Lunar Naga — Moonlit Hypnotist and Star-Watcher
A nocturnal naga that reads meaning in the heavens, mesmerises intruders with moon-bright scales and strikes from concealment.
The Lunar Naga is a patient observer of the night sky. Its black scales glitter like a field of stars, while stark white hair frames a pale humanoid face. More secretive than regal, it studies celestial cycles, maintains private zodiacs and treats unusual conjunctions as warnings, opportunities or messages requiring action.
At a Glance
Run It Tonight
Give the lunar naga a reason to delay violence. It may want to know where the party came from, what they saw in the sky, or whether one character matches a predicted sign. If combat begins, it uses moon-bright hypnosis first, then attacks whoever resisted while the fascinated creatures become obstacles rather than immediate targets.
Rules by Edition
Lunar Naga
Large Aberration, typically Chaotic Neutral
AC 16; Initiative +4 (14)
HP 85 (10d10 + 30)
Speed 40 ft.
14 (+2)
19 (+4)
16 (+3)
13 (+1)
16 (+3)
17 (+3)
Saving Throws Dex +7, Wis +6, Cha +6
Skills Arcana +4, Perception +6, Stealth +10
Immunities Poison; Poisoned
Senses Darkvision 60 ft.; Passive Perception 16
Languages Aklo, Common
CR 6 (2,300 XP); PB +3
Traits
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). The naga deals an extra 10 (3d6) damage when it hits with an attack while it has Advantage or when an ally is within 5 feet of the target.
Spellcasting. The naga uses Charisma for spellcasting (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit). It can cast: at will—detect magic, mage hand, minor illusion; 3/day each—charm person, invisibility, magic missile; 2/day—scorching ray.
Actions
Bite. Melee Attack Roll: +7, reach 10 ft. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) Piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) Poison damage. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or have the Poisoned condition until the end of its next turn and Disadvantage on Wisdom saving throws while Poisoned.
Moonlit Hypnosis (1/Day). Each creature of the naga’s choice within 30 feet that can see it makes a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, it has the Charmed condition and is Incapacitated while the naga concentrates, up to 1 minute. The effect ends for a creature if it takes damage or if another creature uses an action to shake it free.
Lunar Step (Recharge 5–6). The naga teleports up to 30 feet to a space it can see that is in Dim Light or Darkness, then takes the Hide action.
Lunar Naga
Large aberration, chaotic neutral
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 85 (10d10 + 30)
Speed 40 ft.
14 (+2)
19 (+4)
16 (+3)
13 (+1)
16 (+3)
17 (+3)
Saving Throws Dex +7, Wis +6, Cha +6
Skills Arcana +4, Perception +6, Stealth +10
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages Aklo, Common
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Traits
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). The naga deals an extra 10 (3d6) damage when it hits a creature with advantage or while an ally is adjacent to that creature.
Spellcasting. The naga is a 5th-level Charisma-based spellcaster. Its characteristic magic includes charm person, expeditious retreat, magic missile, ray of enfeeblement, invisibility and scorching ray.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.
Hypnosis (1/Day). Creatures of the naga’s choice within 30 feet that can see its shimmering scales must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or become charmed and incapacitated while the naga concentrates, up to 1 minute. Damage ends the effect on that creature.
Lunar Naga CR 6
XP 2,400
CN Large aberration
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +14
Defense
AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 15 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +6 natural, −1 size)
hp 68 (8d8+32)
Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +9
Offense
Speed 40 ft.
Melee bite +7 (2d6+3 plus poison)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks hypnosis, sneak attack +3d6
Spells Known CL 5th; concentration +8
2nd (5/day)—invisibility, scorching ray
1st (7/day)—charm person, expeditious retreat, magic missile, ray of enfeeblement
0—detect magic, disrupt undead, mage hand, open/close, prestidigitation, ray of frost
Statistics
Str 14, Dex 19, Con 18, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 17
Base Atk +6; CMB +9; CMD 24 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Combat Casting, Dodge, Eschew MaterialsB, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Stealth)
Skills Bluff +7, Diplomacy +7, Knowledge (arcana) +5, Knowledge (nature) +9, Perception +14, Spellcraft +8, Stealth +14
Languages Aklo, Common
Special Abilities
Hypnosis (Su). Once per day, creatures within 30 feet that can see the naga’s moon-bright scales must succeed on a DC 17 Will save or become fascinated. The naga can maintain the effect by concentrating, and fascinated creatures follow it while the effect continues.
