Dragon, Brute

Huge dragon, neutral evil

Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 195 (17d12+85)
Speed 40 ft., fly 80 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
24 (+7)	11 (+0)	20 (+5)	5 (-3)	14 (+2)	13 (+1)

Saving Throws Dex +5, Con +10, Wis +7, Cha +6, tactical advantage on saves against spells and magical effects.
Damage Resistances fire, poison
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages understands Draconic (can’t speak)
Challenge 13 (10,000 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Ignite A target that fails a save against the dragon’s fiery breath catches on fire, taking 2d8 fire damage at the start of each of its turns. Creatures burning from the dragon’s breath have tactical disadvantage on attacks and ability checks. An ignited target can attempt a new save at the end of each of its turns to end the effect.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The dragon makes two bite attacks and one tail slap attack.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 2d10+7 piercing damage, and if the target is a living creature, it must make a Con save (DC 18). On a failed save, it takes an additional 4d10 poison damage and is poisoned for 1 minute. On a successful save, it takes half damage.
• Tail Slap. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 2d6+7 bludgeoning damage.
• Fiery Breath (Recharge 5+). The dragon breathes fire in a 60-foot cone. Each target in the cone takes 10d8 fire damage, or half damage on a successful Dex save (DC 18). Targets that fail their save are also ignited (see traits).

REACTIONS

• Wing Bash When an enemy hits the dragon with a melee attack, it can react with a wing bash. Each target within 10 feet must make a Dex save (DC 18) or take 1d10+7 bludgeoning damage and be forced prone.

ABOUT

This massive, reptilian beast is armored in thick scales of reddish brown. It has vast, batlike wings, a long neck and even longer tail, and a crocodilian head with prominent horns. Incendiary venom drips from its mighty jaws.

Brute dragons are not distinguished by color or the type of breath weapon they possess. Most have scales of rusty red to dull black, and all can expel jets of jelly-like venom that ignites on contact with air and burns fiercely, sticking to unfortunate victims. The venom makes a dragon’s bite almost as dangerous as its fiery breath, and is reputed to be one of the deadliest poisons known to man. Brute dragons make little use of their clawed feet in battle, but can strike powerful blows with their long, whip-like tails.

Perhaps the most important difference between a brute dragon and similar creatures from other worlds is that the brute dragon is barely sentient. It is a very clever beast, wiser and more cunning than even a mammoth or a giant viper, but it is incapable of speech and is driven only by its natural urge to hunt, to kill, and to feed. Even so, it is a living engine of destruction that only the most foolhardy hero would dare to challenge.