Ether Drake

Large Dragon, Neutral

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Armor Class:

• AC 23 (Natural Armor)

Hit Points:

• 138 (12d12 + 60)

Speed:

• 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
30 (+10)	15 (+2)	21 (+5)	8 (-1)	15 (+2)	14 (+2)

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Saving Throws:

• Dex +10, Con +13, Wis +10

Skills:

• Perception +17, Stealth +13, Survival +17, Intimidation +17

Damage Immunities:

• Paralysis, Sleep

Condition Immunities:

• Paralyzed, Unconscious

Senses:

• Blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius), Darkvision 60 ft., Scent, Lifesense 60 ft.

Languages:

• Draconic, Telepathy 60 ft.

Challenge Rating:

• 10 (5,900 XP)

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TRAITS

• Legendary Resistance (3/Day):
  • If the Ether Drake fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead, reflecting its inherent resilience and adaptability.
• Ethereal Shift:
  • As a bonus action, the Ether Drake can shift into the Ethereal Plane, becoming incorporeal and effectively evading physical attacks. It can remain there until it chooses to re-enter the Material Plane at the start of its next turn. While in the Ethereal Plane, it can use its Speed Surge ability without expending a use.
• Lifesense:
  • The Ether Drake can sense the life forces of creatures within 60 feet of it, even if they are invisible or hidden. This ability allows it to track down enemies or prey with ease, making it a formidable predator.
• Aetheric Senses:
  • The dragon has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell, allowing it to detect hidden or stealthy creatures effectively.

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ACTIONS

• Multiattack:
  • The Ether Drake makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its tail slap. It uses Etheric Breath if available instead of one of its melee attacks.
• Bite:
  • Melee Weapon Attack: +21 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
  • Hit: 3d6 + 15 piercing damage. The bite also threatens a critical hit on a roll of 19-20 and has a ×3 multiplier against the target. If the target is incorporeal, it takes full damage instead of half.
• Tail Slap:
  • Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
  • Hit: 2d6 + 5 bludgeoning damage.

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SPECIAL ATTACKS

• Etheric Breath (Recharge 5-6):
  • The Ether Drake exhales a 60-foot cone of psycho-etheric energy. Each creature in that area must make a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 6d10 psychic damage and is stunned until the end of its next turn. On a successful save, it takes half damage and is not stunned. This breath attack is particularly devastating against creatures with low Wisdom scores, exploiting their mental vulnerabilities.
• Etheric Bite:
  • The Ether Drake’s bite attack applies 1-1/2 times its Strength modifier to damage dealt and deals full damage to incorporeal creatures. This ability makes the Ether Drake a serious threat to both corporeal and incorporeal foes alike.
• Speed Surge (Recharge 3/Day):
  • As a bonus action, the Ether Drake can draw on its draconic heritage for a surge of strength and speed, allowing it to take an additional move action on its turn. This ability can be used to reposition in combat, escape danger, or close the distance on an enemy.

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TACTICS

• Hit and Run:
  • The Ether Drake prefers a hit-and-run style of combat. It uses its Speed Surge to close the distance on enemies, striking with its bite or tail slap, then retreating or shifting into the Ethereal Plane to avoid retaliation. This tactic allows it to maximize damage while minimizing risk.
• Area Control:
  • By utilizing its Etheric Breath, the Ether Drake can control the battlefield, stunning multiple foes and creating opportunities for escape or regrouping. It targets clustered enemies to maximize the impact of its breath attack.
• Psychic Communication:
  • The Ether Drake can establish a mindlink with allies or other creatures within its telepathy range. This allows it to coordinate ambushes, share information about enemy positions, and devise tactical strategies, enhancing its effectiveness in combat.
• Psychic Manipulation:
  • If facing a particularly challenging opponent, the Ether Drake may focus its attacks on the enemy spellcasters or ranged attackers first, using Etheric Breath to disrupt their plans and disable their capabilities.

