No one ever said Shards were smart
I mean, really. For the hype they get in the storyline, Shards SUCK in combat. Either as "apparitions" or while possessing "living beings capable of death and destruction". Instead of a plague, I call them wussies.
But yeah, the snake is a pushover as long as you do the heads in the right order. Otherwise it just heals itself constantly. After that, any class can own the thing, and a party just walks it.
~Jessy