Jörmungandr (Midgard Serpent) — The World Serpent

Amphibious. Jörmungandr can breathe air and water.

Legendary Resistance (4/Day). If Jörmungandr fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.

Magic Resistance. Jörmungandr has Advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Siege Monster. Jörmungandr deals double damage to objects and structures.

World-Encircling Body. This stat block represents Jörmungandr’s head, neck and those nearby portions of his immense body that directly affect the encounter.

Distant portions of the World Serpent are part of the environment rather than independent creatures or separate Hit Point pools.

Damaging a distant section of his body does not reduce Jörmungandr’s Hit Points unless a specific encounter creates a separate vulnerable objective.

Multiattack. Jörmungandr makes three attacks: one Bite and two Coil Strikes.

Bite. Melee Attack Roll: +21, reach 30 ft., one target. Hit: 51 (6d12 + 12) Piercing damage.

If the target is a creature, it must make a DC 28 Constitution saving throw.

On a failed save, it takes 27 (6d8) Poison damage and has the Poisoned condition until the end of its next turn.

On a successful save, it takes half as much Poison damage and isn’t Poisoned.

If the target is Huge or smaller, Jörmungandr can also Grapple it in his jaws (escape DC 29). Until the grapple ends, the target has the Restrained condition.

Jörmungandr can hold one creature in his jaws at a time.

Coil Strike. Melee Attack Roll: +21, reach 60 ft., one target. Hit: 38 (4d12 + 12) Bludgeoning damage.

If the target is Huge or smaller, it must succeed on a DC 29 Strength saving throw or be Grappled by Jörmungandr (escape DC 29).

Until the grapple ends, the target has the Restrained condition.

Jörmungandr can have up to three creatures Grappled by his coils at once.

Constrict. Each creature currently Grappled by one of Jörmungandr’s coils takes 48 (8d8 + 12) Bludgeoning damage.

Swallow. Jörmungandr makes a Bite attack against a Huge or smaller creature Grappled in his jaws.

On a hit, the target takes the Bite’s damage, is swallowed, and the grapple ends.

While swallowed, the creature has the Blinded and Restrained conditions, has Total Cover against effects originating outside Jörmungandr, and takes 44 (8d10) Acid damage plus 44 (8d10) Poison damage at the start of each of Jörmungandr’s turns.

If Jörmungandr takes 80 or more damage during a single turn from creatures inside him, he must succeed on a DC 28 Constitution saving throw at the end of that turn or regurgitate all swallowed creatures.

Regurgitated creatures appear Prone in unoccupied spaces within 30 feet of his head.

Eitr Breath (Recharge 5–6). Jörmungandr exhales corrosive venom in a 120-foot Cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 28 Constitution saving throw.

On a failed save, a creature takes 66 (12d10) Acid damage plus 66 (12d10) Poison damage and has the Poisoned condition for 1 minute.

On a successful save, it takes half as much damage and isn’t Poisoned.

A Poisoned creature repeats the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the condition on itself on a success.

Tidal Surge (Recharge 6). Jörmungandr violently displaces the sea in a 150-foot-long, 30-foot-wide Line.

Each creature in the area must make a DC 29 Strength saving throw.

On a failed save, a creature takes 66 (12d10) Bludgeoning damage, is pushed up to 60 feet away from Jörmungandr and has the Prone condition.

On a successful save, it takes half as much damage and is neither pushed nor knocked Prone.

World Tremor (Recharge 6). Jörmungandr shifts a colossal portion of his body.

Each other creature on the ground, on a vessel, or on the surface of the water within 60 feet of Jörmungandr must make a DC 28 Dexterity saving throw.

On a failed save, a creature takes 36 (8d8) Bludgeoning damage and has the Prone condition.

On a successful save, it takes half as much damage and isn’t knocked Prone.

Coiling Intercept. When a creature Jörmungandr can see moves within 60 feet of him, he makes one Coil Strike against that creature.

Slither. Jörmungandr moves up to half his Speed or Swim Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks.

Coil Strike. Jörmungandr makes one Coil Strike.

Constrict (Costs 2 Actions). Jörmungandr uses Constrict.

Eitr Spit (Costs 2 Actions). Jörmungandr spits a mass of venom at a point he can see within 120 feet.

Each creature in a 20-foot-radius Sphere centred on that point must make a DC 28 Dexterity saving throw.

On a failed save, a creature takes 33 (6d10) Acid damage plus 33 (6d10) Poison damage.

On a successful save, it takes half as much damage.

