Petrifying Gaze. When a creature that can see the medusa’s eyes starts its turn within 30 feet of the medusa, the medusa can force it to make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw if the medusa isn’t incapacitated and can see the creature. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the creature is instantly petrified. Otherwise, a creature that fails the save begins to turn to stone and is restrained. The restrained creature must repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn, becoming petrified on a failure or ending the effect on a success. The petrification lasts until the creature is freed by the greater restoration spell or other magic.
Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature does so, it can’t see the medusa until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If the creature looks at the medusa in the meantime, it must immediately make the save.
If the medusa sees itself reflected on a polished surface within 30 feet of it and in an area of bright light, the medusa is, due to its curse, affected by its own gaze.
Multiattack. The medusa makes either three melee attacks--one with its snake hair and two with its shortsword--or two ranged attacks with its longbow.
Snake Hair. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage plus 14 (4d6) poison damage.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.
Description
A victim of a terrible curse, the serpent-haired medusa petrifies all those who gaze upon it, turning creatures into stone monuments to its corruption.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted May 6, 2019Should I take this line to mean that any living mortal is turned to stone by her reflection?
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted May 19, 2019If they can see her eyes and she can see them, I'd say that yes, she could use her ability.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted May 28, 2019Really want to run a Medusa Alchemist as the ruler of a city on the edge of the Underdark.
I can see her using Stone Cursed as servants and body guards along with a pair of pet basilisk.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Jul 16, 2019Hi yes when can I buy this race to make PC sheets here on D&D Beyond???
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Sep 5, 2019"Can force", so when a medusa is seen by a creature the creature isn't necessarily turned to stone, only if/when the medusa knows of their presence and chooses for this to happen?
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Sep 26, 2019Yeah, that's what petrifying gaze does, dawg.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Sep 26, 2019Thanks :) Just confirming that her petrifying gaze works even when people are using a mirror. In other words, no advantage in using a mirror at all.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Oct 10, 2019That, and as a metaphor for vanity and narcicism.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Nov 11, 2019If i cut off the medusa head, can i use it to turn other creatures to stone?
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Nov 30, 2019@Sheep_Police I hope so that sound so cool
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Feb 15, 2020Ok..for you DM's..I polymorph my character into a stone Gollum...would I be effected by her gaze?
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Feb 16, 2020@OBCOP Well, yes and no. You’re right to see that a Stone Golem is immune to petrification, but the problem is that polymorph specifies that the transformation form must be a “beast”, and a golem is a construct. So polymorph can’t turn a creature into a golem, willing or not.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Mar 28, 2020@TexaDevin I think not, because in the original Greek legend that's how Perseus defeated her. He only looked at her thru her reflection on his shield and was able to decapitate her and put her head inside a bag
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted May 15, 2020Use true poly or shapechange
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted May 21, 2020I think that this version of Medusa’s stone-turning is more similar to a spell she would willingly cast than an automatic thing, so it’s possible that all the spell requires is for Medusa to be able to see her target’s eyes. But that is kind of conflicting with the idea of her turning herself to stone when looking in a mirror, so I dunno.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted May 22, 2020Interestingly, the special trait uses the wording “can” force the target to make a save. You can interpret that as the magic taking effect selectively, or just the Medusa having her eyes turned somewhere else.
I personally prefer to interpret the ability as involuntary, because that adds a bit more drama, but that does also make it much harder to incorporate them into any social setting. I know it’s voluntary for the “Gorgons” (Medusae) of many MtG settings.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Jun 4, 2020so cool i might us it in my campaighn
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Jun 20, 2020If it can choose whether or not to use its gaze, it seems kinda weird that it targets itself through any mirror. It’s got a intelligence of 12, which is above average. It’s not super-smart, but it knows what a mirror is.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Jun 21, 2020I also think it should have the All Around Vision feature from its snake hair
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Sep 28, 2020"...the medusa is, due to its curse, affected by its own gaze."