Lamia

Large monstrosity (shapechanger), chaotic evil

Armor Class 17 (natural armor)

Hit Points 168 (16d10 + 80)

Speed 40 ft., fly 50 ft., swim 30 ft.

STR 20 (+5) · DEX 18 (+4) · CON 20 (+5) · INT 14 (+2) · WIS 16 (+3) · CHA 18 (+4)

Saving Throws Dex +9, Con +10, Wis +8, Cha +9

Skills Deception +9, Perception +8, Stealth +9

Damage Resistances Cold

Damage Immunities Poison

Condition Immunities Poisoned

Senses Darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 18

Languages Common, Draconic, Abyssal, telepathy 120 ft.

Challenge 11

Traits

Amphibious. The Lamia can breathe air and water.

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

Multiheaded Vitality. The Lamia has multiple heads (typically 5). For each head it has beyond one, it has an extra reaction that can be used only for opportunity attacks. Whenever the Lamia takes 25 or more damage in a single turn, one of its heads dies. If all its heads die, the Lamia dies.

Regeneration. The Lamia regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn for each of its living heads. If the Lamia takes fire damage, this trait doesn't function at the start of its next turn. The Lamia dies only if it starts its turn with 0 hit points and doesn't regenerate.

Swallow Whole. The Lamia can swallow Medium or smaller creatures. A swallowed creature is blinded and restrained, has total cover against attacks and other effects outside the Lamia, and takes 21 (6d6) acid damage at the start of each of the Lamia's turns. The Lamia can have up to two creatures swallowed at a time. If the Lamia dies, a swallowed creature is no longer restrained and can escape from the corpse by using 15 feet of movement, exiting prone.

Shapechanger. The Lamia can use its action to polymorph into a Medium female humanoid or back into its true form. Its statistics, other than its size, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.

Water Manipulation. The Lamia can cast control water at will, without requiring components. Its spellcasting ability for this spell is Charisma (spell save DC 17).

Actions

Multiattack. The Lamia makes as many Bite attacks as it has heads.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.

Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.

Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 15 ft., one Large or smaller creature.

Hit: 17 (2d8 + 8) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 18). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the Lamia can't constrict another target.

Breath of Enchantment (Recharge 5–6). The Lamia exhales a magical mist in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is charmed by the Lamia for 1 hour. While charmed in this way, the creature regards the Lamia as a trusted friend to be heeded and protected. Although the target isn't under the Lamia's control, it takes the Lamia's requests or actions in the most favorable way it can.

Each time the Lamia or its allies do anything harmful to the target, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success. If the target's saving throw is successful, or if the effect ends for it, the target is immune to the Lamia's Breath of Enchantment for the next 24 hours.

Wing Buffet. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., all creatures in a 10-foot radius.

Hit: 15 (3d6 + 5) bludgeoning damage, and creatures must succeed on a DC 18 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Bonus Actions

Mist Form. The Lamia transforms into a misty cloud until it reverts to its true form as a bonus action. In mist form, the Lamia can't take any actions, speak, or manipulate objects. It is weightless, gains a flying speed of 30 feet, can hover, and can enter a hostile creature's space. In addition, if air can pass through a space, the mist can do so without squeezing, and it can't pass through water. While in mist form, the Lamia is immune to nonmagical damage, and it has advantage on Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution saving throws.

Reactions

Heads. For each head the Lamia has beyond one, it gets an extra reaction that can be used only for opportunity attacks.

Lore

A medium-sized creature with the body of a snake and the head of a dog.

Lamia is a medium-sized creature with the body of a snake and the head of a dog. Some legends categorize this creature as a dragon. According to tales, the mouth of this monster can open so wide that it can swallow a person or animal in a single gulp. Its body is covered with yellow snake scales that can stretch to significant sizes when swallowing.

As it ages, a Lamia can grow additional heads; with each new head, its strength and wisdom increase. Typically, a Lamia can grow up to nine heads and acquire new magical abilities. In some stories, it's mentioned that the Lamia has wings that allow it to fly and attack its prey from the air—usually membranous wings like those of a bat.

From The Witchwood Bestiary 5E, p. 60 · Fern Flower Press