3e SRD:Black Dragon
| This material is published under the OGL 1.0a. |
Black Dragon[edit]
| Type: | Dragon (Water) |
|---|---|
| Climate/Terrain: | Any marsh and underground |
| Organization: | Wyrmling, very young, young, juvenile, and young adult: solitary or clutch (2-5); Adult, mature adult, old, very old, ancient, wyrm, or great wyrm: solitary, pair, or family (1-2 and 2-5 offspring) |
| Challenge Ratings: | Wyrmling 2; Very young 3; Young 4; Juvenile 6; Young adult 8; Adult 10; Mature adult 13; Old 15; Very old 17; Ancient 18; Wyrm 19; great Wyrm 21 |
| Treasure: | Double standard |
| Alignment: | Always chaotic evil |
| Advancement: | Wyrmling 5-6 HD (Small); Very young 8-9 HD (Small); Young 11-12 HD (Medium-size); Juvenile 14-15 HD (Medium-size); Young adult 17-18 HD (Large); Adult 20-21 HD (Large); Mature adult 23-24 HD (Huge); Old 26-27 HD (Huge); Very old 29-30 HD (Huge); Ancient 32-33 HD (Huge); Wyrm 35-36 HD (Gargantuan); Great wyrm 38+ HD (Gargantuan) |
| Age | Size | Hit Dice (hp) | AC | Attack Bonus | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Breath Weapon (DC) | Fear DC | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyrmling | Tiny | 4d12+4 (30) | 15 (+2 size, +3 natural) | +6 | +5 | +4 | +4 | 2d4 (13) | ||
| Very young | Small | 7d12+7 (52) | 17 (+1 size, +6 natural) | +9 | +6 | +5 | +5 | 4d4 (14) | ||
| Young | Medium | 10d12+20 (85) | 19 (+9 natural) | +12 | +9 | +7 | +7 | 6d4 (17) | ||
| Juvenile | Medium | 13d12+26 (110) | 22 (+12 natural) | +16 | +10 | +8 | +8 | 8d4 (18) | ||
| Young adult | Large | 16d12+48 (152) | 24 (-1 size, +15 natural) | +19 | +13 | +10 | +11 | 10d4 (22) | 19 | 17 |
| Adult | Large | 19d12+76 (199) | 27 (-1 size, +18 natural) | +24 | +15 | +11 | +12 | 12d4 (23) | 20 | 18 |
| Mature adult | Huge | 22d12+110 (253) | 29 (-2 size, +21 natural) | +28 | +18 | +13 | +15 | 14d4 (26) | 23 | 21 |
| Old | Huge | 25d12+125 (287) | 32 (-2 size, +24 natural) | +32 | +19 | +14 | +16 | 16d4 (27) | 24 | 22 |
| Very old | Huge | 28d12+168 (350) | 35 (-2 size, +27 natural) | +36 | +22 | +16 | +19 | 18d4 (30) | 27 | 23 |
| Ancient | Huge | 31d12+186 (387) | 38 (-2 size, +30 natural) | +40 | +23 | +17 | +20 | 20d4 (31) | 28 | 25 |
| Wyrm | Gargantuan | 34d12+238 (459) | 39 (-4 size, +33 natural) | +42 | +26 | +19 | +23 | 22d4 (34) | 31 | 26 |
| Great wyrm | Gargantuan | 34d12+238 (536) | 42 (-4 size, +36 natural) | +46 | +28 | +20 | +25 | 24d4 (36) | 33 | 28 |
| Age | Speed | Str | Dex | Con | Int | Wis | Cha | Special Abilities | Caster Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyrmling | 60 ft., fly 100 ft. (average), swim 60 ft. | 11 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 8 | Acid immunity, water breathing | |
| Very young | 60 ft., fly 100 ft. (average), swim 60 ft. | 13 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 8 | ||
| Young | 60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. | 15 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 10 | ||
| Juvenile | 60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. | 17 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 10 | Darkness | |
| Young adult | 60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. | 19 | 10 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 12 | Damage reduction 5/+1 | 1st |
| Adult | 60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. | 23 | 10 | 19 | 12 | 13 | 12 | Corrupt water | 3rd |
