Medium dragon (drake), unaligned
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 52 (7d8 + 21)
Speed 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +4 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 (+3) | 11 (+0) | 16 (+3) | 4 (-3) | 10 (+0) | 7 (-2) |
Skills Perception +2
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages understands Draconic but can’t speak
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Charge (suggested). If the guard drake moves at least 20 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a horn attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be pushed up to 10 feet away and knocked prone.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack. The guard drake makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its tail.
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
- Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
- Breath Weapon (suggested, Recharge 5-6). The guard drake exhales destructive energy in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving throw, taking 16 (3d8 +3) damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The type of damage and the DC of the saving throw depend on the guard drake’s chromatic ancestry, as shown in the table below. The guard drake can use its breath weapon once per short or long rest. The source of damage depends on the chromatic dragon’s ancestry of the guard drake.
5th Edition Advanced Mode
Limiting the power of a character and making the overall difficulty of the game harder, does not reduce the creativity, indeed it does quite the opposite.
The Game Master has the option to use any and all of the instances proposed in this guide, or just some of them according to their preference.
It is the lack of something that move and motivate characters, not the abundance of it
DESCRIPTION
A guard drake is a large reptilian creature that resembles a wingless, stunted version of a chromatic dragon. It is created by a magical ritual that involves dragon scales and fresh meat. A guard drake is loyal to its master, who is usually the one who fed it first after it hatched from an egg. A guard drake can understand Draconic, but cannot speak it. It has darkvision and a keen sense of perception. Depending on the type of dragon scales used to create it, a guard drake may have additional features and abilities, such as swimming, burrowing, climbing, or resistance to certain types of damage.
COMBAT
A guard drake is a fierce and territorial combatant that follows the commands of its master. It attacks with its powerful bite and its strong tail, which can deal piercing and bludgeoning damage respectively. A guard drake also shares some of the traits of the original dragon, such as a natural resistance to acid if created from black dragon scales, lightning if coming from blue dragon scales, poison if coming from a green dragon, fire if coming from a red dragon, and cold if coming from a white dragon.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
A guard drake is usually found in the service of a dragon or a cult that worships dragons. It can adapt to different environments depending on the type of dragon it was created from. For example, a black guard drake can breathe air and water and prefers swampy or marshy areas, while a white guard drake can burrow through snow and ice and likes cold climates. A guard drake is not very intelligent or social, but it can form bonds with other creatures that treat it well. A guard drake can perform tasks typically associated with watchdogs, such as guarding, patrolling, or hunting.
ECOLOGY
A guard drake is an artificial creature that cannot reproduce naturally. It is created by a magical ritual that requires 10 pounds of dragon scales and fresh meat to be placed in an iron cauldron. After several days, the ritual produces an egg that is about the size of a halfling. The egg hatches within hours, and the new guard drake bonds with whoever fed it first. The guard drake reaches maturity within three weeks. A guard drake has a carnivorous diet and needs to eat regularly to sustain its growth and strength. A guard drake may live for several years, but its lifespan is unknown.