eats both mammals and smaller dinosaurs.

Allosaurus is 36 feet long and weighs 1½ tons. A long tail balances its big head, S-shaped “bulldog” neck, and bulky body. It has powerful hind limbs with clawed feet and short, strong, three-fingered forelimbs with digits ending in impressive claws. The top of its head has bony ridges and bumps, and its jaws hold serrated, bladelike teeth.

Combat

Allosaurus eats everything it can catch. If its prey is too big to swallow whole, the dinosaur latches on with its powerful jaws and begins raking until the creature is dead.

Improved Grab (Ex): If allosaurus hits an opponent that is at least one size category smaller than itself with a bite attack, it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it gets a hold, it can attempt to rake in the same round, and the next round it can try to swallow the opponent. Alternatively, allosaurus has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use its jaws to hold the opponent (–⁠20 penalty on grapple check, but allosaurus is not considered grappled). In either case, each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals bite damage and allows another rake attempt.

Pounce (Ex): When allosaurus makes a charge, it can follow with a full attack, including rake attacks.

Rake (Ex): On any round that allosaurus has a hold on an opponent (see Improved Grab, above), it can make two rake attacks (+12 melee) with its hind legs for 2d8+3 points of damage each. Allosaurus can also attempt to rake when it pounces on an opponent.

Swallow Whole (Ex): Allosaurus can swallow a grabbed opponent that is at least two size categories smaller than itself by making a successful grapple check. Once inside the gullet, the opponent takes 2d8+12 points of bludgeoning damage and 1d8 points of acid damage per round from the dinosaur’s digestive juices. See Swallow Whole for escape methods and other information. A Huge allosaurus’s gullet has an AC of 20 and 25 hp and can hold 1 Medium-size, 4 Small, 16 Tiny, or 64 Diminutive or smaller opponents.

Trample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn each round, allosaurus can trample opponents at least one size category smaller than itself. This attack deals 5d8+10 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled opponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a –4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 22) for half damage. See Overrun.

Ankylosaurus ⬆️

Ankylosaurus is a heavily armored, quadrupedal herbivore. It is a versatile plant-eater, equally at home among temperate forests, humid marshes, and dry grasslands. These creatues sometimes travel in herds for added protection from larger predators.

The typical ankylosaurus is 25 to 35 feet in length, 4½ feet tall, and 7 to 8 feet wide. A bony, armored shell covered with spikes protects its back and sides, giving the dinosaur the appearance of some infernally armored siege machine. This carapace protects the dinosaur from most attacks—indeed, those who have wounded an ankylosaurus and lived to tell the tale swear that the only way to harm the beast is to strike it on its underbelly. Its wide, flat, armored head protects a tiny brain. Its four legs are quite muscular, and it can rear up on the hind pair to reach the tender leaves of some of its favorite plants. Its heavy tail is tipped with a massive club, which the ankylosaurus can swing with devastating force and accuracy. This can cause even the most determined predator to think twice before attempting to make a meal of ankylosaurus.

Combat

Ankylosaurus rarely attacks unless it or its herd is threatened. Though it is slow to action, once this dinosaur views another creature as an enemy, it fights until either it or its attacker is dead. In battle, it stands put, swinging its tail at any creature that comes within reach. If it takes 80 or more points of damage or finds itself cornered, it attempts to flee, trampling any creatures in its path.

Trample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn each round, ankylosaurus can trample opponents at least one size category smaller than itself. This attack deals 2d12+13 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled opponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a –⁠4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 23) for half damage. See Overrun.

Cryptoclidus ⬆️

Cryptoclidus is a plesiosaur, a 10-foot-long aquatic reptile much like elasmosaurus. Its neck isn’t as long, proportionately, as that of elasmosaurus, but the two creatures have similar ovoid bodies. Cryptoclidus propels itself through the water by “flapping” four paddlelike fins. Its tail is also finned.

Combat

Cryptoclidus normally hunts fish, darting its neck into traveling schools and snapping up prey with its sharp little teeth. However, it is capable of traveling on the surface of the water and occasionally seeks larger prey.

Improved Grab (Ex): If cryptoclidus hits an opponent that is at least one size category smaller than itself with a bite attack, it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it gets a hold, it can try to swallow the opponent. Alternatively, the cryptoclidus has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use its jaws to hold the opponent (–⁠20 penalty on grapple check, but cryptoclidus is not considered grappled). In either case, each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals bite damage.

Swallow Whole (Ex): Cryptoclidus can swallow a grabbed opponent that is at least two size categories smaller than itself by making a successful grapple check. Once inside the gullet, the opponent takes 1d8+4 points of bludgeoning damage plus 1d6+2 points of acid damage per round from the dinosaur’s digestive juices. See Swallow Whole for escape methods and other information. A Large cryptoclidus’s gullet has an AC of 20 and 25 hp and can hold 1 Small, 4 Tiny, or 16 Diminutive or smaller opponents.

