In this article we explore the five great dragonflights found in D&D: World of Warcraft®, their history, their goals, and the unique abilities that make them formidable foes and game-changing allies.
- The Dragonflights of Azeroth
- Black Dragonflight
- Blue Dragonflight
- Bronze Dragonflight
- Green Dragonflight
- Red Dragonflight
The Dragonflights of Azeroth
In the primordial past of Azeroth, five mighty proto-dragons helped the benevolent titan, keeper Tyr, battle a horrific monster of their kind, the enormous Galakrond. To reward them for their aid, Tyr and most of the other keepers imbued these five proto-dragons with mighty powers so they could safeguard Azeroth. These were the original Dragon Aspects.
The keepers also magically altered hundreds of proto-dragon eggs so the creatures that emerged from them would be born in the image of the Aspects. The dragons born from these eggs formed five distinct flights, each serving a different Aspect.
Proto-Dragons
Within World of Warcraft, dragons similar to those found in D&D’s Monster Manual are known as proto-dragons. Proto-dragons can still be found in Northrend, in the Dragon Isles, and elsewhere across Azeroth, though most of them are Neutral.
Black Dragonflight
History. Neltharion the Earth-Warder and the black dragonflight were given charge over the mountains and the deep caverns of the earth. But Neltharion fell prey to the whispers of the Old Gods, and he turned against his mortal and dragon allies, slaughtering almost the entire blue dragonflight. From that point on, Neltharion was known as Deathwing, and the black dragonflight was hunted to the brink of extinction to avenge their Aspect’s betrayal. After the reawakening of the Dragon Isles, a black dragon named Ebyssian became the new Earth-Warder, working to purify the black dragonflight and help its members atone.
Goals. Despite Ebyssian’s efforts, many black dragons still lair in sweltering, desolate places, ruled by the children of Deathwing that revel in mortal suffering. These black dragons are the enemies of every other dragonflight.
Signature Abilities
- Magma Breath. Every black dragonflight dragon—from whelp to full-grown dragon—has a breath weapon of molten earth, dealing both Fire and Bludgeoning damage in a cone that grows with age.
- Signature Spells. Black dragonflight drakes can cast Heat Metal and Stone Shape at will. Full-grown dragons cast an even more powerful version of Heat Metal, can walk among mortals with a limited form of Shapechange, and can unleash Incendiary Cloud once per day.
- Pyroclastic Eruption. Black dragonflight dragons at the height of their power can use a Legendary Action to cause an area of the battlefield to erupt in fire and earth, dealing Fire and Bludgeoning damage, knocking enemies Prone, and turning the ground molten for 1 minute.
Blue Dragonflight
History. Malygos the Spell-Weaver and the blue dragonflight were charged to explore, share, and protect the limitless realms of magic and hidden arcana. Deathwing slew most of the blue dragonflight, and Malygos spent millennia consumed with grief. During the war against the Lich King, Malygos launched an all-out war against the mortal mages he blamed for the world’s troubles. Kalecgos has since taken on the Spell-Weaver’s mantle.
Goals. Blue dragonflight dragons view themselves as stewards of the arcane, and they disdain mortals who misuse their gifts. Noble blue dragons take the role of sagely mentors to mortal mages. Under Kalecgos’s leadership, the blue dragonflight is enjoying a resurgence.
Signature Abilities
- Spellfreeze Breath. At every age, blue dragonflight dragons’ breath weapon unleashes Cold damage, and creatures in its cone who fail their Constitution saving throw can’t cast spells or take the Magic action until the start of the dragon’s next turn.
- Signature Spells. Blue dragonflight drakes cast Ice Storm and Major Image at will, plus Scrying and Wall of Ice once per day. The eldest blue dragons expand that list with Fog Cloud, Legend Lore, Magic Mouth, Sending, and a form of Shapechange for taking a mortal visage.
- Dispel. Blue dragonflight dragons at the height of their power can use a Legendary Action to cast Dispel Magic, dealing Force damage for each ongoing spell it ends.
