I'm nearing the end of my first 1-20 5E campaign. The player characters are about 10 sessions away from facing off with Tiamat in the (hopefully) epic finale.
The PCs are 20th level with multiple epic boons and a robust set of magic items. When it comes to tactics, they are middle of the road--neither great nor terrible. (Same with me, to be honest.) We play on Zoom using theater of the mind supplemented with maps (but no tokens).
Elf arcane trickster rogue
Aasimar vengeance paladin
Half-elf whispers bard
Halfling lore bard
Tiefling shadow sorcerer
Human beast master ranger
Tiamat is plotting her escape from Hell. So the PCs might confront her in Hell...or they could let her escape and then ambush her on another plane. TBD.
I don't want this fight to devolve into a dice-rolling slog--I want it to feel like the climax to an epic fantasy blockbuster.
Does anyone have advice on how to play Tiamat for maximum effectiveness, excitement, and drama?
And how about pointers on terrain, minions, or anything that can make this finale feel like it has majesty and grandeur?
Thank you!