Tidal Crush (Costs 3 Actions). Each creature within 30 feet of Jörmungandr must succeed on a DC 29 Strength saving throw or take 48 (8d8 + 12) Bludgeoning damage, be pushed up to 30 feet and have the Prone condition.

A successful save halves the damage and prevents the push and Prone condition.

Final Eitr. When Jörmungandr is reduced to 0 Hit Points, his dying breath fills the area with concentrated eitr.

Each other creature within 120 feet of his head must make a DC 28 Constitution saving throw.

On a failed save, a creature takes 55 (10d10) Acid damage plus 55 (10d10) Poison damage and has the Poisoned condition for 1 minute.

On a successful save, it takes half as much damage and isn’t Poisoned.

A Poisoned creature repeats the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the condition on a success.

Jörmungandr does not possess a conventional lair. Instead, the sea and coastline around any portion of the World Serpent that becomes unusually active begin to reflect his presence.

While Jörmungandr’s head or a major active portion of his body is within a region, the following effects occur within 10 miles of that location.

• Restless Sea. Calm water becomes heavy swell within minutes. Currents change without warning, waves strike coastlines in otherwise still weather, and small craft are noticeably harder to control.
• Eitr-Tainted Water. Water within 1 mile of Jörmungandr’s head or an exposed wounded coil develops an acrid, metallic taste and faint green-black discoloration. A creature that drinks untreated water from this area must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or have the Poisoned condition for 1 hour.
• Flight of the Deep. Ordinary aquatic animals instinctively flee. Fish shoals disappear, whales alter course, and marine predators abandon otherwise familiar hunting grounds.
• Serpent Tremors. Minor earthquakes and submarine tremors occur intermittently. Loose objects shift, anchored vessels strain at their moorings, and unstable cliffs, sea caves and coastal ruins can collapse.
• Venomous Storms. Storm clouds gather with unnatural speed above waters disturbed by Jörmungandr. Sea mist has a bitter metallic scent, rain may leave a thin oily residue, and lightning sometimes carries a pale green cast.
• The Coil Beneath. At the DM’s discretion, immense serpent-like ridges become visible beneath the sea, sometimes stretching beyond the horizon. These are portions of Jörmungandr’s body rather than separate creatures and cannot normally be attacked as independent targets.

Most regional effects end within 1d6 hours after Jörmungandr becomes quiescent or the active portion of his body leaves the region. Eitr contamination can persist for 1d6 days. Physical damage caused by tremors, altered channels, flooding or collapsing coastlines remains until repaired or naturally changed.

Jörmungandr has 520 skill ranks from his 65 outsider Hit Dice and Intelligence 10.

He has 65 ranks each in Concentration, Intimidate, Knowledge (nature), Knowledge (the planes), Listen, Sense Motive, Spot and Swim.

The bonuses shown in the stat block include ability modifiers, Alertness where applicable, and the racial Swim bonus granted by his swim speed.

Jörmungandr is immune to polymorphing, petrification and hostile form-altering effects. He is not subject to energy drain, ability drain, ability damage or death from massive damage and is immune to mind-affecting effects and acid.

He has cold resistance 20 and fire resistance 20, continuous nondetection and true seeing, blindsight 500 feet, darkvision 60 feet and telepathy 1,000 feet.

Greater Divine Blood (Ex). This legacy special quality represents Jörmungandr’s supernatural ancestry and his status among the greatest abominations.

It does not make him a deity and does not allow him to grant spells, domains or divine rank to worshippers.

For legacy rules that compare an effect directly with divine rank, Jörmungandr is treated as equivalent to divine rank 18 solely for resisting or interacting with that effect.

He does not automatically fail an attack roll or saving throw on a natural 1.

In addition to his abomination immunities, he is immune to disease, stunning, paralysis, death effects and disintegration.

These additional divine-blood immunities can be overcome by an effect produced directly by a deity of divine rank 18 or higher.

World-Encircling Body (Ex). Jörmungandr’s complete body is too large to function as a conventional single miniature or hit-point pool.

Only his head, neck and encounter-designated vulnerable sections are treated as ordinary combat targets.

The head has the hit points given above and fast healing 500. Distant coils are treated as terrain, grappling hazards or environmental effects.

Damage to those distant sections does not reduce the head’s hit points.

Breath Weapon (Su). Once every 1d4 rounds Jörmungandr can use one of two breath weapons.

• Corrosive Eitr: 90-foot cone; 24d10 damage, half acid and half poison; Reflex DC 62 half. A creature that fails the save is also exposed to Jörmungandr’s bite-strength eitr at its current save DC.
• Acid Torrent: 180-foot line; 24d10 acid damage; Reflex DC 62 half.

