By Alan McCoy from Dungeons & Dragons: Fundamentals
How to build
challenging encounters
against
Yuan-Ti
Note: This has been prepared utilizing primarily 5E Core Rules. Combat strategies, tactics and overall combat roles will focus on those presented in the 5E Core rules. The Yuan Ti can be found in the 5E Monster Manual pages 307 – 310.
Additional Lore and Information on the Yuan Ti can be found in the following books:
AD&D 1e Monster Manual 2: page 130
AD&D 2e Monster Manual: pages 369 – 370
D&D 3e Monster Manual: pages 190-191
D&D 4e Monster Manual: pages 269 – 273
5E Volo’s Guide to Monsters: pages 92 – 102; 202 – 206.
Additionally, the Yuan-Ti have made appearances in the Wizard of the Coast Published campaign settings of Eberron, the Forgotten Realms and Greyhawk.
Yuan Ti made their first appearance in the 1E Tournament Module:
I1: Dwellers of the Forbidden City by David Cook (page 27).
The article: The Ecology of the Yuan-Ti by David Wellman appeared in Dragon #151 (November 1989).
While I would normally present a lore section in my presentation at this point, I will instead refer you to the section presented in Volo’s Guide to Monsters, which is excellent and highly informative.
Introduction
The Yuan Ti are all that remains of an ancient, decadent human empire. Ages ago, these humans were taught corrupting rituals by dark gods or demons. These rituals caused that ancient people to mix their life force with that of snakes resulting in a hybrid being.
Since their inception, the Yuan Ti have sought to gain world domination so that they, the chosen few would achieve their ultimate destiny or mastery and rule over the lesser peoples of the world.
The Yuan Ti have succeeded in forming a shadow empire, a behind the scenes presence that has given them extraordinary influence in the world at large.
Outlook
During their transformation, the Yuan Ti freed themselves from the yoke of human emotion. They view the world from a pragmatic and dispassionate perspective. They can understand the emotions of others intellectually, and some can even feign the presence of these emotions.
To most Yuan Ti, emotions are a means by which others can be bribed, manipulated, and exploited.
One Race, Many Breeds
The Yuan-Ti are a species of monstrous humanoid snake men, who are believed to have descended from evil human cultists who mixed their bloodlines with those of serpents.
A highly caste conscious society, they more snake-like an individual member is, the more revered and respected that individual is within the society.
The caste hierarchy of the Yuan Ti in descending order is:
Anathema– a twenty-five feet tall, behemoth with six snake heads, this individual is a considered a virtual demi-god to the Yuan Ti.
Abominations – are beings that appear almost entirely snakelike, having only humanoid arms or a head as recognizable vestiges of humanoid ancestry.
Malisons – are humanoid in shape but have noticeable serpent like features. Variants of the Malison breed have produced the Temple Guard and Mage-Slayer.
Pureblood – This breed appears mostly human, with some reptilian features, usually easily hidden, these creatures are the diplomats, spies, and infiltrators of the Yuan-Ti.
BroodGuard – Sometimes called Wretchling– beings who have been created out of humans (and others) to be used as servitors and other shock Troops by the Yuan-Ti. Wretchlings look like scaly humans with fangs, reptilian eyes, and patchy hair. They have also been called the Histachii.While the members of the Snake-Tongue Cult are not actually Yuan Ti, their faithful service has earned them some status within Yuan Ti Society. These individuals may or may not be descended from the original cult that gained success and were transformed into the Yuan Ti, they believe that they are, coexisting for thousands of years and working to further Yuan Ti aims, most importantly, at least to the Yuan Ti, going where their cold blooded nature will not allow them to travel easily. While the abilities of these fanatics cultists usually fall within the realm of those possessed by people with a character class, there are a significant number of reports that indicate the ability to transform into a snake, though if this is a Druid-like wild shape, a polymorph or some kind of were-snake ability is unknown.
Utilization
The Yuan Ti are a strong and ancient race that considers humans and humanoids to be a pestilence worthy of extermination, preferably as sacrifice to their God.
Inclusion of the Yuan-Ti in any significant role will present your players with a strong, resourceful, and powerful race that wants nothing more than the destruction or enslavement of human and demi-human life. I strongly suggest you include or utilize this monster with extreme care.
Note: In keeping with my standard process I will be detailing the tactics of only those types covered within the 5E Monster Manual. I might revisit them later if I feel the need, but for now, Pureblood, Malison and Abomination will have to do.
What do we know about Yuan Ti Purebloods?
First, these creatures are listed as spies, infiltrators, and ambassadors. With their high charisma, they can easily blend into human society and would probably be welcome at any noble court. Money, power, influence these are the weapons of the Pureblood. They are especially active in any place where a slave trade exists.
Purebloods have high Charisma, above average Dexterity, Intelligence and Wisdom and average Strength and Constitution.
They are skilled in Deception, Perception and Stealth.
They are immune to the Poisoned Condition and cannot be poisoned.
They have Darkvision, with a passive perception of 13.
They speak Abyssal, Common and Draconic.
They are naturally magically resistant.They can cast Poison Spray and Suggestion 3X day and can use animal friendship with snakes at will.
Probable Pureblood Strategy and Tactics
When it comes to the Purebood, the term “I’m a lover not a fighter” is a keystone of their strategy. Purebloods fight by using minions, often Snake-Tongue Cultists, but any street tough will do.
It should be noted that if a Pureblood is discovered, their probable course of action is either the eliminating their potential accuser by murder or by capture and enslavement. They are almost always well versed in poisons and will gladly share a farewell drink with someone, being immune themselves, all that remains is disposal of the offending corpse.
If possible, and they believe it to be advantageous, they might use a SUGGESTION to encourage a prisoner to accept a drink and begin the recruitment process on a new cultist.
