Adult Gloom Dragon
Huge Dragon, varies
- Armor Class 19(natural armor)
- Hit Points 225(18d12+108)
- Speed 40ft., climb 40ft., fly 80ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 25 (+7) 10 (+0) 23 (+6) 16 (+3) 15 (+2) 19 (+4)
- Saving Throws Dex +6, Con +12, Wis +8, Cha +10
- Skills Perception +8, Stealth +6
- Damage Resistances Necrotic, Cold, Radiant
- Senses blindsight 60ft., darkvision 120ft., passive Perception 18
- Languages Common, Draconic
- Proficiency Bonus +6
- Challenge 19(22000 xp)
Draconic Essence When the dragon deals necrotic damage, it can ignore resistance and immunity.
Dragon Scale The dragon has advantage on saving throws against spells and magical effects. On a successful saving throw, the dragon takes no damage at all
Frightful Presence Any creature hostile to the dragon that starts its turn within 20 feet of the dragon must make a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw, unless the dragon is incapacitated. On a failed save, the creature is frightened until the start of its next turn. If a creature's saving throw is successful, the creature is immune to the dragon's Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours. If creatures are in dim light or darkness, it has disadvantage on this saving throw.
Gloom Sight The dragon's vision is not obscured by magical darkness
Legendary Resistance (3/Day) If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. Upon using this feature, the dragon can reroll a d6. Upon rolling a 5-6, it regains its Gloom Breath.
Shadow Evasion When the dragon fails a saving throw that deals damage while it is in dim light or darkness, the dragon takes half damage and none on a success.
Actions
Multiattack. The dragon can make four attacks, one with its bite, two with its claws, and one with its tail.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, 10ft., one target. Hit: 18(2d10+7) piercing damage + 9(2d8) necrotic damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, 5ft., one target. Hit: 14(3d4+7) slashing damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, 10ft., one target. Hit: 19(2d10+7) bludgeoning damage. On a hit, the target must succeed a DC 20 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Gloom Breath(Recharge 5-6). The dragon exhales a cone of in a 60ft. cone originating from the dragon. Creatures within range must succeed a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed saving throw, creatures take 54 (12d8) necrotic damage and half as much on a success. If this effect is made while in dim light or darkness, creatures have disadvantage on their saving throw and take 78(12d12) necrotic damage instead.
Any source of light within this area is immediately extinguished. This effect ignores any sort of half or three-fourth's cover.
Bonus Actions
Wing Attack The dragon can force all creatures within 10ft. of it to make a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed saving throw, the target is pushed back 10ft. and knocked prone. The dragon can fly up to half its movement speed upon using this feature.
Shadow Scale While in dim light or darkness, the dragon gains 30 temporary hitpoints at the start of each of its turns.
Shadow Stealth While in dim light or darkness, the dragon can use its bonus action to Hide.
Reactions
Gloom Shield While in dim light or darkness, the dragon can use its reaction to halve any damage taken.
Legendary Actions
The dragon can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The dragon regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Wing Attack The dragon can use its Wing Attack feature
Attack(Costs 2 actions) The dragon can make its choice of a bite or tail attack
Inhale(Costs 2 actions) The dragon can roll a d6. Upon rolling a 5-6, the dragon regains its Gloom Breath.
Resilience(Costs 3 actions) The dragon can end one spell or status effect on itself.
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the dragon can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:
- The dragon can cast Summon Shadowspawn at 9th level without having to maintain concentration. The dragon cannot use this ability again until the Shadowspawn is slain or dismissed.
- The dragon can assume a form of pure shadow granting it resistance to all damage until the start of initiative count 20 of the next round.
- The dragon can casts Darkness. When cast in this manner, the darkness occupies a 120ft. cube. The effect lasts until the dragon loses concentration or uses this lair action again.
Regional Effects
The region containing a legendary gloom dragon’s lair is warped by the dragon’s magic, which creates one or more of the following effects:
While at night, any source of darkness is considered to be magical darkness.
While within 6 miles of the dragon's lair, any source of non-magical bright light is dim light and dim light is considered darkness. Sources of non-magical light in this area is no longer considered sunlight.
Shadow creatures immediately spawn within 6 miles of the dragon's lair. These creatures have statistics equal to a Summon Shadowspawn at 5th level using the Dragon's Charisma modifier. These creatures obey the dragon's commands.
When the dragon dies, all of these regional effects immediately fade
Gloom Dragons
Gloom dragons are a terrifying variant of dragon that possesses a natural attunement to shadow magic. The true origins of these dragons are unclear as scholars are constantly debating about their true origins. Some suggest that gloom dragons acquired their gifts from an ancient deity while others believe they came from the Underdark or even the Shadowfell. But regardless of their true origins, gloom dragons possess the uncanny ability to bend shadows to their will and at times even cause them to come to life.
Gloom Dragon's Appearance
As their name suggests, gloom dragons seem appear as a winged shadow with crimson eyes that burn like against their stygian scales. Although their physical characteristics appear to be similar to all other kinds of dragons, their scales have the strange ability of absorbing any sort of light. While in dim light, these scales give the dragon has the unique ability to seemingly vanish from sight, despite their colossal form.
Gloom Dragon Tactics
Gloom dragons are excellent skirmishers that are at their most dangerous in the absence of light. Their primary strengths lie in their ability to manipulate the shadows to throw off their opponent’s senses allowing them to nimbly evade incoming attacks despite their large size. Not only can these dragons manipulate the shadows to protect itself from harm, it can also use the darkness a medium to project its innate magical power. Although dragons are typically known for their terrifying presence, very few can match the level of dread that a gloom dragon inflicts through its irrepressible gloom that preys on its victim’s worse fears. However, its deadliest ability is its gloom breath which unleashes a fog of writhing shadows that lashes anything within its path while extinguishing any source of light within range.