Sand Dragon, Adult

Family: Dragons

Huge dragon, neutral evil

Armor Class 20 (natural armor)
Hit Points 270 (20d12 + 140)
Speed 40 ft., burrow 30 ft., fly 80 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
24 (+7)	12 (+1)	25 (+7)	14 (+2)	18 (+4)	16 (+3)

Saving Throws Dex +7, Con +13, Wis +10, Cha +9
Skills Nature +8, Perception +16, Stealth +7
Damage Resistances piercing
Damage Immunities fire
Condition Immunities blinded
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 26
Languages Common, Draconic, Terran
Challenge 18 (20,000 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +6

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the creature fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
• Sand Camouflage. The sand dragon has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in sandy terrain.
• Sandy Nature. The sand dragon is infused with elemental power, and it requires only half the amount of air, food, and drink that a typical dragon if its size needs.
• Stinging Sand. The first time the sand dragon hits a target with a melee weapon attack, the target must succeed on a DC 21 Constitution saving throw or have disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks until the end of its next turn.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The sand dragon uses its Frightful Presence. It then makes one Bite attack and two Claw attacks.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (2d10 + 7) piercing damage.
• Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d6 + 7) slashing damage.
• Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d8 + 7) slashing damage.
• Frightful Presence. Each creature of the sand dragon’s choice that is within 120 feet of the creature and aware of it must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. 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 ???

ABOUT

Sand constantly sloughs from this brown dragon and twirls about in the air surrounding it. Falling sand reveals the creature’s desiccated form. Spikes of dried and caked sand jut from its body.

Overlords of dry and desolate domains, sand dragons enjoy the solitude of a harsh climate. They begrudgingly share territory with blue dragons and wasteland dragons, but these dragons often keep clear of each other.

Sometimes, they come together in alliances of convenience, though more often one of the dragons believes it can take the other’s territory by force.

Cantankerous Loners. A sand dragon’s desire for isolation and the scarcity of available food renders it an irritable host at best. A dragon’s first response upon noticing intruders rarely goes further than killing and eating them. Travelers who offer the dragon plenty of fresh meat stand a chance to pass through its domain unharmed. The sand dragon tolerates lesser creatures that inhabit the same land, such as sandwyrms, provided they don’t compete for resources. It may bully these creatures to hunt on its behalf.

Sand Sculptors. Sand dragons express themselves through the medium of sand or similar materials in their lairs. Spiraling towers erupt from the ground, reaching dozens of feet in height and seeming on the verge of collapse. In the rare instances where the dragons decide to attack settlements, they commit the location to memory and duplicate the buildings as sand sculptures to near perfection. They often etch screaming faces in the walls of the buildings to commemorate the terror they unleashed during their attacks. Sand dragons also use sand to encase the remains of those who dared attack the dragons in their lairs, molding the sand to match the likenesses of the creatures when they were alive.

Guardians of Lost Empires. When tons of sand, silt, and other debris cover up the remains of forgotten kingdoms, they may slumber undisturbed for centuries. Bored or curious sand dragons sometimes discover the ruins of these little-remembered empires and loot their ancient treasures and magic items. The dragons guard these locations closely, not wishing to encourage treasure hunting mercenaries to invade their lairs.