5.5e / 2024 · 5e / 2014 · Pathfinder 1E · D&D 3.5e

Dragonhide Plate

Dragonhide Plate is a nonmetallic full-plate armour in Pathfinder 1E and D&D 3.5e. The two 5e rulesets do not use this exact item as a core SRD entry; their closest core dragon-armour item is Dragon Scale Mail, which has different mechanics.

Explore: Magic Armour & Shields · Full Plate · Druid

At a Glance

Item	Dragonhide Plate
Theme	Full plate made from dragonhide rather than metal
5e status	No direct core item; Dragon Scale Mail is the nearest official analogue
Pathfinder / 3.5e	Nonmagical masterwork full plate made from dragonhide
Best use	Heavy armour for characters whose restrictions or traditions make metal armour unsuitable

D&D 5.5e / 2024
D&D 5e / 2014
Pathfinder 1e
D&D 3.5e

5.5e / 2024

No direct core Dragonhide Plate item. The thematic core analogue is Dragon Scale Mail: Very Rare Scale Mail requiring Attunement, granting +1 AC, Advantage on saves against dragon breath weapons, resistance based on the dragon type, and limited magical detection of a nearby dragon of that type. This is not a conversion of the 3.x Dragonhide Plate.

5e / 2014

No direct core Dragonhide Plate item. Dragon Scale Mail is the closest core analogue: Very Rare Scale Mail requiring attunement, +1 AC, advantage on saves against Frightful Presence and dragon breath weapons, resistance determined by dragon type, and limited dragon detection. Do not substitute those benefits into a 3.x Dragonhide Plate stat line.

Pathfinder 1E

Price: 3,300 gp · Aura: none (nonmagical) · Weight: 50 lb.

This suit of full plate is made from dragonhide rather than metal. It is otherwise equivalent to masterwork full plate, allowing characters whose restrictions concern metal armour to use it where their class rules permit. Its dragon origin can also matter socially and narratively.

D&D 3.5e

Price: 3,300 gp · Aura: none (nonmagical).

This suit of full plate is made from dragonhide instead of metal and is otherwise identical to masterwork full plate. Resolve druid armour restrictions and dragonhide special-material rules using 3.5e.

Why Dragonhide Plate Matters

Dragonhide Plate keeps the battlefield role of full plate while changing the material identity of the armour. In the 3.x rules that distinction can matter to characters who avoid metal armour but still want the protection of a full harness.

Run It at the Table

5e: do not silently replace Dragonhide Plate with Dragon Scale Mail. The latter is a different magic item with its own dragon-linked benefits.
Pathfinder / 3.5e: treat the suit as masterwork full plate made from dragonhide, then apply the edition’s class and material rules.
Material matters: the armour’s identity comes from what it is made from, not from an automatic elemental resistance or breath-weapon benefit.

Adventure and Treasure Use

A suit of Dragonhide Plate immediately raises questions about the dragon it came from, who made it and whether anyone still claims the hide. That makes it useful treasure even before any magical enhancement is added.