Adult Red Dragon 5e
An adult red dragon is a Huge dragon of challenge rating 17 (18,000 XP, 20,000 in its lair) with AC 19, 256 hit points and an 80-foot fly speed. It makes three +14 Rend attacks for 13 (1d10 + 8) slashing plus 5 (2d4) fire each, and its Fire Breath deals 59 (17d6) fire damage in a 60-foot cone.
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Adult Red Dragon stat block
Huge Dragon, Chaotic evil
| Armor Class | 19 |
| Hit Points | 256 (19d12 + 133) |
| Speed | 40 ft., Climb 40 ft., Fly 80 ft. |
| Challenge | 17 (18,000 XP; proficiency bonus +6) |
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 (+8) | 10 (+0) | 25 (+7) | 16 (+3) | 13 (+1) | 23 (+6) |
- Saves and skills: DEX +6, WIS +7, Perception +13, Stealth +6
- Damage immunities: fire
- Senses: Darkvision 120 ft., Blindsight 60 ft., Passive Perception 23
- Languages: Common, Draconic
Traits
Legendary Resistance. 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.
Rend. Melee Attack Roll: +14, reach 10 ft. Hit: 13 (1d10 + 8) Slashing damage plus 5 (2d4) Fire damage.
Fire Breath. Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 21, each creature in a 60-foot Cone. Failure: 59 (17d6) 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 20, +12 to hit with spell attacks):
At will: Command, Detect Magic, Scorching Ray
1/Day each: Fireball
Legendary Actions
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. 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.
How to run the adult red dragon
Open with the breath: Red dragons are arrogant, not stupid. It should arrive on the wing, 80 feet a turn, and catch as many characters as it can in the 60-foot cone before anyone closes the distance. A character with +2 to Dexterity saves needs a 19 or better against DC 21, so most of the party eats the full 59 average. The breath comes back on a 5 or 6, which is a one-in-three chance each round.
Between breaths: Three Rends average about 55 damage if they all land, and it can trade one of them for an at-will Scorching Ray to hit the wizard hiding at the back. Its legendary options in the 2024 rules are all about pressure: Command on two targets (tell the fighter to grovel and they drop prone), another Scorching Ray, or Pounce to move and Rend. Spend them every round; a dragon that hoards legendary actions plays like a CR 12.
How to beat it: Fire immunity means your fire-based casters need a plan B before the session, and Protection from Energy on the front-liner halves both the breath and the Rend fire. In the 2024 stat block it is only proficient in Dexterity and Wisdom saves, so Intelligence (+3) and Charisma (+6) saves are the soft spots once its three Legendary Resistances are gone. Run the numbers for your party in the encounter calculator before you drop one on them.
Adult Red Dragon: 2014 vs 2024
| 2014 Monster Manual | 2024 Monster Manual / SRD 5.2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Attacks | Bite 19 (2d10 + 8) plus 7 (2d6) fire, two Claws 15 (2d6 + 8), Tail | Three Rends, 13 (1d10 + 8) slashing plus 5 (2d4) fire |
| Fire Breath | DC 21 Dexterity, 63 (18d6) | DC 21 Dexterity, 59 (17d6) |
| Fear and spells | Frightful Presence, DC 19 Wisdom | No Frightful Presence; casts Command, Scorching Ray and Fireball (1/day) |
| Legendary actions | Detect, Tail Attack, Wing Attack | Commanding Presence, Fiery Rays, Pounce |
| Legendary Resistance | 3/day | 3/day (4/day in its lair) |
| Challenge | 17 (18,000 XP) | 17 (18,000 XP; 20,000 XP in its lair) |
Adult Red Dragon FAQ
What CR is an adult red dragon?
It is challenge rating 17 in both rule sets, worth 18,000 XP. In the 2024 rules it is worth 20,000 XP when fought in its lair.
How much damage does an adult red dragon's breath do?
In the 2024 rules Fire Breath deals 59 (17d6) fire damage in a 60-foot cone, DC 21 Dexterity save for half. The 2014 version dealt 63 (18d6).
How many hit points does an adult red dragon have?
It has 256 hit points (19d12 + 133) in both the 2014 and 2024 stat blocks.
Is an adult red dragon immune to fire?
Yes. It is immune to fire damage, so Fireball and Scorching Ray do nothing to it.
Related
- Young Red Dragon 5e
- Ancient Red Dragon 5e
- Roll a d6
- All D&D monsters
Monsters of similar challenge
- Adult Bronze Dragon (CR 15)
- Adult Green Dragon (CR 15)
- Adult Blue Dragon (CR 16)
- Adult Silver Dragon (CR 16)
- Adult Gold Dragon (CR 17)
- Dragon Turtle (CR 17)
Rules are summarised in our own words; monster stat blocks are reproduced from the SRD. This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.2 ("SRD 5.2") by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available at dndbeyond.com/srd. The SRD 5.2 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Card icons by Lorc and Delapouite from game-icons.net, licensed under CC BY 3.0.
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