| Mature adult | 60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. | 27 | 10 | 21 | 14 | 15 | 14 | Damage reduction 10/+1 | 5th |
| Old | 60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. | 29 | 10 | 21 | 14 | 15 | 14 | Plant growth | 7th |
| Very old | 60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. | 31 | 10 | 23 | 16 | 17 | 16 | Damage reduction 15/+2 | 9th |
| Ancient | 60 ft., fly 150 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. | 33 | 10 | 23 | 16 | 17 | 16 | Insect plague | 11th |
| Wyrm | 60 ft., fly 200 ft. (clumsy), swim 60 ft. | 35 | 10 | 25 | 18 | 19 | 18 | Damage reduction 20/+3 | 13th |
| Great wyrm | 60 ft., fly 200 ft. (clumsy), swim 60 ft. | 37 | 10 | 27 | 20 | 21 | 20 | Charm reptiles | 15th |
| Age | Size | Face and Reach | Attacks | Breath Weapons | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Face | Reach | 1 Bite | 2 Claws | 2 Wings | 1 Tail Slap | 1 Crush | 1 Tail Sweep | Line* (Length) | Cone** (Length) | ||
| Wyrmling | Tiny | 2.5 ft. by 2.5 ft. | 0 ft. | 1d4 | 1d3 | 30 ft. | 60 ft. | ||||
| Very young | Small | 5 ft. by 5 ft. | 5 ft. | 1d6 | 1d4 | 40 ft. | 60 ft. | ||||
| Young | Medium | 5 ft. by 5 ft. | 5 ft. | 1d8 | 1d6 | 1d4 | 60 ft. | 60 ft. | |||
| Juvenile | Medium | 5 ft. by 5 ft. | 5 ft. | 1d8 | 1d6 | 1d4 | 60 ft. | 60 ft. | |||
| Young adult | Large | 5 ft. by 10 ft. | 10 ft. | 2d6 | 1d8 | 1d6 | 1d8 | 80 ft. | 60 ft. | ||
| Adult | Large | 5 ft. by 10 ft. | 10 ft. | 2d6 | 1d8 | 1d6 | 1d8 | 80 ft. | 60 ft. | ||
| Mature adult | Huge | 10 ft. by 20 ft. | 10 ft. | 2d8 | 2d6 | 1d8 | 2d6 | 2d8 | 100 ft. | 60 ft. | |
| Old | Huge | 10 ft. by 20 ft. | 10 ft. | 2d8 | 2d6 | 1d8 | 2d6 | 2d8 | 100 ft. | 60 ft. | |
| Very old | Huge | 10 ft. by 20 ft. | 10 ft. | 2d8 | 2d6 | 1d8 | 2d6 | 2d8 | 100 ft. | 60 ft. | |
| Ancient | Huge | 10 ft. by 20 ft. | 10 ft. | 2d8 | 2d6 | 1d8 | 2d6 | 2d8 | 100 ft. | 60 ft. | |
| Wyrm | Gargantuan | 20 ft. by 40 ft. | 15 ft. | 4d6 | 2d8 | 2d6 | 2d8 | 4d6 | 2d6 | 120 ft. | 60 ft. |
| Great wyrm | Gargantuan | 20 ft. by 40 ft. | 15 ft. | 4d6 | 2d8 | 2d6 | 2d8 | 4d6 | 2d6 | 120 ft. | 60 ft. |
|
*A line is always 5 feet high and 5 feet wide. | |||||||||||
All dragons speak Draconic.
Combat
Bite: Bite attacks deal the listed damage plus the dragon’s Strength bonus. The dragon also can use its bite to snatch opponents (see the descriptions of feats below). Bite attacks use the full attack bonus.
Claw: Claw attacks deal the listed damage plus half the dragon’s Strength bonus (round down). The dragon also can use its claws to snatch opponents (see the descriptions of feats below). Claw attacks are at -5 to the attack bonus.
Wing: The dragon can slam opponents with its wings, even when flying. Wing attacks deal the listed damage plus half the dragon’s Strength bonus (round down) and are at -5 to the attack bonus.
Tail Slap: The dragon can slap one opponent each round with its tail. A tail slap deals the listed damage plus 1 1/2 times the dragon’s Strength bonus (round down) and is at -5 to the attack bonus.
Crush: A flying or jumping dragon of at least Huge size can land on opponents as a standard action, using its whole body to crush them. Crush attacks are effective only against opponents three or more sizes smaller than the dragon (though it can attempt normal overrun or grapple attacks against larger opponents).
