Ancient Silver Dragon

Gargantuan Dragon (Metallic), Lawful Good

STR
30 (+10)
DEX
10 (+0)
CON
29 (+9)
INT
18 (+4)
WIS
15 (+2)
CHA
26 (+8)
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 23, +15 to hit with spell attacks):

At will: Detect Magic, Hold Monster, Ice Knife (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)

1/day each: Control Weather, Ice Storm (level 7 version), Teleport, Zone of Truth

Actions

Multiattack.

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

Rend.

Melee Attack Roll: +17, reach 15 ft. Hit: 19 (2d8 + 10) Slashing damage plus 9 (2d8) Cold damage.

Cold Breath (Recharge 5-6).

Constitution Saving Throw: DC 24, each creature in a 90-foot Cone. Failure: 67 (15d8) Cold damage. Success: Half damage.

Paralyzing Breath.

Constitution Saving Throw: DC 24, each creature in a 90-foot Cone. Failure: The target has the Incapacitated condition until the end of its next turn, when it repeats the save. Failure: The target has the Paralyzed condition, and it repeats the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. After 1 minute, it succeeds automatically.

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.

Chill.

The dragon uses Spellcasting to cast Hold Monster. The dragon can't take this action again until the start of its next turn.

Cold Gale.

Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 23, each creature in a 60-foot-long, 10-foot-wide Line. Failure: 14 (4d6) Cold damage, and the target is pushed up to 30 feet straight away from the dragon. Success: Half damage only. Failure or Success: The dragon can't take this action again until the start of its next turn.

Pounce.

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

Regional Effects

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

  • Gentle Gusts.

    Winds buoy creatures that fall within 1 mile of the lair. Such creatures descend at a rate of 60 feet per round and take no damage from falling.

  • 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.

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

Find this creature in the encounter builder

Ancient Silver Dragon

Source: Monster Manual (2025), p. 280 - Licenses and attribution