Best way to kill a dragon?
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Jeremy
Explorer
Hey!! That was my idea! I knew you didn't read my post.
I'm just playing with you, though if you look up, I suggested Otiluke's Freezing Sphere about 3 pages ago
. Unfortunately though, sneak attack never doubles, for any reason. So it's just 12d6+12d6+7d6. But it's still a ranged touch attack for 31d6 damage twice a round no save. Average of 217 points of damage. If you can land 3 and he really does have 300 hp left, you'll actually succeed.Of course you've still got the SR that you need a 16 or better to get through.
reiella
Explorer
Ghostform still doesnt' let you see through walls however, so you'd need to either pop out of the surronding wall.
I do think you can use Project Image to land Sneak Attacks however, even if it can percieve that the Image is 'fake', notably because you can still have your spells come from the Projected Image (and thus be a credible threat).
With the 75% chance of spell resistance, (with sneak attack not doubling, the 108.5 average, needs ~4.8 casts to deal enough to kill the dragon. ~133 average with sneak attack doubled, comes to about ~3.96 castings.
So you'd need to be able to cast Otiluke's Freezing Sphere an average of 16 times per day, even with the sneak attack damage doubling in order to actually kill the dragon.
Downside... Otiluke's Freezing Sphere is a touch attack spell, and thus doesn't work when you're using Ghostform unless the Dragon decides to goto the Ethereal plane, in which case you probably don't want to be there.
Dragon quite likly to have Teleport however (15th level sorcerer).
And let's not forget... even if it gets away, one per day, it can absolutely find anyone, unless they bothered to get Mind Blanked.
[ Add ]
It seems I forgot the most simple and basic suggestion for you killing this dragon.
1) Buy ELH
2) Level up about 8 times
I do think you can use Project Image to land Sneak Attacks however, even if it can percieve that the Image is 'fake', notably because you can still have your spells come from the Projected Image (and thus be a credible threat).
With the 75% chance of spell resistance, (with sneak attack not doubling, the 108.5 average, needs ~4.8 casts to deal enough to kill the dragon. ~133 average with sneak attack doubled, comes to about ~3.96 castings.
So you'd need to be able to cast Otiluke's Freezing Sphere an average of 16 times per day, even with the sneak attack damage doubling in order to actually kill the dragon.
Downside... Otiluke's Freezing Sphere is a touch attack spell, and thus doesn't work when you're using Ghostform unless the Dragon decides to goto the Ethereal plane, in which case you probably don't want to be there.
Dragon quite likly to have Teleport however (15th level sorcerer).
And let's not forget... even if it gets away, one per day, it can absolutely find anyone, unless they bothered to get Mind Blanked.
[ Add ]
It seems I forgot the most simple and basic suggestion for you killing this dragon.
1) Buy ELH
2) Level up about 8 times
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Jeremy
Explorer
It's not full HP in the scenario, so it's 3 castings.
Otiluke's Freezing Sphere using the Cold Ray option is a ray, a ranged touch attack, it doesn't require a hand to actually make the touch so it is different than a touch attack and thus not subject to the limitation of ghostform. Lightning bolts, rays of enfeeblement, and reverse gravity all work fine from ghostform. Vampiric touch does not because your hand goes through the target.
Dragon has teleport most definately, but apparently the dragon is lacking in intelligence due to some foul curse layed upon it by the DM.
Edit: Eek. I didn't mean for this to read so harsh. I'm sorry. It's supposed to be in a matter-of-factual type tone but it doesn't come across as such. No offense was intended.
Otiluke's Freezing Sphere using the Cold Ray option is a ray, a ranged touch attack, it doesn't require a hand to actually make the touch so it is different than a touch attack and thus not subject to the limitation of ghostform. Lightning bolts, rays of enfeeblement, and reverse gravity all work fine from ghostform. Vampiric touch does not because your hand goes through the target.
Dragon has teleport most definately, but apparently the dragon is lacking in intelligence due to some foul curse layed upon it by the DM.
Edit: Eek. I didn't mean for this to read so harsh. I'm sorry. It's supposed to be in a matter-of-factual type tone but it doesn't come across as such. No offense was intended.
