monster

Yuan-ti Anathema

CR 12

Huge Monstrosity (shapechanger, yuan-ti), Neutral Evil

Reveal Stat Block

Armor Class

16 (natural armor)

Hit Points

189 (18d12 + 72)

Speed

40 ft., swim 30 ft., climb 30 ft.

str

dex

con

int

wis

cha

Traits

Magic Resistance.The anathema has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Ophidiophobia Aura.Any creature of the anathema's choice, other than a snake or a yuan-ti, that starts its turn within 30 feet of the anathema and can see or hear it must succeed on a 17 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of snakes and yuan-ti. A frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a target's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the target is immune to this aura for the next 24 hours.

Shapechanger.The anathema can use its action to polymorph into a Huge giant constrictor 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.

Six Heads.The anathema has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks and on saving throws against being blinded. charmed, deafened, frightened, stunned, or knocked unconscious.

Actions

Multiattack (Anathema Form Only).The anathema makes two claw attacks, one constrict attack, and one Flurry of Bites attack.

Claw (Anathema Form Only).mw 10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. ({@damage 2d6 + 6) slashing damage.

Constrict.mw 10 to hit, reach 15 ft., one Large or smaller creature. ({@damage 3d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage plus 7 (2d6) acid damage, and the target is grappled (escape 16). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained and takes 16 (3d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage plus 7 (2d6) acid damage at the start of each of its turns, and the anathema can't constrict another target.

Flurry of Bites.mw 10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one creature. ({@damage 6d6 + 6) piercing damage plus 14 (4d6) poison damage.

Yuan-ti Anathema

Yuan-ti malisons who become priestly devotees of a particular god-be it Sseth, Dendar the Night Serpent, or Merrshaulk-often rise through the ranks to become spiritual leaders among the serpent folk. These priests perform sacrificial rites to appease their vile gods.

Yuan-ti Anathema

A yuan-ti abomination's quest for godhood might lead it to perform a ritual that, if successful, transforms it into an even greater form: a yuan-ti anathema. This ritual demands the sacrifice of hundreds of snakes and requires the abomination to bathe in the blood of its enemies. The transformation is quick yet painful.

Not all yuan-ti are eager to see one of their own become an anathema, since anathemas brutally subjugate their lessers for their own evil ends.

Not Quite Divine

An anathema considers itself a demigod on the path to greater divinity. It demands obeisance from weaker yuan-ti and uses every resource at its disposal to launch small-scale wars against its neighbors. Each conquest brings new slaves and sacrifices, as well as glory and riches, that the anathema thinks it needs to achieve true divinity.

An anathema's most loyal yuan-ti followers see it as the pinnacle of the serpentine form, an unbelievable improvement on the nearly perfect abomination. Its devoted human followers think of it as 'divine flesh in a mortal body,' and cultists serving an anathema tend to be more bloodthirsty and self-sacrificing in its presence.

Immortal

Anathemas don't age, allowing them to pursue their goals until the end of days. Truly powerful ones can grow to rule multiple yuan-ti cities and bring entire regions, including humanoid realms, under yuan-ti control.