Buy me a coffeeRed Dragon
Red dragons are the most covetous of all dragons, forever seeking to increase their treasure hoards. They are exceptionally vain, which is reflected in their proud bearing and disdainful expression.
The small scales of a wyrmling red dragon are a bright glossy scarlet, making the dragon easily spotted by predators and hunters, so it stays underground and does not venture outside until it is more able to take care of itself.
Toward the end of young age, the scales turn a deeper red, and the glossy texture is replaced by a smooth, dull finish. As the dragon grows older, the scales become large, thick, and as strong as metal. The neck frill and wings are an ash blue or purple-gray toward the edges, becoming darker with age. The pupils of a red dragon fade as it ages; the oldest red dragons have eyes that resemble molten lava orbs.
Source(s) 3.5E Monster Manual I, 3E Monster Manual I, 3E Player’s Handbook, Monstrous Compendium Volume 1, 1E Monster Manual 1, Companion Boxed
Dragon (Fire)
Environment: Warm mountains
Organization: Wyrmling, very young, young, juvenile, and young adult: solitary or clutch (2-5); adult, mature adult, old, very old, ancient, wyrm, or great wyrm: solitary, pair, or family (1-2 and 2-5 offspring)
Challenge Ratings: Wyrmling 4; very young 5; young 7; juvenile 10; young adult 13; adult 15; mature adult 18; old 20; very old 21; ancient 23; wyrm 24; great wyrm 26
Treasure: Triple standard
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
Advancement: Wyrmling 8-9 HD; very young 11-12 HD; young 14-15 HD; juvenile 17-18 HD; young adult 20-21 HD; adult 23-24 HD; mature adult 26-27 HD; old 29-30 HD; very old 32-33 HD; ancient 35-36 HD; wyrm 38-39 HD; great wyrm 41+ HD Level Adjustment: Wyrmling +4; very young +5; young +6; others –
| Red Dragons by Age | |||||||||||||||
| Age | Size | Hit Dice (hp) | Strength | Dexterity | Constitution | Intelligence | Wisdom | Charisma | Base Attack/Grapple | Attack | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Breath Weapon (DC) | Frightful Presence DC |
| Wyrmling | M | 7d12+14 (59) | 17 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 10 | +7/+10 | +10 | +7 | +5 | +5 | 2d10 (15) | – |
| Very young | L | 10d12+30 (95) | 21 | 10 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 12 | +10/+19 | +14 | +10 | +7 | +8 | 4d10 (18) | – |
| Young | L | 13d12+39 (123) | 25 | 10 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 12 | +13/+24 | +19 | +11 | +8 | +9 | 6d10 (19) | – |
| Juvenile | L | 16d12+64 (168) | 29 | 10 | 19 | 14 | 15 | 14 | +16/+29 | +24 | +14 | +10 | +12 | 8d10 (22) | – |
| Young adult | H | 19d12+95 (218) | 31 | 10 | 21 | 14 | 15 | 14 | +19/+37 | +27 | +16 | +11 | +13 | 10d10 (24) | 21 |
| Adult | H | 22d12+110 (253) | 33 | 10 | 21 | 16 | 19 | 16 | +22/+41 | +31 | +18 | +13 | +17 | 12d10 (26) | 24 |
| Mature adult | H | 25d12+150 (312) | 33 | 10 | 23 | 18 | 19 | 18 | +25/+44 | +34 | +20 | +14 | +18 | 14d10 (28) | 26 |
| Old | G | 28d12+196 (378) | 35 | 10 | 25 | 20 | 21 | 20 | +28/+52 | +36 | +23 | +16 | +21 | 16d10 (31) | 29 |
| Very old | G | 31d12+248 (449) | 37 | 10 | 27 | 22 | 23 | 22 | +31/+56 | +40 | +25 | +17 | +23 | 18d10 (33) | 31 |
| Ancient | G | 34d12+306 (527) | 39 | 10 | 29 | 24 | 25 | 24 | +34/+60 | +44 | +28 | +19 | +26 | 20d10 (36) | 34 |
| Wyrm | G | 37d12+370 (610) | 41 | 10 | 31 | 24 | 25 | 24 | +37/+64 | +48 | +30 | +20 | +27 | 22d10 (38) | 35 |
| Great wyrm | C | 40d12+400 (660) | 45 | 10 | 31 | 26 | 27 | 26 | +40/+73 | +49 | +32 | +22 | +30 | 24d10 (40) | 38 |
| Red Dragon Abilities by Age | ||||||
| Age | Speed | Initiative | AC | Special Abilities | Caster Level | SR |
| Wyrmling | 40 ft., Fly 150 ft. (poor) | +0 | 16 (+6 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 16 | Immunity to fire, vulnerability to cold | – | – |
| Very young | 40 ft., Fly 150 ft. (poor) | +0 | 18 (-1 size, +9 natural), touch 9, flat-footed 18 | – | – | |
| Young | 40 ft., Fly 150 ft. (poor) | +0 | 21 (-1 size, +12 natural), touch 9, flat-footed 21 | 1st | – | |
| Juvenile | 40 ft., Fly 150 ft. (poor) | +0 | 24 (-1 size, +15 natural), touch 9, flat-footed 24 | locate object | 3rd | – |
| Young adult | 40 ft., Fly 150 ft. (poor) | +0 | 26 (-2 size, +18 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 26 | DR 5/magic | 5th | 19 |
| Adult | 40 ft., Fly 150 ft. (poor) | +0 | 29 (-2 size, +21 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 29 | 7th | 21 | |
| Mature adult | 40 ft., Fly 150 ft. (poor) | +0 | 32 (-2 size, +24 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 32 | DR 10/magic | 9th | 23 |
| Old | 40 ft., Fly 200 ft. (clumsy) | +0 | 33 (-4 size, +27 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 33 | suggestion | 11th | 24 |
| Very old | 40 ft., Fly 200 ft. (clumsy) | +0 | 36 (-4 size, +30 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 36 | DR 15/magic | 13th | 26 |
| Ancient | 40 ft., Fly 200 ft. (clumsy) | +0 | 39 (-4 size, +33 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 39 | find the path | 15th | 28 |
| Wyrm | 40 ft., Fly 200 ft. (clumsy) | +0 | 42 (-4 size, +36 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 42 | DR 20/magic | 17th | 30 |
| Great wyrm | 40 ft., Fly 200 ft. (clumsy) | +0 | 41 (-8 size, +39 natural), touch 2, flat-footed 41 | discern location | 19th | 32 |
*Can also cast cleric spells and those from the Chaos, Evil, and Fire domains as arcane spells.
Combat
Because red dragons are so confident, they seldom pause to Appraise an adversary. On spotting a target, they make a snap decision whether to attack, using one of many strategies worked out ahead of time. A red dragon lands to attack small, weak creatures with its claws and bite rather than obliterating them with its breath weapon, so as not to destroy any treasure they might be carrying.
Breath Weapon (Su): A red dragon has one type of breath weapon, a cone of fire.
locate object (Sp): A juvenile or older red dragon can use this ability as the spell of the same name, once per day per age category.
Other Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day-suggestion (old or older);
1/day-find the path (ancient or older), discern location (great wyrm).
Skills: Appraise, Bluff, and Jump are considered class skills for red dragons.