Ice Drake
“Discover the Frosty Terror That Can Shape-Shift into a Fearsome Dragon—Meet the Ice Drake!”
Ice Drake: The Frost-Bound Predator
Appearance:
An Ice Drake is a slender, serpentine creature resembling a young white dragon, with glistening, icy white scales that shimmer like frost in the light. Its sapphire eyes pierce through the cold air, and its claws are tipped with sharp, icy blue nails. A chilling aura emanates from its body, making the air around it frigid.
Behavior:
Ice Drakes are cunning and aggressive predators, often hunting in pairs or small groups. They are known for their love of aerial ambushes, using their environment to their advantage. Though smaller than true dragons, they exhibit a fierce territorial nature, fiercely defending their lairs and hunting grounds from intruders.
Habitat:
These creatures inhabit the cold, desolate regions of high mountains and frozen tundras, where they nest in icy caves or glacier crevices. During the winter months, they are more commonly seen, often hunting near the edges of frozen forests or icy plains.
Modus Operandi:
The Ice Drake typically begins its attack from the air, using its breath weapon to unleash a cone of frigid cold on its prey. It then dives in with sharp claws and fangs to finish the job, using its agility and flight to avoid retaliation. If threatened, it can transform into a more fearsome draconic form to intimidate or overpower its foes.
Motivation:
Driven by a primal instinct to hunt and dominate, the Ice Drake seeks to expand its territory and hoard valuable treasures from fallen foes. Its cold-blooded nature fuels a desire to spread fear and assert its power over any creature that dares to encroach on its frozen domain.
Ice Drake 5e
Ice Drake Pathfinder
Ice Drake
Small Dragon (Cold), Chaotic Evil
Armor Class: 16 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 45 (7d6+14)
Speed: 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA
14 (+2) | 16 (+3) | 15 (+2) | 10 (+0) | 12 (+1) | 10 (+0)
Saving Throws: Dex +5, Con +4, Wis +3
Skills: Perception +5, Stealth +7
Damage Resistances: Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities: Cold
Condition Immunities: Frightened, Exhaustion
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 15
Languages: Draconic
Challenge: 4 (1,100 XP)
Actions
Multiattack. The Ice Drake makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) cold damage.
- Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage plus 3 (1d6) cold damage.
Breath Weapon (Recharge 5-6). The Ice Drake exhales an icy blast in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw, taking 21 (6d6) cold damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Frostbite (1/Day). The Ice Drake targets one creature it can see within 30 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed by intense cold for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Legendary Actions
The Ice Drake can take 1 legendary action, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time, and it can only be used at the end of another creature’s turn. The Ice Drake regains its legendary action at the start of its turn.
- Wing Attack (Costs 1 Action). The Ice Drake beats its wings. Each creature within 10 feet of the drake must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or take 7 (1d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The drake can then fly up to half its flying speed.
- Chilling Gaze (Costs 1 Action). The Ice Drake fixes its icy gaze on one creature it can see within 60 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or take 7 (2d6) cold damage and be frightened until the end of its next turn.
Tactics
- Aerial Ambush: The Ice Drake prefers to engage from the air, using its Breath Weapon to strike multiple foes at once before swooping in for melee attacks. Its Wing Attack allows it to stay mobile and avoid being surrounded.
- Hit-and-Run: With its Fly speed and Wing Attack legendary action, the Ice Drake strikes quickly and retreats to a safe distance, forcing its enemies to chase it through treacherous terrain.
- Cold Terrain: The Ice Drake is most dangerous in cold environments where it can use the terrain to its advantage, flying above frozen lakes or glaciers to lure enemies into hazardous areas. It uses Frostbite to immobilize key targets, ensuring they remain vulnerable to its deadly breath weapon.
Lair Actions
When fighting inside its lair, an Ice Drake can invoke the ambient magic to take lair actions. On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the Ice Drake takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects:
- Icy Wind. A chilling wind fills a 20-foot radius centered on a point the drake can see within 60 feet. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or take 5 (1d10) cold damage and have its speed reduced by 10 feet until the end of its next turn.
- Frozen Ground. The ground in a 30-foot radius around the drake becomes slick ice. Each creature on the ground must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or fall prone. This effect lasts until the Ice Drake uses this lair action again or until the drake dies.
Ecology
Environment: Cold hills, mountains, and frozen tundras
Organization: Solitary, Pair, or Clutch (2-4)
Treasure: Standard, often frozen or hidden within icy lairs
Description:
Ice Drakes are cunning and ruthless predators, using their mastery of cold and flight to dominate their frozen territories. Their shimmering scales and frost-laden breath make them a formidable foe for any adventurer brave enough to venture into their icy domains.
This slender creature looks like a small immature white dragon with icy white scales and sapphire eyes. A chill hangs in the air around the creature. Its claws are sharpened and have icy blue nails
Ice Drake CR 3
XP 800
CE Small dragon (cold)
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +5
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 17 (+1 Dex, +6 natural, +1 size)
hp 22 (3d12+3)
Fort +4; Ref +4; Will +2
Immune cold, paralysis, sleep; SR 18
Weaknesses vulnerability to fire
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., fly 50 ft. (average)
Melee bite +6 (1d6+1), 2 claws +5 (1d4+1)
Special Attacks breath weapon (20 ft. cone, DC 12, 2d8 cold)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with bite)
Spell-like Abilities (CL 7th):
2/day—fear, sleep
TACTICS
An ice drake opens combat from the air using its icy breath weapon. If it expends its breath weapon, it relies on its claws and bite to finish off any remaining opponents.
STATISTICS
Str 13, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 7, Wis 8, Cha 10
Base Atk +3; CMB +3; CMD 14 (18 vs. trip)
Feats Flyby Attack, Weapon Focus (bite)
Skills Bluff +6, Escape Artist +4, Fly +9, Perception +5
Languages Draconic
SQ alternate form 2/day (form of the dragon I [white dragon only])
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Alternate Form (Su)
Twice per day, an ice drake can assume the shape of a young white dragon for 2 hours.
ECOLOGY
Environment cold hills and mountains
Organization pair, clutch (2–5), or family (6–8)
Treasure standard
Ice drakes are found in cold mountainous caves and caverns. Most encounters are with a solitary drake. Only in the winter months is it common to find a mated pair or family. An ice drake’s scales are white, and it is often mistaken for a young white dragon. Ice drakes range from 3 feet to 6 feet long.
Section 15: Copyright Notice
Ice Drake from the Tome of Horrors Complete, Copyright 2011, Necromancer Games, Inc., published and distributed by Frog God Games; Author Scott Greene, based on original material by Mike Ferguson.