Ankheg
Encyclopedia
An ankheg also spelled anhkheg, is a type of fictional monster in the Dungeons & Dragons
roleplaying game. An ankheg is described as a monstrous arthropod
magical beast
. The ahnkheg was created by artist Erol Otus
and first appeared in Dragon
magazine in 1977. The ankheg appeared soon after in the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game's original Monster Manual
sourcebook, and subsequently appeared in the game's second edition, third edition, and fourth edition.
originally named the creature the "anhkheg" and submitted the first artwork and writeup of it prior to joining TSR. This first version appeared in the "Creature Features" column in Dragon
#5 (March 1977).
The ankheg appeared in the first edition in the original Monster Manual
(1977). The creature was detailed in "The Ecology of the Ahnkheg" in Dragon #117 (January 1987).
The ankheg appeared in the second edition in Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), which was reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).
The ankheg appeared in the third edition in the Monster Manual (2000), and then in the revised 3.5 Monster Manual (2003).
The ankheg appeared in the fourth edition in Monster Manual 2 (2009).
. The head has black compound eyes, mandibles capable of snapping small trees, and antennae
. Usually, ankhegs do not create tunnels, and simply burrow down into the ground. However, they are able to make tunnels if they dig slowly. When seriously pressed, it can spit acid. Spitting acid is usually a last resort, as it cannot digest food for several hours afterwards. Ankhegs are around 10 feet long and weigh 800 lb.
Ankhegs can be found in the computer role-playing games Pool of Radiance
, Baldur's Gate
, and Gateway to the Savage Frontier
, all set in the Forgotten Realms
. In Baldur's gate, players can collect their shells and make a suit of armor with them.
and Final Fantasy V
.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
roleplaying game. An ankheg is described as a monstrous arthropod
Arthropod
An arthropod is an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton , a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Arthropods are members of the phylum Arthropoda , and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others...
magical beast
Magical beast (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, magical beast is a type of creature, or "creature type". Magical beasts are similar to animals in many ways, but usually have a higher intelligence, and possess supernatural or extraordinary abilities....
. The ahnkheg was created by artist Erol Otus
Erol Otus
Erol Otus is an American artist and game designer, known internationally for his contributions to the fantasy RPG genre, most notably for the early Dungeons & Dragons franchise...
and first appeared in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
magazine in 1977. The ankheg appeared soon after in the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game's original Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
sourcebook, and subsequently appeared in the game's second edition, third edition, and fourth edition.
Publication history
Erol OtusErol Otus
Erol Otus is an American artist and game designer, known internationally for his contributions to the fantasy RPG genre, most notably for the early Dungeons & Dragons franchise...
originally named the creature the "anhkheg" and submitted the first artwork and writeup of it prior to joining TSR. This first version appeared in the "Creature Features" column in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#5 (March 1977).
The ankheg appeared in the first edition in the original Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
(1977). The creature was detailed in "The Ecology of the Ahnkheg" in Dragon #117 (January 1987).
The ankheg appeared in the second edition in Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), which was reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).
The ankheg appeared in the third edition in the Monster Manual (2000), and then in the revised 3.5 Monster Manual (2003).
The ankheg appeared in the fourth edition in Monster Manual 2 (2009).
Physical description
An ankheg is described as having six legs and a many-segmented body, all covered in a brown (some closer to yellow) chitinous exoskeletonExoskeleton
An exoskeleton is the external skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body, in contrast to the internal skeleton of, for example, a human. In popular usage, some of the larger kinds of exoskeletons are known as "shells". Examples of exoskeleton animals include insects such as grasshoppers...
. The head has black compound eyes, mandibles capable of snapping small trees, and antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
. Usually, ankhegs do not create tunnels, and simply burrow down into the ground. However, they are able to make tunnels if they dig slowly. When seriously pressed, it can spit acid. Spitting acid is usually a last resort, as it cannot digest food for several hours afterwards. Ankhegs are around 10 feet long and weigh 800 lb.
Media
The ankheg appeared in D&D Miniatures: Underdark #30 (2005).Ankhegs can be found in the computer role-playing games Pool of Radiance
Pool of Radiance
Pool of Radiance is a computer role-playing game developed and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc in 1988. It was the first adaptation of TSR's Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game for home computers. It is the first in a four-part series of D&D computer adventure games...
, Baldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate is a computer role-playing game developed by BioWare and released in 1998 by Interplay Entertainment. The game takes place in the Forgotten Realms, a high fantasy campaign setting, using modified Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition rules...
, and Gateway to the Savage Frontier
Gateway to the Savage Frontier
Gateway to the Savage Frontier is a Gold Box Dungeons and Dragons computer game developed by Stormfront Studios and published by SSI for the Commodore 64, PC and Amiga personal computers...
, all set in the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
. In Baldur's gate, players can collect their shells and make a suit of armor with them.
In other games
Ankhegs also appear in the games Ancient Domains of MysteryAncient Domains of Mystery
Ancient Domains of Mystery, or ADOM, is a roguelike game by Thomas Biskup first released in . The player's aim is to stop the forces of Chaos that invade the world of Ancardia....
and Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy V
is a medieval-fantasy role-playing video game developed and published by Square in 1992 as a part of the Final Fantasy series. The game first appeared only in Japan on Nintendo's Super Famicom . It has been ported with minor differences to Sony's PlayStation and Nintendo's Game Boy Advance...
.
External links
- Ankheg – d20D20 SystemThe d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
System Reference DocumentSystem Reference DocumentThe System Reference Document, or SRD, is a set of reference role playing game mechanics licensed under the Open Game License by Wizards of the Coast and based upon their Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. The SRD forms the basis of WotC's various d20 System role-playing games, including the...
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