Ancient Bronze Dragon

Gargantuan Dragon (Metallic), Lawful Good

AC: 22

Initiative: +14 (24)

HP: 444 (24d20 + 192)

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

STR: 29 (+9)
DEX: 10 (+0)
CON: 27 (+8)
INT: 18 (+4)
WIS: 17 (+3)
CHA: 25 (+7)

Saving Throws: Dex +7, Wis +10

Skills: Insight +10, Perception +17, Stealth +7

Immunities: lightning

Senses: Blindsight 60 ft., Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 27

Languages: Common, Draconic

CR: 22 (XP 41,000, or 50,000 in lair; PB +7)

Habitat: Coastal

Treasure: Implements

Amphibious.

The dragon can breathe air and water.

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 22, +14 to hit with spell attacks):

At will: Detect Magic, Guiding Bolt (level 2 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, Thaumaturgy

1/day each: Detect Thoughts, Control Water, Scrying, Water Breathing

Actions

Multiattack.

The dragon makes three Rend attacks. It can replace one attack with a use of (A) Repulsion Breath or (B) Spellcasting to cast Guiding Bolt (level 2 version).

Rend.

Melee Attack Roll: +16, reach 15 ft. Hit: 18 (2d8 + 9) Slashing damage plus 9 (2d8) Lightning damage.

Lightning Breath (Recharge 5-6).

Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 23, each creature in a 120-foot-long, 10-foot-wide Line. Failure: 82 (15d10) Lightning damage. Success: Half damage.

Repulsion Breath.

Strength Saving Throw: DC 23, each creature in a 30-foot Cone. Failure: The target is pushed up to 60 feet straight away from the dragon and has the Prone condition.

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.

Guiding Light.

The dragon uses Spellcasting to cast Guiding Bolt (level 2 version).

Pounce.

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

Thunderclap.

Constitution Saving Throw: DC 22, each creature in a 20-foot-radius Sphere centered on a point the dragon can see within 120 feet. Failure: 13 (3d8) Thunder damage, and the target has the Deafened condition until the end of its next turn.

Regional Effects

The region containing an adult or ancient bronze dragon's lair is changed by its presence, creating the following effects:

Buoying Currents.
Creatures within 1 mile of the lair that lack a Swim Speed ignore the extra cost of movement while swimming.
Sun and Storms.
While in its lair, the dragon can cast Control Weather, requiring no Material components and using the same spellcasting ability as its Spellcasting action. When casting the spell this way, the dragon can control the weather within 1 mile of its lair, regardless if the dragon is inside or outside.

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

Find this creature in the encounter builder

Source: Monster Manual (2025), p. 60 - Licenses and attribution