Petrifying Gaze. If a creature starts its turn within 30 ft. of the basilisk and the two of them can see each other, the basilisk can force the creature to make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw if the basilisk isn't incapacitated. On a failed save, the creature magically begins to turn to stone and is restrained. It must repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn. On a success, the effect ends. On a failure, the creature is petrified until freed by the greater restoration spell or other magic.
A creature that isn't surprised can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If it does so, it can't see the basilisk until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If it looks at the basilisk in the meantime, it must immediately make the save.
If the basilisk sees its reflection within 30 ft. of it in bright light, it mistakes itself for a rival and targets itself with its gaze.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.
How basilisks fight
A basilisk is a slow, eight-legged reptile: CR 3, 52 hit points, AC 15 and a speed of only 20 feet. Its bite is ordinary but hurts, 2d6 + 3 piercing plus 2d6 poison. What makes it a legend is its Petrifying Gaze.
Any creature that starts its turn within 30 feet of the basilisk, when they can see each other, makes a DC 12 Constitution save. On a failure it begins turning to stone and is restrained, and it saves again at the end of its next turn: success ends the effect, failure petrifies it until Greater Restoration or similar magic frees it. Unlike a medusa’s gaze, there’s no instant petrification, which gives the party one turn to react.
Running a basilisk at the table
Put it in the dark. It has darkvision, and a creature that can’t see it is safe from its gaze. Lighting a torch in its cave is what gets people petrified.
Let it ambush. At 20 feet of speed it can’t chase anyone. It waits in a narrow place and lets curious adventurers walk into view.
Scatter statues. Petrified animals and a stone adventurer or two tell the party exactly what they’re facing.
Let restrained characters worry. A character who fails the first save has one turn to act before the second. Healing doesn’t help; the save does.
Common questions
How do you avoid a basilisk’s gaze?
Avert your eyes at the start of your turn (unless surprised). You can’t see the basilisk until the start of your next turn, so you attack it at disadvantage, but you don’t make the save. Looking at it before then means saving immediately.
How do you cure basilisk petrification?
Greater Restoration or other magic that ends petrification. A petrified creature is alive but turned to stone, and doesn’t age.
Can a basilisk petrify itself?
Yes. If it sees its reflection within 30 feet in bright light, it mistakes itself for a rival and targets itself with its gaze.
How hard is a basilisk fight?
CR 3, worth 700 XP. For four characters, that’s Deadly at 1st level, Hard at 2nd, Medium at 3rd and Easy at 4th by the Dungeon Master’s Guide’s encounter math.
Did the basilisk change in 2024?
Yes. The 2024 basilisk’s Petrifying Gaze is a bonus action: a 30-foot cone, DC 12 Constitution save, restrained on the first failure and petrified on the second. It keeps its AC 15, 52 hit points and CR 3.
CR 1/2. Another cave beast famous for one ability: it eats your armor and weapons.
How many basilisks for a fight?
A basilisk is worth 700 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many basilisks fit each difficulty for a party of four characters of the same level. A dash means even one would be over the budget.
Party level
Low
Moderate
High
2nd
—
—
1
3rd
—
1
2
4th
1
2
2
5th
2
4
6
6th
3
5
8
7th
4
7
9
8th
5
9
12
9th
7
11
12+
10th
9
12+
12+
11th
10
12+
12+
12th
12
12+
12+
Budgets add up every monster’s XP, so you can swap some for other creatures of the same total. Try other party sizes and mixes in the encounter calculator.
How the basilisk compares at CR 3
Against the 21 other challenge 3 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the basilisk has more hit points than 3 of them, which makes it one of the frailest at its CR. See every CR 3 monster.
Statistic
Basilisk
CR 3 average
Armor Class
15
14
Hit points
52
60
Best attack bonus
+5
+5
Basilisk 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the basilisk, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
The numbers are the same; the text follows the 2024 rules glossary.
Armor Class
15
Hit Points
52 (8d8 + 16)
Speed
20 ft.
Challenge
3 (700 XP)
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
16 (+3)
8 (-1)
15 (+2)
2 (-4)
8 (-1)
7 (-2)
Senses
darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9
Languages
None
Actions
Bite. Melee Attack Roll: +5, reach 5 ft. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) Piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) Poison damage.
Bonus actions
Petrifying Gaze (Recharge 4–6). Constitution Saving Throw: DC 12, each creature in a 30-foot Cone. If the basilisk sees its reflection in the Cone, the basilisk must make this save. First Failure: The target has the Restrained condition and repeats the save at the end of its next turn if it is still Restrained, ending the effect on itself on a success. Second Failure: The target has the Petrified condition instead of the Restrained condition.
