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Ancient Silver Dragon

Gargantuan · Dragon · CR 25 · Chaotic Evil

Armor Class
22
Hit Points and Hit Dice
429 (22d20+198)
Challenge Rating CR
25

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR
30
+10
DEX
14
+2
CON
28
+9
INT
18
+4
WIS
14
+2
CHA
22
+6

Overview

Category Monsters
Size Gargantuan
Type Dragon
Alignment Chaotic Evil
XP 75000
Initiative Bonus +2

Movement

Walk 40 ft (12.2 m)
Fly 80 ft (24.4 m)
Swim 20 ft (6.1 m)
Climb 20 ft (6.1 m)
Crawl 20 ft (6.1 m)

Senses

Darkvision 120 ft (36.6 m)
Blindsight 60 ft (18.3 m)
Passive Perception 22

Saving Throws

Dexterity +9 Constitution +16 Wisdom +9 Charisma +13

Skills

Arcana +11 History +11 Perception +9 Stealth +9

Languages

Common, Draconic, two more

Resistances & Immunities

Damage Immunities
cold

Traits

Cloud Strider

The dragon suffers no harmful effects from high altitudes. When flying at high altitude, the dragon can, after 1 minute of concentration, discorporate into clouds. In this form, it has advantage on Stealth checks, its fly speed increases to 300 feet, it is immune to all nonmagical damage, it has resistance to magical damage, and it can't take any actions except Hide. If it takes damage or descends more than 500 feet from where it transformed, it immediately returns to its corporeal form. The dragon can revert to its true form as an action.

Innate Spellcasting

The dragons spellcasting ability is Charisma (save DC 23). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components.
- 3/Day Each: Charm Person, Faerie Fire, Awaken, Geas
- 1/Day: Heroes Feast, Telepathic Bond

Legendary Resistance (3/Day)

When the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. When it does, some of its scales dissipate into clouds. If it has no more uses of this ability, its Armor Class is reduced to 20 until it finishes a long rest.

Actions

Bite

+17 to hit, reach 15 ft (4.6 m). Hit: 4d10+10 plus 2d8 cold damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 32 (4d10 + 10) piercing damage plus 9 (2d8) cold damage.

Breath Weapons

Recharge 5–6

The dragon uses one of the following breath weapons:

Change Shape

The dragon magically takes the shape of a humanoid or beast or changes back into its true form. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (dragons choice). In the new form the dragons stats are unchanged except for its size. It can't use Spit Frost Breath Weapons Tail Attack or Wing Attack except in dragon form. In beast form it can attack only with its bite and claws if appropriate to its form. If the beast form is Large or smaller the reach of these attacks is reduced to 5 feet. In humanoid form it can attack only with its rapier.

Claws

+17 to hit, reach 10 ft (3 m). Hit: 3d8+10 slashing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 23 (3d8 + 10) slashing damage.

Frost Breath

The dragon exhales freezing wind in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in the area makes a DC 24 Constitution saving throw taking 90 (20d8) cold damage on a failed save or half damage on a success. On a failure the creature is also slowed until the end of its next turn.

Multiattack

The dragon attacks with its bite and twice with its claws. In place of its bite it can use Spit Frost.

Paralyzing Breath

The dragon exhales paralytic gas in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in the area must succeed on a DC 24 Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed until the end of its next turn.

Rapier

+17 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 1d8+10 piercing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (1d8 + 10) piercing damage.

Spit Frost

The dragon targets a creature within 60 feet forcing it to make a DC 24 Constitution saving throw. The target takes 22 (4d10) cold damage on a failure or half damage on a success. On a failure the creatures Speed is also halved until the end of its next turn. Flying creatures immediately fall unless they are magically kept aloft.

Tail

+17 to hit, reach 20 ft (6.1 m). Hit: 3d8+10 bludgeoning damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 23 (3d8 + 10) bludgeoning damage and the dragon pushes the target 10 feet away.

Reactions

Tail Attack

When a creature the dragon can see within 10 feet hits the dragon with a melee attack, the dragon makes a tail attack against it.

Legendary Actions

Roar

Cost 1

Each creature of the dragons choice within 120 feet that can hear it makes a DC 21 Charisma saving throw. On a failure, it is frightened for 1 minute. A creature repeats the saving throw at the end of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. When it succeeds on a saving throw or the effect ends for it, it is immune to Roar for 24 hours.

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.

Windstorm

Cost 2

Pounding winds surround the dragon in a 20-foot radius. A creature in this area attempting to move closer to the dragon must spend 2 feet of movement for every 1 foot closer it moves, and ranged attacks against the dragon are made with disadvantage. A creature that starts its turn in the windstorm makes a DC 24 Constitution saving throw, taking 11 (2d10) cold damage on a failure. The windstorm lasts until the start of the dragons next turn.

Wing Attack

Cost 1

The dragon beats its wings. Each creature within 15 feet makes a DC 25 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, it is pushed 10 feet away and knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its fly speed.

About Ancient Silver Dragon

Ancient Silver Dragon is a gargantuan dragon with a Challenge Rating of 25. It has a chaotic evil alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 22 and possesses 429 hit points (derived from 22d20+198).

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

GM Tips: Using Ancient Silver Dragon

2 tips available

When using Ancient Silver 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.
  • Cold Damage Strategy: Cold-based attacks can slow or freeze. Prepare 'Heat Metal' or fire spells as countermeasures. Ice terrain can be used to create difficult terrain for melee characters.

Player Guide: Facing Ancient Silver 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.
  • Cold Damage Protection: This creature deals cold damage! Get cold resistance or use fire spells. Avoid water surfaces - they can freeze and create difficult terrain. 'Heat Metal' can counter cold.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 25.

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: 65,000 XP
  • Hard: 97,500 XP
  • Deadly: 130,000 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 Silver Dragon?
Ancient Silver Dragon has a Challenge Rating of 25, making it appropriate for parties of level 25.0.
What type of creature is Ancient Silver Dragon?
Ancient Silver Dragon is a Gargantuan Dragon, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Ancient Silver Dragon speak?
Ancient Silver Dragon can communicate in Common, Draconic, two more.

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