As far as fantasy monsters go, dragons are among the most, if not the most, iconic. They appear in some Dungeons and Dragons games as boss monsters or the main antagonists of campaigns, but not as often as one might think given their inclusion in the game’s title. Many official Wizards of the Coast modules do not include dragonsor, if they do, introduce them briefly in side quests or unique interactions.
Dragons drew a little more attention in 2021, when Fizban’s Treasure of the Dragons provided details about the different types, their personalities and goals, and where they live. Still, there is little to do outside of this book, and New DMs may struggle to incorporate dragons into their games in ways that feel impactful and faithful to the strength of creatures. The next Dungeon Master’s Guide and Monster Manual We hope to touch on these important figures a little, but for now, here are ten tips for DMs who want to include dragons in their campaigns.
10
Consider the strength of the party
Don’t set players up for failure
There’s a reason why dragons are revered and feared in fantasy settings. They are powerful, both within Forgotten Realms lore and according to official dragon stat blocks. Many of these creatures, even those with lower challenge ratings, have breath weapons that can melt entire groups and enough health and mobility to avoid falling quickly. As such, it’s important for DMs to recognize whether their party can handle a dragon at a given point.
Playing low-level characters against a dragon can result in the party being completely wiped out, something no one wants and that will likely leave players confused and upset. A critical rule of DMing is to avoid setting players up for failure, instead challenging them while also providing paths to success. One reason dragons rarely appear in official content is because they are suited to high-level encounters, and many 5th edition modules are aimed at lower-level groups. Don’t introduce a dragon without making it clear how dangerous it is and assessing whether it’s a good fit for the campaign.
9
Let your players prepare
Dragons are dangerous – but so is the party
Dragons are great threats, but even the most powerful monsters in the world D&D can be defeated with a good enough plan. This may not work for every group, but many players will jump at the chance to plan a get-together, preparing spells, potions, and magical items for a fight. Dragons have some very well-known strengths, and so players can prepare their characters accordingly.
Not all groups will enjoy preparing for a fight or researching an enemy, and players may just want to engage in combat. DMs should learn what their players like to do in the game and dedicate themselves to that.
This doesn’t mean that DMs should hand players the tools to defeat their enemies. Instead, let them work for it. Perhaps the party’s wizard realizes that dragon flight will be a problem for his melee-focused fighter and seeks out a scroll of earth connection. If the party discovers what type of dragon they are facing, they can search for ingredients for potions of resistance against its breath weapon. Make this preparation part of the campaign, allowing players to prepare against a tough opponent.
8
The call to adventure
Give your players a reason to face this threat
Some enemies in D&D they may simply appear along the road, attacking the party during their travels or robbing them in a town. Dragons don’t usually work like that. They are core creatures, with cunning and caution, and many times it will be the players themselves approaching the dragon’s location, act instead of react. But they probably won’t do it just for the thrill of it, or rather, their characters won’t. They need some reason to fight such a monster, be it selfless or selfish.
The ultimate reason for the endeavor depends entirely on the DM and the players. Perhaps the dragon’s presence is a threat to a nearby town of wood elves who fear the dragon will burn the surrounding forest as it hunts. Maybe there’s a specific item in the dragon’s hoard that players need to face a larger enemy, or something that relates to one of their character’s backgrounds. Whatever, must be sufficient reason for the party to risk life and limb.
7
Increase tension before the date
Give these monsters the weight they deserve
All the previous points go in this direction, but It is important to prepare for an encounter with the dragon. While this is true for any boss monster, it’s especially relevant for something as legendary as a dragon. Throwing huge monsters like this into an encounter without warning can give players a nice shock, but it ultimately lessens the feeling that they are imposing and a force to be reckoned with.
Use the time before the actual fight or dungeon to increase the dragon’s presence. Mention scorch marks on the local landscape or smoke rising from a cave in the nearby mountains. Have traveling NPCs talk about a huge shadow flying overhead, blocking the sun. Not only does this make the dragon itself feel like a real threat, but it also makes the world of a campaign feel interconnected. Dragons are powerful enough to inevitably shape the environment around them, both physically and thematically, and showing this to players is important.
6
Think in the context of the world
Make the dragons fit into the environment
Speaking of which, the area around a dragon should match its tone and aesthetic. There are many different types of dragons, from fire-breathing red ones to metallic descendants of Bahamut and even gem dragons with crystals growing between their scales. Match the type of dragon to its environment; in the end, these creatures will naturally look for a lair that suits them best.