There number one choice and desires however are to remain covert or to escape.When forced to combat, the Pureblood are a fair hand with a Scimitar and the Short bow. It is highly likely that any weapon they use will be poisoned.
DM Tips and Observations: It is both possible and reasonable to provide Pureblood Yuan Ti with a character class and the abilities thus provided. Possible Classes include: Bard, Warlock or Rogue, though any are possible.
As a DM, I would allow a Pureblood the option of using their POISON SPRAY to envenom a weapon or a set of arrows rather than using the cantrip as a pure 1 shot weapon.
What do we know about Yuan Ti Malisons?
Malisons have the appearance of at body and torso of a well-muscled person, who has had the head of a snake grafted where his head and shoulders should be. While are a significant variety these types of creature, that image should give the gist. If the Pureblood are the Spies of the Yuan Ti, these creatures are the warriors of the race, using both their physical prowess, and their snake-like and other magical abilities to defend Yuan Ti Strongholds against invasion and other outside influence.
Malisons have Exceptional Strength and Charisma, Very high Dexterity and Intelligence and above average Constitution and Wisdom.
Malisons are skilled in Deception and Stealth.
Malisons are immune to the Poisoned Condition and cannot be poisoned.Malisons have Darkvision, with a passive perception of 11.
Malisons speak Abyssal, Common and Draconic.
Malisons are naturally magically resistant.Malisons can cast animal friendship (snakes only) at will and can use Suggestion 3X day.
Malisons are Shape changers and can transform into a snake or return to their normal form, at will. Their gear does not accompany the change.
Probable Malison Strategy and Tactics
Found primarily in groups of Yuan Ti, these individuals are the leaders of any group. They will oversee a group of Snake Tongue Cultists or Wretchlings that they will use as shock troops. Cultists in more public areas, Wretchlings in areas where the uninitiated may not set foot.
Using the shock troops to hold enemies in place, the Malison’s will use poisoned arrows to slay from a distance. They are reluctant to enter melee combat due to their poor AC.
If the DM decides to allow them to use armor and take it with them when shape-change takes place, then it is much more likely that they will enter melee. It is even possible to go halfway and state that the Malison’s have armor caches that they can travel too while in snake form, slither into and emerge wearing. If you do that, then the chance that they will be wielding a weapon that allows them to take advantage of their STRENGTH vs their Dexterity must be entertained.
In all cases, it is important to realize that these creatures are intelligent adversaries and will not simply engage to engage, they will do so for a purpose, at a time and place of their choosing whenever possible.
If the Yuan Ti have captured equipment or magical items available that would be useful in an encounter, it is probable they will have them, and they will use them.
Yuan Ti lairs are often designed with places in which combat is likely and can be controlled and initiated. There will almost always be a trap that can be triggered or a semi-lair action available.
DM Tips and Observations
While the thought of a creature turning into a snake and leaving his gear behind might be visually appealing in a movie, it is simply not useful for an actual creature. Let them bring along their gear. At the very least, allow them to cache gear in various places allowing them to quickly acquire arms and armor soon after resuming the Yuan Ti primary shape.
Yuan Ti Malisons are stronger than they are dexterous, by all rights they should be using strength-based weapons, not finesse. They can take full advantage of their dexterity by picking up a shield and a chain shirt. Use of this brings a Malison’s AC to 17 without magical gear. (the Egyptian Khopesh keeps the look “RIGHT”).
If possible, the Malison will use their saliva to envenom their sword, adding 2d6 poison damage per hit. They have multi-attack.
What do we know about Yuan Ti Abominations?
This highest caste of Yuan Ti society has the appearance of a giant snake with a humanoid torso and arms, flaring out from the body much like the appearance of a cobra prepared to strike. As the leaders of their enclave, an Abomination will only be found outside the lair on vital business.
Abominations are physical and metal paragons, rating remarkably high to exceptional in every physical and mental characteristic in comparison to man.
Abominations are skilled in Perception and Stealth, Abominations are immune to the Poisoned Condition and cannot be poisoned.
Abominations have Darkvision, with a passive perception of 15.Abominations speak Abyssal, Common and Draconic.
Abominations are naturally magically resistant.Abominations can cast animal friendship (snakes only) at will, can use Suggestion 3X day and can Cast FEAR 1X Day.
Abominations are Shape changers and can transform into a large snake or return to their normal form, at will. Their gear does not accompany the change.
Probable Abomination Strategy and Tactics
These creatures are ‘UPPER Management’ in Yuan Ti Society. The actions of these individuals will make sense, up to and including the evacuation and escape from a lair if necessary. It also stands to reason that these creatures are masterminds capable of hiring people or the necessary resources to attack those that threaten them preemptively.
It is almost unheard of for an Abomination to enter melee, but if forced to do so, then my comments in regard to arms and armor for Malisons should be applied here.
Should a ‘last stand’ be called for, the Yuan Ti Abomination will call upon all remaining servitors to assist it, to include all natural snakes in the area, any Snake Tongue Cultists, the Wretchlings from the pit and of course any full Yuan Ti, the Malisons and the Purebloods.
Their objective will be the total annihilation of those who have come to the lair.
A FINAL WORD
The Yuan Ti are a creature from the earliest days of Dungeons and Dragons, and they have not aged well. If I were to design a campaign that had the Yuan Ti as a major foe, a villainous organization, then I would allow and provide them with individual character classes, perhaps even multi-classed versions. This would include FEATS.
I love the idea of the Yuan Ti as a villainous organization, or as a mysterious foe to provide tension, but as written, they do not live up to their potential. Inclusion and expansion as presented in Volo’s Guide to Monsters helps, but doesn’t go quite far enough.