This housecat-sized beetle is a dull brown color brightened by two glowing green-yellow spots on its carapace.
Fire Beetle CR 1/3
XP 135
N Small vermin
Init +0; Senses low-light vision; Perception +0
Defense
AC 12, touch 11, flat-footed 12 (+1 natural, +1 size)
hp 4 (1d8)
Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +0
Immune mind-affecting effects
Offense
Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft. (poor)
Melee bite +1 (1d4)
Statistics
Str 10, Dex 11, Con 11, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 7
Base Atk +0; CMB –1; CMD 9 (17 vs. trip)
Skills Fly –2
SQ luminescence
Ecology
Environment any
Organization solitary, cluster (2–6) or colony (7–12)
Treasure none
Special Abilities
Luminescence (Ex) A fire beetle's glowing glands provide light in a 10-foot radius. A dead fire beetle's luminescent glands continue to glow for 1d6 days after its death.
Although nocturnal, the fire beetle lacks darkvision—it relies on its own glowing glands for illumination. Caged fire beetles are a popular source of long-lasting illumination among eccentrics and miners.
Other variations on the common fire beetle exist. The two most common variants are detailed below.
Mining Beetle (CR 1/2): A mining beetle is an advanced fire beetle with the advanced simple template and a burrowing speed of 20 feet.
Flash Beetle (CR 1/2): A flash beetle is an advanced fire beetle that can create a bright flash of light once an hour. When a flash beetle does so, all creatures in a 10-foot burst must make a DC 12 Fortitude save or be dazzled for 1d3 rounds. The save DC is Constitution-based.
With a sleek body and huge mandibles raised in a threatening pose, this large beetle stands firm in defense of its territory.
Giant Stag Beetle CR 4
XP 1,200
N Large vermin
Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +0
Defense
AC 17, touch 9, flat-footed 17 (+8 natural, –1 size)
hp 45 (7d8+14)
Fort +7, Ref +2, Will +2
Immune mind-affecting effects
Offense
Speed 20 ft., fly 20 ft. (poor)
Melee bite +8 (2d8+6)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks trample (1d6+6, DC 17)
Statistics
Str 19, Dex 10, Con 15, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 9
Base Atk +5; CMB +10; CMD 20 (28 vs. trip)
Skills Fly –6
Ecology
Environment temperate forests
Organization solitary, pair, or cluster (3–6)
Treasure none
Nearly 10 feet long, giant stag beetles become serious dangers when they wander into logging camps due to their appetite for decaying wood. Called stag beetles because of their large, antler-like mandibles, they use these appendages to wrestle competing suitors and quickly put down enemy threats.
Variant species of these giant beetles exist as well. The two detailed below are the ones most commonly encountered.
Bombardier Beetle (CR 2): This giant stag beetle has only 2 Hit Dice and is Medium sized, but can spray acid once per round in a 10-foot cone. Those in the cone must make a DC 11 Fortitude save or take 1d4+2 points of acid damage. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Goliath Beetle (CR 8): The immense goliath beetle is a Huge stag beetle with 12 HD and the trample special ability.