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reiella
Explorer
Dragon also has Heal most likly, but again you do point out the DM curse .
Still has the problem that Ghostform doesn't let you see through walls (so he's going to need to make himself somewhat ... vulnerable to even be able to attack it with Otiluke's Sphere).
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Hmm, nah not too bad anymore so than anyone else.
Even with just the 300 hp however, still ends up requiring that you cast the spell 12 times (on average) to be able to deal enough damage to kill said Dragon.
My thoughts on how Ghostform work, is that since you're incorpeal weapon-like spells in general don't work. Just the same as corpeal spellcasters casting them still get the 50% miss chance.
Heh, and ironically, after the first casting, imo, shouldn't be too hard for the Dragon to just cast Dispel Magic in the general area, and shunting them out of the rock.
.Still has the problem that Ghostform doesn't let you see through walls (so he's going to need to make himself somewhat ... vulnerable to even be able to attack it with Otiluke's Sphere).
[ Add ]
Hmm, nah not too bad
anymore so than anyone else.Even with just the 300 hp however, still ends up requiring that you cast the spell 12 times (on average) to be able to deal enough damage to kill said Dragon.
My thoughts on how Ghostform work, is that since you're incorpeal weapon-like spells in general don't work. Just the same as corpeal spellcasters casting them still get the 50% miss chance.
Heh, and ironically, after the first casting, imo, shouldn't be too hard for the Dragon to just cast Dispel Magic in the general area, and shunting them out of the rock.
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I'm not sure if this would work, but try this (haven't got the PHB at home so there can be some errors):
Buy some Cloudkill and Wall of Force Scrolls. Memorize Haste (I suppose it wasn't necessary to say this).
If the Dragon is small enough to be closed within the radius of the semicircular Wall of Force, and is not flying cast Cloudkill near him and then, using the extra action of Haste, close him and the Cloudkill with a Wall of Force.
He will take a lot of damage. Then, if you can somehow cast another Wall of Force with a bigger radius, then wait for the round before expiration of the Wall of Force and cast again Cloudkill in a point outside the first WOF and then cast the second Wall enclosing the new Cloudkill and the previous Wall of Force.
Depending on the size of the Dragon and on the possibilities to alter the radius of the WOF (sorry, I haven't got the PHB in front of me so I am not sure if this radius is variable) you could apply this "combo" just once or more times.
Buy some Cloudkill and Wall of Force Scrolls. Memorize Haste (I suppose it wasn't necessary to say this).
If the Dragon is small enough to be closed within the radius of the semicircular Wall of Force, and is not flying cast Cloudkill near him and then, using the extra action of Haste, close him and the Cloudkill with a Wall of Force.
He will take a lot of damage. Then, if you can somehow cast another Wall of Force with a bigger radius, then wait for the round before expiration of the Wall of Force and cast again Cloudkill in a point outside the first WOF and then cast the second Wall enclosing the new Cloudkill and the previous Wall of Force.
Depending on the size of the Dragon and on the possibilities to alter the radius of the WOF (sorry, I haven't got the PHB in front of me so I am not sure if this radius is variable) you could apply this "combo" just once or more times.
Jeremy
Explorer
While possible, a dragon of that age should have the following spell list available to him (or at least something comparable)---(unless the curse really is that bad):
1–endure elements, mage armor, divine favor, cure light wounds, shield; 2–bull's strength, cat's grace, blur, endurance, fog cloud; 3–haste, dispel magic, protection from elements, slow; 4–spell immunity, dimension door, improved invisibility, detect scrying; 5–cloudkill, righteous might, dominate person, teleport; 6–heal, greater dispelling, harm; 7–spell turning, destruction.
So he SHOULD technically Heal himself while he's sitting in his lair and at least put up a protection from elements (cold), if not a detect scrying and a spell turning as well.
The second the cloudkill drops on him he'll take the piddly d10 then greater dispel it. Protected by the wall of force that you cast he can buff (bull's strength, mage armor, cat's grace, divine favor, protection from elements (if it isn't already up), endurance, righteous might, spell immunity, and improved invisibility) then fill the wall with a fog cloud so you can't see. Then teleport to the rest of the party, slay the remaining standing members. And wait for the mage to figure it out and come running to your fully buffed bad dragon-self with your readied greater dispelling for when your blindsight picks him up.
