Young Red Dragon 5e
The young red dragon is a Large dragon of challenge rating 10 (5,900 XP) with AC 18, 178 hit points and an 80-foot fly speed in the 2024 rules. It makes three Rend attacks at +10, each dealing 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing plus 3 (1d6) fire damage, and its Fire Breath deals 56 (16d6) damage in a 30-foot cone.
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Young Red Dragon stat block
Large Dragon, Chaotic evil
| Armor Class | 18 |
| Hit Points | 178 (17d10 + 85) |
| Speed | 40 ft., Climb 40 ft., Fly 80 ft. |
| Challenge | 10 (5,900 XP; proficiency bonus +4) |
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 (+6) | 10 (+0) | 21 (+5) | 14 (+2) | 11 (+0) | 19 (+4) |
- Saves and skills: DEX +4, WIS +4, Perception +8, Stealth +4
- Damage immunities: fire
- Senses: Darkvision 120 ft., Blindsight 30 ft., Passive Perception 18
- Languages: Common, Draconic
Actions
Multiattack. The dragon makes three Rend attacks.
Rend. Melee Attack Roll: +10, reach 10 ft. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) Slashing damage plus 3 (1d6) Fire damage.
Fire Breath. Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 17, each creature in a 30-foot Cone. Failure: 56 (16d6) Fire damage. Success: Half damage.
How to run the young red dragon
Open with the breath: Fire Breath is the most dangerous thing a young red dragon does. The 30-foot cone forces a DC 17 Dexterity save, and a character with a +2 save fails 70% of the time and takes an average of 56 damage. After that it recharges on a 5 or 6, a 33.33% chance each turn, so the dragon should fly out of reach and circle until it comes back.
Claw the survivors: Three Rends at +10 hit AC 18 65% of the time and average 16.5 damage each, or about 50 if all three land. With an 80-foot fly speed and a 40-foot climb speed, it can strike from a cliff or cavern ceiling and leave melee characters with nothing to hit.
How to counter it: It is immune to fire, so fireball and scorching ray do nothing. Spread out so one cone can't catch the whole party, and bring ranged attacks for when it flies. A young red dragon is a deadly solo fight for many mid-level parties; check it in the encounter calculator first.
Young Red Dragon: 2014 vs 2024
| 2014 Monster Manual | 2024 Monster Manual / SRD 5.2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Attacks | Bite (+10, 17 (2d10 + 6) piercing plus 3 (1d6) fire) and two Claws (+10, 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing) | Three Rends (+10, 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing plus 3 (1d6) fire) |
| Fire Breath | 56 (16d6), DC 17 Dexterity, 30-foot cone | Unchanged: 56 (16d6), DC 17 Dexterity, 30-foot cone |
| Challenge | 10 (5,900 XP) | 10 (5,900 XP) |
Young Red Dragon FAQ
What CR is a young red dragon in 5e?
A young red dragon is challenge rating 10, worth 5,900 XP, in both the 2014 and 2024 rules.
How much damage does a young red dragon's breath do?
Fire Breath deals 56 (16d6) fire damage in a 30-foot cone on a failed DC 17 Dexterity save, or half as much on a success. It recharges on a 5 or 6.
How much HP does a young red dragon have?
It has 178 hit points (17d10 + 85) and AC 18 in both the 2014 and 2024 rules.
What is a young red dragon immune to?
It is immune to fire damage, so fire spells and fire-based attacks don't hurt it.
Related
Monsters of similar challenge
- Young Bronze Dragon (CR 8)
- Young Green Dragon (CR 8)
- Young Blue Dragon (CR 9)
- Young Silver Dragon (CR 9)
- Young Gold Dragon (CR 10)
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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Contains content from the System Reference Document 5.1 and 5.2 by Wizards of the Coast LLC, used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.