Shadow Dragon

Huge Dragon, Chaotic Evil

AC: 16

Initiative: +14 (24)

HP: 189 (18d12 + 72)

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

STR
21 (+5)
DEX
19 (+4)
CON
18 (+4)
INT
14 (+2)
WIS
12 (+1)
CHA
18 (+4)

Saving Throws: Dex +9, Wis +6

Skills: Perception +11, Stealth +14

Resistances: See Living Shadow

Immunities: necrotic

Senses: Blindsight 30 ft., Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 21

Languages: Common, Draconic

CR: 13 (XP 10,000, or 11,500 in lair; PB +5)

Habitat: Planar, Shadowfell, Underdark

Treasure: Any

Legendary Resistance (3/Day, or 4/Day in Lair).

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

Living Shadow.

While in Dim Light or Darkness, the dragon has Resistance to damage that isn't Force, Psychic, or Radiant.

Sunlight Sensitivity.

While in sunlight, the dragon has Disadvantage on ability checks and attack rolls.

Actions

Multiattack.

The dragon makes three Rend attacks.

Rend.

Melee Attack Roll: +10, reach 10 ft. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) Slashing damage plus 3 (1d6) Necrotic damage.

Shadow Breath (Recharge 5-6).

Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 17, each creature in a 60-foot Cone. Failure: 35 (10d6) Necrotic damage. Success: Half damage. Failure or Success: A Humanoid reduced to 0 Hit Points by this damage dies, and a Shadow rises from the corpse. The shadow is under the dragon's control and shares the dragon's Initiative count but acts immediately after the dragon.

Bonus Actions

Shadow Stealth.

While in Dim Light or Darkness, the dragon takes the Hide action.

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.

Pounce.

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

Veil of Shadow.

The dragon uses Shadow Stealth, and one creature of its choice that it can see within 10 feet of it takes 10 (3d6) Necrotic damage. The dragon can't take this action again until the start of its next turn.

Regional Effects

The region around a shadow dragon's lair is twisted by its presence, creating the following effects:

  • Negative Energy Suffusion.

    Whenever a creature within 1 mile of the lair regains Hit Points from a spell, it subtracts 1d10 from the number of Hit Points regained.

  • Stifling Shadows.

    Within 1 mile of the lair, effects that normally create Bright Light instead create Dim Light, and creatures there have Advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.

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

Find this creature in the encounter builder

Shadow Dragon

Source: Monster Manual (2025), p. 275 - Licenses and attribution