Ancient Brass Dragon

Gargantuan Dragon (Metallic), Chaotic Good

AC: 20

Initiative: +12 (22)

HP: 332 (19d20 + 133)

Speed: 40 ft., burrow 40 ft., fly 80 ft.

STR
27 (+8)
DEX
10 (+0)
CON
25 (+7)
INT
16 (+3)
WIS
15 (+2)
CHA
22 (+6)

Saving Throws: Dex +6, Wis +8

Skills: History +9, Perception +14, Persuasion +12, Stealth +6

Immunities: fire

Senses: Blindsight 60 ft., Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 24

Languages: Common, Draconic

CR: 20 (XP 25,000, or 33,000 in lair; PB +6)

Habitat: Desert

Treasure: Arcana

Legendary Resistance (4/Day, or 5/Day in Lair).

If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Spellcasting.

The dragon casts one of the following spells, requiring no Material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 20):

At will: Detect Magic, Minor Illusion, Scorching Ray (level 3 version), Shapechange (Beast or Humanoid form only, no Temporary Hit Points gained from the spell, and no Concentration or Temporary Hit Points required to maintain the spell), Speak with Animals

1/day each: Control Weather, Detect Thoughts

Actions

Multiattack.

The dragon makes three Rend attacks. It can replace one attack with a use of (A) Sleep Breath or (B) Spellcasting to cast Scorching Ray (level 3 version).

Rend.

Melee Attack Roll: +14, reach 15 ft. Hit: 19 (2d10 + 8) Slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) Fire damage.

Fire Breath (Recharge 5-6).

Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 21, each creature in a 90-foot-long, 5-foot-wide Line. Failure: 58 (13d8) Fire damage. Success: Half damage.

Sleep Breath.

Constitution Saving Throw: DC 21, each creature in a 90-foot Cone. Failure: The target has the Incapacitated condition until the end of its next turn, at which point it repeats the save. Failure: The target has the Unconscious condition for 10 minutes. This effect ends for the target if it takes damage or a creature within 5 feet of it takes an action to wake it.

Legendary Actions

Legendary Action Uses: 3 (4 in Lair). Immediately after another creature's turn, this creature can expend a use to take one of the following actions; it regains all expended uses at the start of each of its turns.

Blazing Light.

The dragon uses Spellcasting to cast Scorching Ray (level 3 version).

Pounce.

The dragon moves up to half its Speed, and it makes one Rend attack.

Scorching Sands.

Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 20, one creature the dragon can see within 120 feet. Failure: 36 (8d8) Fire damage, and the target's Speed is halved until the end of its next turn. Failure or Success: The dragon can't take this action again until the start of its next turn.

Regional Effects

The area containing an adult or ancient brass dragon's lair is altered by its presence, creating the following effects:

  • Mirages.

    While in its lair, the dragon can cast Major Image, requiring no Material components and using the same spellcasting ability as its Spellcasting action. When casting the spell this way, the spell's range is 1 mile, and the dragon doesn't need to see the spot where the illusion appears.

  • Refreshing Water.

    Water within 1 mile of the lair is magically refreshing. A creature that drinks such water gains 2d4 Temporary Hit Points, and the dragon is immediately aware of the creature's presence.

If the dragon dies or moves its lair elsewhere, these effects end immediately.

Find this creature in the encounter builder

Ancient Brass Dragon

Source: Monster Manual (2025), p. 56 - Licenses and attribution