- Armor Class
- 19 (natural armor)
- Hit Points
- 256 (19d12+133)
- Speed
- 40 ft., fly 80 ft., swim 40 ft.
- Challenge
- 17 (18,000 XP)
- Proficiency bonus
- +6
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|
| 27 (+8) | 14 (+2) | 25 (+7) | 16 (+3) | 15 (+2) | 24 (+7) |
- Saving throws
- Dex +8, Con +13, Wis +8, Cha +13
- Skills
- Insight +8, Perception +14, Persuasion +13, Stealth +8
- Damage immunities
- fire
- Senses
- blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 24
- 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: +14 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (2d10 + 8) piercing damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d6 + 8) slashing damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d8 + 8) 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 21 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.
Breath Weapons (Recharge 5–6). The dragon uses one of the following breath weapons.
Fire Breath. The dragon exhales fire in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw, taking 66 (12d10) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Weakening Breath. The dragon exhales gas in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 21 Strength saving throw or have disadvantage on Strength-based attack rolls, Strength checks, and Strength saving throws 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.
Change Shape. The dragon magically polymorphs into a humanoid or beast that has a challenge rating no higher than its own, or back into its true form. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (the dragon's choice).
In a new form, the dragon retains its alignment, hit points, Hit Dice, ability to speak, proficiencies, Legendary Resistance, lair actions, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as this action. Its statistics and capabilities are otherwise replaced by those of the new form, except any class features or legendary actions of that form.
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 22 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.
An adult gold dragon is worth 18,000 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many adult gold 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.
Against the 3 other challenge 17 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the adult gold dragon has more hit points than 1 of them, which makes it a little frailer than most at its CR. See every CR 17 monster.
Adult Gold Dragon 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the adult gold dragon, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
- Hit points: 256 → 243.
- New in its stat block: Rend, Fire Breath, Spellcasting, Weakening Breath, Banish, Guiding Light and Pounce.
- Gone from it: Bite, Claw, Tail, Frightful Presence, Breath Weapons, Change Shape, Detect, Tail Attack and Wing Attack.
- Armor Class
- 19
- Hit Points
- 243 (18d12 + 126)
- Speed
- 40 ft., fly 80 ft., swim 40 ft.
- Challenge
- 17 (18,000 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|
| 27 (+8) | 14 (+2) | 25 (+7) | 16 (+3) | 15 (+2) | 24 (+7) |
- Damage immunities
- fire
- Senses
- darkvision 120 ft., blindsight 60 ft., passive Perception 24
- 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 (A) Spellcasting to cast Guiding Bolt (level 2 version) or (B) Weakening Breath.
Rend. Melee Attack Roll: +14, reach 10 ft. Hit: 17 (2d8 + 8) Slashing damage plus 4 (1d8) Fire damage.
Fire Breath (Recharge 5–6). Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 21, each creature in a 60-foot Cone. Failure: 66 (12d10) Fire 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 21, +13 to hit with spell attacks):
At Will: Detect Magic, Guiding Bolt (level 2 version), Shapechange (Beast or Humanoid form only, no Temporary Hit Points gained from the spell, and no Concentration or Temporary Hit Points required to maintain the spell)
1/Day Each: Flame Strike, Zone of Truth
Weakening Breath. Strength Saving Throw: DC 21, each creature that isn’t currently affected by this breath in a 60-foot Cone. Failure: The target has Disadvantage on Strength-based D20 Tests and subtracts 3 (1d6) from its damage rolls. It repeats the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. After 1 minute, it succeeds automatically.
Legendary actions
Banish. Charisma Saving Throw: DC 21, one creature the dragon can see within 120 feet. Failure: 10 (3d6) Force damage, and the target has the Incapacitated condition and is transported to a harmless demiplane until the start of the dragon’s next turn, at which point it re appears in an unoccupied space of the dragon’s choice within 120 feet of the dragon. Failure or Success: The dragon can’t take this action again until the start of its next turn.
Guiding Light. The dragon uses Spellcasting to cast Guiding Bolt (level 2 version).
Pounce. The dragon moves up to half its Speed, and it makes one Rend attack.