A crush attack affects as many creatures as can fit under the dragon’s body (see Table: Dragon Face and Reach above). Creatures in the affected area must succeed at a Reflex save against a DC equal to that of the dragon’s breath weapon or be pinned, automatically taking bludgeoning damage during the next round unless the dragon moves off them. If the dragon chooses to maintain the pin, treat it as a normal grapple attack. Pinned opponents take crush damage each round if they don’t escape.
A crush attack deals the listed damage plus 1 1/2 times the dragon’s Strength bonus (round down).
Tail Sweep: A dragon of at least Gargantuan size can sweep with its tail as a standard action. The sweep affects a half circle with a diameter of 30 feet, centered on the dragon’s rear. A Colossal dragon’s tail sweep has a 40-foot radius. Creatures within the swept area are affected if they are four or more sizes smaller than the dragon. The sweep automatically deals the listed damage plus 1 1/2 times the dragon’s Strength bonus (round down). Affected creatures can attempt Reflex saves to take half damage, against a DC equal to that of the dragon’s breath weapon.
Grappling: Dragons do not favor grapple attacks, though their crush attack and Snatch feat (see the descriptions of feats) use normal grapple rules.
If grappled by a creature the same size or larger, a dragon can return the attack with its bite and all four legs (the rear legs deal claw damage). If snatched or crushed by a larger dragon, a dragon can respond only with grapple attacks to try winning free, or with bite or breath weapon attacks. If grappled by a creature smaller than itself, the dragon can respond with any of its physical attacks other than a tail sweep.
The dragon can always use its breath weapon while grappling, as well as its spells and spell-like or supernatural abilities, provided it succeeds at Concentration checks.
Breath Weapon (Su): Using a breath weapon is a standard action. Once a dragon breathes, it can’t breathe again until 1d4 rounds later. If the dragon has more than one type of breath weapon, it still can breathe only once every 1d4 rounds. A blast from a breath weapon always starts at the dragon’s mouth and extends in a direction of the dragon’s choice, with an area as noted below. If the breath weapon deals damage, creatures caught in the area can attempt Reflex saves to take half damage; the DC depends on the dragon’s age and type, listed in the individual entry. Saves against nondamaging breath weapons use the same DC, but the types vary as noted in the variety descriptions.
Breath weapons come in two basic shapes, line and cone, whose areas vary with the dragon’s size.
A black dragon has one type of breath weapon, a line of acid.
Frightful Presence (Ex): A young adult or older dragon can unsettle foes with its mere presence. The ability takes effect automatically whenever the dragon attacks, charges, or flies overhead. Creatures within a radius of 30 feet x the dragon’s age category are subject to the effect if they have fewer HD than the dragon.
A potentially affected creature that succeeds at a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 dragon’s HD + dragon’s Charisma modifier) remains immune to that dragon’s frightful presence for one day. On a failure, creatures with 4 or fewer HD become panicked for 4d6 rounds and those with 5 or more HD become shaken for 4d6 rounds. Dragons ignore the frightful presence of other dragons.
Spells: A dragon knows and casts arcane spells as a sorcerer of the level indicated in its variety description, gaining bonus spells for a high Charisma score. Some dragons can also cast spells from the cleric list or cleric domains as arcane spells.
Spell-Like Abilities: A dragon’s spell-like abilities depend on its age and variety. It gains the abilities listed for its age plus all previous ones, using its age category or its sorcerer caster level, whichever is higher, as the caster level. The save DC is 10 + dragon’s Charisma modifier + spell level. All spell-like abilities are usable once per day unless otherwise specified.
Other Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day-darkness (radius 10 feet per age category) and insect plague; 1/day-plant growth.
Immunities (Ex): All dragons are immune to sleep and paralysis effects. Each variety of dragon is immune to one or two additional forms of attack no matter what its age, as listed in its description.
Spell Resistance (Ex): As dragons age, they become more resistant to spells and spell-like abilities, as listed in the variety descriptions.
Blindsight (Ex): A dragon can ascertain creatures by nonvisual means (mostly hearing and scent, but also by noticing vibration and other environmental clues) with a range of 30 feet x the dragon’s age category.
Keen Senses (Ex): A dragon sees four times as well a human in low-light conditions and twice as well in normal light. It also has darkvision with a range of 100 feet x the dragon’s age category.
Skills: All dragons start with 6 skill points per Hit Die, plus bonus points equal to Intelligence modifier x HD, and purchase the following skills at 1 rank per Hit Die: Listen, Spot, and Search. The remaining skill points are generally spent on Bluff, Concentration, Diplomacy, Escape Artist, Knowledge (any), and Scry at a cost of 1 skill point per rank. Dragons cannot purchase skills that are exclusive to a class.
