Clacker Beetle Soldier

Small beast, unaligned

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 18 (4d6 + 4)
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
8 (-1)	14 (+2)	13 (+1)	1 (-5)	7 (-2)	3 (-4)

Damage Resistances slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities thunder
Senses blindsight 30 ft., passive Perception 8
Languages —
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +2

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Compact. A clacker beetle soldier can occupy the same space as one other clacker beetle soldier.

ACTIONS

• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 0 ft., one creature. Hit: 11 (2d8 + 2) piercing damage.
• Clack. The beetle clacks its mandibles to create a small but dangerous booming noise in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in the area must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw, taking 5 (2d4) thunder damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. When multiple beetles clack in the same turn and create overlapping cones, each creature in overlapping cones must make one saving throw with disadvantage against the total damage from all overlapping cones rather than one saving throw for each cone.

ABOUT

Clacker beetles are aggressive subterranean scavengers. Individually they aren’t much of a threat, but they’re rarely encountered individually. Worker clacker beetles and immature beetles form swarms, and soldiers always scavenge in groups.

Clacking Mandibles. The beetles get their name from the deadly clacking sound their mandibles produce. They can use their mandibles to create a clacking noise with the force of a sledgehammer. Clacker beetles use this attack to stun or kill potential prey. When they’re encountered in large groups, the rapid-fire clacking of their mandibles can quickly bring down creatures as large as trolls and ogres.

Cavern Nests. Clacker beetles nest by chewing holes into rock and rubble. A small cavern riddled with clacker beetle tunnels can house hundreds or thousands of the creatures. They’re fond of shiny objects, much as crows and pack rats are. When clacker beetles infest ancient tombs or other sites where valuables are stored, they’ve been known to snatch nearly all the gold, silver, and jewels and drag it to their nesting site.