This filthy rat is the size of a small dog. It has a coat of coarse fur, a long and scabby tail, and two glittering eyes.
Dire Rat CR 1/3
XP 135
N Small animal
Init +3; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +4
Defense
AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 11 (+3 Dex, +1 size)
hp 5 (1d8+1)
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +1
Offense
Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft.
Melee bite +1 (1d4 plus disease)
Special Attacks disease
Statistics
Str 10, Dex 17, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 4
Base Atk +0; CMB –1; CMD 12 (16 vs. trip)
Feats Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Climb +11, Perception +4, Stealth +11, Swim +11; Racial Modifiers uses Dex to modify Climb and Swim
Ecology
Environment any urban
Organization solitary or pack (2–20)
Treasure none
Special Abilities
Disease (Ex) Filth fever: Bite—injury; save Fort DC 11; onset 1d3 days; frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Dex damage and 1d3 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Dire rats grow up to 2 feet long and weigh up to 25 pounds. They are common menaces in dungeons and city sewers alike.
Starting Statistics: Size Small; Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft.; Attack bite (1d4); Ability Scores Str 10, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 4; Special Qualities low-light vision, scent.
4th-Level Advancement: Attack bite (1d4 plus disease); Ability Scores Str +2, Con +2.
A squirming, roiling mass of squeaking rats draws closer, teeth flashing and claws scratching everything in its path.
Rat Swarm CR 2
XP 600
Init +6; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +8
Defense
AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 size)
hp 16 (3d8+3)
Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +2
Defensive Abilities swarm traits
Offense
Speed 15 ft., climb 15 ft., swim 15 ft.
Melee swarm (1d6 plus disease)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks disease, distraction (DC 12)
Statistics
Str 2, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 2
Base Atk +2; CMB —; CMD —
Feats Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Acrobatics +6, Climb +10, Perception +8, Stealth +14, Swim +10; Racial Modifiers uses Dex to modify Climb and Swim
Ecology
Environment any
Organization solitary, pack (2–5 swarms), or infestation (6–12 swarms)
Treasure none
Special Abilities
Disease (Ex) Filth fever: Swarm—injury; save Fort DC 12; onset 1d3 days; frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Dex damage and 1d3 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.
A rat swarm typically consists of a biting, roiling mass of hundreds of disease-ridden rats driven to uncharacteristic heights of aggression by fantastic and overwhelming hunger. In such numbers, they become voracious hunters, capable of killing a full-grown human with hundreds of bites. Rat swarms are often found in the sewers of large human settlements.
Rat swarms surround and attack any warm-blooded prey in their path.