Petrifying Gaze. When a creature that can see the medusa's eyes starts its turn within 30 ft. of the medusa, the medusa can force it to make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw if the medusa isn't incapacitated and can see the creature. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the creature is instantly petrified. Otherwise, a creature that fails the save begins to turn to stone and is restrained. The restrained creature must repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn, becoming petrified on a failure or ending the effect on a success. The petrification lasts until the creature is freed by the greater restoration spell or other magic.
Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature does so, it can't see the medusa until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If the creature looks at the medusa in the meantime, it must immediately make the save.
If the medusa sees itself reflected on a polished surface within 30 ft. of it and in an area of bright light, the medusa is, due to its curse, affected by its own gaze.
Actions
Multiattack. The medusa makes either three melee attacks--one with its snake hair and two with its shortsword--or two ranged attacks with its longbow.
Snake Hair. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage plus 14 (4d6) poison damage.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.
How medusas fight
A medusa is a CR 6 monstrosity with 127 hit points and AC 15. Its famous weapon is Petrifying Gaze: any creature that starts its turn within 30 feet and can see the medusa’s eyes makes a DC 14 Constitution save. Fail by 5 or more and it turns to stone instantly. Fail by less and it’s restrained as it starts to turn, then saves again at the end of its next turn: stone on a failure, free on a success.
It isn’t helpless without the gaze. In melee it attacks three times, with its snake hair (1d4 + 2 piercing plus 4d6 poison) and two shortsword strikes; at range it fires a longbow twice, each arrow adding 2d6 poison. Because a creature that averts its eyes can’t see it, the medusa is often fighting blind opponents.
Running a medusa at the table
Make the lair tell the story. A garden of lifelike statues warns the party, and gives clever players time to prepare.
Stay within 30 feet. The gaze only works on creatures that start their turn within 30 feet. Arrows from the shadows push characters closer, or make them stop averting their eyes.
Force the choice every turn. Averting your eyes means attacking at disadvantage. Players who get greedy and look should face the save.
Respect mirrors. A medusa that sees its reflection in bright light within 30 feet is affected by its own gaze. Players who bring a polished shield and a torch deserve their shot.
Common questions
How do you avoid a medusa’s gaze?
At the start of your turn, if you aren’t surprised, you can avert your eyes. You then can’t see the medusa until the start of your next turn, so you attack it with disadvantage, and many DMs give it advantage against you. If you look at it before then, you make the save immediately.
How do you cure petrification from a medusa?
Greater Restoration or other magic, such as Wish. A petrified creature isn’t dead: it’s an unaware, incapacitated statue that ages no further until freed.
Does a mirror really work against a medusa?
Yes, if the medusa sees its reflection on a polished surface within 30 feet of it in bright light. It then has to make the save against its own gaze.
Does blindness protect you from the gaze?
Yes. The gaze only affects a creature that can see the medusa’s eyes. A blinded character, or one fighting in magical darkness, is safe from it, though fighting blind has its own costs.
How hard is a medusa fight?
CR 6, worth 2,300 XP. For four characters, the Dungeon Master’s Guide’s encounter math makes it Deadly at 4th level, Medium at 5th and Easy at 6th.
Did the medusa change in 2024?
Yes. The 2024 medusa’s Petrifying Gaze is a bonus action: a 30-foot cone, DC 13 Constitution save, restrained on the first failure and petrified on the second. It fights with claws, snake hair and a ranged Poison Ray, at the same CR 6 and 127 hit points.
CR 3. A cursed, deceptive villain who would rather lie than fight.
How many medusas for a fight?
A medusa is worth 2,300 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many medusas 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
5th
—
1
1
6th
1
1
2
7th
1
2
2
8th
1
2
3
9th
2
3
4
10th
2
4
5
11th
3
5
7
12th
3
6
8
13th
4
7
9
14th
5
8
10
15th
5
9
12+
16th
6
10
12+
17th
7
12
12+
18th
8
12+
12+
19th
9
12+
12+
20th
11
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 medusa compares at CR 6
Against the 9 other challenge 6 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the medusa has more hit points than 8 of them, which makes it one of the toughest at its CR. See every CR 6 monster.
Statistic
Medusa
CR 6 average
Armor Class
15
14.9
Hit points
127
107
Best attack bonus
+5
+7
Medusa 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the medusa, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
Ability scores: DEX 15 → 17.
New in its stat block: Claw and Poison Ray.
Gone from it: Shortsword and Longbow.
Armor Class
15
Hit Points
127 (17d8 + 51)
Speed
30 ft.
Challenge
6 (2,300 XP)
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
10 (+0)
17 (+3)
16 (+3)
12 (+1)
13 (+1)
15 (+2)
Senses
darkvision 150 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages
Common plus one other language
Actions
Multiattack. The medusa makes two Claw attacks and one Snake Hair attack, or it makes three Poison Ray attacks.
Poison Ray. Ranged Attack Roll: +5, range 150 ft. Hit: 11 (2d8 + 2) Poison damage.
Bonus actions
Petrifying Gaze (Recharge 5–6). Constitution Saving Throw: DC 13, each creature in a 30-foot Cone. If the medusa sees its reflection in the Cone, the medusa 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.
