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Garroter Crab

Tiny · Beast · CR 1/4 · Unaligned

Source. Tome of Beasts 1 (2023 Edition)

13 (natural armor)

18 (4d4 + 8)

1/4

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

-5

WIS

CHA

-4

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Tiny

Type Beast

Alignment Unaligned

XP 50

Initiative Bonus +0

Movement

Walk 20 ft (6.1 m)

Swim 10 ft (3 m)

Climb 10 ft (3 m)

Crawl 10 ft (3 m)

Senses

Darkvision 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 10

Skills

Athletics +4

Traits

Amphibious

The garroter crab can breathe air and water.

Strangling Divination

A Humanoid reduced to 0 hp while grappled by the garroter crab experiences a brief vision of the future. This effect works like the divination spell, except the reply is only as a mental vision and it can be about any specific goal, event, or activity to occur within 30 days. Once a creature has received a vision in this way, it can’t do so again for 30 days.

Actions

Whip-Claw

+4 to hit, reach 10 ft (3 m). Hit: 1d6+2 slashing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) slashing damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 12). Until this grapple ends, the target can't speak or cast spells with verbal components, and the crab can't use its Whip Claw on another target.

About Garroter Crab

Garroter Crab is a tiny beast with a Challenge Rating of 1/4. It has a unaligned alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 13 and possesses 18 hit points (derived from 4d4 + 8).

GM Tips: Using Garroter Crab

2 tips available

When using Garroter Crab in your D&D 5e campaign, consider these tactical approaches:

Minion Strategy: Use as scouts or minions for larger threats
Group Tactics: Group 3-4 together to pose a moderate threat

Player Guide: Facing Garroter Crab

2 strategies available

When your party encounters this creature, keep these strategies in mind:

Easy Target: This creature is weak - focus on other threats
Group Threat: Multiple can be dangerous - use area attacks

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 1.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 2 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 31 XP
Hard: 46 XP
Deadly: 62 XP

Based on D&D 5e Dungeon Master's Guide encounter building guidelines. CR roughly equals party level for medium encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the challenge rating of Garroter Crab?: Garroter Crab has a Challenge Rating of 1/4, making it appropriate for parties of level 0.25.
What type of creature is Garroter Crab?: Garroter Crab is a Tiny Beast, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.