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Ancient Emerald Dragon

Gargantuan · Dragon · CR 24 · Chaotic Evil

Armor Class
20
Hit Points and Hit Dice
346 (21d20+126)
Challenge Rating CR
24

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR
26
+8
DEX
26
+8
CON
22
+6
INT
26
+8
WIS
14
+2
CHA
22
+6

Overview

Category Monsters
Size Gargantuan
Type Dragon
Alignment Chaotic Evil
XP 62000
Initiative Bonus +8

Movement

Walk 40 ft (12.2 m)
Fly 60 ft (18.3 m)
Swim 20 ft (6.1 m)
Climb 20 ft (6.1 m)
Burrow 40 ft (12.2 m)
Crawl 20 ft (6.1 m)

Senses

Darkvision 120 ft (36.6 m)
Passive Perception 19

Saving Throws

Constitution +13 Intelligence +15 Wisdom +9 Charisma +13

Skills

Deception +13 History +15 Perception +9 Stealth +15

Languages

Common, Deep Speech, Draconic, Undercommon, telepathy 120.0 ft (36.6 m).

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Resistances
psychic, thunder
Condition Immunities
fatigue

Traits

Far Thoughts

The dragon is aware of any creature that uses a psionic ability or communicates telepathically within 100 miles of it. As an action, the dragon can psionically observe a creature, object, or location it is familiar with within 100 miles. While observing a subject in this way, the dragon can see, hear, and communicate telepathically, but it is blind and deaf in regard to its physical senses and does not require food or water. The dragon can psionically observe a subject indefinitely and can end this effect and return to its own senses as an action.

Innate Spellcasting

The dragons spellcasting ability is Charisma (save DC 21). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components.
- 3/Day Each: Confusion, Dominate Person, Hideous Laughter, Suggestion
- 1/Day: Irresistible Dance, Symbol

Legendary Resistance (3/Day)

When the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. When it does, its eyes flash red as it goes into a fit of rage. Until the end of its next turn, it makes melee attacks with advantage against the creature that triggered the saving throw and with disadvantage against all other creatures.

Psionic Powers

The dragons psionic abilities are considered both magical and psionic.

Actions

Bite

+15 to hit, reach 15 ft (4.6 m). Hit: 4d10+8 plus 2d8 thunder damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 30 (4d10 + 8) piercing damage plus 9 (2d8) thunder damage.

Claws

+15 to hit, reach 10 ft (3 m). Hit: 3d8+8 slashing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (3d8 + 8) slashing damage.

Maddening Breath

Recharge 5–6

The dragon screams stripping flesh from bones and reason from minds in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in that area makes a DC 21 Constitution saving throw taking 88 (16d10) thunder damage on a failed save or half damage on a success. Creatures that fail this saving throw by 10 or more are also psionically confused until the end of their next turn.

Multiattack

The dragon attacks once with its bite and twice with its claws. In place of its bite it can use Psionic Wave.

Reactions

Spiteful Retort

When a creature the dragon can see damages the dragon, the dragon lashes out with a psionic screech. The attacker makes a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw, taking 27 (6d8) thunder damage on a failed save or half damage on a success. Confused creatures make this saving throw with disadvantage.

Legendary Actions

Maddening Harmonics

1/day Cost 1

Each creature of the dragons choice that can hear it within 120 feet makes a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, a creature becomes psionically confused for 1 minute. A creature repeats the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Pandorum

Cost 2

The dragon psionically targets one creature within 60 feet. The target makes a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw, becoming confused on a failure. While confused in this way, the target regards their allies as traitorous enemies. When rolling to determine its actions, treat a roll of 1 to 4 as a result of 8. The target repeats the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.

Paranoid Ranting

Cost 1

The dragon psionically rants nonsense at a creature that can hear it within 60 feet. The target makes a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature gains a randomly determined short-term mental stress effect or madness.

Psionic Wave

Cost 2

The dragon uses Psionic Wave.

The dragon can take 3 legendary actions

Cost 1

Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creatures turn. It regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

About Ancient Emerald Dragon

Ancient Emerald Dragon is a gargantuan dragon with a Challenge Rating of 24. It has a chaotic evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 20 and possesses 346 hit points (derived from 21d20+126).

Ancient Emerald Dragon has communication capabilities including Common, Deep Speech, Draconic, Undercommon, telepathy 120 ft.. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Ancient Emerald Dragon

3 tips available

When using Ancient Emerald Dragon in your D&D 5e campaign, consider these tactical approaches:

  • Flight Control Strategy: Target flying creatures with spells like 'Hold Person', 'Web', or 'Grease' to ground them. Without flight restriction, they can escape melee range easily. Consider area denial spells below their flight altitude to force them into disadvantageous positions.
  • Burrowing Tactics: This creature can burrow at 40 ft. It can ambush from underground or escape combat by digging. Use 'Earthbind' or create difficult terrain to limit burrowing. Consider fighting in areas without soft ground.
  • Telepathic Communication: This creature can communicate telepathically, making it excellent for coordination with allies. Silence spells won't stop its communication. Consider 'Mind Blank' or abilities that block telepathy.

Player Guide: Facing Ancient Emerald Dragon

3 strategies available

When your party encounters this creature, keep these strategies in mind:

  • Counter Flight Advantage: This creature can fly! Use ranged attacks, reach weapons, or spells like 'Thunderwave' to push it away. Consider 'Gust of Wind' or 'Earthbind' to ground it. Melee characters need fly speed or flight magic to engage.
  • Burrowing Defense: This creature can burrow at 40 ft! It can ambush from underground. Use 'Earthbind', create difficult terrain, or fight on hard surfaces. 'Stone Shape' can seal burrows.
  • Telepathy Awareness: This creature communicates telepathically! It can coordinate with allies silently. Silence won't stop it. Use 'Mind Blank' or abilities that block telepathy. Be cautious of mental attacks.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 24.

High-Level Solo Encounter:

This creature is too powerful for a single level-20 character. You need 3.0 character(s) at maximum level (20) to face this creature.

Experience Point Thresholds:

  • Medium: 60,000 XP
  • Hard: 90,000 XP
  • Deadly: 120,000 XP

Based on D&D 5e Dungeon Master's Guide encounter building guidelines. CR roughly equals party level for medium encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the challenge rating of Ancient Emerald Dragon?
Ancient Emerald Dragon has a Challenge Rating of 24, making it appropriate for parties of level 24.0.
What type of creature is Ancient Emerald Dragon?
Ancient Emerald Dragon is a Gargantuan Dragon, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Ancient Emerald Dragon speak?
Ancient Emerald Dragon can communicate in Common, Deep Speech, Draconic, Undercommon, telepathy 120 ft..

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