Library / Bestiary

Jubjub Bird

CR 15.00 Magical Beast N Huge
This enormous bird has a lizardlike tail and bright purple feathers on its back and wings; the rest of its body is bare and scaly.

The jubjub bird is a rare and dangerous bird that resembles a giant dodo bird, but with long, muscular legs and wings that provide functional, if awkward, flight. When attacked with magic, a jubjub bird's plumage shifts randomly in hue and pattern with each spell hurled against it.

Like the bandersnatch and other legendary creatures such as the jabberwock, the jubjub bird originally hails from the primal world of the fey. It has the dubious honor of being the least powerful and least intelligent of these creatures, which are known collectively as the “Tane,” yet one should never assume that the jubjub bird is a pushover—its penchant for snapping off heads with its razor-sharp beak can quickly put such ideas to rest.

Powerful fey sometimes keep jubjub birds as guardians, and there are even reports of giants (particularly powerful tribes of jungle giants) using them as mounts. Such avian allies must be carefully trained, for few giants and fey are able to comfortably exist alongside a creature so prone to uttering such stunning shrieks so often.

Jubjub birds stand about 20 feet tall and weigh roughly 6,000 pounds.

STR
37
DEX
15
CON
22
INT
2
WIS
16
CHA
13
HP
230 (20d10+120); fast healing 10
AC
31, touch 11, flat-footed 28 (+2 Dex, +1 dodge, +20 natural, -2 size)
Speed
50 ft., fly 20 ft. (poor)
Init
+2
Melee
bite +31 (3d6+19/19-20/×3 plus grab), 2 talons +31 (1d8+13)
Space
15 ft.
Reach
15 ft. (20 ft. with bite)
BAB
+20
CMB
+35 (+39 grapple)
CMD
48
Fort
+18
Ref
+14
Will
+11
SR
26
Defensive Abilities
adaptive defense
Racial Modifiers
+12 Acrobatics, +8 Perception

Deadly Bite — A jubjub bird applies 1-1/2 times its Strength modifier to damage dealt by its bite attack. A successful critical hit decapitates and instantly slays a Large or smaller victim (DC 33 Fortitude negates decapitation; creatures without a head are immune to this effect) and deals triple normal damage regardless of the decapitation result. The save DC is Strength-based.

Shriek — Once every 1d6 rounds as a standard action, a jubjub bird can voice a piercing screech. All creatures (other than jubjub birds) within a 60-foot-radius spread must succeed at a DC 26 Fortitude save or be stunned for 1d4 rounds. This is a sonic effect. The save DC is Constitution-based.

swallow whole (3d6+19 bludgeoning plus 2d6 acid damage, AC 20, 23 hp)

Planar Acclimation — A jubjub bird is always considered to be on its home plane, regardless of what plane it finds itself upon. It never gains the extraplanar subtype.

Blind-Fight from Feat

<p class="stat-block-1"> In melee, every time you miss because of concealment (see Combat), you can reroll your miss chance percentile roll one time to see if you actually hit.</p><p class="stat-block-2">An invisible attacker gets no advantages related to hitting you in melee. That is, you don't lose your Dexterity bonus to Armor Class, and the attacker doesn't get the usual +2 bonus for being invisible. The invisible attacker's bonuses do still apply for ranged attacks, however.</p><p class="stat-block-2">You do not need to make Acrobatics skill checks to move at full speed while blinded.</p>

Cleave from Feat

<p class="stat-block-1"> As a standard action, you can make a single attack at your full base attack bonus against a foe within reach. If you hit, you deal damage normally and can make an additional attack (using your full base attack bonus) against a foe that is adjacent to the first and also within reach. You can only make one additional attack per round with this feat. When you use this feat, you take a &ndash;2 penalty to your Armor Class until your next turn.</p>

Combat Reflexes from Feat

<p class="stat-block-1"> You may make a number of additional attacks of opportunity per round equal to your Dexterity bonus. With this feat, you may also make attacks of opportunity while flat-footed.</p>

Dodge from Feat

<p class="stat-block-1"> You gain a +1 dodge bonus to your AC. A condition that makes you lose your Dex bonus to AC also makes you lose the benefits of this feat.</p>

Improved Critical from Feat

<p class="stat-block-1"> When using the weapon you selected, your threat range is doubled.</p>

Iron Will from Feat

<p class="stat-block-1"> You get a +2 bonus on all Will saving throws.</p>

Mobility from Feat

<p class="stat-block-1"> You get a +4 dodge bonus to Armor Class against attacks of opportunity caused when you move out of or within a threatened area. A condition that makes you lose your Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) also makes you lose dodge bonuses.</p><p class="stat-block-2">Dodge bonuses stack with each other, unlike most types of bonuses.</p>

Power Attack from Feat

<p class="stat-block-1"> You can choose to take a &ndash;1 penalty on all melee attack rolls and combat maneuver checks to gain a +2 bonus on all melee damage rolls. This bonus to damage is increased by half (+50%) if you are making an attack with a two-handed weapon, a one handed weapon using two hands, or a primary natural weapon that adds 1-1/2 times your Strength modifier on damage rolls. This bonus to damage is halved (&ndash;50%) if you are making an attack with an off-hand weapon or secondary natural weapon. When your base attack bonus reaches +4, and every 4 points thereafter, the penalty increases by &ndash;1 and the bonus to damage increases by +2. You must choose to use this feat before making an attack roll, and its effects last until your next turn. The bonus damage does not apply to touch attacks or effects that do not deal hit point damage.</p>

Run from Feat

<p class="stat-block-1"> When running, you move five times your normal speed (if wearing medium, light, or no armor and carrying no more than a medium load) or four times your speed (if wearing heavy armor or carrying a heavy load). If you make a jump after a running start (see the Acrobatics skill description), you gain a +4 bonus on your Acrobatics check. While running, you retain your Dexterity bonus to your Armor Class.</p>

Spring Attack from Feat

<p class="stat-block-1"> As a full-round action, you can move up to your speed and make a single melee attack without provoking any attacks of opportunity from the target of your attack. You can move both before and after the attack, but you must move at least 10 feet before the attack and the total distance that you move cannot be greater than your speed. You cannot use this ability to attack a foe that is adjacent to you at the start of your turn.</p>

Acrobatics +14 (+22 when jumping), Fly +7, Perception +24

Details
Type
Magical Beast
Alignment
N
Size
Huge
Environment
temperate or warm forests
Organization
solitary or pair
Treasure
incidental
Senses
darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +24
Source
Bestiary 3
Sources Used in This Record
10 House/Core
  • Uses feat: Blind-Fight (Feat)
    House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
  • Uses feat: Cleave (Feat)
    House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
  • Uses feat: Combat Reflexes (Feat)
    House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
  • Uses feat: Dodge (Feat)
    House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
  • Uses feat: Improved Critical (Feat)
    House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
  • Uses feat: Iron Will (Feat)
    House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
  • Uses feat: Mobility (Feat)
    House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
  • Uses feat: Power Attack (Feat)
    House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
  • Uses feat: Run (Feat)
    House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
  • Uses feat: Spring Attack (Feat)
    House/Core — covered by the site's Section 15.
OGL 1.0a Notice. Pathfinder-derived Open Game Content on this page is used under the Open Game License v1.0a and Section 15 notice.