AD&D - Hatched to Kill: Using Assassin Bugs in Your AD&D Game
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There are monsters… and then there are monsters that stick with your players long after the game ends. The Assassin Bug is one of those.
This creature comes from the AD&D monster books and looks like a giant fly with tiny human-like arms and legs. But don’t let the weird look fool you—it’s deadly, creepy, and perfect for horror-themed adventures.
What Makes It So Scary?
The male Assassin Bug bites its target. If it hits, it causes damage and injects saliva. That saliva can paralyze the victim. Once paralyzed, the female bug swoops in and lays an egg under the victim’s skin. Brutal, right?
The egg hatches in 13–24 hours. Larvae (bug babies) start eating the host’s insides. After about two weeks, they burst out of the host and become full-sized Assassin Bugs. It's like something straight out of a horror movie.
Why Use It?
You don’t throw this creature at a party for just a random fight. It works best when the party finds a strange death… then another… and slowly realizes something is inside the victims. It creates tension and dread.
Healing spells can stop the larvae, but not many. You’ll need high-level spells like Heal or Limited Wish. That makes it hard to save everyone.
Evil Ways to Use This in Your Game
Here are some ideas:
A noble gets infected but hides it out of fear. The party is hired to help him, but they’re too late.
An entire village is dealing with a strange sickness. It’s not a plague—it’s Assassin Bug eggs.
A captured PC gets implanted. The rest of the party has one day to find a cure—or watch them die.
A cult worships these bugs. They believe “being chosen” (infected) is a blessing.
Old-School Horror at Its Best
What I love about this monster is how it adds horror without needing house rules. It’s in the books. You can use it as written. And players will remember it.
So if you're running an AD&D game and want something gross, dangerous, and unforgettable—look no further. The Assassin Bug is waiting.
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Excellent article! Too many of the “Fiend Folio” monsters seem to be just character killers for when the DM gets mad at you. Building a better plot around these “character killers” takes the little known monsters to a new level-
I really like this style of deep dives into specific monsters, rather than an "ecology of ..." you describe how it could be used against players.