Adult Black DragonCR 14 · Huge Dragon · Stat Block & Encounter Builder

Huge dragon, Challenge 14. AC 19, 195 hit points.

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Armour Class

Hit Points

195

Speed

40 ft.

Challenge

14 · 11,500 XP

Alignment

Chaotic Evil

The card

Stat Block

Huge Dragon · Chaotic Evil

Adult Black Dragon

195

17d12 + 85 · 40 ft., fly 80 ft., swim 40 ft. · AC from natural armor

Blindsight 60 ft., Darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 21

Languages: Common, Draconic

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
23 (+6)	14 (+2)	21 (+5)	14 (+2)	13 (+1)	17 (+3)

Traits

Damage ImmunitiesAcid

AmphibiousThe dragon can breathe air and water.

Legendary ResistanceIf the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Actions

MultiattackThe dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.

BiteMelee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) acid damage.

ClawMelee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage.

TailMelee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.

Frightful PresenceEach creature of the dragon's choice that is within 120 feet of the dragon and aware of it must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the dragon's Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.

Acid BreathThe dragon exhales acid in a 60-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 54 (12d8) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

How to actually run it

Tactics

The stat block tells you what it can do. This tells you what to do with it.

1Multiattack: The dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.

2Legendary Resistance means it can auto-pass failed saves a few times a day. Expect your first control spells to be shrugged off — plan around it.

3It is a legendary creature with 3 legendary actions between turns; fight it in its lair and it is far more dangerous than the stat block alone.

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Encounter Difficulty

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How bad is this fight?

Real DMG maths — XP thresholds by level, and the group multiplier that makes crowds so much worse than the raw total suggests.

Adult Black Dragons4Party size4Party level3

Could kill someone — and at high enough numbers, the whole party.

Difficulty

Deadly

92,000 adj. XP · ×2

deadly at 1,600

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Counsel

Adult Black Dragon, Answered

What is Adult Black Dragon's challenge rating in D&D 5e?

Adult Black Dragon is Challenge 14, worth 11,500 XP. Encounter maths multiplies XP by the number of monsters, so a group is deadlier than the raw total — use the calculator on this page.

What are Adult Black Dragon's stats?

AC 19 (natural armor), 195 hit points (17d12 + 85), speed 40 ft., fly 80 ft., swim 40 ft.. Ability scores: STR 23, DEX 14, CON 21, INT 14, WIS 13, CHA 17.

What is Adult Black Dragon resistant to?

Adult Black Dragon is immune to acid damage. Pick a damage type it does not shrug off.

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