Pop Creature - Xenomorph

The xenomorph from Aliens vs. Predator

May 12th marks the passing of visionary artist H. R. Giger, renowned for his groundbreaking design of the titular creatures from the Alien franchise. As a fan of both Giger's work and the Alien series, today's Pop Creature article is dedicated to bringing these horrifying creatures into the Pathfinder system. Many others before have tried their hand at adapting these monsters to tabletop games, but this article is more about commemorating a beloved creator than breaking new ground.

Let us know what you think about the xenomorph in the comments section!

Xenomorph Subtype

A xenomorph is an endoparasitoid species that uses other creatures to gestate its young and modify its own genetic makeup. They exist easily in harsh environments, bleed highly corrosive acid, and have remarkable intelligence.

Xenomorphs have the following traits:

• Immunity to acid.
• Acid Blood (Ex): A xenomorph's blood is a highly caustic acid. When a xenomoprph takes damage from a slashing or piercing weapon it deals 1 point of acid damage to all adjacent creatures. Manufactured slashing or piercing weapons that damage a xenomorph suffer an automatic 1d6 points of acid damage for 3 rounds or until destroyed. Creatures with natural weapons suffer 1d6 points of acid damage for 3 rounds on dealing slashing or piercing damage to a xenomorph. 
• Blindsight: All xenomorphs have blindsight 60' or greater.
• Death Throes (Ex): When a xenomorph dies it exudes a pool of its acidic blood in the space it occupies. This pool inflicts 5d6 points of acid damage for 3 rounds on any creature entering that square (a successful Reflex save reduces that damage by half). This acid can potentially melt through entire floors, leaving a 5 foot by 5 foot hole where the xenomorph's corpse was. The save DC for this ability is Constitution-based.
• Environmental Adaptability (Ex): Xenomorphs can survive in harsh environments with ease as if under the effect of a constant endure elements spell.
• Hive Mind (Ex): Xenomorphs have no language of their own, and instead communicate simple concepts via pheromone discharge and body language that other creatures with the xenomorph subtype understand. This ability functions within line of sight. If one xenomorph is able to act in the surprise round of combat, all other xenomorphs in line of sight may also act. 
• Secondary Jaws (Ex): When a xenomorph hits with its bite attack, it may make a second bite attack as a free action against the same target.
• Sightless: A xenomorph is blind and is not affected by any effect that relies on sight, such as gaze attacks or blindness.

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Xenomorph, Drone CR 6
This creature is vaguely humanoid in shape, though its body is covered with a black, chitinous plating. Iead is grotesquely elongated, fingers end in wicked claws, and a bladed tail lashes back and forth.
XP 2,400
N Medium magical beast (xenomorph)
Init +4; Senses blindsight 60', sightless; Perception +11

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DEFENSE

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AC 20, touch 15, flat-footed 15 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +5 natural)
hp 68 (8d10+24)
Fort +10 Ref +10, Will +5
Immune acid

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OFFENSE

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Speed 40 ft.; Climb 30
Melee bite +12 (1d6+4 plus secondary jaws), 2 claws +12 (1d4+4), sting +12  (1d6+4)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with sting)
Special Attacks Acid blood, death throes (DC 17), pounce, secondary jaws

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STATISTICS

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Str 19, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 11, Wis 17, Cha 10
Base Atk +8; CMB +12; CMD 27
Feats Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Vital Strike
Skills Acrobatics +9, Climb +23, Perception +9, Stealth +11
Languages None; Hive Mind
SQ environmental adaptibility

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Xenomorph, Queen CR 12
Even with its hunched posture, this black-armored creature stands at an imposing height. Its eyeless head is covered with an armored, chitinous hood and a long tail ending in a wicked spike flicks from side to side.
XP 19,200
N Huge magical beast (xenomorph)
Init +9; Senses blindsight 120', sightless; Perception +25

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DEFENSE

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AC 27, touch 13, flat-footed 22 (+5 Dex, +14 natural, -2 size)
hp 168 (16d10+80)
Fort +15 Ref +15, Will +11
Immune acid

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OFFENSE

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Speed 50 ft.; Climb 40 ft.
Melee bite +26 (2d6+10), 2 claws +26 (1d8+10), sting +26 (2d6+10)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft. (30 ft. with sting)
Special Attacks Acid blood, death throes (DC 23), impaling sting, pounce, secondary jaws

