Brass Dragon
The most gregarious of the true dragons, brass dragons crave conversation, sunlight, and hot, dry climates.
A brass dragon's head is defined by the broad protective plate that expands from its forehead and the spikes protruding from its chin. A frill runs the length of its neck, and its tapering wings extend down the length of its tail. A brass dragon wyrmling's scales are a dull, mottled brown. As it ages, the dragon's scales begin to shine, eventually taking on a warm, burnished luster. Its wings and frills are mottled green toward the edges, darkening with age. As a brass dragon grows older, its pupils fade until its eyes resemble molten metal orbs.
For basic lore see Metallic Dragons
Ancient Brass Dragon
Gargantuan dragon, Chaotic good
| Attribute | STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 27 | 10 | 25 | 16 | 15 | 19 |
| Modifier | +8 | +0 | +7 | +3 | +2 | +4 |
Armor Class: 20 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 297 (17d20 + 119)
Speed: 40 ft., burrow 40 ft., fly 80 ft.
Saving Throws: Dex +6, Con +13, Wis +8, Cha +10
Skills: History +9, Perception +14, Persuasion +10, Stealth +6
Damage Immunities: fire
Senses: blindsight 60ft., darkvision 120ft., passive Perception 24
Languages: Common, Draconic
Challenge: 20 (24,500)
Legendary Resistance (3/Day): If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Multiattack: The dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 15ft., one target. Hit: 19 (2d10 + 8) piercing damage.
Claw: Melee Weapon Attack:+ 14 to hit, reach 10ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d6 + 8) slashing damage.
Tail: Melee Weapon Attack:+ 14 to hit, reach 20ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d8 + 8) bludgeoning 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.
Breath Weapons (Recharge 5-6): The dragon uses one of the following breath weapons:
Fire Breath: The dragon exhales fire in an 90-foot line that is 10 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw, taking 56 (16d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Sleep Breath: The dragon exhales sleep gas in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 21 Constitution saving throw or fall unconscious for 10 minutes. This effect ends for a creature if the creature takes damage or someone uses an action to wake it.
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.
Legendary Actions
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.
Tail Attack: The dragon makes a tail attack.
Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions): The dragon beats its wings. Each creature within 15 feet of the dragon must succeed on a DC 22 Dexterity saving throw or take 15 (2d6 + 8) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.
Adult Brass Dragon
Huge dragon, chaotic good
| Attribute | STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 23 | 10 | 21 | 14 | 13 | 17 |
| Modifier | +6 | +0 | +5 | +2 | +1 | +3 |
Armor Class: 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 172 (15d12 + 75)
Speed: 40 ft., burrow 30 ft., fly 80 ft.
Saving Throws: Dex +5, Con +10, Wis +6, Cha +8
Skills: History +7, Perception +11, Persuasion +8, Stealth +5
Damage Immunities: fire
Senses: blindsight 60ft., darkvision 120ft., passive Perception 21
Languages: Common, Draconic
Challenge: 13 (10,000)
Legendary Resistance (3/Day): If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Multiattack: The dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) piercing damage.
Claw: Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage.
Tail: Melee Weapon Attack:+ 11 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
Frightful Presence: Each creature of the drag0n's choice that is within 120 feet of the dragon and aware of it must succeed on a DC 16 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.
Breath Weapons (Recharge 5-6): The dragon uses one of the following breath weapons.
Fire Breath: The dragon exhales fire in an 60-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 49 (13d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Sleep Breath: The dragon exhales sleep gas in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or fall unconscious for 10 minutes. This effect ends for a creature if the creature takes damage or someone uses an action to wake it.
Legendary Actions
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.
Tail Attack: The dragon makes a tail attack.
Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions): The dragon beats its wings. Each creature within 10 feet of the dragon must succeed on a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw or take 13 (2d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.
Young Brass Dragon
Large dragon, lawful evil
| Attribute | STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 19 | 10 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 15 |
| Modifier | +4 | +0 | +3 | +1 | +0 | +2 |
Armor Class: 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 110 (13d10 + 39)
Speed: 40 ft., burrow 20 ft., fly 80 ft.
Saving Throws: Dex +5, Con +8, Wis +5, Cha +7
Skills: Perception +10, Persuasion +7, Stealth +5
Damage Immunities: fire
Senses: blindsight 30ft., darkvision 120ft., passive Perception 20
Languages: Common, Draconic
Challenge: 6 (2,300)
Actions
Multiattack: The dragon makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) piercing damage.
Claw: Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.
Breath Weapons (Recharge 5-6): The dragon uses one of the following breath weapons.
Fire Breath: The dragon exhales fire in a 40-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, taking 42 (12d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Sleep Breath: The dragon exhales sleep gas in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or fall unconscious for 5 minutes. This effect ends for a creature if the creature takes damage or someone uses an action to wake it.
Boldly Talkative
A brass dragon engages in conversations with thousands of creatures throughout its long life, accumulating useful information which it will gladly share for gifts of treasure. If an intelligent creature tries to leave a·brass dragon's presence without engaging in conversation, the dragon follows it. If the creature attempts to escape by magic or force, the dragon might respond with a fit of pique, using its sleep gas to incapacitate the creature. When it wakes, the creature finds itself pinned to the ground by giant claws or buried up to its neck in the sand while the dragon's thirst for small talk is slaked.
A brass dragon is trusting of creatures that appear to enjoy conversation as much as it does, but is smart enough to know when it is being manipulated. When that happens, tne dragon often responds in kind, treating a bout of mutual trickery as a game.
Prized Treasures
Brass dragons covet magic items that allow them to converse with interesting personalities. An intelligent telepathic weapon or a magic lamp with a djinni bound inside it are among the greatest treasures a brass dragon can possess.
Brass dragons conceal their hoards under mounds of sand or in secret places far from their primary lairs. They have no trouble remembering where their treasure is buried, and therefore have no need for maps. Adventurers and wanderers should be wary if they happen across a chest hidden in an oasis or a treasure cache tucked away in a half-buried desert ruin, for these might be parts of a brass dragon's hoard.
A Brass Dragon's Lair
A brass dragon's desert lair is typically a ruin, canyon, or cave network with ceiling holes to allow for sunlight.
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects:
- A strong wind blows around the dragon. Each creature within 60 feet of the dragon must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pushed 15 feet away from the dragon and knocked prone. Gases and vapors are dispersed by the wind, and unprotected flames are extinguished. Protected flames; such as lanterns, have a 50 percent chance of being extinguished.
- A cloud of sand swirls about in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on a point the dragon can see within 120 feet of it. The cloud spreads around corners. Each creature in it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be blinded 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.
Reginal Effects
The region containing a legendary brass dragon's lair is warped by the dragon's magic, which creates one or more of the following effects:
- Tracks appear in the sand within 6 miles of the dragon's lair. The tracks lead to safe shelters and hidden water sources, while also leading away from areas that the dragon prefers to remain undisturbed.
- Images of Large or smaller monsters haunt the desert sands within 1 mile of the dragon's lair. These illusions move and appear real, although they can do no harm. A creature that examines an image from a distance can tell it's an illusion with a successful DC 20 Intelligence (Investigation) check. Any physical interaction with an image reveals it to be an illusion, because objects pass through it.
- Whenever a creature with an Intelligence of 3 or higher comes within 30 feet of a water source within 1 mile of the dragon's lair, the dragon becomes aware of the creature's presence and location.
If the dragon dies, the tracks fade in 1d10 days, but the other effects fade immediately.