Multiattack. The veteran makes two longsword attacks. If it has a shortsword drawn, it can also make a shortsword attack.
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage, or 8 (1d10 + 3) slashing damage if used with two hands.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.
Heavy Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d10 + 1) piercing damage.
Fire Breath (Recharge 5–6). The veteran exhales fire in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 24 (7d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
How many half-red dragon veterans for a fight?
A half-red dragon veteran is worth 1,800 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many half-red dragon veterans 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
4th
—
—
1
5th
1
1
2
6th
1
2
3
7th
1
2
3
8th
2
3
4
9th
2
4
5
10th
3
5
6
11th
4
6
9
12th
4
8
10
13th
5
9
12
14th
6
10
12+
15th
7
12
12+
16th
8
12+
12+
17th
10
12+
12+
18th
11
12+
12+
19th
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 half-red dragon veteran compares at CR 5
Against the 26 other challenge 5 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the half-red dragon veteran has more hit points than 0 of them, which makes it one of the frailest at its CR. See every CR 5 monster.
Statistic
Half-Red Dragon Veteran
CR 5 average
Armor Class
18
14.4
Hit points
65
103
Best attack bonus
+5
+7
Best save DC
15
14
2024 stat block: Half-Dragon
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the half-red dragon veteran, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
It’s called the Half-Dragon in the 2024 rules.
Its creature type changed from humanoid to dragon.
Hit points: 65 → 105.
Speed: 30 ft. → 40 ft..
Ability scores: STR 16 → 19, DEX 13 → 14, CON 14 → 16, WIS 11 → 15, CHA 10 → 14.
New in its stat block: Draconic Origin, Claw, Dragon’s Breath and Leap.
Gone from it: Longsword, Shortsword, Heavy Crossbow and Fire Breath.
Armor Class
18
Hit Points
105 (14d8 + 42)
Speed
40 ft.
Challenge
5 (1,800 XP)
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
19 (+4)
14 (+2)
16 (+3)
10 (+0)
15 (+2)
14 (+2)
Damage resistances
damage type chosen for the draconic origin trait below
Draconic Origin. The half-dragon is related to a type of dragon associated with one of the following damage types (GM’s choice): Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, or Poison. This choice affects other aspects of the stat block.
Actions
Multiattack. The half-dragon makes two Claw attacks.
Claw. Melee Attack Roll: +7, reach 10 ft. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4) Slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) damage of the type chosen for the Draconic Origin trait.
Dragon’s Breath (Recharge 5–6). Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 14, each creature in a 30-foot Cone. Failure: 28 (8d6) damage of the type chosen for the Draconic Origin trait. Success: Half damage.
Bonus actions
Leap. The half-dragon jumps up to 30 feet by spending 10 feet of movement.
