Heracross (3.5e Monster)



Summary::You whack the tree with all your might, causing its branches to shake vigorously. A great beetle, roughly the size of a dwarf, falls down from its branches. The creature lands smoothly, glares at you in irritation, then charges, its horn bared for battle.

Heracross is a gigantic Hercules beetle with an amazingly powerful horn. Furthermore, it's a master of martial arts, and its physical power is truly amazing. Heracross is a naturally peaceful creature that spends its days looking for sweet things to eat. It has a penchant for smashing open Beedrill or Combee nests to get at the honey inside. Because of this, Butterfree and Beautifly frequently follow it around, so that they can get the leftovers. Heracross also enjoys eating the sap of all sorts of plants. (There have been numerous incidents of Heracross harassing Bulbasaurs by feeding upon the sap from their bulbs, and Grass-type Pokémon in general tend to have an intense dislike of Heracross.)

Combat
Heracross is an extremely competent fighter, using its horn and its forelimbs as its main weapons. It even has access to a plethora of maneuver-like abilities!

Due to possessing a climb speed, Heracross has a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks, can always take 10 even if rushed or threatened (unless dealing with a threat that specifically prevents it from doing so, such as Veles whirl), and does not need to make Climb checks at all unless faced with exceptional conditions (such as being required to climb a wall of force). When climbing trees, Heracross's racial bonus improves to +16, and when climbing objects made of wood (such as wooden walls) or objects similar in shape to a tree (such as pillars), the racial bonus is improved to +12. (However, Heracross seldom needs to make a Climb check when climbing trees).

 (Ex): Heracross's gore attack is treated as though it has Augment Critical and Improved Natural Attack. This is a [Bug] effect.

 (Ex): As a standard action, Heracross may attack all enemies within 10 feet of itself with each of its natural weapons. Once it does this, however, it becomes fatigued. If it uses Close Combat while already fatigued, it becomes exhausted. Close Combat cannot be used while exhausted. This is a [Fighting] effect.

 (Su): With a standard action, Heracross can cause hardened granite to form around its horn in an unusually sharp "blade" of stone and strike a foe. It makes a regular gore attack, and if it hits, it deals an additional 10d6 damage. It threatens a critical hit on a 16-20 (11-20 if it takes Improved Critical), but the bonus damage is of course not multiplied. If it hits, the stone shatters, so the ability must be activated again with a standard action. If it misses, it remains in effect for future attacks, until it successfully hits. This is a [Rock] attack. In a Contest, if it wins a point it automatically gains a massive success, gaining an extra point and raising the DC.




 *  (Ex): As a standard action, Heracross may make a single melee attack that is guaranteed to hit, but takes a -4 penalty to damage. It still rolls to determine whether or not it scored a critical hit. This is a Strike maneuver-like ability. This is a [Flying] effect.


 *  (Ex): As a swift action, Heracross may cloak its horn in shadow, rending at the enemy's flesh with its attack. Its threat range for its horn is increased by 3 for 1 round. Unlike most such abilities, this does stack with any other effect that provides a boost to threat range (including Megahorn). This is a Boost maneuver-like ability. This is a [Dark] effect, and is considered a [ Darkness ] effect for non-Pokémon-related in-game purposes.

 (Ex): Heracross may use indominability as a swift action once per minute. This is an extraordinary ability, so it cannot be dispelled or suppressed by an antimagic field. Unlike the spell, the duration of Endure is only 1 round.

 (Ex): Heracross merely gets stronger when afflicted with status problems. It is immune to Strength damage, drain, or penalty, and never takes a penalty to melee attack or damage rolls except as a result of its own abilities (such as aerial ace).. Whenever suffering from poison, blindness, disease, sickening, or other detrimental effects, it has a +8 Morale bonus to Strength.

 : Even though it's able to fly itself, Heracross is poorly-suited to aerial combat. It takes a &minus;10 penalty to all saving throws against [Flying] effects. If a [Flying] effect doesn't allow a saving throw, Heracross takes double damage and is sad.