Cactant

This creature appears to be a gigantic animated cactus covered in many sharp needles.

Cactant (CR 6)

Huge Plant
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Initiative: +2
Senses: Low-Light Vision; Perception +14

Speed: 30 feet
Space: 15 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 19, touch 10, flat-footed 17 (+2 Dex, +9 natural, -2 size)
Hit Points: 76 (9d8+36)
Saving Throws: Fort +10, Ref +5, Will +7
Damage Reduction: 10/slashing
Immunity: plant traits
Weaknesses: vulnerability to fire

Offense

Melee: 2 slams +11 (1d8+7 plus bleed)
Reach: 15 feet
Ranged: rock +7 (2d6+10)

Special Attacks: Bleed (1d4), needles, needle storm, Rock Throwing (150 ft.)

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
25 (+7)	14 (+2)	19 (+4)	12 (+1)	15 (+2)	12 (+1)

Base Attack Bonus: +6
CMB +15
CMD 27

Feats: Alertness, Cleave, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Perception)

Skills: Diplomacy +5, Intimidate +5, Knowledge (nature) +5, Perception +14, Sense Motive +7, Stealth +1, Survival +6

Languages: Cactant, Common, Sylvan

Special Qualities: animate plants, double damage against objects, plantspeech

Special Abilities

Animate Plants (Sp)

A plant guardian can animate any plants of the same type within 180 feet at will, controlling up to two such plants at a time. It takes 1 full round for the plant to uproot itself, after which it moves at a speed of 10 feet and fights as a plant of the same type as the one animating it (exceptions are noted in each entry below), gaining the plant guardian's vulnerability to fire. If the plant guardian that animated it terminates the animation, moves out of range, or is incapacitated, the plant immediately takes root wherever it is and returns to its normal state.

Double Damage against Objects (Ex)

A plant guardian or animated tree that makes a full attack against an object or structure deals double damage.

Plantspeech (Ex)

A plant guardian has the ability to converse with plants as if subject to a continual speak with plants spell, and most plants greet them with an attitude of friendly or helpful.

Needles (Ex)

The body and limbs of a cactant are covered in the characteristic needles of a cactus, and deal 1d4 bleed damage with a slam attack. Any creature grappling a cactant or attacking it with a natural weapon automatically takes bleed damage.

Needle Storm (Ex)

Once per round as a standard action, a cactant can release a hail of needles in a 30-foot-radius burst. Creatures caught in the area take 7d6 points of piercing damage and 2d4 bleed damage. A successful DC 18 Reflex save reduces the damage by half and negates the bleed damage. A cactant can use this ability once every 1d4 rounds, and no more than five times per day. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Ecology

Environment: Warm Deserts
Organization: solitary or grove (2-7)
Treasure: standard


The cactants are the plant guardians of hot, dry deserts.

A cactant resembles a large saguaro cactus with thick arms.