Extract Brain. If the dragon maintains a hold with a tentacle for 5 consecutive rounds it extracts the opponent's brain, instantly killing that creature. This power is useless against constructs, elementals, oozes, plants, and undead. It is not instantly fatal to foes with multiple heads; such as ettins and hydras.
Improved Grab. To use this ability, a brainstealer dragon must hit a creature one or more size categories smaller than itself with a tentacle attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and begins to extract the opponent's brain. A successful grapple check each round furthers the extraction process and deals automatic tentacle damage. A brainstealer dragon can hold one creature in each tentacle, but it cannot hold a creature with more than one tentacle. A creature can escape with a single successful grapple check
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Multiattack. The dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes five attacks: four with its tentacles and one with its claws.
Tentacles. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d10 + 4) piercing damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d6 + 8) slashing damage.
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 18 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.
Innate Spellcasting (Psionics). The brainstealer dragon's innate spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 22). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no components:
3/day each: suggestion, levitate, charm monster, detect thoughts, astral projection
Mind Blast (Recharge 5–6). The dragon magically emits psychic energy in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 20 Intelligence saving throw, on a failure a creature takes 56 (16d6) psychic damage and is stunned for 1 minute, or half as much damage on a successful one and isn’t stunned. A creature can repeat this saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Change Shape. The dragon magically polymorphs into a humanoid or beast that has a challenge rating no higher than its own, or back into its true form. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (the dragon's choice).
In a new form, the dragon retains its alignment, hit points, Hit Dice, ability to speak, proficiencies, Legendary Resistance, lair actions, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as this action. Its statistics and capabilities are otherwise replaced by those of the new form, except any class features or legendary actions of that form.
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.
Tentacle. The dragon makes a tentacle attack.
Psionics (Costs 2 actions). The dragon casts a spell.
Lair and Lair Actions
A Brainstealer Dragon’s Lair
The Brainstealer Dragon's lair is typically in the Underdark, or some other dark and cold place, like dark caves. It can commonly be found in a lair from a city it has dominated, where the citizens are destroyed and/or thralls of cattle, the brains of whom the dragon feasts on.
Throughout the lair, some enslaved creatures, such as drow or dwarves can be found carrying out work for the brainstealer dragon. Others of its colony include Dragothilids a hybrid creation of Half Dragons and Mind Flayers. In some cases, the brainstealer dragon may direct them to defend the lair against would be attackers.
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the dragon can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the dragon can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:
- A stalagmite falls from the ceiling from a point the brainstealer dragon can see within 120 feet, creating a 10-foot-radius of falling rock. Each creature in the area must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 27 (6d8) bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The area is filled with rubble and becomes difficult terrain.
- A psychic blast reverberates, as an ear piercing warble, throughout the lair, around the brainstealer dragon in a 60-foot-radius. Each creature, other than the brainstealer dragon, must succeed on a DC 15 Intelligence saving throw, taking 18 (4d8) psychic damage and deafened for 1 minute on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful save and the creature isn't deafened. The creature can repeat the saving throw each round to end the deafened condition.
- The brainstealer dragon's thrall joins the battle. 2 creatures of the brainstealer dragon's thrall reveal themselves from some unseen area of the lair between 100 feet and 30 feet away from the brainstealer dragon. These creatures may be drow or dwarves, depending on the lair and thrall, but they should not have higher than a challenge rating of 1 each.
Regional Effects
The region containing a brainstealer dragon's lair have some of the following effects and changes:
- All living sentient creatures within a 1 mile radius are most likely members of the brainstealer dragon's thralls and/or food sources, completely under the brainstealer dragon's control.
- Paths leading up the lair will often have smooth half-pipe grooves, coated in mucus, in the walls and floor from the brainstealer dragon's large tentacles.
If the dragon dies, these effects fade over the course of 1d10 days.
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