D&D 5E Aerial combat in 5e

[Nightfly]

I'm setting up to run a midair combat in my Dungeons of Drakkenheim game, and I'm struck at how little there is in the way of rules or even guidance in 5e. I've found some supplements that deal with Spelljammer combat, but that's not what I'm looking for. I need griffons vs. chimeras vs. gargoyles kind of stuff.

Anyone have a bright idea about where I might look? A third party supplement, or maybe an earlier edition? Or possibly even a different game? I'd like to somehow make it different and more interesting than a normal 2D fight.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

The aerial combat rules kind of suck in 5E (2014 and 2024).

They're sparse. They don't cover a lot. And, there is one element in the rules that is absolutely friggin broken - prone makes you drop up to 500 feet. That is 20d6 damage if between 200 and 500 feet. That is horribly broken. It is like giving low level characters a disintegrate spell, often with no save. This can be horrible. My druid has obliterated a lot of foes by knocking them prone at 220 feet up.

Once PCs get more than 50 feet above the ground I go to theater of the mind. We don't use minis or specific measurable distances. Doing it 'right' would require too many rules, so we just make calls as we go along. This is the best approach I've experienced and I use it because developing more is not worth it.

I implemented a rule (inspired by a Hadozee trait) that a flying creature that is knocked prone can use their reaction to fall at half speed and take no damage when they land. I figure if gliders can do something like that, full flyers should also be able to.

So with that, you'd have to use up their reaction before you can make them crash.

 

[Yaarel]

If using a grid for flight, it probably helps if each square represents 30 feet.

Then the salient flight speeds of 30', 60', and 90', are represented, and during each turn, whether their attacks can reach is more easily adjudicated.

Six cubes upward would be within the deadly 200 feet fall. 7 cubes would not yet impact.

 

[Nightfly]

If you want some pretty detailed flying combat and you're familiar with the X-Wing* game, Wizkids licensed a D&D version called Attack Wing (now out of print). This link goes to the web page where you can download the rules, this link goes to the wiki about the releases for the game and other information.

This is great! Unfortunately the links on the pages you mentioned no longer work, and I can't find the rules anywhere. Too bad, because this looks very cool.

 

[Stormonu]

This is great! Unfortunately the links on the pages you mentioned no longer work, and I can't find the rules anywhere. Too bad, because this looks very cool.

Well, that sucks. Though, as I said, it uses the same rules as the X-wing game so you could use the rulebook from that game, just with some different terms (Armor instead of Shields, Hit Points instead of Hull, Dodge instead of Defense, Attack is based on the creature's base size).

I did find this rules summary: Dungeons & Dragons Attack Wing Rules Summary