Canoptek Scarab Swarm

Senses: Sees normally in total darkness

Machine Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature's space and move through any gap a beetle could fit through. It takes half damage from single-target weapon attacks and cannot be Pinned, Frightened, or knocked prone. Area, flame, and blast effects deal full damage.

Dismantler Instinct. The swarm's attacks deal +2 damage against machines, vehicles, and targets in heavy armor.

Consuming Tide. Melee Attack: +4 to hit, reach 0 ft., one creature in the swarm's space. Hit: 2d4 damage, and the target makes a Toughness Save DC 12 or loses 1 Defense as plating and gear are eaten away (until repaired). While the swarm is below half Vitality, the attack deals 1d4 damage instead.

Morale: Does not make Morale checks. It is not brave; it is a maintenance routine with an appetite.

Tactics: Flow over armor and machines first, strip Defense for the warriors behind it, and clog corridors and firing lanes.

A Canoptek Scarab Swarm is tomb maintenance with the safeties removed: a glittering tide of beetle-constructs that disassembles armor, weapons, and vehicles into raw feedstock. It is not angry; the party is simply scheduled for recycling.

Use this enemy to strip the party's armor and gear ahead of a warrior advance, or to clog corridors and Fire Lanes with crawling metal.

Swarm resilience against single-target fire, Defense-stripping attacks, anti-armor and anti-vehicle appetite, no morale, weak to flame and blast.

Machine Swarm. Occupies enemy spaces, flows through any gap, and takes half damage from single-target attacks; area and flame effects deal full damage.

Dismantler Instinct. Deals bonus damage to machines, vehicles, and heavily armored targets; it eats the best-protected thing first.

Consuming Tide. Engulfing attack that damages and strips Defense as plating and gear are chewed away until repaired.

Clog the Lane. Spreads across a corridor or Fire Lane, turning it into difficult terrain that bites.

Morale: None; it is a maintenance routine with an appetite, and it disperses only when destroyed or recalled.

Tactics: Send scarabs in first to eat the party's advantages — Defense, cover, vehicle mobility — so the gauss line behind them hits softer targets. They should feel like a resource tax, not a duel. Reward flamers and blasts; punish anyone who tries to bayonet a tide.

Full Stat Block Priority: Low