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Purple Worm

Gargantuan · Monstrosity · CR 15 · Chaotic Evil

Source. Black Flag SRD
Armor Class
18 (natural armor)
Hit Points and Hit Dice
255
Challenge Rating CR
15

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR
28
+9
DEX
6
-2
CON
32
+11
INT
1
-5
WIS
18
+4
CHA
4
-3

Overview

Category Monsters
Size Gargantuan
Type Monstrosity
Alignment Chaotic Evil
XP 13000
Initiative Bonus -2

Movement

Walk 50 ft (15.2 m)
Swim 25 ft (7.6 m)
Climb 25 ft (7.6 m)
Burrow 30 ft (9.1 m)
Crawl 25 ft (7.6 m)

Senses

Tremorsense 60 ft (18.3 m)
Passive Perception 14

Saving Throws

Strength +9 Dexterity -2 Constitution +11 Intelligence -5 Wisdom +4 Charisma -3

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities
prone
Damage Resistances
Monstrosity Resilience

Traits

Monstrosity Resilience

The purple worm is resistant to exhaustion and to the frightened condition.

Tunneler

The purple worm can burrow through solid rock at half its burrowing speed, and it leaves a 10-foot-diameter tunnel in its wake.

Actions

Bite

+14 to hit, reach 10 ft (3 m). Hit: 3d8+9 acid damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 22 (3d8+9) piercing damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it must succeed on a DC 19 DEX save or be swallowed by the purple worm.
A swallowed creature is blinded and restrained, it has total cover against attacks and other effects outside of the worm, and it takes 21 (6d6) acid damage at the start of each of the worm's turns. If the worm takes 30 damage or more on a single turn from a creature inside it, the worm must succeed on a DC 21 CON save at the end of that turn or regurgitate all swallowed creatures, which fall prone in a space within 10 feet of the worm. If the worm dies, a swallowed creature is no longer restrained by it and can escape from the corpse by using 20 feet of movement, exiting prone.

Multiattack

The worm makes one Bite attack and one Tail Stinger attack.

Tail Stinger

+14 to hit, reach 10 ft (3 m). Hit: 3d6+9 poison damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 10 ft., one creature. Hit: 19 (3d6+9) piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 19 CON save, taking 42 (12d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Thrash

Recharge 5–6

The purple worm convulses its large body, smashing everything around it. Each creature within 20 feet of the worm must make a DC 19 STR save. On a failure, a creature takes 54 (12d8) bludgeoning damage and is stunned until the end of its next turn. On a success, a creature takes half the damage and isn't stunned.

Bonus Actions

Rapid Digestion

The purple worm's digestive system absorbs some of the already digested material from creatures it has swallowed. If the purple worm has at least one swallowed creature inside it, the purple worm regains 9 (2d8) HP. This healing increases by 4 (1d8) for each creature currently inside the purple worm, to a maximum of 10d8.

About Purple Worm

Purple Worm is a gargantuan monstrosity with a Challenge Rating of 15. It has a chaotic evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 18 and possesses 255 hit points (derived from None).

GM Tips: Using Purple Worm

1 tips available

When using Purple Worm in your D&D 5e campaign, consider these tactical approaches:

  • Burrowing Tactics: This creature can burrow at 30 ft. It can ambush from underground or escape combat by digging. Use 'Earthbind' or create difficult terrain to limit burrowing. Consider fighting in areas without soft ground.

Player Guide: Facing Purple Worm

1 strategies available

When your party encounters this creature, keep these strategies in mind:

  • Burrowing Defense: This creature can burrow at 30 ft! It can ambush from underground. Use 'Earthbind', create difficult terrain, or fight on hard surfaces. 'Stone Shape' can seal burrows.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 15.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 19 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

  • Medium: 24,000 XP
  • Hard: 36,000 XP
  • Deadly: 48,000 XP

Based on D&D 5e Dungeon Master's Guide encounter building guidelines. CR roughly equals party level for medium encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the challenge rating of Purple Worm?
Purple Worm has a Challenge Rating of 15, making it appropriate for parties of level 15.0.
What type of creature is Purple Worm?
Purple Worm is a Gargantuan Monstrosity, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.

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