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Ancient River Dragon

Gargantuan · Dragon · CR 23 · Chaotic Evil

Armor Class
20
Hit Points and Hit Dice
372 (24d20+120)
Challenge Rating CR
23

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR
20
+5
DEX
24
+7
CON
20
+5
INT
16
+3
WIS
24
+7
CHA
20
+5

Overview

Category Monsters
Size Gargantuan
Type Dragon
Alignment Chaotic Evil
XP 50000
Initiative Bonus +7

Movement

Walk 60 ft (18.3 m)
Fly 80 ft (24.4 m)
Swim 100 ft (30.5 m)
Climb 30 ft (9.1 m)
Crawl 30 ft (9.1 m)

Senses

Darkvision 120 ft (36.6 m)
Tremorsense 300 ft (91.4 m)
Passive Perception 24

Saving Throws

Dexterity +14 Constitution +12 Intelligence +10 Wisdom +14 Charisma +12

Skills

Acrobatics +14 Deception +12 Insight +14 Nature +10 Perception +14 Stealth +14

Languages

Aquan, Common, Draconic

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Resistances
damage from nonmagical weapons
Condition Immunities
fatigue

Traits

Amphibious

The dragon can breathe air and water.

Essence Link

The essence dragon is spiritually linked to a specific area or landmark. The dragon gains no benefit from a long rest when more than 1 mile away from its linked area. If the dragon dies, the area it is linked to loses its vital essence until it forms a new essence dragon, which can take centuries. When a creature first enters an area that has lost its vital essence in this way, they gain a level of fatigue and a level of strife. This fatigue and strife can be removed only by completing a long rest outside the area.

Flowing Grace

The dragon doesnt provoke opportunity attacks when it flies or swims out of an enemys reach.

Innate Spellcasting

The dragons spellcasting ability is Charisma (save DC 20). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components.
- 3/Day Each:Create or Destroy Water, Fog Cloud, Control Water, Freedom of Movement
- 1/Day Each: Control Weather, Wall of Ice

Legendary Resistance (3/Day)

When the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. When it does, it loses coordination as white-crested waves run up and down its body. It loses its Flowing Grace and Shimmering Scales traits until the beginning of its next turn.

Shimmering Scales

While in water, the dragon gains three-quarters cover from attacks made by creatures more than 30 feet away.

Actions

Bite

+14 to hit, reach 15 ft (4.6 m). Hit: 4d10+7 piercing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 29 (4d10 + 7) piercing damage.

Claws

+14 to hit, reach 10 ft (3 m). Hit: 3d8+7 slashing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 20 (3d8 + 7) slashing damage.

Multiattack

The dragon attacks once with its bite and twice with its claws.

Torrential Breath

Recharge 5–6

The dragon exhales water in a 90-foot-long 10-foot-wide line. Each creature in the area makes a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw taking 66 (19d6) bludgeoning damage on a failed save or half damage on a success. A creature that fails the save is also knocked prone and is pushed up to 60 feet away. A creature that impacts a solid object takes an extra 21 (6d6) bludgeoning damage.

Bonus Actions

Whirlpool

A cylindrical, 15-foot-tall, 10-foot-radius whirlpool or waterspout magically appears in the water or air, centered on a point within 60 feet. Creatures in the area make a DC 20 Strength saving throw. On a failure, a creature takes 35 (10d6) bludgeoning damage and is knocked prone and pushed up to 15 feet. On a failure, a creature takes half damage.

Reactions

Snap Back

When a creature the dragon can see hits it with a melee weapon attack, the dragon makes a bite attack against the attacker.

Legendary Actions

Dart Away

Cost 1

The dragon swims up to half its speed.

Lurk

Cost 1

The dragon takes the Hide action.

River Surge

Cost 2

The dragon generates a 20-foot-tall, 100-foot-wide wave on the surface of water within 120 feet. The wave travels up to 60 feet in any direction the dragon chooses and crashes down, carrying Huge or smaller creatures and vehicles with it. Vehicles moved in this way have a 25 percent chance of capsizing. Creatures that impact a solid object take 35 (10d6) bludgeoning damage.

Sudden Maelstrom

Cost 1

The dragon magically surrounds itself with a 60-foot-radius maelstrom of surging wind and rain for 1 minute. A creature other than the dragon that starts its turn in the maelstrom or enters it for the first time on a turn makes a DC 20 Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 28 (8d6) bludgeoning damage and is knocked prone and pushed 15 feet away from the dragon.

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 River Dragon

Ancient River Dragon is a gargantuan dragon with a Challenge Rating of 23. It has a chaotic evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 20 and possesses 372 hit points (derived from 24d20+120).

Ancient River Dragon has communication capabilities including Aquan, Common, Draconic. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Ancient River Dragon

2 tips available

When using Ancient River 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.
  • Aquatic Combat: This creature can swim at 100 ft. It has advantage in water environments. Consider fighting on land or using water-based spells against it.

Player Guide: Facing Ancient River Dragon

2 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.
  • Aquatic Combat Defense: This creature can swim at 100 ft! It has advantage in water. Fight on land if possible. Use 'Control Water' or drain water sources to limit its mobility.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 23.

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: 55,200 XP
  • Hard: 82,800 XP
  • Deadly: 110,400 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 River Dragon?
Ancient River Dragon has a Challenge Rating of 23, making it appropriate for parties of level 23.0.
What type of creature is Ancient River Dragon?
Ancient River Dragon is a Gargantuan Dragon, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Ancient River Dragon speak?
Ancient River Dragon can communicate in Aquan, Common, Draconic.

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