---
title: "Giant Hermit Crab"
obsidianUIMode: preview
noteType: pf2eMonster
cssClasses: pf2e
aliases: "Actor.8UYVo7Uxj2hjwp5g" 
tags:
  - pf2e/creature/type/amphibious
  - pf2e/creature/type/animal
  - pf2eMonster
  - pf2e/creature/level/5
statblock: inline
name: "Giant Hermit Crab"
level: 5
license: OGL
---

```statblock
columns: 2
forcecolumns: true
layout: Basic Pathfinder 2e Layout
source: "Pathfinder Bestiary 3"
name: "Giant Hermit Crab"
level: "Creature 5"

alignment: ""
size: "Large"
trait_01: [[amphibious]]
trait_02: [[animal]]
modifier: 13
perception:
  - name: "Perception"
    desc: "+13; Darkvision, Tremorsense (Imprecise) 15 Feet"
languages: ""
skills:
  - name: "Skills"
    desc: "Acrobatics: +9, Athletics: +15, Stealth: +9"
abilityMods: [6, 2, 4, -4, 2, 0]
speed: 20 feet,  climb 10 feet,  swim 15 feet
sourcebook: "_Pathfinder Bestiary 3_"
ac: 21
armorclass:
  - name: AC
    desc: "21; __Fort__ +15, __Ref__ +9, __Will__ +9"
hp: 114
health:
  - name: ""
  - name: HP
    desc: "114; __Weaknesses__ bludgeoning 5"
abilities_top:
  - name: ""

  - name: "[[Bestiary Ability Glossary/Tremorsense|Tremorsense (Imprecise) 15 feet]]"
    desc: "  Tremorsense allows a monster to feel the vibrations through a solid surface caused by movement. It is an imprecise sense with a limited range (listed in the ability). Tremorsense functions only if the monster is on the same surface as the subject, and only if the subject is moving along (or burrowing through) the surface."

abilities_mid:
  - name: ""
  - name: "Protective Pinch"
    desc: "`pf2:r`  **Trigger** A creature adjacent to the hermit crab attempts to Strike the hermit crab while it is Retracted.\n* * *\n\n**Effect** The hermit crab makes a big claw Strike against the triggering creature."

attacks:
  - name: ""

  - name: "**Melee** `pf2:1` Big Claw"
    desc: "+15 ()\n__Damage__  2d8 + 8 piercing plus grab"

  - name: "**Melee** `pf2:1` Claw"
    desc: "+15 (agile)\n__Damage__  2d4 + 8 piercing"

  - name: "[[Bestiary Ability Glossary/Constrict|Constrict]]"
    desc: "`pf2:1`  1d8+6 bludgeoning, DC 22 Fortitude check\n* * *\n\nThe monster deals the listed amount of damage to any number of creatures [[Conditions/Grabbed|Grabbed]] or [[Conditions/Restrained|Restrained]] by it. Each of those creatures can attempt a basic Fortitude save with the listed DC."

  - name: "Retract"
    desc: "`pf2:1`  The hermit crab curls fully into its shell to protect itself. This gives it a +4 circumstance bonus to AC, removes its weakness to bludgeoning damage, and grants it resistance 5 to piercing and slashing damage.\n\nThe only actions the hermit crab can use while in this state are Protective Pinch and Interact to come out of its shell."

  - name: "[[Bestiary Ability Glossary/Grab|Grab]]"
    desc: "`pf2:1`  **Requirements** The monster's last action was a successful Strike that lists Grab in its damage entry, or the monster has a creature [[Conditions/Grabbed|Grabbed]] or [[Conditions/Restrained|Restrained]]\n* * *\n\n**Effect** If used after a Strike, the monster attempts to [[/act grapple]] the creature using the body part it attacked with. This attempt neither applies nor counts toward the creature's multiple attack penalty.\n\nThe monster can instead use Grab and choose one creature it's grabbing or restraining with an appendage that has Grab to automatically extend that condition to the end of the monster's next turn."
 
```

```encounter-table
name: Giant Hermit Crab
creatures:
  - 1: Giant Hermit Crab
```



Lucky hermit crabs with plentiful resources can live for decades and grow to tremendous sizes, often with magical help. Too large for most natural shells, giant hermit crabs use a variety of debris instead, including wagons, boats, treasure chests, and even abandoned pieces of giant armor.

* * *

Hermit crabs have hard exoskeletons like other crabs, but with much weaker abdomens. They find and "wear" shells as homes and protection, getting around with their front legs and claws. Surprisingly fierce, hermit crabs fight for new shells as they grow bigger, using an assortment of hollow alternatives as substitutes when shells of the right size can't be found.
