Giant Toad
Large Beast, unaligned
200 XP
Special Abilities
Amphibious
The toad can breathe air and water
Standing Leap
The toad's long jump is up to 20 ft. and its high jump is up to 10 ft., with or without a running start.
Actions
Bite
Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d10 + 2) piercing damage plus 5 (1d10) poison damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 13). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the toad can't bite another target.
Swallow
The toad makes one bite attack against a Medium or smaller target it is grappling. If the attack hits, the target is swallowed, and the grapple ends. The swallowed target is blinded and restrained, it has total cover against attacks and other effects outside the toad, and it takes 10 (3d6) acid damage at the start of each of the toad's turns. The toad can have only one target swallowed at a time.
If the toad dies, a swallowed creature is no longer restrained by it and can escape from the corpse using 5 feet of movement, exiting prone.
Quick Reference
Running This Encounter
Giant Toads are deceptively dangerous ambush predators that leverage their impressive swim speed and low AC to create dynamic aquatic or swamp encounters. Their primary threat comes from their powerful bite and swallowing ability, which can instantly remove a PC from combat. Position them in murky water or dense vegetation where they gain advantage on hiding, then have them emerge to attack the most isolated party member. The threat of being swallowed whole creates memorable tension and forces tactical decisions about formation and positioning.
Combat Tactics
Giant Toads prioritize closing distance to melee range, then attempt to bite and swallow smaller opponents (Medium or smaller creatures). Once a creature is swallowed, the toad ignores other threats and focuses on escaping pursuit. If threatened by multiple foes or reduced below half health, the toad uses its superior swim speed (40 ft) to withdraw into deep water or murky terrain, relying on its camouflage to break line of sight.
Environment & Setting
Giant Toads thrive in swamps, marshes, shallow lakes, and flooded ruins where they can move freely through water while remaining partially submerged. Encounters work best in terrain with difficult ground, vegetation, or murky water that provides cover and limits visibility to 30-40 feet.