Basilisk

The Basilisk is one of two monsters added in SLASH'EM that share the cockatrice's petrification attacks. A basilisk is capable of killing you in the same way a cockatrice is; touching a living or deceased basilisk with an exposed part of your body is instadeath, and the basilisk causes delayed petrification in the same manner as a cockatrice. See the article on the cockatrice for specifics of petrification.

A basilisk is more dangerous than a cockatrice, as it has a higher level and thus more hitdice.

Strategy
The basilisk is more dangerous than a cockatrice, but is still slow and relatively easy to hit. Ranged or magical attacks are advisable.

SLASH'EM's additional petrifying monsters means that it is no longer possible to avoid potential YASDs by blessed genociding c, as neither the asphynx nor the basilisk are c.

The corpse of a basilisk can be used as a weapon, but weighs too much for it to be effective.

A basilisk weighs the same as a human and is considered a strong monster, making them superior polymorph forms for travel than a cockatrice or asphynx. Unlike the other two, polymorphing into a basilisk will not severely decrease your carrying capacity, making it more suitable for extended periods of staying polymorphed. Female characters can also polymorph into a basilisk to lay eggs, either to hatch into tame basilisks or to use as a weapon.