Bronze Dragonflight
History. Nozdormu the Timeless One and the bronze dragonflight hold mastery over time itself. Their enemies, the infinite dragonflight, are led by Murozond, a version of Nozdormu from an alternate timeline that seeks to “perfect” the timeline by altering key moments in history.
Goals. These stoic guardians maintain the delicate balance of past, present, and future. The people of Azeroth often see bronze dragons as cold and unfeeling, since the dragons prefer not to interfere in mortal affairs.
Signature Abilities
- Superheated Sand Breath. From whelps on up, this breath weapon shreds and sears skin with red-hot sand, dealing both Fire damage and Slashing damage.
- Signature Spells. Fitting for guardians of the timeways, bronze dragonflight drakes cast Augury and Slow at will, plus Divination, Legend Lore, and Scrying once per day. At the height of their power, bronze dragons can also cast Time Stop once per day.
- Sands of Time. Full-grown bronze dragons wield Legendary Actions like Spear of Light—a mighty Guiding Bolt—and Sands of Time, a whirlwind of magic sand that deals Slashing damage and inflicts a level of Exhaustion on anyone who fails a Dexterity saving throw. While a creature has any levels of Exhaustion from this effect, it appears 3d10 years older.
Green Dragonflight
Founder. Ysera the Awakened and the green dragonflight were charged with watching over the growing wilds of Azeroth from their domain, the Emerald Dream. Ysera now dwells in Ardenweald in the Shadowlands, while her daughter Merithra has taken her place as the Green Aspect.
Goals. The graceful green dragons serve nature and uphold the balance between mortal creatures and the ever-evolving world. Though most green dragons live in the mystical dimension known as the Emerald Dream, some roam ancient forests where the veil between Azeroth and the Dream is thin. This connection makes green dragons susceptible to the corrupting evil of the Emerald Nightmare—those who succumb are known as the nightmare dragonflight.
Signature Abilities
- Emerald Gas Breath. At every age, the main breath weapon of a green dragonflight dragon deals both Acid damage and Poison damage.
- Signature Spells. Green dragonflight drakes cast Sleep, Speak with Animals, and Speak with Plants at will, plus Lesser Restoration and Greater Restoration once per day.
- Dream Banishment. Green dragonflight dragons at the height of their power can use a Legendary Action to transport a creature to a harmless demiplane resembling the Emerald Dream until the dragon’s next turn on a failed Charisma saving throw.
Red Dragonflight
History. Alexstrasza the Life-Binder and the red dragonflight steward Azeroth’s living creatures. Due to her supreme wisdom and limitless compassion, Alexstrasza was crowned the Dragonqueen and given dominion over her kind.
Goals. The red dragonflight is noble and honorable, and its dragons consider themselves the protectors of life. Their mission is to destroy existential threats to life, and they have aided in wars against the Old Gods, the Burning Legion, and the Lich King. Red dragons are likely to be allies to heroes of both the Alliance and the Horde.
Signature Abilities
- Razing Fire Breath. At every age, red dragonflight dragons can deal a devastatingly powerful amount of Fire damage with their breath weapon—and nonmagical plants caught in the cone are incinerated, only to regrow more bountiful than before.
- Signature Spells. Red dragonflight drakes cast Command and Detect Evil and Good at will, plus a mighty version of Flame Strike once per day.
- Bellowing Roar. Red dragonflight dragons at the height of their power can use a Legendary Action to deal Thunder damage in a cube and push enemies away.
- Renewing Flame. As another Legendary Action, full-grown red dragons can breathe a focused stream of heatless, life-giving fire, granting Temporary Hit Points to creatures within a line and ending certain conditions of the dragon’s choice.
Take Flight in Azeroth
With stat blocks for over 50 new monsters and more than 25 factions to earn renown with, D&D: World of Warcraft® gives you the tools to craft your own stories set in the beloved world of Azeroth.
Each dragonflight is tasked with maintaining an important domain, and their commitment to their cause, or their abject betrayal of it, allows for the weaving of layered, complex, and heroic stories—which will you fly with?
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