Multiattack. The dragon makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) fire damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage.
Fire Breath (Recharge 5–6). The dragon exhales fire in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw, taking 56 (16d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
How young red dragons fight
A young red dragon is a Large, CR 10 dragon with 178 hit points, AC 18 and immunity to fire. Its Fire Breath fills a 30-foot cone with 16d6 fire (56 on average), DC 17 Dexterity save for half, and recharges on a 5 or 6. Otherwise it bites (2d10 + 6 piercing plus 1d6 fire, with 10-foot reach) and claws twice (2d6 + 6 each), about 46 damage a turn if everything hits.
It’s the first red dragon with real power but not yet a legendary one: no Frightful Presence, no Legendary Resistance, no legendary actions. That makes it the dragon mid-level parties can actually outfight, especially if they can make it land.
Running a young red dragon at the table
Fly and breathe. It flies 80 feet. Breathe, then stay aloft out of reach until the breath recharges, diving in to bite when someone is alone.
Use its arrogance. Young red dragons are greedy and vain. It will talk, gloat and demand treasure before fighting, which is time the party can use.
Don’t let it die. With Intelligence 14 it knows when it’s losing. A wounded young dragon that escapes becomes the adult the party meets ten levels later.
Add minions. Kobolds, cultists or a few fire elementals keep the party from ganging up on it.
Common questions
How much damage does a young red dragon’s breath do?
16d6 fire, 56 on average, in a 30-foot cone. A DC 17 Dexterity save halves it, and fire resistance halves it again.
Does a young red dragon have legendary actions?
No. Legendary actions, Legendary Resistance and Frightful Presence start with the adult red dragon.
How hard is a young red dragon fight?
CR 10, worth 5,900 XP. For four characters, the Dungeon Master’s Guide’s encounter math makes it Deadly at 6th level, Hard at 7th and 8th, and Medium at 9th and 10th.
How do you beat a young red dragon?
Fire resistance (Protection from Energy), spreading out so one cone can’t catch everyone, and something to ground it or hit it in the air. It has no Legendary Resistance, so a single Hold Monster or Banishment can end the fight.
CR 6. A dragon-like flyer with a poisonous stinger, for a party not ready for a real dragon.
How many young red dragons for a fight?
A young red dragon is worth 5,900 XP. Using the 2024 encounter budgets (SRD 5.2), this is how many young red 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 level
Low
Moderate
High
7th
—
—
1
8th
—
1
1
9th
—
1
1
10th
1
1
2
11th
1
1
2
12th
1
2
3
13th
1
2
3
14th
1
3
4
15th
2
3
5
16th
2
4
6
17th
3
4
7
18th
3
5
9
19th
3
7
11
20th
4
8
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 young red dragon compares at CR 10
Against the 5 other challenge 10 monsters in the SRD 5.1, the young red dragon has more hit points than 3 of them, which makes it tougher than most at its CR. See every CR 10 monster.
Statistic
Young Red Dragon
CR 10 average
Armor Class
18
17.4
Hit points
178
151
Best attack bonus
+10
+9
Young Red Dragon 2024 stat block
The 2024 Monster Manual revised the young red dragon, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new stat block. What changed:
