Ancient Red Dragon

AC 22 Initiative +14 (24)

HP 507 (26d20 + 234)

Speed 40 ft., Climb 40 ft., Fly 80 ft.

		Mod	Save
STR	30	+10	+10
DEX	10	+0	+7
CON	29	+9	+9

		Mod	Save
INT	18	+4	+4
WIS	15	+2	+9
CHA	27	+8	+8

Skills +16, +7

Immunities Fire

Senses 60, 120 ft.; Passive Perception 26

Languages Common, Draconic

CR 24 (XP 62,000, or 75,000 in lair; PB +7)

Traits

Legendary Resistance (4/Day, or 5/Day in Lair). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Actions

Multiattack. The dragon makes three Rend attacks. It can replace one attack with a use of Spellcasting to cast Scorching Ray (level 3 version).

Rend. Melee Attack Roll: +17, reach 15 ft. Hit: 19 (2d8 + 10) Slashing damage plus 10 (3d6) Fire damage.

Fire Breath (Recharge 5–6). Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 24, each creature in a 90-foot Cone. Failure: 91 (26d6) Fire damage. Success: Half damage.

Spellcasting. The dragon casts one of the following spells, requiring no Material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 23, +15 to hit with spell attacks):

At Will: Command (level 2 version), Detect Magic, Scorching Ray (level 3 version)
1/Day Each: Fireball (level 6 version), Scrying

Legendary Actions

Legendary Action Uses: 3 (4 in Lair). Immediately after another creature’s turn, the dragon can expend a use to take one of the following actions. The dragon regains all expended uses at the start of each of its turns.

Commanding Presence. The dragon uses Spellcasting to cast Command (level 2 version). The dragon can’t take this action again until the start of its next turn.

Fiery Rays. The dragon uses Spellcasting to cast Scorching Ray (level 3 version). 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.

Comments

gitguddddddd
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#22 gitguddddddd

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Posted May 13, 2026
This dragons aura knows no bounds

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MandoMan2026
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#23 MandoMan2026

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Posted Jul 6, 2026
Quote from Sigilavox >>

Imposing art, but a surprisingly tame spell list. Well, nothing a little addition or two can't fix!

Heat Metal (level 3 version) seems sufficiently cruel for a red dragon's tastes. It might be an At Will spell, perhaps as an alternative option to Scorching Ray (level 3 version) during Multiattack.

Seeing as how they lair up in mountains and apocalyptic ruins, Earthquake at 1/Day might be cinematic, especially if the dragon takes to the air and hurls Fire Breath down at the now-disoriented party. Slow-roasted adventurers at the bottom of a pit, Kalua-style, anyone?

And, for the truly devious DM...

Imagine an Ancient Red Dragon feared for having truly invincible scales, who can cast Invulnerability at 1/Day... which they always do just before flying into melee! Watch the mortals' fear as their pitiful spells and weapons bounce right off. The shock! The awe! The drama! Be the red dragon every other dragon dreams they could be! Die, insects!

I think this upgraded version would be a fair challenge, esp for a 3 man party, after a long dungeon crawl. If added maybe some high end enemy wizards to the mix, this would be a good scrap, for exhausted level 20 adventurers. Maybe not a campaign-ender type boss, but a highly satisfactory one!(Unless your party can take a beating, then add a lich or two!)

Or some more dragons, for a dragon lair theme

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