Yuan-ti

Yuan-ti are devious serpent folk devoid of compassion. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.

Jump to: Yuan-ti Abomination | Yuan-ti Malison | Yuan-ti Pureblood | Yuan-ti Anathema | Yuan-ti Broodguard | Yuan-ti Mind Whisperer | Yuan-ti Nightmare Speaker | Yuan-ti Pit Master

Forsaken Humanity. The yuan-ti were once humans who thrived in the earliest days of civilization and worshiped serpents as totem animals. They lauded the serpent's sinuous flexibility, its calculated poise, and its deadly strike. Their advanced philosophy taught the virtue of detachment from emotion and of clear, focused thought.

Yuan-ti culture was among the richest in the mortal world. Their warriors were legendary, their empires always expanding. Yuan-ti temples stood at the centers of ancient metropolises, reaching ever higher in prayer to the gods they longed to emulate. In time, the serpent gods heard those prayers, their sibilant voices responding from the darkness as they told the yuan-ti what they must do. The yuan-ti religion grew more fanatical in its devotion. Cults bound themselves to the worship of the serpent gods and imitated their ways, indulging in cannibalism and humanoid sacrifice. Through foul sorcery, the yuan-ti bred with snakes, utterly sacrificing their humanity to become like the serpent gods in form, as well as in thought and emotion.

Serpent Kings of Fallen Empires. The yuan-ti view their physical transformation as a transcendent moment for their race, allowing them to shed their frail humanity like dead skin. Those that did not transform eventually became slaves or food for the blessed of the serpent gods. The yuan-ti empires withered or were defeated by those who fought against their cannibalism and slavery, and the serpent folk were left in the ruins of their great capitals, far removed from other races.

Cold of Heart. Humanoid emotions are foreign to most yuan-ti, which understand sentiment only as an exploitable weakness. A yuan-ti views the world and the events of its own life with such extreme pragmatism that it is nearly impossible to manipulate, influence, or control by nonmagical means, even as it seeks to control other creatures through terror, pleasure, and awe.

Yuan-ti know that the world they hope to rule can't be bound for long by brute force, and that many creatures will refuse to serve. As a result, yuan-ti first influence other creatures with the promise of wealth and power. Time and again, humanoid cultures make the fatal mistake of trusting the yuan-ti. They forget that a yuan-ti that acts honorably or lends aid in a time of trouble does so only as part of a grander design.

Yuan-ti leaders are cunning and ruthless tacticians who readily sacrifice lesser yuan-ti if potential victory justifies such losses. They have no sense of honorable combat and strike first in decisive ambush if they can.

False Worship. Yuan-ti life revolves around their temples, yet yuan-ti don't love the gods they worship. Instead, they see worship as a means to attain power. A yuan-ti believes an individual who attains enough power can devour and replace one of the yuan-ti gods. The yuan-ti strive for ascension and are willing to commit the darkest atrocities to achieve it.

The yuan-ti revere a number of powerful entities as gods, including the following.

  • Dendar, the Night Serpent. Dendar's followers say that one day she will grow so large from feasting on the fears and nightmares of the world that she will devour it whole. Yuan-ti that serve Dendar terrorize other creatures in any way they can, growing and nurturing the fears of humanoids to feed the Night Serpent.

  • Merrshaulk, Master of the Pit. Merrshaulk is the long-slumbering chief deity of the yuan-ti. As worship of Merrshaulk waned, he went into slumber. Merrshaulk's priests are yuan-ti abominations that maintain traditions of living sacrifice and cause suffering in the god's name. With enough vile acts, the abominations believe that Merrshaulk will reawaken and restore the yuan-ti to their rightful place.

  • Sseth, the Sibilant Death. Sseth appeared to the yuan-ti of antiquity in the form of a winged yuan-ti claiming to be an avatar of Merrshaulk. Speaking with Merrshaulk's voice, Sseth vowed to pull the yuan-ti out of decline and build a new empire. Many of Merrshaulk's devout turned to the worship of Sseth. Some yuan-ti have long suspected Sseth as an usurper taking advantage of Merrshaulk's slumber to make himself a god. They believe that Sseth might even have devoured Merrshaulk, and now answers the prayers of Merrshaulk's followers, as his priests convert or consume Merrshaulk's more stubborn adherents.

