"This dragon's head looks decidedly like a skull thanks to its deep-socketed eyes and wide, flat nasal opening. It has forward-curving horns and a spinal crest that peaks just behind the head and tapers off about three quarters of the way down the neck. An acidic smell surrounds the dragon, whose scales are mostly dull ebony and dark gray."
Black dragons are sometimes known as skull dragons because of their skeletal faces. Adding to the skeletal impression is the gradual deterioration of the hide around the base of the horn and the cheekbones. This deterioration increases with age and does not harm the dragon. On hatching, a black dragon’s scales are thin, small, and glossy. As the dragon ages, they become larger, thicker, and duller, helping it camouflage itself in swamps and marshes. A black dragon typically lairs in a large cave or underground chamber next to a swamp or murky pond. Their lairs always have two entrances: one underwater through the adjacent swamp/pond, and one above-ground, disguised amidst the undergrowth. They are especially fond of coins. Older dragons sometimes capture and question humanoids about stockpiles of gold, silver, and platinum coins before killing them.
Traits[]
- Dragon 20
- Always chaotic evil
- Abilities: STR 33, DEX 10, CON 23, INT 16, WIS 17, CHA 16
- Hitpoints: 387 out of 367
- Saves: Fortutude 22, Reflex 17, Will 20
- AC: 38
- AB: +29/+24/+19/+14
- Damage:
- 2d6+11 slashing/piercing, critical 20/x2 (claw)
- 2d6+11 slashing/piercing, critical 20/x2 (claw)
- 2d8+11 piercing, critical 20/x2 (bite)
- Skills: Concentration 20, Hide 2, Listen 31, Lore 25, Perform 20, Diplomacy 20, Search 31, Spellcraft 33, Spot 31, Use Magic Device 16, Appraise 25, Bluff 31, Intimidate 33
- Feats: Weapon Proficiency (creature), Cleave, Power Attack, Great Cleave, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Darkvision, Low-Light Vision
- Damage reduction 15/+1
- Immunity to acid, paralysis, sneak attacks, and mind-affecting spells
- Spell Resistance 24
- True Seeing
- Can use Dragon Aura of Fear (DC 23) once per day and Acid Dragon Breath (12d4 damage, DC 23), both at caster level 20
- Can cast SLAs Blindness/Deafness, Bull's Strength, Cloudkill, Confusion, Fear, Fireball, Haste, Lightning Bolt, Mage Armor, Magic Circle against Good, Magic Missile, Melf's Acid Arrow, Protection from Arrows, Ray of Enfeeblement, Stoneskin at caster level 11 once per day
- Fast movement (112,5% of normal)
- CR 19
Notes[]
- The black dragons in NWN2 are by default considered "ancient" dragons by age, with some traits taken from "adult" instead
- Black dragon spawns with current hp above the maximum