Buy me a coffeeLava Drake, “The Infernal Tyrant: Scourge of the Molten Depths”
“Unleash fiery chaos with the Lava Drake: a molten beast that devours everything in its path!”
The Lava Drake is a fearsome, muscular creature, its large body covered in thick, black scales resembling cooled volcanic rock. Standing nearly 18 feet long and weighing over 3,000 pounds, this dragon-like beast exudes raw power. Its eyes glow like molten lava, and its jagged horns curve backward from its skull, adding to its menacing appearance. Its wings are leathery and scarred, capable of flight, though it prefers the volcanic terrain where it thrives. A tail tipped with spiked ridges swishes violently, often used as a bludgeoning weapon.
In terms of behavior, Lava Drakes are aggressive and territorial, driven by their primal instincts and fiery nature. Despite their limited intelligence compared to true dragons, they are incredibly prideful and often seek the worship or fear of humanoid creatures. They are highly unpredictable and will engage in violent displays to assert dominance. They often lurk beneath molten rock, ambushing prey or sneaking up on intruders, using their Magma Shake to disorient and burn anything nearby. Their ability to burrow through lava gives them a terrifying advantage, emerging suddenly from the earth to strike with molten fury.
Lava Drakes typically inhabit active volcanoes, geothermal rifts, and other areas of intense heat where lava flows freely. These environments are ideal for their fiery abilities and provide ample space for their territorial roaming. The creatures are often solitary, though they may form pairs during mating season or even gather in small groups when food is abundant. Their lairs are often hidden deep within volcanic caves or lava tubes, where they can submerge themselves in molten rock for long periods, recovering and waiting for their next victim.
Their modus operandi involves ambushes and intimidation. By submerging themselves in molten rock or lava, they can surprise any unwary creature nearby, using their Pyroclastic Vomit to shower enemies with explosive molten rock. When engaged in combat, they are relentless, using their physical strength in tandem with fiery breath and powerful tail swipes. Lava Drakes are drawn to conflict and chaos, thriving in environments where destruction reigns. Their motivation is simple: to establish themselves as the dominant force in their volcanic domain and to be revered—or feared—by those around them.
Lava Drake 5e
Lava Drake Pathfinder
Lava Drake
Large Dragon, Neutral Evil
Armor Class: 17 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 136 (16d10 + 48)
Speed: 30 ft., burrow 30 ft. (lava only), fly 60 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 (+6) | 14 (+2) | 16 (+3) | 8 (-1) | 12 (+1) | 10 (+0) |
Saving Throws: Dex +6, Con +7, Wis +5
Skills: Perception +7, Stealth +4 (+8 when submerged in lava)
Damage Resistances: Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities: Fire
Condition Immunities: Paralyzed, Charmed
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Tremorsense 30 ft., Passive Perception 17
Languages: Draconic
Challenge: 9 (5,000 XP)
Proficiency Bonus: +4
Traits
Molten Core (Aura)
The Lava Drake emits an intense heat in a 10-foot radius around it. Any creature that ends its turn within this aura takes 7 (2d6) fire damage. Nonmagical flammable objects in this area ignite.
Magma Walker
The Lava Drake can move through lava or molten rock without impediment and takes no damage from it. While submerged in molten rock, it has total cover, and its Stealth checks gain a +4 bonus.
Vulnerability to Cold
If the Lava Drake takes cold damage, its Molten Core Aura is suppressed until the end of its next turn, and its speed is halved.
Actions
Multiattack
The Lava Drake 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: 15 (2d8 + 6) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) fire damage. - Claw: Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 12 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage plus 4 (1d8) fire damage. - Tail Swipe: Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 14 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
Pyroclastic Breath (Recharge 5–6)
The Lava Drake exhales a burst of molten rock in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw, taking 35 (10d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success.
- After the attack, the ground in the cone becomes lava-coated for 1 minute. Any creature that starts its turn in the area or moves into it takes 7 (2d6) fire damage.
Magma Shake (Recharge 6)
As an action, the Lava Drake violently shakes its body, flinging molten rock in all directions. Each creature within 20 feet must make a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw or take 21 (6d6) fire damage and be knocked prone. On a successful save, the creature takes half damage and isn’t knocked prone.
Bonus Actions
Speed Surge (3/Day)
The Lava Drake can use its bonus action to take the Dash or Disengage action. This reflects its ability to surge with fiery energy, moving faster or escaping danger.
