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DRACONOMICON™ Andy Collins, Skip Williams, James Wyatt

DRACONOMICON™ Andy Collins, Skip Williams, James Wyatt

™ Andy Collins, , James Wyatt

DEVELOPER ART DIRECTOR Andy Collins Dawn Murin DESIGN ASSISTANCE COVER ART , Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel EDITORS INTERIOR ARTISTS , , , , Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Charles Ryan Lars Grant-West, -Mitchell, , , Ginger Kubic, MANAGING EDITOR John & Laura Lakey, Todd Lockwood, David Martin, Dennis Crabapple- McClain, Matt Mitchell, Mark Nelson, D&D DESIGN MANAGER Steve Prescott, , Richard Ed Stark Sardinha, , Stephen Tappin, Joel Thomas, Ben Thompson, Sam Wood DIRECTOR OF RPG R&D GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Dawn Murin, Mari Kolkowski VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLISHING CARTOGRAPHER Todd Gamble PROJECT MANAGER Martin Durham GRAPHIC PRODUCTION SPECIALISTS Erin Dorries, Angelika Lokotz PRODUCTION MANAGER ORIGINAL INTERIOR DESIGN Chas DeLong Sean Glenn This d20™ System game utilizes mechanics developed for the new Dungeons & Dragons® game by , , Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and . This ® product contains no Open Game Content. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form with- out written permission. To learn more about the Open Gaming License and the License, please visit www.wizards.com/d20. Playtesters: Greg Collins, , Viet Nguyen, Marc Russell, Dennis Worrell Valuable advice provided by Todd Lockwood and Sam Wood (Dragon Anatomy and Motion), Monica Shellman and Michael S. Webster (Dragon Names) Resources for this product (and the authors of those works) include Atlas of Animal Anatomy (W. Ellenburg and H. Deittrich), Book of Eldritch Might (Monte Cook/), (Monte Cook), Bulfinch’s Mythology (Thomas Bulfinch), Transformations of Myth Through Time (Joseph Campbell), “Class Acts: Dragonkith,” Dragon Magazine #284 (Monte Cook), (Bill Slavicsek), Defenders of the Faith (Rich Redman and James Wyatt), AD&D® 2nd Edition Draconomicon (, , , John Terra, and William Tracy), “Dragontongue: A Draconic Language Primer,” Dragon Magazine #284 (Owen K. C. Stephens), ® (, Sean K Reynolds, Skip Williams, and ), The Golden Bough (James George Frazer), AD&D 1st Edition (), Monsters of Faerun (James Wyatt and Rob Heinsoo), AD&D 2nd Edition Monstrous Manual, (James Wyatt), (Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, David Eckelberry, and Rich Redman), ( and Skip Williams).

U.S., CANADA, ASIA, PACIFIC, EUROPEAN HEADQUARTERS & LATIN AMERICA Wizards of the Coast, Belgium Wizards of the Coast, Inc. T Hofveld 6d P.O. Box 707 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden Renton WA 98057-0707 Belgium SampleQuestions? 1-800-324-6496 620-17668-001-EN +32-70-23-32-77 file 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First Printing: November 2003

Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, AD&D, Draconomicon, , d20, d20 System, Forgotten Realms, Wizards of the Coast, Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, Monster Manual, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. in the U.S.A. and other countries. Distributed to the hobby, toy, and comic trade in the United States and Canada by regional distributors. Distributed in the United States to the book trade by Holtzbrinck Publishing. Distributed in Canada to the book trade by Fenn Ltd. Distributed worldwide by Wizards of the Coast, Inc., and regional distributors. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely coincidental. Printed in the U.S.A. ©2003 Wizards of the Coast, Inc. Visit our website at www.wizards.com/dnd Advanced Dragons ...... 99 Magma Drake ...... 155 Contents Sample Advanced Dragon ...... 100 Ooze Drake ...... 156 Smoke Drake ...... 157 Introduction ...... 4 Chapter 3: The Player’s Water Drake ...... 157 Perspective ...... 101 Faerie Dragon ...... 158 Chapter 1: All About Dragons ...... 5 Fighting a Dragon ...... 101 Fang Dragon ...... 159 The Dragon’s Body ...... 5 Forewarned Is Forearmed ...... 101 Felldrake, Spiked ...... 160 Dragon Physiology ...... 9 Limit the Battlefield ...... 101 Ghostly Dragon...... 161 Dragon Life Cycle...... 10 The Element of Surprise ...... 102 Golem ...... 163 Dragon Senses ...... 17