Yuan-ti malisons who become priestly devotees of a particular god -- be it Sseth, Dendar the Night Serpent, or Merrshaulk -- often rise through the ranks to become spiritual leaders among the serpent folk. These priests perform sacrificial rites to appease their vile gods.

Playable Race: Reptilian Presence. Yuan-ti are a playable race, and excel in all fields. Note that the yuan-ti are not commonly seen across Azgaarnoth, and so players should expect to draw something of a stir when moving around through almost any city or town.

Yuan-ti Abomination

Monstrous serpents with burly humanoid torsos and arms, abominations form the highest caste of yuan-ti society, and they most closely resemble the race as the serpent gods intended it. They mastermind elaborate schemes and perform dark rites in the hope of one day ruling the world.

Environment

Grassland, Ruins, Swamp, Underdark, Underwater, Urban

Token

Yuan-ti Abomination

Large monstrosity (shapechanger;yuan-ti), neutral evil

  • Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
  • Hit Points 127 (15d10 + 45)
  • Speed 40 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
19 (+4) 16 (+3) 17 (+3) 17 (+3) 15 (+2) 18 (+4)
  • Proficiency Bonus +3
  • Saving Throws
  • Damage Vulnerabilities
  • Damage Resistances
  • Damage Immunities poison
  • Condition Immunities poisoned
  • Skills Perception +5,Stealth +6
  • Senses darkvision 60 ft.,passive Perception 15
  • Languages Abyssal,Common,Draconic
  • Challenge 7

Shapechanger. The yuan-ti can use its action to polymorph into a Large snake, or back into its true form. Its statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. It doesn't change form if it dies.

Innate Spellcasting (Abomination Form Only). The yuan-ti's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15). The yuan-ti can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

  • At will: animal friendship (snakes only)

  • 3/day: suggestion

  • 1/day: fear

Magic Resistance. The yuan-ti has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Actions

Multiattack (Abomination Form Only). The yuan-ti makes two ranged attacks or three melee attacks, but can use its bite and constrict attacks only once each.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) poison damage.

Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 14). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the yuan-ti can't constrict another target.

Scimitar (Abomination Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.

Longbow (Abomination Form Only). Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) poison damage.

Yuan-ti Malison

A malison is a hideous blend of human and serpentine features. Three different types of malisons are known to exist, and other types are possible. Malisons form the middle caste of yuan-ti society and hunt with arrows tipped with their own venom. They use their magical powers of suggestion to force their enemies' surrender.

Environment

Grassland, Ruins, Swamp, Underdark, Underwater, Urban

Token

Yuan-ti Malison

Medium monstrosity (shapechanger;yuan-ti), neutral evil

  • Armor Class 12
  • Hit Points 66 (12d8 + 12)
  • Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16 (+3) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 16 (+3)
  • Proficiency Bonus +2
  • Saving Throws
  • Damage Vulnerabilities
  • Damage Resistances
  • Damage Immunities poison
  • Condition Immunities poisoned
  • Skills Deception +5,Stealth +4
  • Senses darkvision 60 ft.,passive Perception 11
  • Languages Abyssal,Common,Draconic
  • Challenge 3

Shapechanger. The yuan-ti can use its action to polymorph into a Medium snake, or back into its true form. Its statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. It doesn't change form if it dies.

Innate Spellcasting (Yuan-ti Form Only). The yuan-ti's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13). The yuan-ti can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

  • At will: animal friendship (snakes only)

  • 3/day: suggestion

Magic Resistance. The yuan-ti has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Malison Type. The yuan-ti has one of the following types:

  • Type 1: Human body with snake head

  • Type 2: Human head and body with snakes for arms

  • Type 3: Human head and upper body with a serpentine lower body instead of legs

Actions

Multiattack (Yuan-ti Form Only). The yuan-ti makes two ranged attacks or two melee attacks, but can use its bite only once.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.

Scimitar (Yuan-ti Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.

Longbow (Yuan-ti Form Only). Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.

Multiattack (Yuan-ti Form Only). The yuan-ti makes two bite attacks using its snake arms.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.

Multiattack (Yuan-ti Form Only). The yuan-ti makes two ranged attacks or two melee attacks, but can constrict only once.

Bite (Snake Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.

Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 13). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the yuan-ti can't constrict another target.

