Flail Snail

Overview

A flail snail is a creature of elemental earth that is prized for its multihued shell, which weighs about 250 pounds and can sell for as much as 5,000 gp. Hunters might be lulled into a false sense of confidence upon sighting this ponderous, seemingly nonhostile creature. If any other creature large enough to be a threat approaches too close, though, the snail unleashes a flash of scintillating light and then attacks with its mace-like tentacles.

Trail of Treasure

Left undisturbed, a flail snail moves slowly along the ground, consuming everything on the surface, including rocks, sand, and soil, stopping to relish crystal growths and other large mineral deposits. It leaves behind a shimmering trail that quickly solidifies into a thin layer of a nearly transparent substance inedible to the snail. This glassy residue can be harvested and cut to form window panes of varying clearness. It can also be heated and spun into glass objects of other sorts. Some humanoids make a living from trailing flail snails to collect this glass.

Flail Snail CR: 3 (700 XP)

Large elemental, unaligned

Armor Class: 16

Hit Points: 52 (5d10 + 25)

Speed: 10 ft

STR

17 +3

DEX

5 -3

CON

20 +5

INT

3 -4

WIS

10 +0

CHA

5 -3

Damage Immunities: Fire, Poison

Condition Immunities: Poisoned

Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, Tremorsense 60 feet, Passive Perception 10

Languages: None

Challenge Rating: 3 (700 XP)

Antimagic Shell. The snail has advantage on saving throws against spells, and any creature making a spell attack against the snail has disadvantage on the attack roll. If the snail succeeds on its saving throw against a spell or a spell attack misses it, an additional effect might occur, as determined by rolling a d6:

• 1-2. If the spell affects an area or has multiple targets, it fails and has no effect. If the spell targets only the snail, it has no effect on the snail and is reflected back at the caster, using the spell slot level, spell save DC, attack bonus, and spellcasting ability of the caster.
• 3-4. No additional effect.
• 5-6. The snail’s shell converts some of the spell’s energy into a burst of destructive force. Each creature within 30 feet of the snail must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 1d6 force damage per level of the spell on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Flail Tentacles. The flail snail has five flail tentacles. Whenever the snail takes 10 damage or more on a single turn, one of its tentacles dies. If even one tentacle remains, the snail regrows all dead ones within 1d4 days. If all its tentacles die, the snail retracts into its shell, gaining total cover, and it begins wailing, a sound that can be heard for 600 feet, stopping only when it dies 5d6 minutes later. Healing magic that restores limbs, such as the regenerate spell, can halt this dying process.

Actions

Multiattack. The flail snail makes as many Flail Tentacle attacks as it has flail tentacles, all against the same target.
Flail Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 feet, one target. Hit: 1d6 + 3 bludgeoning damage.
Scintillating Shell (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The snail’s shell emits dazzling, colored light until the end of the snail’s next turn. During this time, the shell sheds bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light for an additional 30 feet, and creatures that can see the snail have disadvantage on attack rolls against it. In addition, any creature within the bright light and able to see the snail when this power is activated must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be stunned until the light ends.
Shell Defense. The flail snail withdraws into its shell, gaining a +4 bonus to AC until it emerges. It can emerge from its shell as a bonus action on its turn.

Lifespan

20 years

Average Weight

2,500 pounds

Average Length

12 feet