Ancient Black Dragon

The Ancient Black Dragon is a Gargantuan dragon, with Armor Class 22, 367 hit points, and Challenge Rating 21. The Ancient Black Dragon is a sadistic aquatic apex predator that haunts lightless swamps and flooded ruins.

Stat Block

Size: Gargantuan
Type: dragon
Challenge Rating: 21
Armor Class: 22
Hit Points: 367
Speed: 40 ft. ft., fly 80 ft. ft., swim 40 ft. ft.
STR: 27
DEX: 14
CON: 25
INT: 16
WIS: 15
CHA: 19
Resistances: Immune: acid

Abilities & Attacks

Amphibious. The dragon can breathe air and water. Legendary Resistance. If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. Frightful Presence. Each creature of the dragon's choice that is within 120 feet 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. Acid Breath. The dragon exhales acid in a 90-foot line that is 10 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 22 Dexterity saving throw, taking 67 (15d8) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Legendary Actions. Detect. The dragon makes a Wisdom (Perception) check. Tail Attack. The dragon makes a tail attack. Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions). The dragon beats its wings. Each creature within 15 ft. of the dragon must succeed on a DC 23 Dexterity saving throw or take 15 (2d6 + 8) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed. Lair Actions. On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the dragon can't use the same effect two rounds in a row: Pools of water that the dragon can see within 120 feet of it surge outward in a grasping tide. Any creature on the ground within 20 feet of such a pool must succeed on a 15 Strength saving throw or be pulled up to 20 feet into the water and knocked prone. A cloud of swarming insects fills a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on a point the dragon chooses within 120 feet of it. The cloud spreads around corners and remains until the dragon dismisses it as an action, uses this lair action again, or dies. The cloud is lightly obscured. Any creature in the cloud when it appears must make on a 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) piercing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature that ends its turn in the cloud takes 10 (3d6) piercing damage. Magical darkness spreads from a point the dragon chooses within 60 feet of it, filling a 15-foot-radius sphere until the dragon dismisses it as an action, uses this lair action again, or dies. The darkness spreads around corners. A creature with darkvision can't see through this darkness, and nonmagical light can't illuminate it. If any of the effect's area overlaps with an area of light created by a spell of 2nd level or lower, the spell that created the light is dispelled.

Common Questions

How much HP does an Ancient Black Dragon have?

367 hit points.

What is an Ancient Black Dragon's Challenge Rating?

Challenge Rating 21.

What is an Ancient Black Dragon's Armor Class?

AC 22.

How fast can an Ancient Black Dragon move?

Speed 40 ft. ft., fly 80 ft. ft., swim 40 ft. ft.

Use Ancient Black Dragon at your table

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Official stats from the D&D 5e (Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition) System Reference Document (SRD), free to use under its open license.