Spread Out, Concentrate Attacks . . 102 Dragonbone Golem...... 164 CONTENTS Flight ...... 18 Don’t Stay Too Long...... 103 Drakestone Golem...... 164 TABLE OF Other Modes of Movement ...... 19 Feats...... 103 Ironwyrm Golem...... 165 Combat Abilities ...... 21 New Spells ...... 106 Half-Dragon...... 166 Dragon Weaknesses ...... 25 Cleric Domains ...... 107 Hoard Scarab ...... 167 Outlook and Psychology...... 25 Spell Descriptions ...... 109 Landwyrm ...... 168 Dragon Society ...... 26 Dragonhide Armor...... 115 Desert Landwyrm ...... 169 Language...... 28 Dragoncraft Items ...... 116 Forest Landwyrm...... 170 Religion...... 30 Magic Items...... 118 Hill Landwyrm...... 170 Dragons by Kind...... 36 Armor ...... 118 Jungle Landwyrm ...... 171 Dragon Sizes ...... 36 Weapons...... 118 Mountain Landwyrm ...... 172 Black Dragons...... 37 Rings...... 119 Plains Landwyrm...... 172 Blue Dragons...... 38 Rods ...... 119 Swamp Landwyrm...... 173 Brass Dragons ...... 40 Staffs ...... 119 Tundra Landwyrm...... 174 Bronze Dragons ...... 42 Wondrous Items ...... 119 Landwyrm ...... 175 Copper Dragons ...... 44 Minor Artifact ...... 121 Planar Dragons ...... 176 Gold Dragons ...... 46 Prestige Classes...... 122 Battle Dragon ...... 176 Green Dragons ...... 48 Dracolyte ...... 122 Chaos Dragon ...... 177 Red Dragons ...... 50 Dragonkith ...... 123 Ethereal Dragon...... 179 Silver Dragons ...... 53 Dragonrider...... 124 Howling Dragon ...... 180 White Dragons ...... 55 Dragonslayer...... 125 Oceanus Dragon ...... 181 Dragonsong Lyrist ...... 127 Pyroclastic Dragon...... 182 Chapter 2: A DM’s Guide Dragonstalker ...... 128 Radiant Dragon ...... 185 to Dragons ...... 57 Hoardstealer ...... 130 Rust Dragon ...... 186 Dragons in the Campaign...... 57 Initiate of the Draconic Styx Dragon...... 187 Running a Dragon Encounter ...... 59 Mysteries...... 131 Tarterian Dragon ...... 189 The Mechanics of Melee ...... 59 Platinum Knight ...... 133 Shadow Dragon...... 191 Fighting on the Wing ...... 59 Talon of Tiamat...... 134 Skeletal Dragon...... 192 Using a Breath Weapon ...... 62 Dragons in the Party ...... 136 Squamous Spewer...... 193 To Breathe or Not to Breathe?...... 63 Dragons’ Advantages Storm Drake...... 194 Using Special Attack Forms ...... 64 and Disadvantages...... 136 Vampiric Dragon ...... 195 Dragons as Spellcasters...... 65 Dragons as Mounts ...... 136 Zombie Dragon...... 197 Dragon Feats ...... 66 Dragons as Cohorts ...... 138 Feat Descriptions ...... 67 Dragons as Special Mounts ...... 139 Chapter 5: Sample Dragons...... 199 Dragon Spells...... 75 Dragons as Familiars ...... 141 Customizing ...... 199 Spell Descriptions...... 76 Dragons as Player Characters...... 141 Sample Black Dragons...... 201 Items ...... 82 Sample Blue Dragons ...... 207 Lair Wards ...... 84 Chapter 4: New Monsters...... 145 Sample Brass Dragons ...... 216 Dragon Prestige Classes ...... 86 Abyssal Drake ...... 145 Sample Bronze Dragons ...... 223 Bloodscaled Fury ...... 86 Monsters by Type (and Subtype) . . . . 146 Sample Copper Dragons...... 233 Disciple of Ashardalon ...... 87 Dracolich ...... 146 Sample Gold Dragons ...... 239 Dispassionate Watcher Draconic Creature ...... 149 Sample Green Dragons ...... 247 of Chronepsis ...... 89 Dragonkin ...... 150 Sample Red Dragons ...... 254 Dragon Ascendant ...... 90 Dragonnel ...... 150 Sample Silver Dragons ...... 263 ElementalSample Master...... 92 Elemental Drake...... 152 Sample White Dragonsfile ...... 270 Hidecarved Dragon ...... 94 Air Drake ...... 152 Sacred Warder of Bahamut ...... 96 Earth Drake...... 153 Appendix 1: The Dragon’s Hoard . . . . 277 Unholy Ravager of Tiamat ...... 97 Fire Drake ...... 154 Ice Drake ...... 154 Appendix 2: Index of Dragons ...... 286 3 actions, their schemes, even their dreams are felt through- Introduction out the world. From a wyrmling raiding herds of sheep to The dragon reared, roaring, clawing at air the mighty Ashardalon feasting on preincarnate souls, And belching fire, and began to lunge down dragons do things that matter, whether on a small local Upon Dydd, but the druid slashed into scale or in the cosmic big picture. They are the embodi- Ashardalon’s heart, her scimitar cut ment of itself. And the lifeblood began to spill. Then Dydd That, in a nutshell, is the reason for this book. Dragons Was slain, her heart wrested from her breast by are such a central part of the game that a rules reference The dragon’s grasping jaws, swallowed, consumed of this nature is an essential addition to any campaign, To sustain Ashardalon’s ebbing life enhancing the excitement of draconic encounters for For a time. . . . players and Dungeon Masters alike. A DM will find infor- —The Lay of Dydd mation here on the powers and tactics of dragons, as well as a wealth of new feats, spells, magic items, and prestige More than any other creature, dragons are a symbol of all classes designed to make dragon encounters more interest- that is the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® game. From the savage ing, challenging, and unusual. In case the dragons already

