- Armor Class
- 19 (natural armor)
- Hit Points
- 195 (17d12+85)
- Speed
- 40 ft., fly 80 ft., swim 40 ft.
- Challenge
- 14 (11,500 XP)
- Proficiency bonus
- +5
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|
| 23 (+6) | 14 (+2) | 21 (+5) | 14 (+2) | 13 (+1) | 17 (+3) |
- Saving throws
- Dex +7, Con +10, Wis +6, Cha +8
- Skills
- Perception +11, Stealth +7
- Damage immunities
- acid
- Senses
- blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 21
- Languages
- Common, Draconic
Traits
Amphibious. The dragon can breathe air and water.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Multiattack. The dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) acid damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
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 16 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 (Recharge 5–6). The dragon exhales acid in a 60-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 54 (12d8) 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 10 ft. of the dragon must succeed on a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw or take 13 (2d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.
An adult black dragon is worth 11,500 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many adult black dragons fit each difficulty for a party of four characters of the same level. A dash means even one would be over the budget.
Budgets add up every monster’s XP, so you can swap some for other creatures of the same total. Try other party sizes and mixes in the encounter calculator.
Adult Black Dragon 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the adult black dragon, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
- Ability scores: CHA 17 → 19.
- New in its stat block: Rend, Spellcasting, Cloud of Insects and Pounce.
- Gone from it: Bite, Claw, Tail, Detect, Tail Attack and Wing Attack.
- Armor Class
- 19
- Hit Points
- 195 (17d12 + 85)
- Speed
- 40 ft., fly 80 ft., swim 40 ft.
- Challenge
- 14 (11,500 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|
| 23 (+6) | 14 (+2) | 21 (+5) | 14 (+2) | 13 (+1) | 19 (+4) |
- Damage immunities
- acid
- Senses
- darkvision 120 ft., blindsight 60 ft., passive Perception 21
- Languages
- Common, Draconic
Traits
Amphibious. The dragon can breathe air and water.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day, or 4/Day in Lair). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Multiattack. The dragon makes three Rend attacks. It can replace one attack with a use of Spellcasting to cast Acid Arrow (level 3 version).
Rend. Melee Attack Roll: +11, reach 10 ft. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) Slashing damage plus 4 (1d8) Acid damage.
Acid Breath (Recharge 5–6). Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 18, each creature in a 60-foot-long, 5-footwide Line. Failure: 54 (12d8) Acid damage. Success: Half damage.
Spellcasting. The dragon casts one of the following spells, requiring no Material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with spell attacks):
At Will: Acid Arrow (level 3 version), Detect Magic, Fear
1/Day Each: Speak with Dead, Vitriolic Sphere
Legendary actions
Cloud of Insects. Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 17, one creature the dragon can see within 120 feet. Failure: 22 (4d10) Poison damage, and the target has Disadvantage on saving throws to maintain Concentration until the end of its next turn. Failure or Success: The dragon can’t take this action again until the start of its next turn.
Frightful Presence. The dragon uses Spellcasting to cast Fear. The dragon can’t take this action again until the start of its next turn.
Pounce. The dragon moves up to half its Speed, and it makes one Rend attack.
