Greater Death Dragon

Huge Undead, Chaotic Evil

Armor Class 16 (natural armor)

Hit Points 230 (20d12 + 100)

Speed 40 ft., fly 80 ft.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Saving Throws DEX +5, WIS +7

Skills Perception +7, Stealth +5

Damage Resistances piercing

Damage Immunities necrotic, poison

Condition Immunities Exhaustion, Poisoned

Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17

Languages Common, Draconic

Challenge 14 (11,500 XP)

Traits

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Unusual Nature. The dragon doesn't require air, food, drink, or sleep.

Actions

Multiattack. The dragon makes one Bite attack and two Claw attacks.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit:17 (2d10 + 6) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) necrotic damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it is grappled (escape DC 19). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the dragon can't bite a different target.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft. one target. Hit:10 (1d8 + 6) slashing damage.

Cataclysmic Breath (Recharge 5–6). The dragon exhales a wave of ghostly purple flames in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 45 (10d8) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature dies if the breath reduces it to 0 hit points. Additionally, any Medium or smaller Humanoid killed by the breath's damage, as well as every corpse of such a creature within the cone, becomes a zombie (see the Monster Manual) under the dragon's control. The zombie acts on the dragon's initiative but immediately after the dragon's turn. Absent any other command, the zombie tries to kill any non-Undead creature it encounters.

Legendary Actions

Claw. The dragon makes one Claw attack.

Cataclysmic Rush (Costs 2 Actions). The dragon moves up to half its flying speed without provoking opportunity attacks, carrying with it any creatures it is grappling. During this move, if it enters the space of a Medium or smaller creature, that creature takes 4 (1d8) necrotic damage. A creature can take this damage only once per turn.

Lore

Some death dragons manage to retain almost all of their former selves, albeit twisted by their state of being. These greater death dragons scheme to achieve their ends, all the while amassing and jealously guarding treasure hoards as they did in life. In battle, they are deadly foes, channeling the Cataclysmic fire that limns their bones and fuels their breath. They take cruel delight in snatching foes in their jaws, rushing into the air, then dropping the snared creatures to their doom.