Charles Plemons' Blog

While working on my Pathfinder 1E campaign, I went searching for yuan-ti conversions others had already done. After all, I hate to reinvent the wheel. I found some great (but uncredited) work, along with a few yuan-ti variants I had completely forgotten about.

One of the more intriguing discoveries was the yuan-ti ignan, a bloodline interbred with elemental salamanders that first appeared in Monster Manual IV. Despite its unique lore and fiery heritage, I couldn’t find a Pathfinder 1E conversion anywhere. Rather than let this variant fade into obscurity, I decided to take matters into my own hands.

Below is my Pathfinder 1E conversion of the yuan-ti ignan, adapted to fit the system’s mechanics while keeping its elemental bloodline and serpentine cunning intact. If you’re looking for a fresh yuan-ti variant to challenge your players, this might be exactly what you need.

XP 6,400

CE Large monstrous humanoid (fire, psionic, yuan-ti)

Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft., scent; Perception +13

AC 21, touch 11, flat-footed 21 (+1 Dex, +10 natural, +1 shield, -1 size)

hp 115 (11d10+55)

Fort +7, Ref +10, Will +11

DR 10/magic; Immune fire; SR 15

Weaknesses vulnerability to cold

Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)

Melee Large masterwork heavy mace +17/+12/+7 (2d6+5 plus 1d6 fire), gore +10 (1d8+2 plus 1d6 fire), tail slap +10 (1d8+2 plus 1d6 fire and grab) or

Power Attack Large masterwork heavy mace +14/+9/+4 (2d6+11 plus 1d6 fire), gore +7 (1d8+5 plus 1d6 fire), tail slap +7 (1d8+5 plus 1d6 fire and grab)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Special Attacks constrict (1d6+7 plus 1d6 fire), heat, tail grapple

Psi-Like Abilities (ML 11th; concentration +11)

At will—detect poison

Str 21, Dex 13, Con 18, Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 11

Base Atk +11/+6/+1; CMB +17 (+21 grapple); CMD 28 (can’t be tripped)

Feats Alertness^B, Blind-Fight^B, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Toughness, Weapon Focus (heavy mace)

Skills (armor check penalty -0); Climb +13, Intimidate +8, Perception +13, Sense Motive +4, Stealth +7, Survival +10, Swim +13

Languages Common, Ignan, Yuan-ti

SQ change shape (Tiny to Large viper, beast shape III)

Combat Gear none

Other Gear Large masterwork light steel shield (168 gp), Large masterwork heavy mace (324 gp)

Blind-Fight Every time you miss in melee because of concealment you can reroll your miss chance once to see if you actually hit. Against an invisible attacker you don’t lose your Dex bonus to AC, and the attacker does not get the +2 bonus for being invisible. Bonuses still apply for ranged attackers. Do not need to make Acrobatics skill checks to move at full speed while blinded.

Change Shape (Su) A yuan-ti can assume the form of a Tiny to Large viper as a psionic ability, similar to beast shape III.

Constrict (Ex) With successful grapple check, inflict additional bludgeoning damage, along with normal effects of successful grapple.

Detect Poison (Ps) All yuan-ti have the psionic ability to detect poison as the spell.

Grab (Ex) If you hit with attack associated with this special attack, deal normal damage and start grapple as free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.  Normally, only usable against targets of equal or smaller size.  You can either conduct grapple normally or take -20 CMB on future grapple checks on simply use body part to maintain grapple but do not gain grapple condition yourself.  A hold does not deal damage unless you have constrict special attack.  If you do not, each successful grapple check in successive rounds deals damage for attack initiating the hold.  Otherwise, it deals this damage and constrict damage.  You receive +4 bonus on CMB to start and maintain a grapple.

Heat (Ex) Deal additional 1d6 fire damage when using natural attacks or melee attacks with metal weapons.

Power Attack Take -3 penalty on all melee attack rolls and combat maneuver checks to gain +6 bonus on all melee damage rolls.  Bonus increased by half (+50%) if attacking with a two-handed weapon or a one-handed weapon using two hands.  Bonus halved (-50%) if attacking with an off-hand weapon.  You must choose to use this feat before making an attack roll, and its effects last until your next turn.  Bonus damage does not apply to touch attacks or effects that do not deal hit point damage. 

Scent (Ex) Can detect opponents within 30 ft. by smell (60 ft. if opponent upwind, 15 ft. downwind). Strong scents (smoke or garbage) at twice range and overpowering scents (skunk or troglodyte) at triple range. Exact location not revealed, only presence within range. As move action, note direction of scent (pinpoints when within 5 ft.). Track by smell with Wisdom (or Survival) check (DC 10 for fresh trail on any surface). Increase DC by 2 per hour of trail’s age. Otherwise as Survival skill ignoring surface conditions and poor visibility.

Tail Grapple (Ex) Tail allows you to coil around a foe without hampering ability to defend yourself or fight with weapons you wield.  If grappling a foe using your grab ability, do not lose Dex bonus to AC.  Make single grapple check against foe grappled in this manner as a swift action each round.  You are free to perform most other actions as normal; to move, you must obey standard rules for moving while in a grapple.  Lose option to spend swift action in this manner if you use standard or full action to grapple foe trapped in tail.  The reverse is also true.  Once you use swift action in this manner, you cannot take standard or full action to grapple the foe.  Can use armed or natural attacks against a creature grappled in this manner.

Let me know what you think! Have you encountered or used yuan-ti ignans in your own games? Drop a comment below and share your thoughts!