INTRODUCTION white to the majestic gold, dragons represent the greatest described in the Monster Manual and other books are not perils adventurers face at any point in their careers, as well enough, this book also presents a variety of new dragon- as the greatest rewards they may hope to claim. From the related monsters of all types to include in the game. Players, tiny wyrmling at the bottom of an adventurer’s very first meanwhile, can unearth dragonslaying tactics and take dungeon to the colossal great wyrm he meets at the height advantage of new feats and spells, magic items, and prestige of his career, dragons are the ultimate climactic encounter: classes to make their characters the ultimate dragon slayers, a brutal and memorable fight that will pay off in riches dragon riders, or even dragon servants. from the dragon’s hoard. Draconomicon is not just about the rules, tactics, and ecol- Dragons are creatures of myth, often described as the first ogy of dragons, however. The illustrations in this book are sentient race to appear on a world, with life spans that intended to inspire a fresh sense of wonder and awe at the stretch over hundreds of years. They symbolize the world creatures that make up such an important part of the D&D itself and embody its history, and the oldest dragons are game. Dragons are rapacious, arrogant, and deadly—but repositories of vast knowledge and ancient secrets. This they are also majestic, awesome, and magnificent. A renewed aspect of dragons makes them much more than just a chal- sense of the grandeur of dragons might not have as con- lenging combat encounter: They are sages and oracles, fonts crete or noticeable an impact on your game as all the new of wisdom and prophets of things to come. Their very rules you will find in this book, but its influence will surely appearance can be an omen of good or ill fortune. be felt around your gaming table. Perhaps most important, dragons are a reminder that Let this book inspire you. Whether you use it to build the action of the D&D game takes place in a world of fan- new draconic adversaries and exciting dragon lairs stocked tasy, wonder, and magic, a world far from mundane in with legendary treasure, or to build a character who rides every way. Any attempt to describe them as little more a silver dragon into battle against the servants of Tiamat, than glorified lizards with wings and breath weapons is a you are sure to find not just the rules you want, but the disservice, not only to dragons, but to the fantasy universe wonder you need to make your game more fun. Dragons of D&D and the wealth of legends, myths, and heroic sto- are creatures of legend, and with this book you can be a ries that place dragons in such an iconic position that part of that legend. Retell it, relive it, reshape it in your they had to be a part of the very name of the game. Dragons character’s or your campaign’s image. Draconomicon will are, by their very nature, epic forces in the world. Their show you how. pqqqqrs

THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF DRAGONS In the D&D game, the term “dragon” encompasses a number a complete list of all true dragons that have been presented in of different creatures, some of which bear little resemblance to official sources. the great flying creatures with breath weapons that we commonly Other creatures of the dragon type that do not advance think of as dragons. through age categories are referred to as lesser dragons (which For the most part, this book concerns itself with the ten should not be taken to mean that they are necessarily less varieties of true dragon described in the Monster Manual— formidable than true dragons). the five chromatic dragons (black, blue, green, red, white) and The three kinds of lesser dragon described in the Monster the five metallic dragons (brass, bronze, copper, gold, silver). Manual are the dragon turtle, the pseudodragon, and the True dragons are those creatures that become more powerful wyvern. Chapter 4 of this book contains a number of descrip- Sampleas they grow older. tions of other lesser dragons, andfile Appendix 2 lists every lesser A number of other true dragons are described in Chapter 4 dragon that has been described in a DUNGEONS & DRAGONS rule- of this book. In addition, Appendix 2: Index of Dragons provides book or accessory. pqqqqrs 4 Illus. by L. Grant-West

wealth of material, from bard’s tales and ponderous EXTERNAL ANATOMY tomes alike, has been recorded about dragons. Despite its scales and wings, a dragon’s body has fea- Unfortunately for adventurers planning to con- tures that seem more feline than reptilian. Refer to front a dragon, most of that information is wrong. the illustrations on the next few pages as you read on. The opening chapter of this book presents the Like a cat’s eye, a dragon’s eye has a comparatively truth about dragons—their types, habits, physiology, and large iris with a vertical pupil. This arrangement worldview. allows the pupil to open extremely wide and admit much more light than a human eye can. The sclera, or “white,” of a dragon’s eye is often THE DRAGON’S BODY yellow, gold, green, orange, red, or silver, with an “How can one imagine anything more magnificent than . . . a iris of a darker, contrasting color. dragon, the paragon of creation?” To a casual observer, a dragon’s pupils always —Bheilorveilthion, red wyrm look like vertical slits. If one were to look very closely into a dragon’s eye, however, one could “Nothing but a bunch of vain, glorified flying reptiles, if you see a second iris and pupil within the first. The ask me!” dragon can shift and rotate this inner aperture —Hatredymaes, androsphinx up to 90 degrees, so that the inner pupil can overlay the outer one or lie at a right angle to it. At first glance, a true dragon resembles a reptile. It has a This ocular structure gives a dragon extremely muscular body, a long, thick neck, a horned or frilled accurate depth perception and focusing abil- head with a toothy mouth, and a sinuous tail. The crea- ity no matter how much or how little light is ture walks on four powerful legs with clawed feet, and it available. fliesSample using its vast, batlike wings. Heavy scales cover a A dragon’s eye is protected fileby a leathery dragon from the tip of its tail to end of its snout. As outer eyelid and three smooth inner eyelids, or you’ll see from the details to come, however, that first nictitating membranes. The innermost mem- glance doesn’t begin to tell the whole story about the brane is crystal clear and serves to protect the nature of dragons. eye from damage while the dragon flies, 5 fights, swims, or burrows with its eyes open. The other two death. Other dragons have mastered the technique of grab- eyelids mainly serve to keep the inner membrane and the bing prey and swallowing it whole. surface of the eye clean. They are thicker than the inner- Some dragon hunters boast that they can hold a dragon’s most membrane and less clear. A dragon can use these mouth closed, preventing the creature from biting. It is true inner lids to protect its eyes from sudden flashes of bright that a dragon applies more force when closing its jaws than light. A dragon’s eyes glow in the dark, but the dragon can it does when opening them; however, holding a dragon’s hide the glow by closing one or more of its inner eyelids; mouth closed still requires prodigious strength. Even if an doing this does not affect its vision. foe were to succeed in clamping its jaws shut, the dragon is A dragon’s ears often prove indistinguishable from the likely to throw off the opponent with one flick of its head, frills that frame its head, especially when the dragon is at claw its attacker to ribbons, or both. rest. The ears of an an active dragon, however, constantly The spines, frills, and other projections twitch and swivel as the dragon tracks sounds. that adorn a dragon’s head Not all dragons have external ears; bur- make the creature look rowing and aquatic dragons usu- fearsome, and that is their DRAGONS ALL ABOUT ally have simple ear holes main function. CHAPTER 1: protected by an overhang- A dragon’s horn is a keratinous ing fringe. projection growing directly from A dragon’s mouth the dragon’s skull. A dragon with features powerful horns that point backward can use jaws, a forked the horns for grooming, and they also tongue, and help protect the dragon’s upper neck in combat. Horns projecting from the sides of a dragon’s head help protect the head. A dragon’s spines are keratinous, but softer and more flexible than its horns. The spines are imbedded in the dragon’s skin and anchored to the skeleton by ligaments. Most spines are located along the dragon’s back and tail. Unlike horns, spines are mobile, with a range of motion that varies with the kind of dragon and the spines’ location on the drag- on’s body. The spines

