Red Dragon Wyrmling
Medium Dragon (Chromatic) · · CR 4
- Dragon (Chromatic)
- Medium
- Tier 1
Red Dragon Wyrmling is a medium dragon (chromatic) of chaotic evil alignment, CR 4. Sourced from Monster Manual (5e 2014) and Monster Manual (5.5e 2024).
Stat Block
- Challenge Rating
- 4
- Type
- Dragon (Chromatic)
- Size
- Medium
- Alignment
- —
- Speed
- —
- Habitats
- —
- Sources
- Monster Manual (5e 2014), Monster Manual (5.5e 2024)
Ecology
Red wyrmlings hatch in volcanic caves, lava-flow caverns, and ash-fields, where their parents have prepared lairs near magma. Parents abandon them at hatching, forcing wyrmlings to hunt independently. They feed on whatever they can catch, from goats to bandits, hoarding shiny objects in small piles that grow over decades. They live for millennia, with wyrmlings spending the first century in this stage. They share territory with fire elementals and salamanders, dominating both via raw threat.
Behaviour
Red wyrmlings are arrogant, greedy, and vicious. They demand tribute from passersby, threatening burning destruction for refusal. They taunt prey in Draconic boasts, drawing out kills for pride's sake. They hoard everything shiny, even worthless trinkets, defending their hoards beyond reason. They fly low to terrify mortals, swooping for dramatic effect. They despise other dragons, especially metallics, attacking them when feasible. They form temporary alliances with fiends but betray when stronger options arise.
Origin
Red dragons descend from Tiamat's chromatic clutch, hatched in volcanic forge-pits during the dawn ages. Wyrmlings emerge from eggs incubated by lava heat, often clutched in pairs or threes. They are imprinted with hatred for metallic dragons from birth, instinctively recognizing kin and enemies. Some scholars believe red dragons originated from the Elemental Plane of Fire, drifting to the Material during cataclysms. Their fire breath is a gift from elemental heritage, their pride a curse from Tiamat herself.
Related Monsters
Frequently Asked Questions about Red Dragon Wyrmling
- What is the challenge rating of Red Dragon Wyrmling?
- Red Dragon Wyrmling is rated CR 4. The rating matches tier-1 encounter math.
- What type of creature is Red Dragon Wyrmling?
- Red Dragon Wyrmling is classified as a dragon (chromatic) in D&D 5e, medium size.