D&D 5E Line or Cone, why aren't there any breath weapons with a Burst Area of Effect?

[Corinnguard]

Currently in 5e D&D (and as far as I know), breath weapons produce two Areas of Effect-either a line breath weapon or a cone breath weapon. I haven't seen any breath weapons with a burst area of effect. Why is that? curious

 

[J-H]

If you're flying and aim a cone effect downwards at the ground, it produces a circular area of effect.

 

[Voadam]

Most conceptions of breath weapons are more as flamethrowers than grenades.

 

[pemerton]

Currently in 5e D&D (and as far as I know), breath weapons produce two Areas of Effect-either a line breath weapon or a cone breath weapon. I haven't seen any breath weapons with a burst area of effect. Why is that? curious

Most conceptions of breath weapons are more as flamethrowers than grenades.

Wasn't the Green Dragon's breath a cloud, back in the day?

 

[Quartz]

I haven't seen any breath weapons with a burst area of effect.

This is your excuse to create a cool monster with such a breath weapon!

 

[Dioltach]

This is your excuse to create a cool monster with such a breath weapon!

"As you top the rise, you see before you a Fireball Dragon!" See how many players think of an excuse to end the session there and then.

 

[the Jester]

Check out the solar dragon in the new Spelljammer release. Its photonic breath is basically "I spit a fireball that explodes where it hits" (well, radiant ball).

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Check out the solar dragon in the new Spelljammer release. Its photonic breath is basically "I spit a fireball that explodes where it hits" (well, radiant ball).

I just read that last night and was abuut to type this

 

[Horwath]

Devs see the dragon as origin of effect, so maybe 20ft radius burst centered on the dragon could work.

 

[Celebrim]

Currently in 5e D&D (and as far as I know), breath weapons produce two Areas of Effect-either a line breath weapon or a cone breath weapon. I haven't seen any breath weapons with a burst area of effect. Why is that? curious

Interesting. Historically Green Dragons were considered to have a breath weapon that was basically a burst area of effect. What does the breath of a 5e green look like now?