Basilisk, Common
A giant six-legged lizard-like monster that petrifies living creatures with its gaze
Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game
| Armor Class | 16 |
|---|---|
| Hit Dice | 6** |
| Number Appearing | 1d6, Wild 1d6, Lair 1d6 |
| Attacks | 1 bite/1 gaze |
| Damage | 1d10/petrification |
| Movement | 20' (10') |
| Save As | Fighter: 6 |
| Morale | 9 |
| XP | 610 |
| Treasure Type | F |
A basilisk is a giant six-legged lizard-like monster that petrifies living creatures with its gaze. A basilisk has dark brown, green, or black skin on its back and a pale yellow or white belly. Adults reach a body length of 5 to 7 feet with a tail of roughly equal length, and a weight of 250 to 400 pounds. There is no particular difference in size between males and females.
Special Abilities
Petrifying Gaze: Any living creature meeting the gaze of a basilisk must save vs. Petrify or be turned to stone instantly. In general, any creature surprised by the basilisk will meet its gaze. Those who attempt to fight the monster while averting their eyes suffer penalties of -4 to attack and -2 to AC. It is possible to use a mirror to fight the monster, in which case the penalties are -2 to attack and no penalty to AC. If a basilisk sees its own reflection in a mirror it must save vs. Petrify or be turned to stone; a petrified basilisk loses its power to petrify. Basilisks instinctively avoid mirrors or other reflective surfaces, even drinking with their eyes closed, but if an attacker can manage to surprise the monster with a mirror it may see its reflection.