Creature
Basilisk
Gargantuan to Colossal Psychic beast—summon and polymorph template
The Basilisk is a colossal magical reptile whose gaze turns flesh to stone. It possesses an animal mind and hunts through patience: the fields of statues around its nest warn intruders long before the creature moves. Its eyes are worth a fortune to alchemists as the catalyst for Basilisk Eye.
A Basilisk becomes available with Summon or Polymorph Level 8. The Level 8 form is Gargantuan; the Level 10 form is Colossal.
Basilisk (Polymorph & Summon Template)
Choose a known profile whose listed level is no higher than the level of Summon or Polymorph actually cast. Generate its body from the locked Spell DC; see Magical Creature Templates. The template adds no bonus or penalty to any Save.
Natural Gaze DC. A natural Basilisk calculates the DC of its Petrifying Gaze from Constitution. A Basilisk created by Summon or a creature transformed by Polymorph instead uses the controlling spell's locked Spell DC.
Combat Profile
| Characteristic | Level 8 | Level 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Gargantuan | Colossal |
| STR multiplier | ×2.75 | ×4.00 |
| DEX multiplier | ×0.35 | ×0.50 |
| HP per STR | 96 | 192 |
| Attacks | 6 | 8 |
| Spell Actions | 2 | 3 |
| General Actions | 5 | 6 |
| Dedicated Dodges | 1 | 1 |
| Reach | 25 ft | 40 ft |
| DR | 64 | 128 |
| Acid Resistance | 25% | 25% |
The Basilisk uses the standard Ground Speed generated by DEX. Its Attacks create the widest part of its Action Board. Its body can shove, drag, grapple, and break objects, but its anatomy cannot manipulate tools or perform fine work.
Physical Attacks
| Attack | Level 8 | Level 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Bite | 4d10 + STR | 5d10 + STR |
| Tail Sweep | 4d8 + STR | 5d8 + STR |
Bite. The Basilisk can replace the damage with a grapple attempt under the normal grapple rules.
Tail Sweep. Once per round, the Basilisk can replace one attack with a sweep through a chosen arc behind it. Resolve the primary target normally, then apply the normal cleave rules to every other eligible target within Reach.
Petrifying Gaze
The Basilisk's gaze is passive and costs no action. When a creature first sees its eyes, roll 1d3. The result is the number of Fortitude Saves that creature must succeed against the gaze. It makes one Save on every tick during which it can see the Basilisk's eyes. One failed Save petrifies it immediately.
After succeeding on the full sequence, the creature becomes immune to the Petrifying Gaze of every Basilisk for 24 hours. A tick during which it cannot see the eyes produces no Save and does not advance the sequence. A creature can close its eyes or look away, but then fights as though blinded under Health and Death.
Petrification is permanent. Stone and Flesh, Restoration, Dispel Magic, or an equivalent counterspell can restore the victim. Basilisks are immune to their own gaze and to the gaze of every other Basilisk.
Psychic Racial Spell
A Basilisk can spit Acid Splash directly from its mouth. The spell is Psychic when cast by a Basilisk and requires no speech, gesture, or material component. Its animal mind understands this attack instinctively.
| Racial spell | Level 8 Basilisk | Level 10 Basilisk |
|---|---|---|
| Acid Splash | 7 | 9 |
A summoned Basilisk uses the innate spell-slot reserve granted by Summon. The caster can give it additional slots during creation, and Spell Conduit can provide more afterward.
A creature using Polymorph receives the knowledge of Acid Splash but no free uses and no second reserve. Every casting spends one of the transformed creature's real spell slots of the appropriate level.
Animal Mind and Remains
A natural or summoned Basilisk possesses animal intelligence. It recognizes prey, territory, pain, danger, and simple orders, but cannot speak or follow a complicated plan. A caster using Polymorph retains their own mind.
The organs of a true Basilisk are extremely valuable alchemical components. A temporary summon dissolves into magical particles and leaves nothing behind. A summon made permanent with gold leaves a usable corpse.