Scimitar (Yuan-ti Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.

Longbow (Yuan-ti Form Only). Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.

Yuan-ti Pureblood

Purebloods form the lowest caste of yuan-ti society. They closely resemble humans, yet a pureblood can't pass for human under close scrutiny because there's always some hint of its true nature, such as scaly patches of skin, serpentine eyes, pointed teeth, or a forked tongue. Wearing cloaks and cowls, they masquerade as humans and infiltrate civilized lands to gather information, kidnap prisoners for interrogation and sacrifice, and trade with anyone who has something that can further their myriad plots.

Environment

Grassland, Ruins, Swamp, Underdark, Underwater, Urban

Token

Yuan-ti Pureblood

Medium humanoid (yuan-ti), neutral evil

  • Armor Class 11
  • Hit Points 40 (9d8)
  • Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
11 (+0) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) 13 (+1) 12 (+1) 14 (+2)
  • Proficiency Bonus +2
  • Saving Throws
  • Damage Vulnerabilities
  • Damage Resistances
  • Damage Immunities poison
  • Condition Immunities poisoned
  • Skills Deception +6,Perception +3,Stealth +3
  • Senses darkvision 60 ft.,passive Perception 13
  • Languages Abyssal,Common,Draconic
  • Challenge 1

Innate Spellcasting. The yuan-ti's spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12). The yuan-ti can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

  • At will: animal friendship (snakes only)

  • 3/day each: poison spray, suggestion

Magic Resistance. The yuan-ti has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Actions

Multiattack. The yuan-ti makes two melee attacks.

Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) slashing damage.

Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.

Yuan-ti Anathema

A yuan-ti abomination's quest for godhood might lead it to perform a ritual that, if successful, transforms it into an even greater form: a yuan-ti anathema. This ritual demands the sacrifice of hundreds of snakes and requires the abomination to bathe in the blood of its enemies. The transformation is quick yet painful.

Not all yuan-ti are eager to see one of their own become an anathema, since anathemas brutally subjugate their lessers for their own evil ends.

Not Quite Divine. An anathema considers itself a demigod on the path to greater divinity. It demands obeisance from weaker yuan-ti and uses every resource at its disposal to launch small-scale wars against its neighbors. Each conquest brings new slaves and sacrifices, as well as glory and riches, that the anathema thinks it needs to achieve true divinity.

An anathema's most loyal yuan-ti followers see it as the pinnacle of the serpentine form, an unbelievable improvement on the nearly perfect abomination. Its devoted human followers think of it as "divine flesh in a mortal body," and cultists serving an anathema tend to be more bloodthirsty and self-sacrificing in its presence.

Immortal. Anathemas don't age, allowing them to pursue their goals until the end of days. Truly powerful ones can grow to rule multiple yuan-ti cities and bring entire regions, including humanoid realms, under yuan-ti control.

Environment

Grassland, Ruins, Swamp, Underdark, Underwater, Urban

Token

Yuan-ti Anathema

Huge monstrosity, Typically Neutral Evil

  • Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
  • Hit Points 189 (18d12 + 72)
  • Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft., swim 40 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
23 (+6) 13 (+1) 19 (+4) 19 (+4) 17 (+3) 20 (+5)
  • Proficiency Bonus +4
  • Saving Throws
  • Damage Vulnerabilities
  • Damage Resistances acid,fire,lightning
  • Damage Immunities poison
  • Condition Immunities poisoned
  • Skills Perception +11,Stealth +5
  • Senses blindsight 30 ft.,darkvision 60 ft.,passive Perception 21
  • Languages Abyssal,Common,Draconic
  • Challenge 12

Magic Resistance. The anathema has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Ophidiophobia Aura. Any creature of the anathema's choice, other than a snake or a yuan-ti, that starts its turn within 30 feet of the anathema must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of snakes and yuan-ti. A frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a target's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the target is immune to this anathama's aura for the next 24 hours.

Six Heads. The anathema has advantage on saves against being blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, stunned, or knocked unconscious.

Actions

Multiattack (Anathema Form Only). The anathema makes two Claw attacks and one Flurry of Bites attack.

Claw (Anathema Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage.

Flurry of Bites (Anathema Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one creature. Hit: 27 (6d6 + 6) piercing damage plus 14 (4d6) poison damage.

