Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) piercing damage.
Breath Weapons (Recharge 5–6). The dragon uses one of the following breath weapons.
Fire Breath. The dragon exhales fire in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 22 (4d10) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Weakening Breath. The dragon exhales gas in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 13 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.
How many gold dragon wyrmlings for a fight?
A gold dragon wyrmling is worth 700 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many gold dragon wyrmlings fit each difficulty for a party of four characters of the same level. A dash means even one would be over the budget.
Party level
Low
Moderate
High
2nd
—
—
1
3rd
—
1
2
4th
1
2
2
5th
2
4
6
6th
3
5
8
7th
4
7
9
8th
5
9
12
9th
7
11
12+
10th
9
12+
12+
11th
10
12+
12+
12th
12
12+
12+
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.
How the gold dragon wyrmling compares at CR 3
Against the 21 other challenge 3 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the gold dragon wyrmling has more hit points than 15 of them, which makes it tougher than most at its CR. See every CR 3 monster.
Statistic
Gold Dragon Wyrmling
CR 3 average
Armor Class
17
14
Hit points
60
59
Best attack bonus
+6
+5
Best save DC
13
12
Gold Dragon Wyrmling 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the gold dragon wyrmling, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
New in its stat block: Multiattack, Rend, Fire Breath and Weakening Breath.
Fire Breath (Recharge 5–6). Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 13, each creature in a 15-foot Cone. Failure: 22 (4d10) Fire damage. Success: Half damage.
Weakening Breath. Strength Saving Throw: DC 13, each creature that isn’t currently affected by this breath in a 15-foot Cone. Failure: The target has Disadvantage on Strength-based D20 Tests and subtracts 2 (1d4) 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.
