Category:Dire Animal

This section contains canon info from officially published sources

Dire animals of many kinds can be found in Invidia^[1] Dire animals can also be found in the Wailing Wood of the Endless Road.^[2]

References

Lore

Dire Animals (A-G) Characters with ranks in Knowledge (nature) can learn more about dire animals. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.

DIRE APE Monster Manual

DC 13: This massive gorilla is a dire ape. This result reveals all animal traits.

DC 18: A dire ape is incredibly strong and can literally tear its foes limb from limb.

DIRE BADGER Monster Manual

DC 12: This squat, striped mammal is a dire badger. It is a vicious beast that does not tolerate the intrusions of other creatures. This result reveals all animal traits.

DC 17: A dire badger can burrow through soft earth, and often flies into a berserk rage while fighting opponents.

DIRE BARRACUDA Stormwrack

DC 14: This streamlined fish is a dire barracuda, a quick and aggressive predator. This result reveals all animal traits and the aquatic subtype.

DC 19: A dire barracuda attacks using its deadly bite, and can flash through the water with startling speed when it charges.

DIRE BAT Monster Manual

DC 12: This leathery creature is a dire bat. Dire bats are easily excited, and usually attack any creatures they encounter. This result reveals all animal traits.

DC 17: Dire bats use echolocation to sense their surroundings. If deafened, they must rely on their weak vision instead.

DIRE BEAR Monster Manual

DC 17: This house-sized ursine is a dire bear. It is an omnivore that is usually content to ignore creatures that avoid it, but it will fearlessly defend its kills and its young. This result reveals all animal traits.

DC 22: A dire bear can snatch up foes with its lethal claws.

DIRE BOAR Monster Manual

DC 14: This hulking swine is a dire boar. It is an ill-tempered omnivore that attacks anything that gets near it. This result reveals all animal traits.

DC 19: A dire boar is an incredibly fierce combatant, continuing to fight long after other creatures would pass out from their wounds.

DIRE EAGLE Races of Stone

DC 13: This powerful raptor is a dire eagle. This result reveals all animal traits.

DC 18: Like smaller eagles, these creatures prefer to dive at their prey from above. A dire eagle has extremely sharp vision.

DIRE EEL Stormwrack

DC 13: This serpentine fish is a dire eel. This result reveals all animal traits and the aquatic subtype.

DC 18: Dire eels usually lurk out of view in coral reefs, where they dart out to clamp their powerful jaws around passing prey.

DIRE ELEPHANT Monster Manual II

DC 20: This walking mountain is a dire elephant. It is an herbivore, but also moody and somewhat unpredicatable. This result reveals all animal traits.

DC 25: A dire elephant attacks by smashing foes with its trunk or trampling creatures — even entire caravan wagons — under its massive feet. However, these elephants can sometimes be trained for use as beasts of burden.

DIRE ELK Monster Manual II

DC 14: This towering beast with the broad antlers is a dire elk. Dire elks are herbivores, but aggressively defend their young. This result reveals all animal traits.

DC 19: A dire elk will attempt to frighten away foes before attacking. Once battle begins, the elk attacks by trampling opponents into the ground.

DIRE ANIMAL LORE (H-M) Characters with ranks in Knowledge (nature) can learn more about dire animals. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs. (Note: the dire maggot is an exception; see below.)

Dire Hawk (MM II, Races of the Wild) DC 12: This fearsome raptor is a dire hawk. This result reveals all animal traits.

DC 17: Dire hawks swoop down from high altitudes, snatching up smaller prey and carrying them away to feed upon. Although difficult, a dire hawk can be trained for use as an animal companion.

Dire Hippopotamus (Sandstorm) DC 24: This hulking creature is a dire hippopotamus, also known as a water horse. Its is an herbivore, but does not hesitate to kill any creature that threatens or startles it. This result reveals all animal traits.

DC 29: Although not particularly stealthy, a dire hippopotamus can remain underwater for extended periods, and often rests quietly in murky water with just the top of its head visible above the surface.

Dire Horse (MM II) DC 14: This powerfully-built equine is a dire horse. It is an aggressive herbivore that prefers to be left alone. This result reveals all animal traits.

DC 19: When forced to fight, dire horses trample their foes with their hooves. They can be trained to accept a rider.

Dire Jackal (Sandstorm) DC 12: This huge canine is a dire jackal. Unlike its lesser kin, it is a fearless hunter. This result reveals all animal traits.

DC 17: Dire jackals hunt alone or in mated pairs, dragging their prey to the ground before killing them.

Dire Lion (MM) DC 15: This tawny cat is a dire lion, a predator the size of a horse. This result reveals all animal traits.

DC 20: A dire lion pounces on its prey, and a pride of dire lions will not be afraid to attack creatures larger than themselves.

