Medium Monstrosity (Shapechanger, Yuan-Ti), Neutral Evil
Armor Class 13
Hit Points 72 (13d8 + 13)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
16 (+3)
DEX
14 (+2)
CON
14 (+2)
INT
14 (+2)
WIS
12 (+1)
CHA
16 (+3)
Saving Throws WIS +4
Skills Arcana +5, Deception +5, Stealth +4
Damage Immunities Poison
Condition Immunities Poisoned
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 11
Languages Abyssal, Common, Draconic
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3
Traits

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 14). The yuan-ti can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will:  detect magic, animal friendship (snakes only)

3/day:  suggestion,

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

Spellcasting (Yuan-ti Form Only). The yuan-ti is a 7th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks). It regains its expended spell slots when it finishes a short or long rest. It knows the following sorcerer spells:

Cantrips (at will):  friends,  mage hand, message,  poison spray, booming blade

1st level (4 slots): shield, sleep, chaos bolt, charm person

2nd level (3 slots): silence, maximilian's earthen grasp

3rd level (3 slots): dispel magic, counterspell

4th level (1 slot): dimension door

Actions

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

Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 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: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.

Longbow (Yuan-ti Form Only). Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.

Description

A Yuan-ti Mageslayer is a rare yuan-ti  malison that proved to be sensitive to magic from the time it was young. The mageslayer has a serpentine lower body instead of legs and scales covering its chest, but has a human head and arms. They undergo intensive training regarding methods to suppress spellcasters and handle magical items. Mageslayers often work with other malisons to eliminate targets; identifying those that carry magic items, and allowing the other malisons to eliminate the foe while keeping magic users' abilities suppressed.  Mageslayers are considered to be part of the middle cast of yuan-ti society, but they often receive more respect than other malisons for their specialty.

Mageslayers are trained in methods to counter and kill spellcasters and individuals using magic items, as the power of magic users is less predictable than that of normal creatures. If word reaches a yuan-ti society that a spellcaster is gaining power, it is likely that a mageslayer would be sent out to end the potential threat. A mageslayer is a valued resource of the yuan-ti and is trained to prioritize its own safety so that the strength of all yuan-ti is not diminished by its death. To this end, yuan-ti mageslayer will often prepare ambushes for their targets, prioritizing individuals carrying magic items, in locations that will allow them to use dimension door to escape to a safe location such as a waiting boat, cave mouth, or balcony if their lives are at risk.

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 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.

Monster Tags: ShapechangerYuan-Ti

Habitat: DesertForestSwamp

YoungFang

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