Star Wars Universe Roleplaying Game
The Next Generation of Star Wars Tabletop Adventure
The Next Generation of Star Wars Tabletop Adventure
Acklays are legendary apex predators feared across the galaxy for their sheer brutality, alien intelligence, and terrifying efficiency in combat. Towering on six powerful limbs and protected by a hardened chitinous exoskeleton, an Acklay is built to hunt, dominate, and dismantle anything unfortunate enough to enter its territory.
Native to hostile worlds and often captured for gladiatorial arenas, Acklays are not mindless beasts. They possess an uncanny ability to detect prey through electro-sensing organs beneath their elongated heads, allowing them to track living creatures through darkness, foliage, and even solid obstacles. Hiding from an Acklay is nearly impossible once it has locked onto a target.
In battle, an Acklay is a whirlwind of long-reaching claws, crushing bites, and impaling strikes delivered with frightening speed. Its massive limbs can pin or spear prey in place while it rends them apart, and its intimidating neck frill flares when threatened, signaling imminent violence. Survivors describe encounters with Acklays as sudden, overwhelming, and brutally short.
Game Masters should treat Acklays as high-level threats meant to challenge coordinated parties. An Acklay is not simply a bag of hit points—it is a relentless predator designed to control the battlefield, punish mistakes, and force hard tactical decisions. Whether unleashed in an arena, guarding ancient ruins, or stalking prey through dense terrain, an Acklay encounter should feel desperate, cinematic, and unforgettable.
Wildlife encounters in SWURPG hit different than firefights. Acklay doesn’t “hold ground” or “follow orders” — it follows instinct: territory, hunger, fear, or protection of a nest. Run it like a living threat: ambush angles, terrain advantage, and a clear “what it wants” that drives its choices every round.
Recommended Level Range: 7–12 | Difficulty Rating (DR): 4.5
Difficulty Rating (DR): 4.5
Type (Size): Beast (Large)
Initiative: +8
AC: 16 (Chitinous Exoskeleton (natural armor))
HP: 77 (9d10+27)
Speed: 40 ft., Climb 30 ft.
Attributes:
STR 22 (+6), DEX 18 (+4), CON 18 (+4), INT 4 (-3), WIS 14 (+2), CHA 8 (-1)
Saves: STR +10, DEX +7, CON +8
Skills: Perception +6, Athletics +10, Stealth +7
Traits:
Electro-Sensing. The Acklay can sense the bio-electric signatures of living creatures within 60 ft, even through walls, foliage, or darkness. Creatures cannot hide from the Acklay while within this range unless shielded or not biologically active.
Six-Limbed Agility. The Acklay ignores difficult terrain caused by rubble, vegetation, or uneven ground.
Hardened Chitin. The Acklay has resistance to slashing damage from non-Heavy melee weapons. Critical hits against the Acklay become normal hits unless the attacker is using a Heavy weapon.
Unyielding Frame. The Acklay cannot be knocked Prone and has advantage on saving throws against effects that would restrain or move it against its will.
Actions:
Claw
(Melee Weapon Attack)
: +10 to hit,
range/reach 15 ft,
one target.
Hit: 16 (2d10+5) slashing damage.
Bite
(Melee Weapon Attack)
: +10 to hit,
range/reach 10 ft,
one target.
Hit: 18 (2d12+5) kinetic damage.
Impaling Thrust
(Melee Weapon Attack)
: +10 to hit,
range/reach 15 ft,
one creature.
Hit: 16 (2d10+5) piercing damage.
When the Acklay hits a creature with this attack, the target must succeed on a DC 16 Strength or Dexterity saving throw (target’s choice) or become Impaled. While Impaled, the creature is Grappled and Restrained and takes 7 (2d6) kinetic damage at the start of each of its turns. A creature may use its Action to attempt to escape, and adjacent allies may assist. When a creature escapes Impale, it begins Bleeding.
Acklays excel at ambush and battlefield dominance. They begin encounters hidden whenever possible, relying on Electro-Sensing to locate prey before striking from concealment or difficult terrain. Dense jungles, ruins, arena walls, or rocky canyons strongly favor the Acklay.
In the opening moments of combat, the Acklay prioritizes mobility and control. It uses its extended Claw reach to strike from outside normal melee range, isolating targets and forcing the party to reposition. Against heavily armored or dangerous foes, it follows with Impaling Thrust to remove a single target from the fight and apply constant pressure through ongoing damage and Bleeding.
The Acklay fights aggressively but intelligently. It shifts targets if prey escapes, punishes clustered enemies with sweeping reach, and uses terrain to limit flanking. If multiple enemies close in, it relies on its Unyielding Frame and Hardened Chitin to absorb punishment while continuing its assault.
An Acklay does not retreat easily. It fights until prey is dead or incapacitated, withdrawing only if severely injured and denied control of the battlefield. For maximum impact, GMs should emphasize speed, reach, and relentless pressure—an Acklay encounter should feel like being hunted by something faster, stronger, and utterly unforgiving.
To explore more creatures, return to the Creatures & Wildlife index and expand your roster with additional predators, pests, pack hunters, and megafauna.