Constrict (Snake Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 15 ft., one Large or smaller creature. Hit: 16 (3d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage plus 7 (2d6) acid damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 16). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and it takes 16 (3d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage plus 7 (2d6) acid damage at the start of each of its turns. The anathema can constrict only one creature at a time.

Spellcasting (Anathema Form Only). The anathema casts one of the following spells, requiring no material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 17): * At will: animal friendship (snakes only) * 3/day each: darkness, entangle, fear, polymorph, suggestion

Bonus Actions

Change Shape. The anathema transforms into a Huge constrictor snake or back into its true form. Its statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed.

Yuan-ti Broodguard

Broodguards are humanoids transformed by yuan-ti into simple-minded, scaly creatures that do their masters' bidding. The transformation process warps not only a subject's body but also its mind, making it instinctively obey any yuan-ti and filling it with a seething rage that rises at the sight of non-reptilian creatures.

Although broodguards have low intelligence, they are able to perform simple yet important tasks in the community, such as guarding eggs or patrolling for intruders. The yuan-ti refer to broodguards as "histachii," which means "egg-watchers."

Human No More. Most broodguards are made from human prisoners forced to consume a magical brew that renders them helpless and unable to fight off the inevitable. A human transformed into a broodguard loses all semblance of who it once was, and even its human origin is barely discernible. A broodguard is hairless and emaciated, with yellow-green, scaly skin. It has beady, bloodshot eyes and a forked tongue, and smells faintly of rotting meat. Broodguards can speak but rarely do so, preferring to use snake-like hisses and guttural noises.

Making a Broodguard

Yuan-ti create broodguards from captured Humanoids. Each subject is fed a special potion that immediately renders it incapacitated and transforms it into a broodguard over the next 1d6 + 6 days. A subject forced to imbibe the brew can make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw; on a success, it takes 14 (4d6) poison damage and is otherwise unaffected.

A spell such as lesser restoration or remove curse can end the transformation process at any time before it runs its course. After the process is complete, only a wish spell can reverse the effect.

Environment

Grassland, Ruins, Swamp, Underdark, Underwater, Urban

Token

Yuan-ti Broodguard

Medium humanoid (yuan-ti), neutral evil

  • Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
  • Hit Points 45 (7d8 + 14)
  • Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
15 (+2) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 6 (-2) 11 (+0) 4 (-3)
  • Proficiency Bonus +2
  • Saving Throws Str +4,Dex +4,Wis +2
  • Damage Vulnerabilities
  • Damage Resistances
  • Damage Immunities poison
  • Condition Immunities poisoned
  • Skills Perception +2
  • Senses darkvision 60 ft.,passive Perception 12
  • Languages Abyssal,Common,Draconic
  • Challenge 2

Mental Resistance. The broodguard has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't paralyze it.

Reckless. At the start of its turn, the broodguard can gain advantage on all melee weapon attack rolls it makes during that turn, but attack rolls against it have advantage until the start of its next turn.

Actions

Multiattack. The broodguard makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) slashing damage.

Yuan-ti Mind Whisperer

Mind whisperers are malison spellcasters that enter into a pact with the serpent god Sseth, the Sibilant Death. They use their abilities to convert others to their faith, increase their personal power, and befuddle the minds of their enemies.

A mind whisperer is elusive, manipulative, unpredictable, and willing to cheat or kill comrades and rivals alike if doing so benefits it. The worshipers of Sseth have their hands in many schemes, often plying the middle ground between two factions, and thus spend a lot of energy making sure neither of their allies learn of their conflicting connections. Even among yuan-ti, mind whisperers are known for being self-important, sneaky, and prone to flee at the first sign of trouble.

This malison is the type that has a human body and a snake head.

Environment

Grassland, Ruins, Swamp, Underdark, Underwater, Urban

Token

Yuan-ti Mind Whisperer

Medium monstrosity (shapechanger;yuan-ti), neutral evil

  • Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
  • Hit Points 71 (13d8 + 13)
  • Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16 (+3) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 16 (+3)
  • Proficiency Bonus +2
  • Saving Throws Wis +4,Cha +5
  • Damage Vulnerabilities
  • Damage Resistances
  • Damage Immunities poison
  • Condition Immunities poisoned
  • Skills Deception +5,Stealth +4
  • Senses darkvision 120 ft. (penetrates magical darkness),passive Perception 12
  • Languages Abyssal,Common,Draconic
  • Challenge 4

Devil's Sight. Magical darkness doesn't impede the yuan-ti's darkvision.

