Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage plus 3 (1d6) acid damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it is grappled (escape DC 13). Until this grapple ends, the ankheg can bite only the grappled creature and has advantage on attack rolls to do so.
Acid Spray (Recharge 6). The ankheg spits acid in a line that is 30 ft. long and 5 ft. wide, provided that it has no creature grappled. Each creature in that line must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
How many ankhegs for a fight?
An ankheg is worth 450 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many ankhegs fit each difficulty for a party of four characters of the same level. A dash means even one would be over the budget.
Party level
Low
Moderate
High
2nd
—
1
1
3rd
1
2
3
4th
2
3
4
5th
4
6
9
6th
5
8
12
7th
6
11
12+
8th
8
12+
12+
9th
11
12+
12+
Budgets add up every monster’s XP, so you can swap some for other creatures of the same total. Try other party sizes and mixes in the encounter calculator.
How the ankheg compares at CR 2
Against the 42 other challenge 2 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the ankheg has more hit points than 15 of them, which makes it a little frailer than most at its CR. See every CR 2 monster.
Statistic
Ankheg
CR 2 average
Armor Class
14
12.9
Hit points
39
47
Best attack bonus
+5
+5
Best save DC
13
12
Ankheg 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the ankheg, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
Tunneler. The ankheg can burrow through solid rock at half its Burrow Speed and leaves a 10-foot-diameter tunnel in its wake.
Actions
Bite. Melee Attack Roll: +5 (with Advantage if the target is Grappled by the ankheg), reach 5 ft. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) Slashing damage plus 3 (1d6) Acid damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it has the Grappled condition (escape DC 13).
Acid Spray (Recharge 6). Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 12, each creature in a 30-foot-long, 5-foot-wide Line. Failure: 14 (4d6) Acid damage. Success: Half damage.