Poison (Ex). Bite—injury; Fort DC 18; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d3 Con and 1 Wis; cure 1 save.
Spells. A lunar naga casts spells as a 5th-level sorcerer.
Ecology
Environment any land
Organization solitary or nest (2–4)
Treasure standard
Lunar Naga
Large Aberration
Hit Dice 8d8+32 (68 hp)
Initiative +4
Speed 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class 20 (−1 size, +4 Dex, +1 dodge, +6 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple +6/+12
Attack bite +7 melee (2d6+3 plus poison)
Full Attack bite +7 melee (2d6+3 plus poison)
Space/Reach 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks hypnosis, poison, sneak attack +3d6, spells
Special Qualities darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision
Saves Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +9
Abilities Str 14, Dex 19, Con 18, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 17
Skills Bluff +7, Concentration +12, Hide +10, Knowledge (arcana) +5, Knowledge (nature) +9, Listen +14, Move Silently +14, Spellcraft +8, Spot +14
Feats Combat Casting, Dodge, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Hide)
Environment any land
Organization solitary or nest (2–4)
Challenge Rating 6
Treasure standard
Alignment usually chaotic neutral
Hypnosis (Su)
Once per day, all creatures within 30 feet that can see the naga must succeed on a DC 17 Will save or become fascinated while it concentrates.
Poison (Ex)
Injury, Fortitude DC 18; initial and secondary damage 1d3 Constitution and 1 Wisdom.
Spells
The lunar naga casts spells as a 5th-level sorcerer.
Behaviour
Lunar nagas prefer observation to immediate confrontation. They watch visitors, compare them to predictions and manipulate events subtly if they believe a celestial pattern is unfolding. Their confidence can become arrogance when they mistake interpretation for certainty.
Clouded skies, unusual eclipses and failed observations make them restless. A lunar naga denied access to the night sky is more likely to take risks simply to restore its ability to observe.
Signs Before Initiative
- A ruined tower contains recent star charts drawn over much older ones.
- Black scales glimmer like powdered silver only under moonlight.
- Observers stand motionless on a roof, following a serpent with their eyes.
- Windows and collapsed roofs have been deliberately cleared to reveal particular constellations.
- Several clocks, water timers or marked candles track the same precise hour each night.
- The naga’s venom has been stored in carefully diluted ritual doses rather than as a weapon.
If Violence Starts
The lunar naga tries to fascinate as many enemies as possible before attacking anyone. It then uses invisibility and stealth to strike a creature that resisted the hypnosis, applying sneak attack and venom while fascinated enemies are left untouched whenever possible.
If the fight turns against it, escape and concealment matter more than pride. The naga wants another night to study the problem.
Counterplay
Break line of sight when the scales begin to glow. Damage or direct intervention can end fascination, and creatures that resist the first hypnotic display should use that freedom to protect allies rather than chase the naga individually.
Its magic is dangerous but not high-level. Once the naga’s invisibility and positioning are neutralised, it is much less durable than the old CR 10 homebrew version suggested.
Observatories and Sky-Watchers
Lunar nagas favour high towers, mountain platforms and other places with long horizons. Those living underground maintain routes to open sky and may guard them more fiercely than their actual sleeping chambers.
Some gather small circles of assistants who record observations, maintain instruments and copy calculations. Such followers need not be fanatics; many are simply astronomers, astrologers or scholars who believe the naga sees patterns they cannot.
Using a Lunar Naga in an Encounter
The clouded month. Weeks of unnatural weather prevent a lunar naga from completing an observation, and its increasingly desperate actions begin affecting nearby settlements.
The predicted stranger. The naga insists one party member appears in a chart drawn decades before their birth.
The poisoned vision. A diluted dose of lunar naga venom produces a genuine vision, but nobody knows whether it shows the future or only the naga’s own expectations.
The missing constellation. The naga’s records prove that one star visible last year is now gone.
Related Nagas
Return to the Naga Bestiary, or compare the Lunar Naga with the Dark Naga and the enduring Guardian Naga.
Rules Sources and Licensing
The Pathfinder 1e Lunar Naga derives from Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 3, © 2011 Paizo Publishing, LLC. The 5.5e/2024, 5e/2014 and D&D 3.5e blocks are compatibility adaptations created for this entry and are not official Lunar Naga statistics for those editions.