Illus. by T. Lockwood Illus. by T. along a dragon’s back, for example, can only be raised or lowered, whereas the spines supporting a dragon’s ears can be moved many different ways. The frills on a dragon’s back and tail help keep the dragon sharp teeth. The exact num- stable when flying or swimming. ber and size of a dragon’s teeth depend on the dragon’s age, To a scholar who knows something about the natural habitat, and diet; however, a dragon’s array of teeth usually world, a dragon’s powerful legs are decidedly nonreptilian, includes four well-developed fangs (two upper, two lower) despite their scaly coverings. A dragon’s legs are positioned that curve slightly inward and have cutting edges on both more or less directly under its body, in the manner of mam- the inner and outer surfaces. A dragon uses its fangs to mals. (Most reptiles’ legs tend to splay out to the sides, offer- impale and kill prey, and they serve as the dragon’s pri- ing much less support and mobility than a dragon or mary weapons. mammal enjoys.) Immediately in front of the fangs in each jaw lie the A dragon’s four feet resemble those of a great bird. Each dragon’s incisors, which are oval in cross-section and have foot has three or four clawed toes facing forward (the serrated edges at the top. When a dragon bites down on number varies, even among dragons of the same kind), plus large prey, these teeth cut out a semicircle of flesh. an additional toe, also with a claw, set farther back on the Behind the fangs in each jaw, a dragon has a row of peglike foot and facing slightly inward toward the dragon’s body, molars that help it grip prey. A dragon is not well equipped like a human’s thumb. for chewing, and it typically tears prey into chunks small Although a dragon’s front feet are not truly prehensile, a Sampleenough to gulp down. A dragon can create a sawing motion dragon can grasp objects withfile its front feet, provided they with its incisors by wiggling its lower jaw and shaking its are not too small. This grip is not precise enough for tool head from side to side, allowing the incisors to quickly shear use, writing, or wielding a weapon, but a dragon can hold through flesh and bone. and carry objects. A dragon also is capable of wielding 6 Many dragons learn to seize prey and literally shake it to magical devices, such as wands, and can complete somatic components required for the spells it can cast (see Spell- new scale on a dragon’s massive body seldom leaves the casting, below). Some dragons are adroit enough to seize dragon particularly vulnerable to attack. prey in their front claws and carry it aloft. A dragon’s long, muscular tail serves mainly as a rudder A dragon can use the “thumbs” on its rear feet to grasp as in flight. A dragon also uses its tail for propulsion when well, but the grip is less precise than that of the front feet. swimming, and as a weapon. A dragon’s skin resembles crocodile hide—tough, leath- A dragon’s wings consist of a membrane of scaleless hide ery. and thick. Unlike a crocodile, however, a dragon has stretched over a framework of strong but lightweight bones. hundreds of hard, durable scales covering its body. A Immensely powerful muscles in the dragon’s chest provide dragon’s scales are keratinous, like its spines. Unlike the power for flight. spines, however, a dragon’s scales are not attached to its Most dragons have wings that resemble bat wings, with a CHAPTER 1: ALL ABOUT skeleton, and the dragon cannot make them move. The relatively short supporting alar limb, ending in a vestigial DRAGONS scales are much harder and less flexible than the spines, claw that juts forward. Most of the wing area comes from with a resistance to blows that