Reactions
Molten Eruption
When the Lava Drake is hit with a melee attack, it can cause molten rock to erupt around it. The attacker must make a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw or take 14 (4d6) fire damage.
Tactics
- Opening Moves: The Lava Drake prefers to ambush foes by burrowing through lava to emerge suddenly, often starting combat with its Pyroclastic Breath to scatter enemies and create difficult terrain.
- Sustained Combat: It uses its Molten Core Aura to wear down melee attackers while circling around for bite and claw attacks.
- Crowd Control: The Magma Shake can disrupt clustered opponents, particularly spellcasters.
- Escape Plan: If the battle turns against it, the Drake uses Speed Surge to escape into nearby lava, where it can regenerate and re-engage on its terms.
Legendary Action Option (Optional Upgrade)
Lava Surge (Costs 2 Actions)
The Lava Drake summons a surge of lava within a 15-foot radius around it. Creatures in the area must make a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw or take 10 (3d6) fire damage and have their speed reduced by 10 feet until the end of their next turn.
Lava Drake CR 9
This muscular two-legged dragon is covered with scales of thick volcanic stone.
XP 6,400
NE Large dragon (fire)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +15
DEFENSE
AC 22, touch 12, flat-footed 19 (+3 Dex, +10 natural, –1 size)
hp 115 (11d12+44)
Fort +11, Ref +10, Will +8
Immune fire, paralysis, sleep
Weaknesses vulnerable to cold
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., burrow (lava only) 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (average)
Melee bite +17 (1d8+7), 2 claws +17 (1d6+7), tail slap +15 (1d8+3)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks magma shake, pyroclastic vomit
STATISTICS
Str 25, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 9, Wis 12, Cha 11
Base Atk +11; CMB +19 (+21 bull rush); CMD 32 (34 vs. bull rush)
Feats Awesome Blow, Flyby Attack, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Initiative, Multiattack, Power Attack
Skills Climb +21, Fly +15, Intimidate +14, Perception +15, Stealth +13 (+21 submerged in molten rock or metal); Racial Modifiers +8 Stealth submerged in molten rock or metal
Languages Draconic
SQ hold breath, speed surge
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Magma Shake (Ex)
Whenever a lava drake exits from being submerged in molten rock (either magma or lava), on the next round as a full-round action, it can shake its body, flicking a fine spray of scalding molten rock in every direction. All creatures within a 30-foot radius of the lava drake take 5d6 points of fire damage from the shower of scalding rock; a successful DC 18 Reflex save halves the damage. Performing a magma shake clears the drake’s scales of all excess molten rock and it must resubmerge itself in order to use this attack again. The save DC is Dexterity-based.
Pyroclastic Vomit (Ex)
As a standard action, a lava drake can vomit forth a ball of molten rock that explodes upon striking a target, showering the target and adjacent creatures in magma. This attack has a range of 100 feet, and deals 6d6 points of fire damage (Reflex DC 19 half) to the primary target and 3d6 points of fire damage to any creatures within 20 feet of the primary target.
The magma continues to burn for 1d3 rounds, dealing an additional 3d6 points of fire damage per round to the primary target and 1d6 points of fire damage per round to any secondary targets. After the magma cools, it crumbles to dust. Once a lava drake has used its pyroclastic vomit, it cannot do so again for 1d6 rounds. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Speed Surge (Ex)
Three times per day as a swift action, a lava drake can draw on its draconic heritage for a boost of strength and speed that allows it to take an addition move action that round.
ECOLOGY
Environment warm forests, hills, or mountains
Organization solitary, pair, or rampage (3–12)
Treasure standard
The deviant and destructive cousins of primal magma dragons, lava drakes rise from smoldering volcanic crevasses to terrorize and devour those creatures weaker than themselves. While far less intelligent that their draconic kin, they are equally arrogant and seek out the adoration of humanoids. They can and often do submerge themselves in molten rock, burrowing through the lava to sneak up on prey, or to provide a dramatic display of power to those who worship them. Thick, black-crusted scales cover a lava drake’s body. Stockier than other drakes, adults can grow up to 18 feet in length and weigh over 3,000 pounds.
Section 15: Copyright Notice
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 4 © 2013, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors: Dennis Baker, Jesse Benner, Savannah Broadway, Ross Byers, Adam Daigle, Tim Hitchcock, Tracy Hurley, James Jacobs, Matt James, Rob McCreary, Jason Nelson, Tom Phillips, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Sean K Reynolds, F. Wesley Schneider, Tork Shaw, and Russ Taylor.