Basilisks are truly frightening creatures. They were described by the ancients as being large snakes with stingers on the end of their tails. Later stories says that they have the head of a chicken, the body of a large reptile, and a stinger on the end of their tail. The breath and glance of a Basilisk are deadly, with the power to not only kill all animals and plants that come in contact with them, but to split rocks as well. The only creature immune to the glance of a Basilisk is the weasel, which is also the animal that is able to harm a Basilisk. Needless to say everywhere the hissing Basilisk goes turns into a desert wasteland incapable of supporting life of any sort. The only known way to slay a Basilisk safely is to get it to look at its own reflection.

The Basilisk is born from an egg laid by a chicken and incubated by a frog.

The name Basilisk comes from the Greek word basiliskos, meaning "Little King". Egyptians called Basilisks Ouraions.