D&D (2024) 2025's Ancient Green Dragon Stat Block From The New Monster Manual

The new ancient green dragon from the 2025 Monster Manual was previewed at Gen Con.

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[dave2008]

So back to "rend." While a prefer separate lines for different attacks, I can see how to easily modify Rend to stand in for all of them.

Claw = rend + push or knock prone
Bite = rend x2 damage (and takes the place of 2 rends) + grapple if Large or smaller, restrained if Medium or smaller
tail sweep = cone 30 ft., each creature hit takes rend damage + push or knock prone or dazed

I would even let it spend multiple reactions to make a bite or tail sweep. So it could:

claw ( 1 rend) and bite (2 rends) on its turn and then tail sweep as a reaction (using all if its reactions). I think that gets to some of the oomph @Crimson Longinus was asking for.

 

[dave2008]

Sure. Have more pages.

And I don't think it is particularly good statblock. It doesn't convey the physical power this sort of massive creature should have.

But it does convey the mystical power rather well and definitely better than the 2014 version.

Of course, being dragon biased, I would make all ancient (maybe even adult) dragons mythic monsters and really push the envelope of what they could do.

 

[Reynard]

I know this isn't the common belief, but I think dragons should be the best, coolest, most powerful,most fun to play monsters in D&D.

This is.. not that.

 

[dave2008]

I know this isn't the common belief, but I think dragons should be the best, coolest, most powerful,most fun to play monsters in D&D.

This is.. not that.

I agree on both accounts.

However, I have never seen an RPG that pulled of what I want in dragons so I have come to expect it. I always prefer my own dragons.

 

[Reynard]

I agree on both accounts.

However, I have never seen an RPG that pulled of what I want in dragons so I have come to expect it. I always prefer my own dragons.

FWIW I like your dragons too.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

But it does convey the mystical power rather well and definitely better than the 2014 version.

Sure. But I think 214 dragons are super disappointing, so this can be better than those without still being very good.

So back to "rend." While a prefer separate lines for different attacks, I can see how to easily modify Rend to stand in for all of them.

Claw = rend + push or knock prone
Bite = rend x2 damage (and takes the place of 2 rends) + grapple if Large or smaller, restrained if Medium or smaller
tail sweep = cone 30 ft., each creature hit takes rend damage + push or knock prone or dazed

I would even let it spend multiple reactions to make a bite or tail sweep. So it could:

claw ( 1 rend) and bite (2 rends) on its turn and then tail sweep as a reaction (using all if its reactions). I think that gets to some of the oomph @Crimson Longinus was asking for.

Yeah, this is good stuff.

 

[dave2008]

FWIW I like your dragons too.

I haven't even shown my best ones yet!

 

[mamba]

I haven't even shown my best ones yet!

it’s really time to put all this in a PDF

 

[Reynard]

it’s really time to put all this in a PDF

Yeah @dave2008 what are you waiting for?!?

 

[dave2008]

it’s really time to put all this in a PDF

Yeah @dave2008 what are you waiting for?!?

I am thinking about it. I am still working on getting my "monsters by level" all figured out (real close) as I don't really want to use CR any more. And I need to finish up my Tiamat pdf (64 pages) that will be my last thing to use CR I think

I also feel some of my dragons might be a bit OP. Anyway, probably have something done before the 2025 MM comes out!