Giant Rat

Monster Manual - 5e, D&D Basic Rules

Basic Information

Anatomy

A giant rat can bite with its mouth to attack. ^{[1] [2]}

Additional Information

Social Structure

Giant rats attack as a pack to take down prey. ^{[1] [2]}

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Giant rats have a keen sense of smell, and darkvision to a range of 60 ft. ^{[1] [2]}

References

1. ^Monster Manual (5e) (2014), p.327.
2. ^D&D Basic Rules (November, 2018), p.135.

NOTICE
Giant rats have been sighted throughout the city. Anyone bitten by a giant rat should visit a temple or Shrine for ministration and prayer.

The city hereby offers a silver coin for each giant rat slain within its walls. To receive payment, evidence must be delivered to the watch captain at the docks between highsun and dusk.

Contents

Parent Article

• Miscellaneous Creatures

Variant: Diseased Giant Rats

Some giant rats carry vile diseases that they spread with their bites. A diseased giant rat has a challenge rating of 1/8 (25 XP) and the following action instead of its normal bite attack.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or contract a disease. Until the disease is cured, the target can’t regain hit points except by magical means, and the target’s hit point maximum decreases by 3 (1d6) every 24 hours. If the target’s hit point maximum drops to 0 as a result of this disease, the target dies.

Variant Statblock

• Diseased Giant Rat

Stat Block

See below ^[1]

Giant Rat

Small beast, unaligned

Armor Class 12

Hit Points 7 ( 2d6 )

Speed 30 ft.

STR

7 -2

DEX

15 +2

CON

11 +0

INT

2 -4

WIS

10 +0

CHA

4 -3

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10

Languages —

Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)

Keen Smell. The rat has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

Pack Tactics. The rat has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the rat’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.

Actions

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 ( 1d4 + 2 ) piercing damage.

Suggested Terrain farmland, forest, swamp, Underdark, urban

Sources Monster Manual - 5e, D&D Basic Rules