Shadow Dragon

Monster Manual (2025) p. 275

Size
Huge
Type
dragon
Alignment
chaotic evil
AC
16
Initiative
14
Hit Points
189 (18d12+72)
Speed
walk 40 ft., climb 40 ft., fly 80 ft.
Saving Throws
Wis +6, Dex +9
Skills
Stealth +14, Perception +11
Resistances
See Living Shadow
Immunities
necrotic
Senses
blindsight 30 ft., darkvision 120 ft.
Passive Perception
21
Languages
Common, Draconic
Challenge
13
Lineage
Shadow Dragon
Environment
planar (shadowfell), underdark
STR
21
+5
DEX
19
+4
CON
18
+4
INT
14
+2
WIS
12
+1
CHA
18
+4

Traits

Proficiency Bonus

+5

Treasure

Any: The monster's treasure hoard can include monetary treasure and any kinds of magic items.

Legendary Resistance (3/Day, or 4/Day in Lair)

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

recharge

4/DAY

Living Shadow

While in Dim Light or Darkness, the dragon has Resistance to damage that isn't Force, Psychic, or Radiant.

Sunlight Sensitivity

While in sunlight, the dragon has Disadvantage on ability checks and attack rolls.

Actions

Multiattack

The dragon makes three Rend attacks.

Rend

Melee Attack Roll: +10, reach 10 ft. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) Slashing damage plus 3 (1d6) Necrotic damage.

Shadow Breath (Recharge 5-6)

Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 17, each creature in a 60-foot Cone. Failure: 35 (10d6) Necrotic damage. Success: Half damage. Failure or Success: A Humanoid reduced to 0 Hit Points by this damage dies, and a Shadow rises from the corpse. The shadow is under the dragon's control and shares the dragon's Initiative count but acts immediately after the dragon.

recharge

D5

Shadow Stealth (Bonus Action)

While in Dim Light or Darkness, the dragon takes the Hide action.

Legendary Actions

Legendary Actions (3/Turn)

The Shadow 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 Shadow Dragon regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

recharge

3/TURN

Pounce

The dragon moves up to half its Speed, and it makes one Rend attack.

Veil of Shadow

The dragon uses Shadow Stealth, and one creature of its choice that it can see within 10 feet of it takes 10 (3d6) Necrotic damage. The dragon can't take this action again until the start of its next turn.

Shadow Dragon Lairs Categoría: lair

Shadow dragons lair in places of darkness and despair, such as accursed ruins, the depths of the Underdark, or the Shadowfell. The region around a shadow dragon's lair is twisted by its presence, creating the following effects:

Negative Energy Suffusion: Whenever a creature within 1 mile of the lair regains Hit Points from a spell, it subtracts 1d10 from the number of Hit Points regained.

Stifling Shadows: Within 1 mile of the lair, effects that normally create Bright Light instead create Dim Light, and creatures there have Advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.

If the dragon dies or moves its lair elsewhere, these effects end immediately.

Other data

description

Shadow dragons haunt forgotten, lightless places. While they might have once been other types of dragons, the influence of planar forces, negative energy, or sinister magic has stripped them of their former color or luster. In place of any former breath weapon, shadow dragons exhale caliginous gouts that saps life from everything it touches. Those slain by a shadow dragon's breath rise as shades obedient to the shadow dragon's will. Shadow dragons typically dwell in the Underdark, particularly in areas with connections to the Shadowfell or other tenebrous realms. In some cases, they might lurk in dark, corrupted reaches of the regions they preferred before transforming into shadow dragons. Overgrown swamps, sepulchral desert ruins, and ash-choked volcanoes make natural lairs for shadow dragons. Like many other dragons, shadow dragons collect hoards. Their tastes tend to be morbid—collecting coins from ruined empires and their victims' skulls.