Dire Maggot (Libris Mortis) Characters with ranks in Knowledge (dungeoneering) can learn more about dire maggots. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.

Knowledge (dungeoneering) DC 12: This repulsive grub is a dire maggot, the larval form of an even larger monstrous fly. This result reveals all vermin traits.

DC 17: A dire maggot is nearly mindless and tries to eat any creature that crosses its path. It paralyzes prey with its toxic saliva.

Dire Animals (N-S)

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (nature) can learn more about dire animals. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.

Dire Polar Bear (Frostburn) 21 This towering white ursine is a dire polar bear, a dire bear adapted to cold climates. This result reveals all animal traits. 26 A dire polar bear is an aggressive hunter that will stalk smaller creatures across miles of frozen wasteland. It tears its prey apart with its claws and teeth.

Dire Puma (Sandstorm) 14 This huge, black cougar is a dire puma. This result reveals all animal traits. 19 Dire pumas pounce on their prey from above whenever possible, tearing the creature open with their raking talons.

Dire Rat (MM) 10 This child-sized rodent is a dire rat. Dire rats are scavengers, but fearlessly defend their territory. This result reveals all animal traits. 15 A dire rat spreads filth fever, a dangerous disease, with its sharp bite.

• Dire Raven (Ravenloft Gazetteer I)

10 This ebon bird is a dire raven. It is a scavenger that attacks only to defend its carrion meals. This result reveals all animal traits.

15 Dire ravens are attacted to shiny baubles, and if attacked, instinctually try to peck out their opponents’ eyes.

Dire Rhinoceros (Fiend Folio) DC Result 19 This wooly, horned creature is a dire rhincerus. It is an herbivore, but highly irritable. This result reveals all animal traits. 24 A dire rhinoceros typically charges its foes, either trampling them or impaling them on its deadly horn.

Dire Shark (MM) DC Result 19 This ship-sized fish is a dire shark, a predator with a maw full of razor-sharp fangs. This result reveals all animal traits and the aquatic subtype. 24 A dire shark can smell blood in the water from a mile away and can swallow a creature as large as a horse in one bite.

Smilodon/Saber-Toothed Tiger (MM III) DC Result 15 This stocky, fanged feline is a saber-toothed tiger, a type of dire animal also known as a smilodon. This result reveals all animal traits. 20 A saber-toothed tiger tries to pounce on its prey, then tear out their throats with its exceptionally deadly incisors.

Dire Snake (MM II) DC Result 15 This massive serpent is a dire snake. This result reveals all animal traits. 20 A dire snake combines the most dangerous elements of lesser serpents. It can both constrict prey and inject deadly venom with its fangs.

Dire Animals (T-Z) Characters with ranks in Knowledge (nature) can learn more about dire animals. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.

Dire Tiger (MM) DC Result 18 This huge, striped feline is a dire tiger. They are patient stalkers that prefer to attack prey once it drops its guard. This result reveals all animal traits. 23 A dire tiger can leap dozens of feet through the air when pouncing, tearing its victim apart with its fangs and retractable claws.

Dire Toad (MM II) DC Result 13 This man-sized amphibian is a dire toad. They are generally dangerous only when disturbed. This result reveals all animal traits. 18 A dire toad can lash out with its tongue and swallow prey up to the size of a human child in a single gulp. 23 A dire toad’s toothless bite is not terribly damaging, but delivers a dangerous poison.

Dire Tortoise (Sandstorm) DC Result 18 This massive, armored reptile is a dire tortoise. It feeds on desert plants, but is ill-tempered and likely to attack anything that annoys it. This result reveals all animal traits. 28 Despite its sluggish appearance, a dire tortoise is capable of snapping at foes with lightning speed.

Dire Vulture (Sandstorm) DC Result 13 This ugly, stooped bird is a dire vulture. This result reveals all animal traits. 18 Dire vultures feed on carrion. Thanks to scraps of rotting flesh cling to their feathers, they emit a sickening stench. 23 Due to their disgusting diet, dire vultures are exceptionally hardy and highly resistant to disease.

Dire Weasel (MM) DC Result 12 This long, manic creature is a dire weasel. This result reveals all animal traits. 17 A dire weasel latches onto its prey with its powerful jaws. It then refuses to let go and sucks out the victim’s blood through the open wound.

Dire Wolf (MM) DC Result 13 This hulking lupine creature is a dire wolf. This result reveals all animal traits. 18 Dire wolves are pack hunters that use their sheer mass to drag creatures to the ground, then tear them apart once prone.

Dire Wolverine (MM) DC Result 14 This shaggy, wedge-shaped mammal is a dire wolverine, also known as a glutton. This result reveals all animal traits. 19 A dire wolverine is a foul-tempered creature that often flies into berserk rages when attacking its prey.