But again, this dragon is cursed, so it might work.
Enervations he can Heal, Cold he can protect himself from with protection from elements, blink he can dispel (along with everything else you got running--(1d20+15 vs DC 23 = 8 or better on every spell you've got up), and we haven't even gotten to his buffed melee attacks, breath weapon, or destruction spells he can toss around. I mean, if the first 3 spells you throw get turned back at you it could be over right there. 300 hit points you don't have.
But this is a heroic charge for vengeance with little chance of survival. So go ahead and take a stab with the hasted dual cold rays and hope you get lucky. Of if you've got twin spell, go with twinned ice knifes for 8 dex damage per round. There's really nothing you can do except cast Remove Resistance (which allows a fort save) to get through his resistance with any dependability.
But give it your best shot.
Are you sure you can't talk the DM into letting you Planar Bind a Planetar who will Gate a Solar for you?
1–endure elements, mage armor, divine favor, cure light wounds, shield; 2–bull's strength, cat's grace, blur, endurance, fog cloud; 3–haste, dispel magic, protection from elements, slow; 4–spell immunity, dimension door, improved invisibility, detect scrying; 5–cloudkill, righteous might, dominate person, teleport; 6–heal, greater dispelling, harm; 7–spell turning, destruction.
So he SHOULD technically Heal himself while he's sitting in his lair and at least put up a protection from elements (cold), if not a detect scrying and a spell turning as well.
The second the cloudkill drops on him he'll take the piddly d10 then greater dispel it. Protected by the wall of force that you cast he can buff (bull's strength, mage armor, cat's grace, divine favor, protection from elements (if it isn't already up), endurance, righteous might, spell immunity, and improved invisibility) then fill the wall with a fog cloud so you can't see. Then teleport to the rest of the party, slay the remaining standing members. And wait for the mage to figure it out and come running to your fully buffed bad dragon-self with your readied greater dispelling for when your blindsight picks him up.
But again, this dragon is cursed, so it might work.
Enervations he can Heal, Cold he can protect himself from with protection from elements, blink he can dispel (along with everything else you got running--(1d20+15 vs DC 23 = 8 or better on every spell you've got up), and we haven't even gotten to his buffed melee attacks, breath weapon, or destruction spells he can toss around. I mean, if the first 3 spells you throw get turned back at you it could be over right there. 300 hit points you don't have.
But this is a heroic charge for vengeance with little chance of survival. So go ahead and take a stab with the hasted dual cold rays and hope you get lucky. Of if you've got twin spell, go with twinned ice knifes for 8 dex damage per round. There's really nothing you can do except cast Remove Resistance (which allows a fort save) to get through his resistance with any dependability.
But give it your best shot.
Are you sure you can't talk the DM into letting you Planar Bind a Planetar who will Gate a Solar for you?
Hammerhead
Explorer
I like the idea of using Planar Binding, or convincing someone to use Planar Ally spells. Those spells can be very powerful. Something just seems wrong about summoning a Planetar at level 11, especially since it casts as a 17th level cleric in addition to having nice combat skills and spell like powers.
Harm might work too.
You could gamble and hope instant death spells kill it on a poor save roll and your good level check.
However, if I was betting on the fight, I'd put my money on a smart dragon. Allow me to put it this way: an ancient Red Dragon is a better spellcaster than you. It is a super genius - not to say that your character isn't, but your best case is that the two of you are about even. You think using Imp Invis, or Ghostform are nice tricks? The dragon probably does too.
If you're going to trust in your Otiluke's Freezing Sphere attack, attempt to Dispel its Protection from Elements: Cold first.
Harm might work too.
You could gamble and hope instant death spells kill it on a poor save roll and your good level check.
However, if I was betting on the fight, I'd put my money on a smart dragon. Allow me to put it this way: an ancient Red Dragon is a better spellcaster than you. It is a super genius - not to say that your character isn't, but your best case is that the two of you are about even. You think using Imp Invis, or Ghostform are nice tricks? The dragon probably does too.
If you're going to trust in your Otiluke's Freezing Sphere attack, attempt to Dispel its Protection from Elements: Cold first.
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