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Purple Worm

Gargantuan · Monstrosity · CR 15 · Unaligned

Source. 5e 2024 Rules

18 (natural armor)

247 (15d20 + 90)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

-2

CON

INT

-5

WIS

-1

CHA

-3

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Gargantuan

Type Monstrosity

Alignment Unaligned

XP 13000

Initiative Bonus +3

Movement

Walk 50 ft (15.2 m)

Swim 25 ft (7.6 m)

Climb 25 ft (7.6 m)

Burrow 50 ft (15.2 m)

Crawl 25 ft (7.6 m)

Senses

Blindsight 30 ft (9.1 m)

Tremorsense 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 9

Saving Throws

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

Traits

Tunneler

The worm can burrow through solid rock at half its Burrow Speed and leaves a 10-foot-diameter tunnel in its wake.

Actions

Bite

Cost 1

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

Melee Attack Roll: +14, reach 10 ft. 22 (3d8 + 9) Piercing damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it has the Grappled condition (escape DC 19), and it has the Restrained condition until the grapple ends.

Multiattack

Cost 1

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

Tail Stinger

Cost 1

+14 to hit, reach 10 ft (3 m). Hit: 2d6+9 piercing damage.

Melee Attack Roll: +14, reach 10 ft. 16 (2d6 + 9) Piercing damage plus 35 (10d6) Poison damage.

Bonus Actions

Swallow

Strength Saving Throw: DC 19, one Large or smaller creature Grappled by the worm (it can have up to three creatures swallowed at a time). Failure: The target is swallowed by the worm, and the Grappled condition ends. A swallowed creature has the Blinded and Restrained conditions, has Cover|XPHB|Total Cover against attacks and other effects outside the worm, and takes 17 (5d6) 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 Constitution saving throw at the end of that turn or regurgitate all swallowed creatures, each of which falls in a space within 5 feet of the worm and has the Prone condition. If the worm dies, any swallowed creature no longer has the Restrained condition and can escape from the corpse using 20 feet of movement, exiting Prone.

About Purple Worm

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

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 18 and possesses 247 hit points (derived from 15d20 + 90).

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 50 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 50 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.