Staff of the Python 5e
Staff, uncommon (requires attunement by a Cleric, Druid, or Warlock)
You can use an action to speak this staff's command word and throw the staff on the ground within 10 feet of you. The staff becomes a giant co under your control and acts on its own initiative count. By using a bonus action to speak the command word again, you return the staff to its normal form in a space formerly occupied by the snake.
On your turn, you can mentally command the snake if it is within 60 feet of you and you aren't incap. You decide what action the snake takes and where it moves during its next turn, or you can issue it a general command, such as to attack your enemies or guard a location.
If the snake is reduced to 0 hit points, it dies and reverts to its staff form. The staff then shatters and is destroyed. If the snake reverts to staff form before losing all its hit points, it regains all of them.
Commentary by Sam West, Twitter: @CrierKobold
Ah, the Staff of the Python, one of my favorite villainous magic items to sell a serpentine druid. This thing is a beast of an uncommon magic item, and while managing your snake’s hit points is crucial to its long-term survival, doing so is absolutely worth the effort.
Giant Constrictor Snakes have 60 hit points. Characters in the early tiers that get this item will often double the party’s total hit points when the snake is summoned.
It also has a 19 Strength and a Huge size, making it excellent for moving large objects and performing physically demanding tasks outside of combat.
Giant Constrictor Snakes have a 10 ft. Blindsight, making them decent Invisibility and illusion detectors with their enormous size.
Their Constrict ability deals 2d8+4 damage on hit. That’s a ton of damage prior to 5th level for an uncommon magic item, and it can restrain hit creatures, too!
To top it all off, you don’t even need to spend actions commanding your snake once it’s out- just mental commands once per turn, no action cost to you, give you full control over it!
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