exceeds that of steel. a membrane stretched over elongated “fingers” of bone A dragon’s largest scales are attached to its hide along (the alar phalanges; see Skeleton, below), which stretch one edge and overlap their neighbors like shingles on a far beyond the alar limb. roof or the articulated plates in a suit of armor. These scales Some kinds of dragons have wings that run the lengths of cover the dragon’s neck, underbelly, tail, and toes. As the their bodies, something like the “wings” of manta rays. This dragon moves its body, the scales tend to shift as the skin sort of wing also has an alar limb with phalanges supporting and muscle under them moves, and the scales’ free ends the forward third of the wing, but the remainder of the wing sometimes rise up slightly. This phenomenon has led some is supported by modified frill spines that have only a limited observers to mistakenly conclude that a dragon can raise range of motion and muscular control. and lower its scales in the same manner as a bird fluffing its feathers. Inside the Dragon’s Eye The majority of a dragon’s scales are smaller and attached Most scholars remain unaware of how complex and unusual to the skin near their centers. These scales interlock with a dragon’s eye really is. In addition to its four layers of eye- neighboring scales, giving the surface of the body a pebbly lids and its double pupil, a dragon’s eye also has a double texture. The scales are large enough to form lens. The outer lens (1) is much the same a continuous layer of natural armor as any other creature’s in form and over the body even when it function. The inner lens (2), however, stretches or bulges to its is a mass of transparent muscle fibers that greatest extent. When can polarize incoming light. The inner lens the body relaxes or also serves to magnify what the dragon contracts, the skin sees, and helps account for the drag- under the scales on’s superior long- tends to fold and distance vision. wrinkle, though the A dragon’s ret- interlocking scales ➊ ➌ inas (3) are packed give the body a fairly ➋ with receptors smooth look. for both color and A dragon’s scales black-and-white vision. grow throughout Behind the retina lies the tapetum its lifetime, albeit lucidum (4), a reflective layer that helps the very slowly. Unlike dragon see in dim light. A dragon literally most other scaled crea- sees light twice, once when it strikes tures, a dragon neither sheds ➍ the retina and again when it is its skin nor sheds individual scales. reflected back. It is the tapetum Instead, its individual scales grow larger, and it lucidum that makes a dragon’s eyes seem to also grows new scales as its body gets bigger. Over the years, glow in the dark. a scale may weather and crack near the edges, but its slow growth usually proves sufficient to replace any portion that INTERNAL ANATOMY breaks off. Dragons occasionally lose scales, especially if As you’ll see from the following section, a dragon’s resem- they become badly damaged. Old scales often litter the blance to a reptile is literally only skin deep. Refer to the floors of long-occupied dragon lairs. accompanying illustrations as you read on. WhenSample a dragon loses a scale, it usually grows a new one in file its place. The new scale tends to be smaller than its neigh- Skeleton bors and usually thinner and weaker as well. This phenom- Although complete dragon skeletons are hard to come by, enon is what gives rise to bards’ tales about chinks in a most scholars agree that a little more than 500 bones com- dragon’s armor. These tales are true as far as they go, but one prise a dragon’s skeleton, compared to slightly more than 7

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