Ancient Gold DragonCR 24 · Gargantuan Dragon · Stat Block & Encounter Builder

Gargantuan dragon, Challenge 24. AC 22, 546 hit points.

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Armour Class

Hit Points

546

Speed

40 ft.

Challenge

24 · 62,000 XP

Alignment

Lawful Good

The card

Stat Block

Gargantuan Dragon · Lawful Good

Ancient Gold Dragon

546

28d20 + 252 · 40 ft., fly 80 ft., swim 40 ft. · AC from natural armor

Blindsight 60 ft., Darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 27

Languages: Common, Draconic

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
30 (+10)	14 (+2)	29 (+9)	18 (+4)	17 (+3)	28 (+9)

Traits

Damage ImmunitiesFire

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: +17 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (2d10 + 10) piercing damage.

ClawMelee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d6 + 10) slashing damage.

TailMelee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (2d8 + 10) 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 24 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.

Breath WeaponsThe dragon uses one of the following breath weapons. Fire Breath. The dragon exhales fire in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 24 Dexterity saving throw, taking 71 (13d10) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Weakening Breath. The dragon exhales gas in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 24 Strength saving throw or have disadvantage on Strength-based attack rolls, Strength checks, and Strength saving throws 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.

Change ShapeThe dragon magically polymorphs into a humanoid or beast that has a challenge rating no higher than its own, or 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 (the dragon's choice). In a new form, the dragon retains its alignment, hit points, Hit Dice, ability to speak, proficiencies, Legendary Resistance, lair actions, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as this action. Its statistics and capabilities are otherwise replaced by those of the new form, except any class features or legendary actions of that form.

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.

Ancient Gold Dragons4Party size4Party level3

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

Difficulty

Deadly

496,000 adj. XP · ×2

deadly at 1,600

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Counsel

Ancient Gold Dragon, Answered

What is Ancient Gold Dragon's challenge rating in D&D 5e?

Ancient Gold Dragon is Challenge 24, worth 62,000 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 Ancient Gold Dragon's stats?

AC 22 (natural armor), 546 hit points (28d20 + 252), speed 40 ft., fly 80 ft., swim 40 ft.. Ability scores: STR 30, DEX 14, CON 29, INT 18, WIS 17, CHA 28.

What is Ancient Gold Dragon resistant to?

Ancient Gold Dragon is immune to fire damage. Pick a damage type it does not shrug off.

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