Swarm of Poisonous Snakes
Medium Swarm of Tiny Beasts · · CR 2
- Swarm of Tiny Beasts
- Medium
- Tier 1
CR 2 medium swarm of tiny beasts, unaligned — that's Swarm of Poisonous Snakes. Native to forest and swamp. Sourced from Monster Manual (5e 2014).
Stat Block
- Challenge Rating
- 2
- Type
- Swarm of Tiny Beasts
- Size
- Medium
- Alignment
- —
- Speed
- —
- Habitats
- Forest, Swamp
- Sources
- Monster Manual (5e 2014)
Ecology
Snake swarms are unusual; most snakes are solitary or paired. Swarms form in shared birthing nests, hibernation pits, or near food bonanzas like rodent infestations. Once the trigger passes, the snakes disperse. Persistent swarms indicate a magical cause, often a hag's nest, a yuan-ti shrine, or a druidic ward. The snakes within the swarm vary by region but all share the same venomous instinct, attacking warm-blooded intruders with coordinated strikes.
Behaviour
Within the swarm, snakes do not communicate but respond to the same scent and movement cues, creating apparent coordination. They strike in waves, each snake getting one bite before retreating to refangle. Disturbed swarms hiss as a chorus, audible from a distance. They prefer cool stones near sun-warmed water. Cold weather scatters them into individual hibernation. Some swarms travel with their mother snake, a far larger specimen.
Origin
Yuan-ti legend speaks of the first snake-god scattering its essence into a thousand small kin to populate the world. Druids credit the snake-mother of the deep marshes. Whatever the source, swarms remind communities that the wilderness is not a backdrop but an active force. Villages that desecrate snake nests often suffer mysterious illnesses for generations afterward, a folk warning that endures.
Related Monsters
Frequently Asked Questions about Swarm of Poisonous Snakes
- What is the challenge rating of Swarm of Poisonous Snakes?
- Listed CR for Swarm of Poisonous Snakes: 2. Match it to a party that works against tier-1 parties.
- What type of creature is Swarm of Poisonous Snakes?
- Swarm of Poisonous Snakes is classified as a swarm of tiny beasts in D&D 5e, medium size.
- Where does Swarm of Poisonous Snakes live?
- In the bestiary, Swarm of Poisonous Snakes appears in Forest, Swamp.