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LEGENDARY ACTIONS

The Ether Drake 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 Ether Drake regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Detect: The Ether Drake makes a Wisdom (Perception) check, allowing it to sense hidden enemies or gather intelligence on the battlefield.
• Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions): The Ether Drake beats its wings. Each creature within 10 feet of it must succeed on a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw or take 2d6 + 10 bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The Ether Drake can then fly up to half its flying speed, repositioning itself strategically while damaging adjacent foes.
• Ethereal Shift (Costs 2 Actions): The Ether Drake shifts into the Ethereal Plane, becoming incorporeal and evading physical attacks. This ability allows the dragon to reposition itself or escape a dangerous situation, making it a master of evasion.

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LORE & BACKGROUND

• Mythical Origins: Ether Drakes are paragons among dragons, once roaming the Ethereal Plane and feasting on the aether at the borders of the Elemental Planes. Their majestic forms and ethereal abilities make them sought-after allies for spellcasters and those who understand the mysteries of the universe.
• Behavior: Unlike many other dragons, Ether Drakes are not malicious; they are generally content to prey on animals and defend their territory from unwelcome intruders. They are known to be intelligent and can communicate telepathically with those who earn their trust.
• Territorial Nature: Ether Drakes fiercely guard their territory and will use their psychic abilities to coordinate with each other when faced with intruders, ensuring they remain the apex predators in their domain.

Ether Drake

Bony plates cover the upper body of this dragon. Its lower frame has a glassy sheen, and bone wings protrude from its back.

Paragons among their kind, ether drakes once roamed the Ethereal Plane, where they gorged themselves on the aether at the edges of the Elemental Planes. In time, they returned to the Material Plane for reasons unknown. Lacking the malicious nature of most drakes, ether drakes are generally content to prey on animals.

When an unwelcome creature enters their territory, ether drakes use their psychic abilities to create mental links between others of their kind to coordinate and strategize.

Ether drakes measure 16 feet long from head to tail and weigh around 2,000 pounds.

Ether Drake CR 10

XP 9,600
N Large dragon (aether)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent, lifesense 60 ft.; Perception +17

DEFENSE

AC 23, touch 11, flat-footed 21 (+2 Dex, +12 natural, –1 size)
hp 138 (12d12+60)
Fort +13, Ref +10, Will +12
Immune paralysis, sleep; SR 21

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (perfect)
Melee bite +21 (3d6+15/17–20/×3), tail slap +16 (2d6+5)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Psychic Magic (CL 12th; concentration +14)

10 PE—burst of adrenaline (1 PE), condensed ether (4 PE), mindlink (1 PE)

Special Attacks ether bite

STATISTICS

Str 30, Dex 15, Con 21, Int 8, Wis 15, Cha 14
Base Atk +12; CMB +23; CMD 35
Feats Critical Focus, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lunge, Power Attack
Skills Fly +23, Intimidate +17, Perception +17, Stealth +13, Survival +17
Languages Draconic; telepathy 60 ft.
SQ etheric shift, speed surge

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Ether Bite (Ex)

An ether drake applies 1-1/2 × its Strength modifier to damage dealt by its bite attack, and its bite threatens a critical hit on a roll of 19–20 and has a ×3 multiplier. An ether drake’s bite deals full damage to incorporeal creatures.

Etheric Shift (Ex)

An ether drake can become ethereal (as the etherealness spell) once every 3 rounds as a swift action. The drake can activate this effect as a free action whenever it uses its speed surge ability, regardless of the number of rounds since the last time it used etheric shift. Once this ability is activated, the drake remains ethereal for 1 round.

Speed Surge (Ex)

Three times per day as a swift action, an ether drake can draw on its draconic heritage for a boost of strength and speed that allows it to take an additional move action in that round.

ECOLOGY

Environment any
Organization solitary, pair, or rampage (3–6)
Treasure standard

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 5 © 2015, Paizo Inc.; Authors: Dennis Baker, Jesse Benner, John Bennett, Logan Bonner, Creighton Broadhurst, Robert Brookes, Benjamin Bruck, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, Thurston Hillman, Eric Hindley, Joe Homes, James Jacobs, Amanda Hamon Kunz, Ben McFarland, Jason Nelson, Thom Phillips, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Alistair Rigg, Alex Riggs, David N. Ross, Wes Schneider, David Schwartz, Mark Seifter, Mike Shel, James L. Sutter, and Linda Zayas-Palmer.