Dragons that can cast spells have the Spellcraft skill for free at 1 rank per Hit Die, provided they have an Intelligence bonus of at least +1 (Intelligence score 12+).
Feats: All dragons have one feat, plus an additional feat per 4 HD. Dragons favor Alertness, Cleave (claw or tail slap attacks only), Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Sunder, Weapon Focus (claw or bite), and any metamagic feat that is available and useful to sorcerers. Dragons can also choose from the following feats: Flyby Attack
Hover: When flying, a dragon can halt its forward motion and hover in place, fly straight down, or fly straight up regardless of its maneuverability. While hovering, it can attack with its bite and all four feet (its hind feet deal claw damage) and can make tail slap attacks if normally allowed to do so. If it can make a tail sweep, it can do so while hovering but can make no other attacks. A hovering dragon cannot make wing attacks. It can use its breath weapon instead of making physical attacks. If a dragon hovers close to the ground in an area with lots of loose debris, the draft from its wings creates a hemispherical cloud with a radius of 30 feet x the dragon’s age category. The winds so generated can snuff torches, small campfires, exposed lanterns, and other small, open flames of nonmagical origin. The cloud obscures vision, and creatures caught within are blinded while inside and for 1 round after emerging. Those caught in the cloud must succeed at a Concentration check (DC 10 + 1/2 dragon’s HD) to cast a spell.
Quicken Spell-Like Ability: The dragon can use one of its spell-like abilities each round as a free action.
Snatch: A dragon that hits with a claw or bite attack attempts to start a grapple as though it had the improved grab special attack. If the dragon gets a hold with a claw on a creature four or more sizes smaller, it squeezes each round for automatic claw damage. If it gets a hold with its bite on a creature three or more sizes smaller, it automatically deals bite damage each round, or if it does not move and takes no other action in combat, it deals double bite damage to the snatched creature. A snatched creature gets no saving throw against the dragon’s breath weapon. The dragon can drop a creature it has snatched as a free action or use a standard action to fling it aside. A flung creature travels 10 feet, and takes 1d6 points of damage, per age category of the dragon. If the dragon flings it while flying, the creature suffers this amount or falling damage, whichever is greater.
Wingover: A flying dragon can change direction quickly once each round. This feat allows it to turn up to 180 degrees regardless of its maneuverability, in addition to any other turns it is normally allowed. A dragon cannot gain altitude during the round it executes a wingover, but it can dive.
Water Breathing (Ex): The dragon can breathe underwater indefinitely and can freely use its breath weapon, spells, and other abilities while submerged.
Corrupt Water (Sp): Once per day the dragon can stagnate 10 cubic feet of water, making it become still, foul, and unable to support animal life. The ability spoils liquids containing water. Magic items (such as potions) and items in a creature’s possession must succeed at a Will save (DC equal to that of the dragon’s frightful presence) or become fouled.
Charm Reptiles (Sp): The dragon can use this ability three times per day. It operates as a mass charm spell that works only on reptilian animals. The dragon can communicate with any charmed reptiles as though casting a speak with animals spell.
Dragon Overland Movement
Dragons are exceedingly strong flyers and can cover vast distances quickly.
| Flight Speed | 100 feet | 150 feet | 200 feet | 250 feet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One Hour | ||||
| Normal | 15 miles | 20 miles | 30 miles | 40 miles |
| Hustle | 24 miles | 40 miles | 60 miles | 80 miles |
| One Day | ||||
| Normal | 120 miles | 160 miles | 240 miles | 320 miles |
Dragons do not tire as quickly as other creatures when moving overland. If a dragon attempts a hustle or forced march, check for subdual damage once every 2 hours instead of every hour.
Dragonhide
Armorsmiths can work with dragonhides to produce masterwork armor or shields for the normal cost. One dragon produces enough hide for a single suit of masterwork hide armor for a creature up to one size smaller than the dragon. By selecting only choice scales and bits of hide, an armorsmith can produce one suit of masterwork banded mail for a creature up to two sizes smaller, one suit of masterwork half-plate for a creature three sizes smaller, or one masterwork breastplate or suit of full plate for a creature four sizes smaller. In each case, there is enough hide to produce a small or large masterwork shield in addition to the armor, provided that the dragon is of at least Large size.
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