This is a detailed example of brute creature Monster AI creation for Pathfinder 2e system.

For the full instruction of how to make Monster AI for Pathfinder 2E system, please refer to article here. For all the articles related to Pathfinder 2e monster AI, please refer to the main page.

Table of Contents

• Skill Paragon
• Examples
  • Cinder Rat
  • Dragon, Wyrmling Green

Skill Paragon

These creatures have a characteristic, combat style defining skill(s). Primary stat contour is many skills at moderate or high and potentially one or two extreme skills. and typically high reflex or will and low fortitude saving throws. Since the monster’s combat tactics is driven by special skill(s), there is fit for all or even base style. It has to be treated individually.

Examples

Cinder Rat

For cinder rat stat block, please refer to Archives of Nethys.

This is a monster shows up on the Beginner’s kit and I believe one of the simplest form of skill paragon category creature.

Using stat block conversion tables, cinder rat has no high or extreme grade ability score, HP or AC. So moving down the next step, we look at its skills. The creature has 2 high grade skills, acrobatics and stealth. It has higher than typical speed, 40ft.

Fetid Fumes (aura, fire) 5 feet. A creature that enters the aura or begins its turn there must succeed at a DC 22 Fortitude save or become sickened 1. Everything within the aura, including the cinder rat, is concealed by smoke.

Source Bestiary pg. 148

The defining feature is its automatic ability, fetid fumes. This provides defensive bonus. Sickened creature take a status penalty on all its checks and DCs. A concealed creature gets 1 in 5 random chance of complete attack, spell or effect fail benefit from those targeting it.

Given it has only one mode of attack, which is melee, the real tactical decision is choosing brute or skirmisher. Given higher than typical speed and normally rat creatures being skirmisher, I think it makes the most sense to choose skirmisher tactics i.e. hit & run. This will still trigger Fetid Fumes’s sickened effect against PCs i.e. tactically concordant.

This is essentially identical to the Giant Rat from AI point of view, but when actually played Fetid Fumes will give definitive play variance for players.

Dragon, Wyrmling Green

This is a creature from beginner’s kit and its stat block is not included in other books; however, its older siblings young green dragon has a similar stat block contour and abilities.

For the level 4 creature, the dragon has high strength, moderate constitution, high to extreme AC and moderate HP. It has multiple skills with couple high, and 3 other moderate to high ones. This stat block contour seem to fit the best for skill paragon category with its special combat abilities being Breath Weapon and Draconic Frenzy.

Given high strength along with all attack abilities being melee, except breath weapon, the primary combat tactics beyond the use of breath weapon is brute style.

One of the thing I liked about Pathfinder 2e beginner’s kit is that the book mentioned general combat tactics for several monsters. This is well outlined for Dragon, Wyrmling Green.

This attack could spell doom for the party, but the wyrmling doesn’t have much experience using their breath weapon effectively. The dragon doesn’t try to catch all the heroes with this attack, but focuses on just the nearest opponent.

Beginner’s box Game Master’s Guide p27

I particularly liked above statement. It is thematically concordant.

Draconic Frenzy

The dragon’s favorite tactic (and most reliable attack) is to Stride forward and then use Draconic Frenzy.

Draconic Frenzy [two-actions] The dragon makes two claw Strikes and one tail Strike in any order. The second and third Strikes during the Draconic Frenzy take the multiple attack penalty

Third attack action

Since I have determined the dragon to use brute combat style, if it starts in melee position the dragon gets third attack action after Draconic Frenzy. The clear choice here is the Jaws.

So where does horn fit in? The answer is nowhere. It is a melee attack and it is always inferior to other options. So the AI will not include it. Does this mean I am making incomplete AI? It turns out Young Dragon version uses horn in place of tail. Therefore, I interpret it has “horn” is just a body part of dragon but thematically its still immature to be efficiently usable.

Reference

Official resources

1. Pathfinder Core Rulebook 2nd edition
2. Pathfinder Gamemastry guide 2nd edition
3. Pathfinder Bestiary 1
4. Pathfinder Beginner’s Box
5. Archives of Nethys

Tactical resource

1. Monsters Know What They’re doing – 5E based combat tactics

Other

Reddit – Helpful, kind/constructive feedbacks I have been receiving.

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