Summary

  • Dragons in D&D 5e are powerful and deadly creatures with immense physical strength, elemental breath, and magical prowess.
  • The game offers a wide variety of dragon types, with some being more formidable than others, such as the Ancient White Dragon and the Shadow Dragon.
  • Metallic dragons, like the Ancient Copper Dragon and the Ancient Silver Dragon, may have benevolent alignments but are still dangerous adversaries with high stats and devastating abilities.

The dragon of the most iconic creatures in all of fantasy, and half of Dungeons & Dragons' namesake. As a result, it's no surprise that dragons remain some of D&D's deadliest creatures. Every dragon is an epic, powerful creature with immense physical strength, elemental breath, and often magical prowess to boot.

D&D Fifth Edition has more varieties of dragons than any other type of monster. As a result, DMs have no shortage of choices to throw at the players. Dragons make suitable threats for nearly any point of a D&D 5e campaign. However, some stand out above the rest as the deadliest dragons D&D 5e has to offer.

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Updated September 21st, 2023 by Isaac Williams: Dragons are such an iconic part of D&D that DMs want fights against them to be memorable. Fortunately, the game has them covered with many distinctive and vicious choices. This list has been updated with even more of the strongest dragons in D&D 5e.

20 Ancient White Dragon

An image of an Ancient White Dragon from DnD

Most D&D dragons aspire to reach the level of ancient dragon, growing larger and more powerful with every year that passes. Ancient white dragons are the most powerful of the primal and predatory white dragons. They're relentless hunters who devastate D&D 5e parties with their physical might and cold breath.

White dragons are typically the least dangerous dragon color in D&D 5e due to their low Intelligence and obsessive aggressive tendencies. Nonetheless, an ancient white dragon stands above most other monsters the players might fight. A party should never consider taking one on without a suitable plan.

19 Shadow Dragon

An insubstantial Shadow Dragon in DnD 5e

Shadow dragons have unusual rules in D&D 5e. Their statblock in the Monster Manual is only an example applied to a young red dragon. Any kind of dragon can be given the shadow dragon template. Given this largely applies bonuses, it can make any of D&D 5e's strongest dragon types even more fearsome.

Shadow dragons deal necrotic damage rather than elemental and have resistance to nearly every damage type when not in bright light. However, their biggest threat is their breath weapon. A shadow dragon's breath instantly kills any creature it reduces to 0 hit points and turns them into a shadow. This is a threat to any D&D character that can also turn a crowd of NPCs into a horde of terrifying foes.

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18 Ancient Copper Dragon

An image of an Ancient Copper Dragon in DnD

Metallic dragons tend towards good alignments rather than the chromatic dragons' evil or the gem dragons' neutrality. However, greater benevolence than their kin doesn't make D&D's metallic dragons less dangerous. An adventuring party may end up on the wrong side of an ancient copper dragon for various reasons. If they do, they're in for a brutal boss fight.

Ancient copper dragons in D&D 5e have all the traits that make ancient dragons a lethal threat, including all-round high stats, a devastating breath weapon, and Legendary Resistances to ignore spells. However, they also wield a unique slowing breath that can reduce a character's ability to move and make multiple attacks, making them one of the more dangerous dragons in D&D 5e.

17 Metallic Greatwyrm

An image of an ascended Metallic Greatwyrm from DnD

Many of Fizban's Treasury of Dragons' new monsters go well beyond the Monster Manual's offerings. Some even approach divine levels of power. Greatwyrms are a new type of D&D 5e dragon that Fizban's introduces. A greatwyrm is a new type of ancient dragon that merges its form with echoes of itself from other worlds, becoming a legendary threat.

Metallic dragons do this as often as other kinds, and the resulting metallic greatwyrm D&D monsters are some of the game's most dangerous. They're a keen threat to any party despite their good alignment. They aren't just stronger than other D&D 5e dragons in their stats. As Mythic Monsters, they can return to maximum hit points from a would-be deathblow and gain new Legendary Actions to slay the party.

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16 Ancient Green Dragon

An image of an Ancient Green Dragon in DnD

All ancient dragons are threats thanks to their impressive statblocks, but some prove more dangerous than others. Ancient green dragons are Powerful, poison-spewing foes that can hold their own in combat. However, they're one of the rare D&D 5e dragon colors that are as dangerous outside of a fight as in one.

Green dragons are cunning and manipulative by nature. They live to trick, betray, and collect other living creatures. Moreso than other dragons, they enjoy baiting the player characters with false deals and lies before springing a trap. Ancient green dragons are some of D&D 5e's most dangerous monsters, but there is so much more to them than that.

15 Ancient Dragon Turtle

A dragon turtle attacking ships in DnD

Dragon turtles are aquatic cousins of regular D&D dragons. The base dragon turtle in the Monster Manual is a significant threat in its own right. However, Fizban's Treasury of Dragons ups the ante with the Ancient Dragon Turtle. This is one of the most dangerous aquatic monsters in the entire game, capable of devastating an entire fleet.

