Adult Black Dragon
Huge Dragon (Chromatic) · · CR 14
- Dragon (Chromatic)
- Huge
- Tier 3
Ranges across swamp; Adult Black Dragon lists at CR 14 as a huge dragon (chromatic) (chaotic evil). Sourced from Monster Manual (5e 2014) and Monster Manual (5.5e 2024).
Stat Block
- Challenge Rating
- 14
- Type
- Dragon (Chromatic)
- Size
- Huge
- Alignment
- —
- Speed
- —
- Habitats
- Swamp
- Sources
- Monster Manual (5e 2014), Monster Manual (5.5e 2024)
Ecology
Adult black dragons claim sprawling territories in fetid swamps, mangrove tangles, and coastal marshes where rot and stagnant water provide cover. They lair in flooded ruins, sunken temples, or hollow earthen mounds beneath cypress canopies. Their breath dissolves prey into easily-swallowed slurry, and they dump corpses into a chosen bog to ferment, attracting scavengers they later eat. Their territories suffer accelerated decay; trees rot faster, water grows more acidic, and any humanoid settlement nearby withers.
Behaviour
Solitary and paranoid, the adult black dragon delights in cruelty and despair. It collects skulls from sentient prey, arranging them in viewing galleries near its lair, and remembers each victim's voice. It enters bargains only to twist them, and treats every smaller creature as either a slave, a spy, or a meal. Its hatred for metallic dragons, especially copper, is generational and personal; encountering one triggers immediate hostility regardless of strategic cost.
Origin
A black dragon hatches from an egg buried in fetid silt, where the embryo absorbs corruption from its surroundings. As a wyrmling, it preys on amphibians and small fish, learning patience underwater. By young adulthood, it has displaced or eaten any rival predator in its territory. The transition to adult is marked by acquiring a hoard, which the dragon will defend with murderous intensity for centuries, expanding only when forced or when a richer marsh is rumored.
Related Monsters
Frequently Asked Questions about Adult Black Dragon
- What is the challenge rating of Adult Black Dragon?
- Adult Black Dragon has a challenge rating of 14. It works against tier-3 parties.
- What type of creature is Adult Black Dragon?
- Adult Black Dragon is classified as a dragon (chromatic) in D&D 5e, huge size.
- Where does Adult Black Dragon live?
- Adult Black Dragon's listed habitats include Swamp.