A gem dragon might feel comfortable inside an abandoned mine, using the tunnels as entry and exit ramps and digging even further in search of gems. An icy white dragon might dwell atop a mountain, or perhaps use its icy breath to transform a village into tundra suitable for habitation. THE Fizban’s book talks a little about this, but Dragons tend to have a magical transformative effect on their habitatsand DMs can use this to explain their presence and find a good place for them to fit in.
5
Prepare your dragon’s treasure
Provides the antagonist with a goal – and the party with an incentive
A dragon’s hoard is more than just the treasure a party can claim after dealing with its enemy. It is a symbol of a dragon’s interests and what it seeks to obtain. As dragons are typically very ambitious, seeking to increase their power and wealth, Your treasure will show your most precious possessions obtained while trying to achieve your goals.
An art-loving dragon may possess magical paintings that act as portals between realms and thus make its lair somewhere dry to protect its treasure. A bloodthirsty dragon can coat its strongest enemies in molten gold, amassing a horde of golden corpses. Be determined when choosing additions to a dragon’s hoard, thinking about what this says about the dragon itself and how its presence will encourage the party to be victorious.
4
A leader or a lone wolf?
Decide if your dragon has followers
Many bandits have henchmen, and if DMs want to make their dragons more threatening, there are plenty of good options for them to increase their ranks. Kobolds are the most obvious choiceas many worship dragons and form groups to serve them. But there are also cults of dragons, dragons, and even species like draconians made specifically to serve as draconic shock troops.
Part of the increased tension in a dragon fight can be getting past the dragon’s defenses, with minions guarding the outer limits of its territory or searching for treasure to add to their master’s hoard. On the other hand, some DMs may want to emphasize their dragons’ strength or independence by not having them use any minions, operating entirely on its own. The most powerful dragon stat blocks are so loaded that they don’t need any backup to cause problems for a high level party.
3
Show a dragon’s personality and intelligence
Dragons are more than mindless beasts
Part of what makes dragons stand out among other monsters is that They have a certain intelligence, which is often ignored. While some fantasy worlds treat dragons as mindless killing machines or brutal destroyers, the dragons of the Forgotten Realms are intelligent, with their own personalities, goals, and tactics. Dragons shouldn’t just be treated as large beasts in the party’s path; instead, DMs should think about how a dragon will act and speak and consider why they are at odds with the party.
In some cases, they may not even be enemies of the party. Dragons are capable of negotiation, reasoning and mercy, and It may be that the party in a given campaign works with a dragon rather than against it. It all depends on the group, of course, but it’s worth remembering that dragons operate with human-like intelligence in most cases. Although they perform monstrous acts, they are rarely stupid.
2
Provide space to move
Dragons need space, not shoeboxes
One thing to remember when it comes to a real fight with a dragon is that the map needs to be big. Dragons are large creatures by nature and perform best when given room to maneuver. Their flying speed allows them to cover great distances quickly, and using a map with altitude changes will give them the best chance of showing off their strengths.
Not only that, but gamers will probably appreciate having the extra space as well. Gives the party room to spread out and avoid getting caught in a breath attackor to find an ideal position to fire arrows. Fighting a dragon in an enclosed space will often lead to a more stale fight, with the creature and players standing still and taking attacks repeatedly.
1
Make the Dragon’s Lair an integral part of the fight
The location of this enemy is important
On the topic of battle maps, the dragon’s lair is an important aspect of who they are and what their fight will be like. It needs to reflect their elemental type and provide ways for them to move around and gain an advantage over players. The lair itself should feel like an enemy in the fight, presenting extra challenges to those who invade and dare threaten the dragon in its territory.
There are many ways to make the lair feel important, from map layout and stage hazards to giving the dragon’s lair actions to use between its turns. This makes the fight more difficult, adding another layer that players need to prepare for. If players perform recon to prepare for the terrain, however, an interesting the fight rewards them. Finding a way to lure a dragon away from its safe areas and turn its environment against it can be a truly memorable experience. Dungeons and Dragons meeting.
Sources: Dungeons and Dragons/YouTube, History of the Forgotten Realms/YouTube, Delverof Dungeons/YouTube