Ancient dragon turtles are a threat in any environment and almost unstoppable in the ocean. They're a Mythic Monster on top of their impressive physical stats, forcing players to beat them twice over. In addition, their Boiling Aura and Armor of Storms legendary and mythic actions make them a bigger threat to melee characters than nearly any dragon type in D&D 5e.

14 Ancient Black Dragon

An image of an Ancient Black Dragon in DnD

One thing that sets dragons apart from most other D&D 5e creatures is that they're intelligent. Player characters can negotiate with most evil chromatic dragons, and many have goals beyond simply killing things and amassing loot. Black dragons are dangerous because of what they crave. More than any other dragon color in D&D 5e, they revel in destruction and the suffering of other creatures.

Ancient black dragons possess a more threatening presence than many other D&D 5e dragons and have the combat prowess to back that up. Their immense strength, physical prowess, and delight in playing with their food make them one of D&D 5e's most dangerous dragon types, even if other colors have higher stats.

13 Elder Brain Dragon

An elder brain dragon illithid roaring in DnD

Illithid elder brains are some of D&D 5e's most potent psionic threats. Dragons are some of the most powerful physical enemies in D&D 5e. The elder brain dragon combines both strengths into a terrifying whole. Elder brain dragons have all the might of a dragon with horrific and unique powers on top.

An elder brain dragon's most dangerous ability is its Tadpole Brine Breath. This deals vicious damage in a line and infects even creatures that pass the saving throw with mind flayer tadpoles. These deal damage every turn and transform a creature into a mind flayer if they die. This is on top of the ability to break another creature's Concentration and four legendary resistances, making it one of D&D 5e's most powerful dragons.

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12 Ancient Bronze Dragon

An Ancient Bronze Dragon in DnD

Although D&D metallic dragons tend toward noble behavior, they have the same tendencies towards vice, arrogance, and violent delights as any other dragons. Bronze dragons, in particular, have an interest in war. They live to fight against injustice and tyranny and enthusiastically lend their immense power to good causes.

By the time they reach ancient status, bronze dragons are masters of war. Ancient bronze dragons are one of the physically strongest types of D&D dragon. They also wield unique propulsion breath alongside lightning. Flinging creatures back 60 feet disrupts a party's battle plan on any battlefield and can cause a TPK if they're high in the air or near a significant hazard.

11 Gem Greatwyrm

An image of a Gem Greatwyrm using its breath weapon in DnD

Gem dragons are the neutral equivalents of chromatic and metallic dragons. Fizban's Treasury of Dragons brings them to D&D 5e and quickly gives them the same power level as their chromatic and metallic cousins. Gem dragons have a greatwyrm of their own, which ranks with the other types as one of the strongest dragons in D&D 5e.

As well as being a campaign-ending Mythic Monster, the greatwyrm takes the natural abilities of D&D gem dragons and amplifies them dramatically. Their psionics are unmatched by any creature in D&D. For example, they can use telekinesis to hold aloft and restrain an entire party simultaneously.

10 Ancient Blue Dragon

An image of an Ancient Blue Dragon in DnD

All chromatic dragons tend towards villainy in D&D. Blue dragons are unique in that their instincts urge them towards lawful, hierarchical societies with themselves at the top. They're not murderous devastators. Instead, ancient blue dragons are far more likely to keep those beneath them alive and in servitude, tormenting them at will.

The blue dragon's power in D&D doesn't just come from its considerable might, but also from its influence and servants. Ancient blue dragons make lairs that are particularly hard to assault and can grind the party down with summoned dust devils. They don't need to be D&D 5e's strongest dragon type in a straight fight if the party members are exhausted by the time they get there.

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9 Aspect Of Tiamat

An image of a five-headed Aspect of Tiamat in DnD.

Fizban's Treasury of Dragons brings a lesser representation of D&D's chromatic dragon goddess into the game as a fightable enemy. The aspect of Tiamat is not the god herself. It's a fragment of Tiamat's physical form that rampages across the world in search of treasure and foes.

The aspect of Tiamat is likely to devastate any D&D party it comes across. It's one of the most physically hardy foes in all of D&D 5e, boasting vast hit points and high defenses. Its breath weapon that can nearly kill most characters in one hit. It's also a Mythic Monster, meaning parties must brave a grueling two-stage boss fight.

8 Ancient Silver Dragon

An image of an Ancient Silver Dragon in DnD

Silver dragons are some of the most innately benevolent of their kind in D&D 5e, and among the most likely to ally with adventuring parties. They tend towards decency and enjoy adopting human form to socialize with others. An ancient silver dragon in its true form is nonetheless one of D&D's strongest monsters.

An ancient silver dragon is the second most powerful metallic dragon in D&D 5e's Monster Manual. Its most devastating weapon is the paralyzing breath that can stop an entire party in their tracks. Paralyzed party members are easy pickings for an ancient silver dragon's physical attacks, creating a lethal one-two punch.

