Alignment Neutral Image Wizards.com image | Type Magical Beast Mythological origins Amphisbaena | |
Source books Serpent Kingdoms, Tome of Horrors 1, 1E Monster Manual 1, Menace Manual, Monstrous Manual | ||
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the amphisbaena (/æmfᵻsˈbiːnə/ am-fis-BEE-nə) is a snake-like magical beast based upon the Amphisbaena of Greek Mythology.
Contents
Publication history
The amphisbaena first appeared in the original first edition Monster Manual (1977), under the "Snake, giant" entry.
The amphisbaena appeared in the second edition Monstrous Manual (1993). It was expanded upon in Dragon #215 (March 1995), in "The Ecology of the Amphisbaena".
The amphisbaena appeared in third edition in the Forgotten Realms setting book Serpent Kingdoms (2004).
Description
As in myth, the amphisbaena is a giant serpent with a head at both ends. It travels by grasping one head in the other and rolling like a hoop. The fangs of the Amphisbaena are so poisonous that anything successfully bitten by it dies instantly. It is immune to cold-based attacks.
Amphisbaenae cannot speak, being animals.
They are neutral in alignment.
Other publishers
The amphisbaena appeared in the Tome of Horrors (2002) from Necromancer Games.
The amphisbaena appeared in Paizo Publishing's book Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 2 (2010), on page 25.