Adult Red DragonCR 17 · Huge Dragon · Stat Block & Encounter Builder

Two hundred and fifty-six hit points, three free saves, and sixty-three fire damage in a cone.

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Armour Class

Hit Points

256

Speed

40 ft.

Challenge

17 · 18,000 XP

Alignment

Chaotic Evil

The card

Stat Block

Huge Dragon · Chaotic Evil

Adult Red Dragon

256

19d12 + 133 · 40 ft., climb 40 ft., fly 80 ft. · AC from natural armor

Blindsight 60 ft., Darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 23

Languages: Common, Draconic

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
27 (+8)	10 (+0)	25 (+7)	16 (+3)	13 (+1)	21 (+5)

Traits

Damage ImmunitiesFire

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: +14 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (2d10 + 8) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) fire damage.

ClawMelee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d6 + 8) slashing damage.

TailMelee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d8 + 8) bludgeoning damage.

Frightful PresenceEach creature of the dragon's choice that is within 120 ft. of the dragon and aware of it must succeed on a DC 19 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.

Fire BreathThe dragon exhales fire in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw, taking 63 (18d6) fire 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.

1Legendary Resistance ×3 is the fight. Your party will burn three good control spells before anything sticks — plan the fight around that, not around damage.

2It flies at 80 feet. A red dragon that lands and slugs it out is being played badly; it should breathe, climb, and make them waste turns.

363 average fire damage in a 60-foot cone will drop most level-10 characters outright. This is a CR 17 for a reason.

4Lair actions and legendary actions matter more than the stat block. Fight it at home, or it is just a very large owlbear.

Pitch the fight

Encounter Difficulty

Encounter Builder

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 Red Dragons4Party size4Party level3

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

Difficulty

Deadly

144,000 adj. XP · ×2

deadly at 1,600

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What beats it

Counters

Spells that shut it down, and classes built to take it.

SpellsProtection from Energy · Counterspell · Dispel Magic

ClassesPaladin · Wizard

Counsel

Adult Red Dragon, Answered

What CR is an adult red dragon?

Challenge 17, worth 18,000 XP. With 256 hit points, AC 19, Legendary Resistance three times a day and a 63-damage breath weapon, it is a genuine boss for a party around level 13–15.

What level party can fight an adult red dragon?

It is a Deadly encounter for four characters up to about level 14, and still a serious fight at 15–16. Below level 13 the breath weapon alone can end the party in one round.

Why is Legendary Resistance so important?

Three times a day it simply chooses to pass a failed save. Your Hold Monster, Banishment and Polymorph will all be shrugged off before anything lands — parties that do not plan for this lose.

How much damage does red dragon fire breath do?

18d6 — 63 on average — in a 60-foot cone, DC 21 Dexterity for half. It recharges on a 5 or 6, so expect it roughly every third round.

Put It On The Table

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