7 Dracolich

A Dracolich readying its breath weapon in DnD 5e

Dracoliches are another template that can be applied to any D&D 5e dragon type. On top of their arcane and undead powers, a dracolich can have the physical might of any dragon in the game. The dracolich template gives immunity to poison damage and a wide host of status effects. Alongside Magic Resistance, this makes it very difficult to stop a dracolich by any means short of killing it.

Killing a D&D 5e dracolich is easier said than done. A dead dracolich's soul transfers to a gem that can then possess any dragon's corpse and turn it into a dracolich. Unless the party members are thorough, they might have to fight a dracolich over and over again throughout a campaign.

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6 Ancient Red Dragon

An image of an Ancient Red Dragon breathing fire in DnD

Few monsters are more iconic in D&D and fantasy than the red dragon. Red dragons are D&D 5e's most powerful chromatic beasts and immense physical powerhouses. While they often lack tricks or unique abilities, they carry the day with sheer physical might and devastating fire breath.

Ancient red dragons believe themselves to be strongest D&D dragons and do plenty to back that claim up. They're one of the most dangerous foes an adventuring party will face. Their straightforwardness and physical nature don't make them stupid or predictable enemies either. They're among D&D 5e's most intelligent monsters as well.

5 Aspects Of Bahamut Balance The Scales For Good

An image of a platinum Aspect of Bahamut DnD

Bahamut, the god of metallic dragons, is one of the most powerful and well-known deities in Dungeons & Dragons. Fizban's Treasury of Dragons lets him send aspects of Bahamut to the material plane, much like Tiamat. Bahamut's aspect proves a divine force to be reckoned with, taking the shape of a platinum dragon that combines the capabilities of other metallic dragons.

Aspects of Bahamut have immense capabilities in combat. They can outlast nearly any assault with their hundreds of hit points, Mythic Monster status, and the ability to generate huge numbers of temporary hit points for themselves. However, aspects of Bahamut shine with allies. Their unique breath weapon restores hit points and resurrects the dead, making them ideal leaders for an army in D&D 5e.

4 Ancient Gold Dragons Are Bastions Of Good

An image of an Ancient Gold Dragon in DnD

Ancient gold dragons aren't just the strongest dragon color in base D&D 5e. They're also some of the most lethal foes in the D&D Monster Manual. Ancient gold dragons are lawful good creatures who consider themselves distant and grim arbiters of justice. They usually keep to themselves until they need to right a great wrong.

When ancient gold dragons fight in D&D 5e, it's with great force. They have a staggering number of hit points, high Armor Class and saving throws, and devastatingly powerful attacks with extremely high bonuses to hit. An ancient gold dragon is more than a match for most D&D parties, mollified only by its tendency to be on their side.

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3 Chromatic Greatwyrms Soar Far Above Their Kin

An image of a Chromatic Greatwyrm laying waste to a city in DnD

With the release of Fizban's Treasury of Dragons, there can be no questioning that the chromatic greatwyrm is one of the most dangerous D&D 5e dragons. It's the ascended form of an ancient chromatic dragon that's merged with other forms of itself. Its power ranks as far above an ancient dragon as ancient dragons are above wyrmlings.

The danger that chromatic greatwyrms present in D&D 5e comes from their immense elemental powers, more so than their dangerous breath weapons. Once they unlock their full potential as Mythic Monsters, chromatic greatwyrms can create elemental explosions, causing ruinous damage to anything that approaches them.

2 Ancient Amethyst Dragon

An amethyst dragon wielding psionics in DnD

Fizban's Treasury of Dragons takes care to make gem dragons every bit as fearsome as the other dragon colors in D&D 5e. Never is this more clear than with the ancient amethyst dragons. They combine the physical prowess of other ancient dragons, complete with powerful breath attack, with fearsome psionics.

Ancient amethyst dragons have access to spellcasting by default rather than by various rules. Their spell list includes valuable combat options like Dispel Magic and Glove of Invulnerability. Furthermore, a combination of their breath weapon and Explosive Crystal legendary action can leave creatures prone and helpless to get up, leaving them ripe pickings for D&D 5e's most powerful gem dragon.

1 Tiamat

An image of the Chromatic Dragon God Tiamat in DnD

Even at high levels, D&D characters rarely fight actual gods. However, the Rise of Tiamat premade D&D 5e campaign can put the party face-to-face with Tiamat herself. This isn't just an aspect of Tiamat, but the goddess herself in her full power. Befitting the goddess of chromatic dragons, she's far and away D&D 5e's most powerful dragon monster printed.

Tiamat has over 600 hit points, regeneration, immunity to most spells, every breath weapon available to chromatic dragons, and the ability to use her five heads to their fullest effect in combat. She can stand up to an entire endgame party easily and fight off most of D&D 5e's strongest dragon types.