- Armor Class
- 22 (natural armor)
- Hit Points
- 481 (26d20+208)
- Speed
- 40 ft., burrow 40 ft., fly 80 ft.
- Challenge
- 23 (50,000 XP)
- Proficiency bonus
- +7
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|
| 29 (+9) | 10 (+0) | 27 (+8) | 18 (+4) | 17 (+3) | 21 (+5) |
- Saving throws
- Dex +7, Con +15, Wis +10, Cha +12
- Skills
- Perception +17, Stealth +7
- Damage immunities
- lightning
- Senses
- blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 27
- Languages
- Common, Draconic
Traits
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: +16 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 20 (2d10 + 9) piercing damage plus 11 (2d10) lightning damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d6 + 9) slashing damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (2d8 + 9) 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 20 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.
Lightning Breath (Recharge 5–6). The dragon exhales lightning in a 120-foot line that is 10 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 23 Dexterity saving throw, taking 88 (16d10) lightning 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 15 ft. of the dragon must succeed on a DC 24 Dexterity saving throw or take 16 (2d6 + 9) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.
An ancient blue dragon is worth 50,000 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many ancient blue 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.
Ancient Blue Dragon 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the ancient blue dragon, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
- Ability scores: CHA 21 → 25.
- New in its stat block: Rend, Spellcasting, Cloaked Flight, Sonic Boom and Tail Swipe.
- Gone from it: Bite, Claw, Tail, Frightful Presence, Detect, Tail Attack and Wing Attack.
- Armor Class
- 22
- Hit Points
- 481 (26d20 + 208)
- Speed
- 40 ft., burrow 40 ft., fly 80 ft.
- Challenge
- 23 (50,000 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|
| 29 (+9) | 10 (+0) | 27 (+8) | 18 (+4) | 17 (+3) | 25 (+7) |
- Damage immunities
- lightning
- Senses
- darkvision 120 ft., blindsight 60 ft., passive Perception 27
- Languages
- Common, Draconic
Traits
Legendary Resistance (4/Day, or 5/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 Shatter (level 3 version).
Rend. Melee Attack Roll: +16, reach 15 ft. Hit: 18 (2d8 + 9) Slashing damage plus 11 (2d10) Lightning damage.
Lightning Breath (Recharge 5–6). Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 23, each creature in a 120-foot-long, 10-foot-wide Line. Failure: 88 (16d10) Lightning 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 22):
At Will: Detect Magic, Invisibility, Mage Hand, Shatter (level 3 version)
1/Day Each: Scrying, Sending
Legendary actions
Cloaked Flight. The dragon uses Spellcasting to cast Invisibility on itself, and it can fly up to half its Fly Speed. The dragon can’t take this action again until the start of its next turn.
Sonic Boom. The dragon uses Spellcasting to cast Shatter (level 3 version). The dragon can’t take this action again until the start of its next turn.
Tail Swipe. The dragon makes one Rend attack.
