A vicious snake with a squat, diamond-shaped head, a puffed neck, and a peculiar yellow band around its body, the swamp adder is a stout, somewhat lethargic hunter.
Marsh Hunter. This venomous snake—sometimes known as the “speckled band”—is native to the marshes of southern realms, where it devours waterfowl and incautious halflings.
Bred for Venom. The swamp adder is simultaneously feared and prized for its potent paralytic venom. A swamp adder is quite thin, though it may grow up to 12 feet long and the largest weigh as much as 50 pounds. A dose of paralytic swamp adder venom is worth 3,000 gp or more on the black market.
Swamp Adder
Small beast, unalignedArmor Class 13
Hit Points 18 (4d6 + 4)
Speed 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (-1) | 16 (+3) | 12 (+1) | 1 (-5) | 10 (+0) | 4 (-3) |
Senses blindsight 10 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages —
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
Swamp Camouflage. The swamp adder has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks while in swamp terrain.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage, and the target must make a successful DC 11 saving throw or become poisoned. While poisoned this way, the target is paralyzed and takes 3(1d6) poison damage at the start of each of its turns. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself with a success.