Monster Dossier

Chimera

Chimera KOBOLD ADORATION Some kobold groups are fond of chimera guardians or pets, but few kobolds have the bravery or resources to keep a chimera happy...

Level 8

Traits

uncommoncelargebeast

Rules & statistics

Monster Profile

Perception

16

Senses

  • Name
    darkvision
  • Type
    imprecise
    Name
    scent
    Range
    30

Languages

Languages
  • draconic

Skills

Acrobatics
14
Athletics
18
Stealth
18

Ability Mods

Str
6
Dex
2
Con
4
Int
-3
Wis
2
Cha
0

Defenses

Ac
27
Saving Throws
Fort
18
Ref
16
Will
14
Hp
  • Hp
    135

Speed

Walk
25
Fly
40

Attacks

  • Range
    Melee
    Name
    dragon jaws
    Attack
    20
    Damage
    2d6+9 piercing plus 2d6 energy damage (see draconic bite)
    Types
    • energy
    • piercing
  • Range
    Melee
    Name
    lion jaws
    Attack
    20
    Damage
    2d10+9 piercing
    Types
    • piercing
  • Range
    Melee
    Name
    goat horns
    Attack
    20
    Damage
    2d10+9 piercing
    Types
    • piercing
  • Range
    Melee
    Name
    claw
    Attack
    20
    Traits
    • agile
    Damage
    2d6+9 slashing
    Types
    • slashing

Abilities

Mid
  • Entries
    • Any ability that would sever a chimera's head (such as a critical hit with a vorpal weapon) severs one head at random. Losing a head doesn't kill a chimera (as long as it has one head left), but it does prevent it from making Strike||Strikes with the lost head or using the head's Breath Weapon.
    Name
    Three Headed
  • Entries
    • A chimera gains 2 extra reactions each round that it can use only to make Attacks of Opportunity. It must use a different head for each reaction, and it can't use more than one on the same triggering action. If it loses one of its heads, it also loses one of these extra reactions.
    Name
    Triple Opportunity
  • Activity
    Number
    1
    Unit
    reaction
    Name
    Attack of Opportunity
Bot
  • Activity
    Number
    2
    Unit
    action
    Traits
    • arcane
    • evocation
    Entries
    • The chimera breathes a cone or line that deals 9d6 damage to all creatures in the area (26 basic save of a type indicated below). The color of the chimera's dragon head determines the area of the Breath Weapon, the type of damage it deals, and the type of save to avoid it. The chimera can't use Breath Weapon again for 1d4 rounds.
    • Type
      list
      Items
      • Black 60-foot line of acid (Reflex)
      • Blue 60-foot line of electricity (Reflex)
      • Green 30-foot cone of poison (Fortitude)
      • Red 30-foot cone of fire (Reflex)
      • White 30-foot cone of cold (Reflex)
    Name
    Breath Weapon
  • Entries
    • A chimera's dragon head deals an extra 2d6 damage of a type matching the dragon's color (see Breath Weapon).
    Name
    Draconic Bite
  • Activity
    Number
    2
    Unit
    action
    Entries
    • The chimera makes a Strike with its dragon jaws, lion jaws, and goat horns, each at a –2 penalty and targeting a different creature. These Strike||Strikes count as only one attack for the chimera's multiple attack penalty, and the penalty doesn't increase until after it has made all three attacks.
    Name
    Three-Headed Strike

Background

Lore

Chimera

KOBOLD ADORATION

Some kobold groups are fond of chimera guardians or pets, but few kobolds have the bravery or resources to keep a chimera happy for long. While chimeras are often pressed into service by more intelligent creatures, it's also not unheard of for a chimera to keep a herd of unintelligent animals—lions, goats, or even serpents—as both companions and food supply.

The chimera is the archetypal example of an unnatural monster made up of a monstrous mix of wildly different component creatures: in this case, a lion, a dragon, and a goat. Wild, hateful, and hungry, it tries to eat any creature it sees, but sometimes a strong-willed master is able to compel a chimera to serve as a guardian or even a mount.