Quetzalcoatlus ⬆️

Technically not a dinosaur, quetzalcoatlus is a massive flying reptile. This fearsome predator glides through the skies searching for meals. Although it is not averse to eating carrion, it prefers fresh meat or fish. Quetzalcoatlus has a long neck and head, and a relatively large brain. Its “wings” are flaps of skin extended and controlled by its forelimbs and specially evolved fingers.

Combat

When hunting over water, it flies low and scoops fish and aquatic reptiles from just below the water’s surface. It also attacks small land creatures when it can find them. Vulnerable to other predators while it is on the ground, quetzalcoatlus prefers to swoop down, snatch its prey in its jaws, and then struggle to regain altitude while swallowing its catch.

Swallow Whole (Ex): Quetzalcoatlus can swallow a snatched opponent that is at least two size categories smaller than itself by making a successful grapple check. Once inside the dinosaur, the opponent takes 1d8+4 points of bludgeoning damage and 1d4 points of acid damage per round from its gizzard. See Swallow Whole for escape methods and other information. A Huge quetzalcoatlus’s gizzard has an AC of 15 and 15 hp and can hold 1 Medium-size, 4 Small, 16 Tiny, or 64 Diminutive or smaller opponents.

Feats: A creature that is flung by quetzalcoatlus after being snatched travels 100 feet and takes 10d6 points of damage. If quetzalcoatlus is flying, the creature takes this damage or the appropriate falling damage, whichever is greater.

Seismosaurus ⬆️

Seismosaurus is the largest known of the dinosaurs. It feeds on plants, often defoliating several square miles of terrain within the course of a few weeks.

Seismosaurus is an immense four-legged dinosaur with a small head, a bulky body, and a long neck and tail. Its nostrils are located high up on its head.

Combat

Seismosaurus is simply too big to have natural enemies⁠—​it dwarfs even the likes of allosaurus and tyrannosaurus. Seismosaurus is more likely to inadvertently step on an opponent than to intentionally use its tail slap attack.

Trample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn each round, seismosaurus can trample opponents at least one size category smaller than itself. This attack deals 10d10+22 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled opponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a –⁠4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 41) for half damage. See Overrun.

Spinosaurus ⬆️

Spinosaurus is the largest bipedal predatory dinosaur, towering over even tyrannosaurus. It has longer arms than the latter, and it occasionally moves about on all fours. Spinosaurus also has a large, saillike, ribbed fin on its back. The purpose of this appendage is unclear, but spinosaurus has a relatively flexible spine, so when it arches its back, the sail spreads. Spinosaurus has a large head with sharp, straight, nonserrated teeth set into a powerful, crocodilelike lower jaw.

Combat

Though capable of running down prey, spinosaurus prefers to freeze opponents in their places with an unearthly, soul-searing bellow. When it must chase prey, it tramples smaller creatures and grabs larger ones with its powerful jaws while tearing with its claws.

Frightful Presence (Ex): When a spinosaurus bellows (a standard action), it inspires terror in all creatures within 30 feet that have fewer Hit Dice or levels than it has. Each potentially affected opponent must succeed at a Will save (DC 20) or become shaken for 5d6 rounds. A successful save leaves that opponent immune to that spinosaurus’s frightful presence for 24 hours.

Improved Grab (Ex): If spinosaurus hits an opponent that is at least one size category smaller than itself with a bite attack, it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it gets a hold, it can try to swallow the opponent in the next round. Alternatively, spinosaurus has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use its jaws to hold the opponent (–⁠20 penalty on grapple check, but spinosaurus is not considered grappled). In either case, each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals bite damage.

Swallow Whole (Ex): Spinosaurus can swallow a grabbed opponent that is at least two size categories smaller than itself by making a successful grapple check. Once inside the gullet, the opponent takes 2d8+10 points of bludgeoning damage plus 1d8+4 points of acid damage per round from the dinosaur’s digestive juices. See Swallow Whole for escape methods and other information. A Gargantuan spinosaurus’s gullet has an AC of 20 and 25 hp and can hold 2 Large, 8 Medium, 32 Small, or 128 Tiny or smaller opponents.

Trample (Ex): As a standard action during its turn each round, spinosaurus can trample opponents at least one size category smaller than itself. This attack deals 2d8+19 points of bludgeoning damage. A trampled opponent can attempt either an attack of opportunity at a –⁠4 penalty or a Reflex save (DC 33) for half damage. See Overrun.

Skills: Spinosaurus receives a +2 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks.

Source: Monster Manual II, page 70. These creatures’ statistics blocks have been updated to version 3.5 as given in the D&D® V.3.5 Accessory Update for Monster Manual II. Added Pounce entry to the allosaurus hinted at in its Rake entry.