Ancient Black Dragon
Monster Manual (2025) p. 40
- Size
- Gargantuan
- Type
- dragon (chromatic)
- Alignment
- chaotic evil
- AC
- 22
- Initiative
- 16
- Hit Points
- 367 (21d20+147)
- Speed
- walk 40 ft., fly 80 ft., swim 40 ft.
- Saving Throws
- Wis +9, Dex +9
- Skills
- Stealth +9, Perception +16
- Immunities
- acid
- Senses
- blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft.
- Passive Perception
- 26
- Languages
- Common, Draconic
- Challenge
- 21
- Lineage
- Black Dragon
- Environment
- swamp
Traits
Proficiency Bonus
+7
Treasure
Relics: The monster's treasure hoard features magic items with the noted theme. The Dungeon Master's Guide details treasure hoards appropriate for each theme.
Amphibious
The dragon can breathe air and water.
Legendary Resistance (4/Day, or 5/Day in Lair)
If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
recharge
5/DAY
Actions
Multiattack
The dragon makes three Rend attacks. It can replace one attack with a use of Spellcasting to cast Melf's Acid Arrow (level 4 version).
Rend
Melee Attack Roll: +15, reach 15 ft. Hit: 17 (2d8 + 8) Slashing damage plus 9 (2d8) Acid damage.
Acid Breath (Recharge 5-6)
Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 22, each creature in a 90-foot-long, 10-foot-wide Line. Failure: 67 (15d8) Acid damage. Success: Half damage.
recharge
D5
Spellcasting
The dragon casts one of the following spells, requiring no Material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 21, +13 to hit with spell attacks):
- At will: Detect Magic, Fear, Melf's Acid Arrow (level 4 version)
- 1/day each: Create Undead, Speak with Dead, Vitriolic Sphere (level 5 version)
Legendary Actions
Legendary Actions (3/Turn)
The Ancient Black Dragon can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The Ancient Black Dragon regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
recharge
3/TURN
Cloud of Insects
Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 21, one creature the dragon can see within 120 feet. Failure: 33 (6d10) Poison damage, and the target has Disadvantage on saving throws to maintain Concentration until the end of its next turn. Failure or Success: The dragon can't take this action again until the start of its next turn.
Frightful Presence
The dragon uses Spellcasting to cast Fear. The dragon can't take this action again until the start of its next turn.
Pounce
The dragon moves up to half its Speed, and it makes one Rend attack.
Black Dragon Lairs Categoría: lair
Black dragons lurk in dismal ruins, polluted bogs, or other sites gripped by decay. The region containing an adult or ancient black dragon's lair is warped by its presence, creating the following effects:
Acrid Haze: Odorous and stifling fog covers the area within 1 mile of the lair, rendering that area Lightly Obscured. Travel for creatures other than the dragon and its allies takes twice the usual time in that area.
Foul Water: Water sources within 1 mile of the lair are supernaturally fouled. A creature that drinks such water must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or have the Poisoned condition for 1 hour.
If the dragon dies or moves its lair elsewhere, these effects end immediately.
Spells
Detect Magic [5.5e], Fear [5.5e], Melf's Acid Arrow [5.5e], Create Undead [5.5e], Speak with Dead [5.5e], Vitriolic Sphere [5.5e]
Other data
description
Black dragons delight in suffering and ruin. While other chromatic dragons scheme for power and wealth, these dragons seek to tear down all they see and rule over what remains. Black dragons are terrifying creatures with curved horns and withered visages suggestive of fiendish skulls. They typically inhabit stagnant swamps, crumbling ruins, or places of magical or environmental corruption. Their acid breath scars their domains, eroding the features from ancient statues and leaving nature with festering wounds. Black dragons hoard tarnished symbols of hope and relics of fallen empires. The more sought-after the treasure, the more black dragons prize it—particularly if they were responsible for it being lost.
Ancient black dragons plot the ruin of whole realms. They seek magic to corrupt the land, raise undead hordes, bind fiends, and replicate magical disasters. Ancient black dragons strive to create vast, dead domains where they are the greatest things that remain.