Illustration Xan Drake

Ancient Black Dragon

System Reference Document 5.1
Challenge 21
(33,000 XP)
Robinloft Estimated CR 21
Gargantuan dragon, chaotic evil
Armor Class 22 (natural armor)
Hit Points 367 (21d20+147)
Speed 40 ft., fly 80 ft., swim 40 ft.
STR
27 (+8)
DEX
14 (+2)
CON
25 (+7)
INT
16 (+3)
WIS
15 (+2)
CHA
19 (+4)
Saving Throws Dex +9, Con +14, Wis +9, Cha +11
Skills Perception +16, Stealth +9
Damage Immunities acid
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 26
Languages Common, Draconic
Environments swamp
Amphibious.

The dragon can breathe air and water.

Legendary Resistance (3/Day).

If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Actions

Multiattack. The dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (2d10 + 8) piercing damage plus 9 (2d8) acid damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d6 + 8) slashing damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d8 + 8) bludgeoning damage.
Acid Breath (Recharge 5–6).

The dragon exhales acid in a 90-foot line that is 10 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 22 Dexterity saving throw, taking 67 (15d8) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Frightful Presence.

Each creature of the dragon’s choice that is within 120 feet of the dragon and aware of it must succeed on a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the dragon’s Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.

Legendary Actions

The dragon can take 3 legendary actions choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The dragon regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Detect. The dragon makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Tail Attack. The dragon makes a tail attack.
Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions). The dragon beats its wings. Each creature within 15 ft. of the dragon must succeed on a DC 23 Dexterity saving throw or take 15 (2d6 + 8) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.

Dragons

No ear has escaped tales of the most fearsome beasts known as dragons. While many of these tales are old and these creatures are rare, dragons are quite real indeed.

Dragons appear in amazing variety, both in appearance and in temperament. Many are full of malice and greed while others are models of benevolent majesty and confident kindness. Reptile-like, most dragons are covered in scales of unusual toughness and savage beauty. Most grow ever larger as they age—in maturity reaching enormous size.

While dragons seem ready to rule all the lands, if they were so inclined, tales suggest that their ancient enmity with giants and humanoids keeps them in check. Even so, they often dominate the landscape surrounding their lairs.

Mind the Legends. Adventurers should familiarize themselves with the dangers of aggressive dragons they might encounter. While usually solitary, they are at their most defensive when guarding their lair, especially if there is a clutch of eggs. In addition to fearsome physical attacks, most dragons can use their breath as a weapon. You are advised to heed the local legends. It is best to know whether you are up against fire, lightning, icy cold, poison, acid, or some other danger.

True Dragons

While there are creatures, such as the wyvern, that are dragon-kin, a true dragon is the most majestic and formidable of beasts.

A true dragon is a reptilian creature with four legs and a pair of wings. They grow throughout their lives to enormous size and can defend themselves with a fiery, icy, poisonous, acidic or otherwise extraordinary breath weapon.

Chromatic Dragons

Chromatic dragons—vicious, greedy, and voracious—are the most feared of all dragons. They come in at least five color variants: black, blue, green, red, and white, each of which has its peculiar habitats and breath weapons.

Black Dragons

Black dragons are horrid, acidic, vomitous chromatic dragons that slog through dismal swamps and ruined structures.

A cadaverous visage. Black dragons have deeply sunken eye sockets and thin, scaly flesh stretched over bony skull features, giving them a skeletal appearance. Their drooling, caustic slime wears on the flesh of their faces as they age, giving them an ever more terrifying appearance. Wyrmlings of a black dragon are a glossy obsidian color, but their scales become duller and rougher as they grow, increasing their camouflage in the fetid swamps and crumbling ruins that they inhabit. Fully grown black dragons and their environs wreak of decaying vegetation and damaged flesh.

Cruelty for cruelty’s sake. Even more so than other chromatic dragons, black dragons take pleasure in the suffering of other creatures. They will give their victims hope of survival only to torture and consume them moments later. They despise other dragons, attacking the weaker and keeping clear of the stronger. Black dragons brutalize intelligent creatures such as lizardfolk and kobolds, requiring their fearful allegiance to serve as protection for their lair and territories.

Tragedy’s hoard. Drawn as they are to decay and ruin, a black dragon’s hoard is a testament of deposition, doom, and their cruel domination of the land.

Ancient Black Dragon

Not yet described

Known Relationships

Duplication and Templates

Want to make a new design starting from 'Ancient Black Dragon'? Want to apply a template?