Giant Poisonous Snake
Medium Beast, unaligned
50 XP
Actions
Bite
Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4) piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Quick Reference
Running This Encounter
Giant Poisonous Snakes are ambush predators that rely on surprise and their potent venom rather than prolonged combat. Position them in tall grass, dense undergrowth, or coiled around branches where they gain advantage on stealth checks. They lack intelligence for complex tactics, so they simply strike at the nearest creature and rely on their poison to wear foes down. Use multiple snakes (2-3) to create a genuine threat without overwhelming a small party.
Combat Tactics
The snake uses its action to Bite, applying its venomous poison on a hit to deal extra damage and potentially poison the target. It prefers to strike once and retreat into cover, waiting for poison damage to accumulate before attacking again. If cornered or protecting eggs/young, it becomes aggressive and attacks relentlessly, but it flees if reduced to 5 HP or fewer.
Environment & Setting
Swamps, jungles, forests with dense vegetation, or underground caverns near water sources. These snakes thrive in warm, humid environments where they can hide among plants and strike from concealment.