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

Ancient White Dragon 5e stat block

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

Armor Class
20 (natural armor)
Hit Points
333 (18d20+144)
Speed
40 ft., burrow 40 ft., fly 80 ft., swim 40 ft.
Challenge
20 (25,000 XP)
Proficiency bonus
+6
STRDEXCONINTWISCHA
26 (+8)10 (+0)26 (+8)10 (+0)13 (+1)14 (+2)
Saving throws
Dex +6, Con +14, Wis +7, Cha +8
Skills
Perception +13, Stealth +6
Damage immunities
cold
Senses
blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 23
Languages
Common, Draconic

Traits

Ice Walk. The dragon can move across and climb icy surfaces without needing to make an ability check. Additionally, difficult terrain composed of ice or snow doesn't cost it extra movement.

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 plus 9 (2d8) cold 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 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.

Cold Breath (Recharge 5–6). The dragon exhales an icy blast in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 22 Constitution saving throw, taking 72 (16d8) cold 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 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 white dragons for a fight?

An ancient white dragon is worth 25,000 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many ancient white 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 White Dragon 2024 stat block

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

Armor Class
20
Hit Points
333 (18d20 + 144)
Speed
40 ft., burrow 40 ft., fly 80 ft., swim 40 ft.
Challenge
20 (25,000 XP)
STRDEXCONINTWISCHA
26 (+8)10 (+0)26 (+8)10 (+0)13 (+1)18 (+4)
Damage immunities
cold
Senses
darkvision 120 ft., blindsight 60 ft., passive Perception 23
Languages
Common, Draconic

Traits

Ice Walk. The dragon can move across and climb icy surfaces without needing to make an ability check. Additionally, Difficult Terrain composed of ice or snow doesn’t cost it extra movement.

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.

Rend. Melee Attack Roll: +14, reach 15 ft. Hit: 17 (2d8 + 8) Slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) Cold damage.

Cold Breath (Recharge 5–6). Constitution Saving Throw: DC 22, each creature in a 90-foot Cone. Failure: 63 (14d8) Cold damage. Success: Half damage.

Legendary actions

Freezing Burst. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 20, each creature in a 30-foot-radius Sphere centered on a point the dragon can see within 120 feet. Failure: 14 (4d6) Cold damage, and the target’s Speed is 0 until the end of the target’s next turn. Failure or Success: The dragon can’t take this action again until the start of its next turn.

Frightful Presence. The dragon casts Fear, requiring no Material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 18). 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.

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