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STATISTICS

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Str 30, Dex 21, Con 20, Int 15, Wis 23, Cha 10
Base Atk +16; CMB +26 (+28 Bull Rush); CMD 41 (43 vs. Bull Rush)
Feats Awesome Blow, Combat Reflexes, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Initiative, Improved Vital Strike, Power Attack, Run, Vital Strike
Skills Acrobatics +24, Climb +37, Perception +25, Stealth +16
Languages Common (can't speak); Hive mind
SQ environmental adaptibility

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SPECIAL ABILITIES

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Impaling Sting (Ex) When a xenomorph queen inflicts a critical hit with her sting attack on a creature at least once size category smaller than herself, she impales her opponent on her tail. While a xenomorph queen's opponent is impaled in this way, each time she starts his turn, she deals damage equal to her sting natural attack. As an immediate action, she can pull her weapon out of her opponent. A xenomorph queen's opponent can also spend a move action to pull itself off of her tail. When the tail comes out, a xenomorph queen's opponent takes damage as if starting his turn impaled. While a xenomorph queen impales her opponent with her tail, she cannot use it to attack.

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Xenomorph, Facehugger   CR 2
This fleshy creature is reminiscent of a crab without claws or shell, but given a wicked snaking tail.
XP 400
N Tiny magical beast (xenomorph)
Init +7; Senses blindsight 60 ft., sightless; Perception +1

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DEFENSE

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AC 15, touch 15, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex, +2 size)
hp 15 (2d10+4)
Fort +5 Ref +6, Will +1
Immune acid

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OFFENSE

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Speed 30 ft.; Climb 20 ft.
Melee strangle (1d3+4 nonlethal)
Special Attacks Attacks Acid blood, death throes (DC 13), implant, strangle

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STATISTICS

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Str 18, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 10
Base Atk +2; CMB +4 (+6 Grapple); CMD 15 (17 vs. Grapple)
Feats Improved Grapple^B, Improved Initiative
Skills Climb +12, Stealth +7
Languages None; Hive mind
SQ environmental adaptibility

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SPECIAL ABILITIES

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Implant (Ex) As a standard action, a xenomorph facehugger can lay an egg in a helpless creature no more than two size categories larger than it. A xenomorph's egg hatches in 24 hours, at which point the young xenomorph drone bursts from within the victim's chest as a full-round action, killing the victim (use the stats for a tiny viper with the xenomorph subtype to represent the fledgeling drone). The young xenomorph attempts to find a dark, secluded place to rapidly maturing into a fully-grown xenomorph drone within 6 hours. A remove disease spell (or similar effect) rids a victim of an implanted egg or active young. Otherwise, a character can attempt to kill the egg or young xenomorph by performing a Heal check (DC 20) and having the host drink an alkali flask^APG. The implanted host takes 2d6 points of damage from the procedure and must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 13). Success means the egg or larval xenomorph is expelled, failure indicates that the creature is still alive inside the host.

Strangle (Ex) A creature that is grappled by a xenomorph facehugger cannot speak or cast spells with verbal components and automatically takes damage from the facehugger's strangle attack each round on the xenomorph's turn.

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Variant Xenomorphs

Xenomorphs come in many variations, some greater than others. Below are some sample minor variants that can be applied to xenomorph drones.

Acid Spitting (CR +1)

Some xenomorphs can produce a spray of caustic acid from their mouth. Acid spitting xenomorph drones gain the following special attack:

Acid Spray (Ex) A xenomorph drone can choose to spit acid as a standard action in a 10-foot line or 5-foot cone. Creatures in the area must succeed on a Reflex Save (DC 10 + 1/2 xenomorph HD + xenomorph Con modifier) or take 1d6 points of acid damage per 2 HD the xenomorph possesses.

Quadrupedal (CR +0)

Xenomorphs that come from four-legged hosts have a less humanoid appearance. These xenomorphs lose their claw natural attacks, their speed increases by 10 feet (and Climb speed is now equal to land speed), and gain the Run feat as a bonus feat.

Aquatic (CR +0)

Xenomorphs bred in areas of deep water gain the ability to swim quickly and breathe underwater. These xenomorphs gain the aquatic subtype and amphibious special quality. They lose their natural climb speed but gain a swim speed equal to twice their land speed.

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Open Content: The game mechanics of this game product are Open Game Content, as defined in the Open Gaming License version 1.0a Section 1(d).