Magic Resistance. The yuan-ti has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Sseth's Blessing. When the yuan-ti reduces an enemy to 0 hit points, the yuan-ti gains 9 temporary hit points.

Actions

Multiattack. The yuan-ti makes two Bite attacks and one Scimitar attack, or it makes two Spectral Fangs attacks.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.

Scimitar (Yuan-ti Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.

Spectral Fangs. Ranged Spell Attack: +5 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (3d8 + 3) psychic damage.

Spellcasting (Yuan-ti Form Only). The yuan-ti casts one of the following spells, requiring no material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 13): * At will: animal friendship (snakes only), message, minor illusion, prestidigitation * 3/day: suggestion * 2/day each: detect thoughts, hypnotic pattern

Bonus Actions

Change Shape. The yuan-ti transforms into a Medium snake or back into its true form. Its statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. If it dies, it stays in its current form.

Yuan-ti Nightmare Speaker

Nightmare speakers are female yuan-ti malison priests that make a pact with the Dendar the Night Serpent to feed their deity the fears and nightmares of their victims in exchange for power in the mortal world. The priestesses receive nightmarish visions from Dendar, which they interpret as prophecies, and then use their magic and influence to make these visions come true.

Nightmare speakers revel in torturing others, keeping their victims in a constant state of fear and dread. They prefer to terrify rather than kill their opponents. They manipulate communities for the purpose of acquiring more victims and enjoy the company of Undead.

This malison is the type that has a human head and upper body with a serpentine lower body instead of legs.

Environment

Grassland, Ruins, Swamp, Underdark, Underwater, Urban

Token

Yuan-ti Nightmare Speaker

Medium monstrosity (Warlock), Typically Neutral Evil

  • Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
  • Hit Points 71 (13d8 + 13)
  • Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16 (+3) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 16 (+3)
  • Proficiency Bonus +2
  • Saving Throws Wis +3,Cha +5
  • Damage Vulnerabilities
  • Damage Resistances
  • Damage Immunities poison
  • Condition Immunities poisoned
  • Skills Deception +5,Stealth +4
  • Senses darkvision 120 ft.,passive Perception 11
  • Languages Abyssal,Common,Draconic
  • Challenge 4

Devil's Sight. Magical darkness doesn't impede the yuan-ti's darkvision.

Magic Resistance. The yuan-ti has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Actions

Multiattack. The yuan-ti makes one Constrict attack and one Scimitar attack, or it makes two Spectral Fangs attacks.

Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 14) if it is a Large or smaller creature. Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained. The yuan-ti can constrict only one creature at a time.

Scimitar (Yuan-ti Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.

Spectral Fangs. Ranged Spell Attack: +5 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (3d8 + 3) necrotic damage.

Invoke Nightmare (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The yuan-ti taps into the nightmares of one creature it can see within 60 feet of it and creates an illusory, immobile manifestation of the creature's deepest fears, visible only to that creature. The target must make a DC 13 Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 22 (4d10) psychic damage and is frightened of the manifestation, believing it to be real. The yuan-ti must concentrate to maintain the illusion (as if concentrating on a spell), which lasts for up to 1 minute and can't be harmed. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the illusion on a success or taking 11 (2d10) psychic damage on a failure.

Innate Spellcasting (Yuan-ti Form Only). The yuan-ti's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13). The yuan-ti can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components: * At will: animal friendship (snakes only) * 3/day: suggestion

Spellcasting (Yuan-ti Form Only). The yuan-ti is a 6th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). It regains its expended spell slots when it finishes a short or long rest. It knows the following warlock spells: * Cantrip (at will): chill touch, eldritch blast (range 300 ft., +3 bonus to each damage roll), mage hand, message, poison spray, prestidigitation * 1st-3rd level (2 3rd-level slots): arms of Hadar, darkness, fear, hex, hold person, hunger of Hadar, witch bolt

Yuan-ti Nightmare Speaker

Medium monstrosity (shapechanger;yuan-ti), neutral evil

  • Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
  • Hit Points 71 (13d8 + 13)
  • Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16 (+3) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 16 (+3)
  • Proficiency Bonus +2
  • Saving Throws Wis +3,Cha +5
  • Damage Vulnerabilities
  • Damage Resistances
  • Damage Immunities poison
  • Condition Immunities poisoned
  • Skills Deception +5,Stealth +4
  • Senses darkvision 120 ft. (penetrates magical darkness),passive Perception 11
  • Languages Abyssal,Common,Draconic
  • Challenge 4

Shapechanger. The yuan-ti can use its action to polymorph into a Medium snake or back into its true form. Its statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. If it dies, it stays in its current form.

