Viper, Giant

Family: Animal

Huge beast, unaligned

Armor Class 13
Hit Points 115 (11d12+44)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
20 (+5)	15 (+2)	18 (+4)	3 (-4)	15 (+2)	9 (-1)

Senses passive Perception 12
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Serpent Gaze Any living creature that starts its turn within 10 feet of the giant viper must make a Wis save (DC 10). On a failed save, the target is paralyzed until the beginning of its next turn. On a successful save, the creature is immune to the gaze of the giant viper for 1 hour.

ACTIONS

• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 2d10+5 piercing damage and the target must make a Con save (DC 15) if it is a living creature. On a failed save, the target takes 2d10 poison damage and becomes poisoned. At the start of each of its turns, a poisoned creature takes 2d10 poison damage. At the end of each of its turns, a poisoned creature can attempt a new save, ending the effect on a success.
• Tail Lash. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 1d10+5 bludgeoning damage, and if the target is Medium size or smaller, the target must make a Dex save (DC 16) or be forced prone.

REACTIONS

• Thrashing Coils When an attacker hits the giant viper with a melee attack, it can make a tail lash attack against the attacker if the attacker is within its reach.

ABOUT

This huge reptilian creature has a crocodile-like body with flippers instead of legs and a powerful, finned tail. It has a body as thick as a barrel and a head as large as a hippo’s. Its foot-long fangs would be deadly weapons even without the glistening blue venom dripping from their hollow tips.

Perhaps no natural beast is feared so much as the giant viper. Bigger and stronger than even the mightiest constrictor snakes, it is a stealthy hunter whose venom can kill a mammoth with one bite. The viper’s body is easily 50 feet in length and 3 feet thick at its widest, although it usually coils up in a much smaller space. It can weigh more than 2,500 pounds.

The giant viper usually saves its venom for large prey, relying on the sheer strength of its bite and its battering- ram like body to crush and kill human-sized prey. However, when hungry, the viper poisons anything it bites to make sure of a meal. Its venom is so powerful that most victims are instantly paralyzed, and die within the minute.