Ancient Brass Dragon icon: a horned dragon’s head, in brass
Icon by Lorc, CC BY 3.0

Ancient Brass Dragon 5e stat block

Gargantuan dragon, chaotic good · CR 20 · 2024 stat block below

Armor Class
20 (natural armor)
Hit Points
297 (17d20+119)
Speed
40 ft., burrow 40 ft., fly 80 ft.
Challenge
20 (25,000 XP)
Proficiency bonus
+6
STRDEXCONINTWISCHA
27 (+8)10 (+0)25 (+7)16 (+3)15 (+2)19 (+4)
Saving throws
Dex +6, Con +13, Wis +8, Cha +10
Skills
History +9, Perception +14, Persuasion +10, Stealth +6
Damage immunities
fire
Senses
blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 24
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: +14 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (2d10 + 8) piercing damage.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d6 + 8) slashing damage.

Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 20 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 18 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 an 90-foot line that is 10 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw, taking 56 (16d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Sleep Breath. The dragon exhales sleep gas in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 21 Constitution saving throw or fall unconscious for 10 minutes. This effect ends for a creature if the creature takes damage or someone uses an action to wake it.

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 15 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.

How many ancient brass dragons for a fight?

An ancient brass dragon is worth 25,000 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many ancient brass dragons fit each difficulty for a party of four characters of the same level. A dash means even one would be over the budget.

Party levelLowModerateHigh
15th——1
16th——1
17th—11
18th—12
19th—12
20th123

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 Brass Dragon 2024 stat block

The 2024 Monster Manual revised the ancient brass dragon, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:

Armor Class
20
Hit Points
332 (19d20 + 133)
Speed
40 ft., burrow 40 ft., fly 80 ft.
Challenge
20 (25,000 XP)
STRDEXCONINTWISCHA
27 (+8)10 (+0)25 (+7)16 (+3)15 (+2)22 (+6)
Damage immunities
fire
Senses
darkvision 120 ft., blindsight 60 ft., passive Perception 24
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 (A) Sleep Breath or (B) Spellcasting to cast Scorching Ray (level 3 version).

Rend. Melee Attack Roll: +14, reach 15 ft. Hit: 19 (2d10 + 8) Slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) Fire damage.

Fire Breath (Recharge 5–6). Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 21, each creature in a 90-foot-long, 5-footwide Line. Failure: 58 (13d8) Fire damage. Success: Half damage.

Sleep Breath. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 21, each creature in a 90-foot Cone. Failure: The target has the Incapacitated condition until the end of its next turn, at which point it repeats the save. Second Failure: The target has the Unconscious condition for 10 minutes. This effect ends for the target if it takes damage or a creature within 5 feet of it takes an action to wake it.

Spellcasting. The dragon casts one of the following spells, requiring no Material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 20): At Will: Detect Magic, Minor Illusion, Scorching Ray (level 3 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), Speak with Animals 1/Day Each: Control Weather, Detect Thoughts

Legendary actions

Blazing Light. The dragon uses Spellcasting to cast Scorching Ray (level 3 version).

Pounce. The dragon moves up to half its Speed, and it makes one Rend attack.

Scorching Sands. Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 20, one creature the dragon can see within 120 feet. Failure: 36 (8d8) Fire damage, and the target’s Speed is halved 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.

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