monster

Hierophant Medusa

CR 17

Large Monstrosity, Any Alignment

Reveal Stat Block

Armor Class

17 (natural armor)

Hit Points

237 (25d10 + 100)

Speed

40 ft., swim 40 ft., climb 40 ft.

str

dex

con

int

wis

cha

Traits

Devotion's Call (1/Day).The medusa can cast the Resurrection spell, requiring no material components and using Wisdom as the spellcasting ability.

Legendary Resistance (4/Day).If the medusa fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Actions

Multiattack.The medusa makes one Constrict attack, one Final Blade attack, and one Snake Hair attack. Alternatively, it makes two Wrathful Strike attacks.

Constrict.mw 12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. ({@damage 3d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage, and if the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it has the grappled condition (escape 20). Until this grapple ends, the target has the restrained condition, and the medusa can't constrict another creature.

Final Blade.mw 12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. ({@damage 2d6 + 6) slashing damage plus 21 (6d6) force damage. If the target has at least one head and the medusa rolled a 20 on the attack roll, the target is decapitated and dies if it fails a 20 Constitution saving throw and can't survive without that head. A target is immune to this effect if it takes none of the damage, has legendary actions, or is Huge or larger. Such a creature takes an extra 28 (8d6) force damage from the hit.

Snake Hair.mw 12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. ({@damage 1d10 + 6) piercing damage plus 5 (1d10) poison damage.

Wrathful Strike.rs 12 to hit, range 120 ft., one creature. ({@damage 3d10 + 6) radiant damage, and the target has the blinded condition until the end of its next turn.

Legendary Actions.The creature can take 3 legendary actions...

Move.The medusa moves up to its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Wrathful Blast (Costs 2 Actions).The medusa makes one Wrathful Strike attack.

Final Slash (Costs 3 Actions).The medusa makes one Final Blade attack with advantage.

Hierophant Medusa

Sometimes deeply devout people, usually either Humanoids or medusas, dedicate themselves to a cause and are transformed by a deity or magic into hierophant medusas—beings with powerful snakelike tails for their lower body, snakes for hair, and a petrifying gaze. The first hierophant medusa was transformed by the power of the Euryale card when that individual was inspired by Euryale's story and unwavering conviction.

These medusas are divinely empowered champions, drawing their power from a cosmic truth, the will of a deity, or the primal forces of nature. They gather and inspire followers, protecting their people and guiding them to fulfill the medusa's divine purpose. The Divine Purpose table offers suggestions for motivations. Roll on the table, or use the entries as inspiration to create your own.

A Medusa's Lair

A medusa's lair is often decorated with the petrified bodies of creatures that raised arms against the medusa or its followers. The lair is typically a rich repository of knowledge, with lore both worldly and esoteric filling books, scrolls, tablets, or stranger archives—such as magical crystals that hold captured memories or the voices of those long dead. You can use this lair and the lair actions described for any medusa, including the hierophant medusa or the medusa in the Monster Manual.