Death Fangs (2/Day). The first time the yuan-ti hits with a melee attack on its turn, it can deal an extra 16 (3d10) necrotic damage to the target.

Magic Resistance. The yuan-ti has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Actions

Multiattack (Yuan-ti Form Only). The yuan-ti makes one constrict attack and one scimitar attack.

Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 14) if it is a Large or smaller creature. Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the yuan-ti can't constrict another target.

Scimitar (Yuan-ti Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.

Invoke Nightmare (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The yuan-ti taps into the nightmares of a creature it can see within 60 feet of it and creates an illusory, immobile manifestation of the creature's deepest fears, visible only to that creature. The target must make a DC 13 Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 11 (2d10) psychic damage and is frightened of the manifestation, believing it to be real. The yuan-ti must concentrate to maintain the illusion (as if concentrating on a spell), which lasts for up to 1 minute and can't be harmed. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the illusion on a success, or taking 11 (2d10) psychic damage on a failure.

Yuan-ti Pit Master

With snakes for arms, pit masters are yuan-ti malison priests who have made a pact with the god Merrshaulk and seek to rouse him from his slumber by sacrificing Humanoids to him. They are the most traditionalist yuan-ti and believe that they are best equipped to achieve the goals of their people.

Pit masters are deeply involved in yuan-ti's long-term plan to take over Humanoid governments, as well as in the ongoing effort to protect their cities from discovery or attacks by hostiles. They oppose reckless behavior and argue for a slow, cautious approach in all matters.

This malison is the type that has a human head and body and snakes for arms.

Environment

Grassland, Ruins, Swamp, Underdark, Underwater, Urban

Token

Yuan-ti Pit Master

Medium monstrosity (Warlock), Typically Neutral Evil

  • Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
  • Hit Points 88 (16d8 + 16)
  • Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16 (+3) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 16 (+3)
  • Proficiency Bonus +3
  • Saving Throws Wis +4,Cha +6
  • Damage Vulnerabilities
  • Damage Resistances
  • Damage Immunities poison
  • Condition Immunities poisoned
  • Skills Deception +6,Stealth +5
  • Senses darkvision 120 ft.,passive Perception 11
  • Languages Abyssal,Common,Draconic
  • Challenge 5

Devil's Sight. Magical darkness doesn't impede the yuan-ti's darkvision.

Magic Resistance. The yuan-ti has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Actions

Multiattack. The yuan-ti makes three Bite attacks or two Spectral Fangs attacks.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.

Spectral Fangs. Ranged Spell Attack: +6 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (3d8 + 3) poison damage.

Merrshaulk's Slumber (1/Day). The yuan-ti targets up to five creatures that it can see within 60 feet of it. Each target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or fall into a magical sleep and be unconscious for 10 minutes. A sleeping target awakens if it takes damage or if someone uses an action to shake or slap it awake. This magical sleep has no effect on a creature immune to being charmed.

Innate Spellcasting (Yuan-ti Form Only). The yuan-ti's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13). The yuan-ti can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components: * At will: animal friendship (snakes only) * 3/day: suggestion

Spellcasting (Yuan-ti Form Only). The yuan-ti is a 6th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). It regains its expended spell slots when it finishes a short or long rest. It knows the following warlock spells: * Cantrips (at will): eldritch blast (range 300 ft., +3 bonus to each damage roll), friends, guidance, mage hand, message, poison spray * 1st-3rd level (2 3rd-level slots): command, counterspell, hellish rebuke, invisibility, misty step, unseen servant, vampiric touch

Bonus Actions

Change Shape. The yuan-ti transforms into a Medium snake or back into its true form. Its statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. If it dies, it stays in its current form.