MedusaCR 6 · Medium Monstrosity · Stat Block & Encounter Builder

Medium monstrosity, Challenge 6. AC 15, 127 hit points.

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Armour Class

Hit Points

127

Speed

30 ft.

Challenge

6 · 2,300 XP

Alignment

Lawful Evil

The card

Stat Block

Medium Monstrosity · Lawful Evil

Medusa

127

17d8 + 51 · 30 ft. · AC from natural armor

Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14

Languages: Common

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	15 (+2)	16 (+3)	12 (+1)	13 (+1)	15 (+2)

Traits

Petrifying GazeWhen a creature that can see the medusa's eyes starts its turn within 30 ft. 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 ft. of it and in an area of bright light, the medusa is, due to its curse, affected by its own gaze.

Actions

MultiattackThe medusa makes either three melee attacks--one with its snake hair and two with its shortsword--or two ranged attacks with its longbow.

Snake HairMelee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage plus 14 (4d6) poison damage.

ShortswordMelee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.

LongbowRanged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.

How to actually run it

Tactics

The stat block tells you what it can do. This tells you what to do with it.

1Multiattack: The medusa makes either three melee attacks--one with its snake hair and two with its shortsword--or two ranged attacks with its longbow.

Pitch the fight

Encounter Difficulty

Encounter Builder

How bad is this fight?

Real DMG maths — XP thresholds by level, and the group multiplier that makes crowds so much worse than the raw total suggests.

Medusas4Party size4Party level3

Could kill someone — and at high enough numbers, the whole party.

Difficulty

Deadly

18,400 adj. XP · ×2

deadly at 1,600

Build this Deadly encounter

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Counsel

Medusa, Answered

What is Medusa's challenge rating in D&D 5e?

Medusa is Challenge 6, worth 2,300 XP. Encounter maths multiplies XP by the number of monsters, so a group is deadlier than the raw total — use the calculator on this page.

What are Medusa's stats?

AC 15 (natural armor), 127 hit points (17d8 + 51), speed 30 ft.. Ability scores: STR 10, DEX 15, CON 16, INT 12, WIS 13, CHA 15.

Where does Medusa fit in an encounter?

As a monstrosity of Challenge 6, it suits a party whose level is in the same range. Adjust party size and level in the builder above to see the difficulty shift live.

Put It On The Table

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