The save DC is Constitution-based.

Constrict (Ex). Jörmungandr can begin a constriction either after establishing a hold with his bite or by making the independent constrict touch attack given in the stat block.

A creature held in one of his coils takes 16d10+27 points of bludgeoning damage whenever Jörmungandr wins an opposed grapple check to damage it.

The number of coils physically available is determined by the encounter, but Jörmungandr can initiate only one new independent constriction each round.

A creature can escape normally with an opposed grapple check or an Escape Artist check.

Improved Grab (Ex). If Jörmungandr hits with his bite, he can attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.

He can use improved grab against creatures of any size. If he establishes a hold, he may constrict the victim.

Eitr (Su). Jörmungandr produces supernatural venom capable of threatening beings far beyond the scope of ordinary poison.

Poisonous Exhalation: A creature within 50 feet of Jörmungandr’s head must attempt a Fortitude save at the beginning of its turn.

The save DC is 35 within 50 feet, 30 at 51–70 feet, 25 at 71–90 feet and 20 at 91–110 feet. Failure deals 1d8 Constitution damage as initial and secondary damage.

Bite Eitr: Injury; Fortitude DC 60; initial damage 4d8 Constitution; secondary effect death.

Eitr is supernatural and is not defeated by ordinary poison immunity. A creature normally immune to poison instead gains a +20 resistance bonus on its saving throws against bite eitr.

The save DC for bite eitr begins at 60. It increases by 4 at the end of every round in which Jörmungandr remains in active combat and by 2 whenever a successful attack or damaging spell deals damage to his head.

The DC cannot exceed 100. If his head suffers no damage for 7 consecutive rounds, the DC returns to 60.

At this epic scale, magic originating from a deity of divine rank 18 or higher with direct mastery of healing can neutralize the supernatural secondary effect at the DM’s discretion.

Ordinary neutralize poison does not remove bite eitr.

Eitr separated from Jörmungandr’s body loses its supernatural potency after 24 hours unless preserved by epic or divine magic.

Final Eitr (Su). When Jörmungandr is slain, his head releases a dense cloud of eitr in a 100-foot radius.

Every other creature in the area must immediately save against bite eitr using the current eitr DC at the moment of his death.

Swallow Whole (Ex). If Jörmungandr begins his turn with a Gargantuan or smaller creature held in his jaws, he can attempt another grapple check.

If he succeeds, he swallows the creature and deals his bite damage.

A swallowed creature takes 4d8 points of bludgeoning damage, 2d8 acid damage and 2d8 poison damage each round.

It must also succeed on a DC 45 Fortitude save each round or take 2d8 Constitution damage as initial and secondary poison damage.

A swallowed creature can attempt to escape by winning an opposed grapple check. Success returns it to Jörmungandr’s mouth.

Cutting an exit through distant sections of the serpent is ineffective because World-Encircling Body immediately closes such wounds.

Summon (Sp). Once per day Jörmungandr can summon either two Huge water drakes or one Gargantuan dragon turtle.

This is retained as an edition-specific legacy ability and does not imply that these creatures are mythological servants of Jörmungandr.

At will — fear, greater dispel magic, control winds, solid fog

3/day — acid fog, blasphemy, control weather, legend lore, suggestion

1/day — storm of vengeance

Caster level 40th; save DC 21 + spell level. Save DCs are Charisma-based.

The environmental disturbances caused by Jörmungandr manifest only around portions of his body that are actively moving, exposed, wounded or otherwise participating in events.

Within approximately 10 miles of such a location, the following conditions apply.

• Unquiet Waters: Swim checks and Profession (sailor) checks take a –4 penalty because of unnatural currents and swell.
• Eitr-Tainted Water: Water within 1 mile of Jörmungandr’s head or an exposed wounded coil becomes mildly poisonous. Creatures drinking untreated water must succeed on a DC 25 Fortitude save or become sickened for 1 hour.
• Fleeing Sea Life: Ordinary marine animals avoid the region. Survival checks made to find or catch normal aquatic animals take a –10 penalty.
• Submarine Tremors: Unstable coastal structures, cliffs, caves and ruins may suffer structural damage when tremors occur.
• Storm Disturbance: If natural severe weather is already present, wind and wave conditions are treated as one step more severe within the affected area.

Most effects fade within 1d6 hours after the active portion of Jörmungandr becomes quiescent. Eitr contamination persists for 1d6 days unless removed by appropriate magic.