Deathweb and Vital Strike

[Folkish Elm]

Hi All

Just wanted to check I'm reading the Deathweb stat block properly!
It gets 2d8 plus 12 on its bite attack normally right? So if I use vital strike I roll 4d8 plus 12 for damage. (Wow!)

Correct? Or is the 2d8 already counting vital strike?

Planning to use this as a wandering monster for a level 5 party of 4 players. That should be challenging but fine as a cr 6 encounter right?

Thanks in advance!
Chris

[claudekennilol]

The 2d8 is already counting vital strike.

A bite for a large creature does 1d8 damage. Add in vital strike and that gets you the 2d8 it's showing.

[Folkish Elm]

Thanks! I thought that was a bit dangerous....

Presumably power attack isn't included in the stats as this is optional?

[Demiurge 1138]

The previous poster is incorrect. Although the base statistics for the bite damage of a Huge creature are 1d8, this is merely a guideline--creature developers can give die types as they see fit.

Both Power Attack and Vital Strike are optional modifications to attacks, which means they are never included by default in a stat block. If you think that Vital Strike would be a bit much for 4th level characters (and I'm inclined to agree with you), replace it with another feat. Dodge or Toughness would both add relatively minimal boosts to its stats.