“Constrictor Snake: The Jungle’s Silent Sentinel”
“Meet the silent, muscle-bound predator that squeezes the life out of its prey—nature’s ultimate hugger!”
Constrictor snakes are known for their robust, muscular bodies, often covered in intricate scale patterns that provide effective camouflage. Depending on the species, their coloration ranges from earthy browns and greens to striking yellows, oranges, and blacks. They possess smooth or keeled scales, powerful jaws, and sharp backward-facing teeth designed to grasp prey.
Behavior:
Constrictors are solitary and primarily nocturnal, relying on stealth and patience to hunt. They are ambush predators, often lying motionless for hours or even days, waiting for prey to wander within striking range. Most are non-aggressive toward humans unless threatened, preferring to retreat when confronted.
Habitat:
Constrictor snakes are incredibly adaptable, inhabiting a range of environments. Large species like anacondas thrive in swamps and rivers, while boas and pythons are often found in tropical rainforests, dry savannas, and rocky outcrops. Some, such as king snakes and rat snakes, inhabit temperate regions, including forests, grasslands, and even urban areas.
Modus Operandi:
Constrictor snakes hunt using a combination of sensory abilities, including heat-sensitive pits, keen eyesight, and their sense of smell. When prey is detected, the snake strikes quickly, grabbing it with its teeth before coiling its body tightly around it. With every exhale from the prey, the snake tightens its grip, preventing the prey from breathing and leading to suffocation. Once the prey is subdued, the snake swallows it whole, using its flexible jaws and powerful muscles to consume meals much larger than its head.
Motivation:
Driven by survival instincts, the primary motivation of constrictor snakes is sustenance. They play a critical ecological role by controlling populations of rodents, birds, and other small animals. Some species also exhibit maternal instincts, guarding their eggs or young to ensure survival. Despite their formidable hunting techniques, constrictors are ultimately creatures of balance in their ecosystems, fulfilling their role as both predators and prey.
Constrictor Snake 5e
Constrictor Snake 5e
Constrictor Snake Pathfinder
Constrictor Snake
Large Beast, Unaligned
Armor Class: 14 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 85 (10d10 + 30)
Speed: 30 ft., climb 20 ft.
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
19 (+4) | 15 (+2) | 16 (+3) | 2 (-4) | 14 (+2) | 7 (-2) |
Skills:
- Perception +4
- Stealth +4 (advantage in dense foliage or darkness)
Senses: Darkvision 30 ft., Passive Perception 14
Languages: Understands but cannot speak any languages
Challenge: 4 (1,100 XP)
TRAITS
- Keen Smell: The constrictor snake has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
- Hold Breath: The constrictor snake can hold its breath for up to 30 minutes.
- Tight Coils: The snake has advantage on Strength (Athletics) checks to grapple, and it can constrict creatures within its grapple even if they are smaller.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack: The constrictor snake makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its constrict.
- Bite (Melee Weapon Attack):
+6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 10 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage. - Constrict (Melee Weapon Attack):
+6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature grappled by the snake.
Hit: 15 (3d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage, and the target is restrained. The constrictor snake can maintain the grapple and continue squeezing until the target escapes or the snake is incapacitated.
REACTIONS
- Escape the Coil (Recharge 5-6): When a creature that is restrained by the snake’s constriction attempts to escape, the constrictor can use its reaction to squeeze tighter, forcing the creature to take an additional 10 (2d6) bludgeoning damage. This increases the difficulty of escaping and buys the snake an extra round of control.
TACTICS AND BEHAVIOR
- Ambush Predator: The constrictor snake uses its stealth to approach prey unnoticed, often hiding in dense undergrowth or hanging from trees in its environment. When it spots a target, it remains motionless, waiting for the right moment to strike with its bite. If the bite connects, the snake quickly uses its Constrict ability to incapacitate its prey.
- Stranglehold: Once the snake has successfully grappled a creature, it tightens its coils to restrict movement. It uses its Constrict ability to deal substantial damage while maintaining the grapple. While constricting, the snake does not let go easily, making it difficult for the target to escape without assistance.
- Hit-and-Run: If the snake is overwhelmed by enemies, it may try to disengage by climbing up a tree or into dense foliage. Using its Climb speed, it can retreat to higher ground to reassess the situation and surprise its enemies from above with a sudden, deadly strike. The snake can also use its Hold Breath trait to retreat underwater, ambushing adventurers from a submerged position.
- Area Denial: If fighting in an enclosed area, the constrictor snake uses its size and coils to limit the movement of its enemies. It will use Constrict to lock down one or more foes, then focus its attacks on weaker or isolated enemies.
- Cooperative Hunting: In larger groups, constrictor snakes work together, with one snake distracting and holding down prey while the others strike. They may coordinate to overwhelm a single target, making use of the Escape the Coil reaction to prevent escape.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS (Optional, if you’re using it in a higher-level campaign)
The constrictor snake can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The constrictor snake regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
- Bite Attack: The snake makes a bite attack.
- Constrict: The snake uses its Constrict attack against a creature it is grappling.
- Slither: The snake moves up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
Environment & Roleplay Notes
- Habitat: Constrictor snakes are native to dense, tropical forests, murky swamps, or jungles, where they can easily blend into the surroundings. They prefer areas with lots of trees or large rocks that they can coil around for better ambushes. Their hunting grounds often include areas where prey is abundant, such as riversides, caves, or overgrown ruins.
- Intelligence & Motivation: Constrictor snakes are driven primarily by instinct. They hunt to survive and are opportunistic feeders, ambushing prey such as mammals, birds, and occasionally large reptiles. They are not inherently evil but can be territorial, especially in areas where food is scarce. They only become aggressive if threatened, but when hungry, they will engage in combat to secure their meal.
Animal, Snake (Constrictor)
Family: Reptiles & Amphibians
Large beast, unaligned
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 13 (2d10 + 2)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 (+2) | 14 (+2) | 12 (+1) | 1 (-5) | 10 (+0) | 3 (-4) |
Senses blindsight 10 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages –
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
Actions
- Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
- Constrict: Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 14). Until this grapple ends, the creature is restrained, and the snake can’t constrict another target.
About
This large snake has a thick, muscular body and dull green scales decorated with dirty brown stripes.
Constrictor Snake
This large snake has a thick, muscular body and dull green scales decorated with dirty brown stripes.
Be they jungle-dwelling pythons or swamp-dwelling boas like the anaconda, constrictor snakes are among the most deadly predatory animals of the tropical wilds. Fortunately, these large snakes are relatively passive, save for when they are preparing to shed their skins or are particularly hungry. Nevertheless, the sinuous creatures are held in fear by many societies who often ascribe fiendish qualities to them.
Constrictor Snake CR 2
XP 600
N Medium animal
Init +3; Senses scent; Perception +12
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 19 (3d8+6)
Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +2
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft.
Melee bite +5 (1d4+4 plus grab)
Special Attacks constrict (1d4+4)
STATISTICS
Str 17, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2
Base Atk +2; CMB +5 (+9 grapple); CMD 18 (can’t be tripped)
FeatsSkill Focus ( Perception), Toughness
SkillsAcrobatics +15, Climb +11, Perception +12, Stealth +11, Swim +11; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception, +4 Stealth,+8 Acrobatics
ECOLOGY
Environment warm forests, swamps, and fresh water
Organization solitary or nest (2–6)
Treasure none
Section 15: Copyright Notice
Pathfinder RPG Bestiary. Copyright 2009, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Jason Bulmahn, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.