Dragon, Meteor, Ancient

Family: Dragons

Gargantuan dragon, chaotic neutral

Armor Class 21 (natural armor)
Hit Points 507 (26d20 + 234)
Speed 40 ft., fly 80 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
29 (+9)	11 (+0)	28 (+9)	19 (+4)	17 (+3)	27 (+8)

Saving Throws Dex +7, Con +16, Wis +10, Cha +15
Skills Intimidation +22, Perception +17
Damage Immunities fire; bludgeoning damage from nonmagical attacks
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 27
Languages Abyssal, Aklo, Celestial, Draconic, Ignan, Infernal
Challenge 23 (30,000 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Falling Star. A meteor dragon never takes damage when falling from any distance.
• Intergalactic. In outer space, a meteor dragon can survive in the void and fly at incredible speed. Travel times vary, but a trip within a single solar system should take 3d20 hours, and a trip beyond should take 3d20 days or more if the dragon knows the way to its destination. An outer dragon can carry one rider of one size category smaller than itself, four passengers two sizes smaller, eight passengers three sizes smaller, or 16 passengers four or more sizes smaller. Passengers are protected from the void of outer space.
• Explosive. As long as the meteor dragon is at half of its hit point total, A creature that touches or hits the meteor dragon with a melee attack while within 10 feet of it takes 3 (1d6) fire damage and 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage.
• Magic Weapons. The meteor dragon’s weapon attacks are magical.
• Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the meteor dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The meteor dragon can use its Alien Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 20 (2d10 + 9) piercing and 14 (4d6) force damage. This attack scores a critical hit on a 19 or 20.
• Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d6 + 9) slashing damage.
• Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (2d8 + 9) bludgeoning damage.
• Alien Presence. A meteor dragon’s alien presence causes an opponent that fails its save to be overcome with fear. Each creature of the meteor dragon’s choice that is within 120 feet of the meteor dragon of it must succeed on a DC 19 Intelligence saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute, and must use their movement to stay at least 30 feet away from the dragon if possible. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the meteor dragon’s Alien Presence for the next 24 hours.
• Meteor Breath (Recharge 5-6). The meteor dragon exhales a blast of fire and molten rock in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in that cone must make a DC 22 Dexterity saving throw, taking 45 (13d6) fire damage and 45 (13d6) bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The meteor dragon can exchange damage dice between fire and bludgeoning damage when it uses its breath weapon, choosing any combination of damage dice that add up to 26d6.

LEGENDARY ACTIONS

The meteor dragon can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The meteor dragon regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Detect. The meteor dragon makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
• Tail Attack. The meteor dragon makes a tail attack.
• Deep Impact (Costs 2 Actions). The meteor dragon flies up to its speed, and impacts with the ground. If the dragon moved at least 30 feet, each creature within 10 feet of the meteor dragon must succeed on a DC 23 Constitution saving throw or take 17 (5d6) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone.

LAIR ACTIONS

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), a meteor dragon takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the dragon can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:

• Kinetic Blast. An explosion erupts from a point on the ground the meteor dragon can see within 120 feet of it, creating a 5-foot radius blast. Each creature in the blast’s area must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) fire damage and 10 (3d6) bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
• Shockwave. A powerful wave of energy emanates in a 60-foot radius around the dragon. Each creature other than the dragon on the ground in that area must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pushed 10 feet away from the dragon.
• Visions of Destruction. Visions of worlds and civilizations that have been obliterated in an explosive cataclysm plague any creature within 100 feet of the dragon. This effect can pass through walls and other barriers. All creatures caught in this effect must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 round as they see and hear death of extraordinary magnitude.

REGIONAL EFFECTS

The region containing an ancient meteor dragon’s lair is warped by the dragon’s nature, which creates one or more of the following effects:

• Meteor showers are common within 6 miles of the dragon’s lair. Sunsets are always tinged with orange, and the moon glows with a sickly orange light, affecting the sleep of locals and attracting all manner of nocturnal creatures (like lycanthropes).
• Natural calamities occur with slightly more frequency within 3 miles of the dragon’s lair. Earthquakes and tornadoes may form more often than normal. Legend tells that a meteor dragon can attract actual disastrous meteors.
• Everything within 1 mile of the dragons lair feels heavier. Activities like jumping, lifting, and carrying are harder (-25% effective Strength score for ability checks). Occasionally pockets of gravity appear that bow trees or cause landslides and sinkholes.

If the dragon dies, these effects fade over the course of 1d10 days.

ABOUT

Meteor dragons are destructive forces from the stars responsible for the annihilation of many species. They see themselves as crucibles, however, and delight in the species that come to prominence after they devastate a world.