Verdant Dragon
Huge • Dragon • Neutral Good
Armor Class 16
Hit Points 262 (21d12 + 126)
Speed 40 ft., burrow 30 ft., fly 80 ft.
Initiative +5 (15)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 (+5) | 10 (+0) | 22 (+6) | 16 (+3) | 15 (+2) | 16 (+3) |
Skills Animal Handling +7, Nature +13, Perception +12
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 22
Languages Common, Draconic
CR 16 (XP 15,000 or 18,000 in lair; PB +5)
Bloodied - More Bark, Less Flowers. While bloodied, the dragon’s AC is increased to 20.
Leafy Resistance (2/Day, or 3/Day in Lair). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. When it does so, the area of its Verdant Aura is reduced by 10 feet.
Regeneration. The dragon regains 10 hit points at the start of each of its turns. If the dragon takes fire or necrotic damage, this trait doesn't function on the dragon's next turn.
Speak with Plants. The dragon can communicate with Plants as if they shared a language.
Verdant Aura. The ground in a 30-foot emanation originating from the dragon is difficult terrain for creatures other than the dragon or Plants. This trait only works if the dragon is in contact with the ground, and the ground can sprout plants.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon makes three Rend attacks.
Rend. Melee Weapon Attack: +10, reach 10 ft. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) slashing damage.
Gaia Breath (Recharge 5-6). Constitution Saving Throw: DC 19, each creature in a 60-foot cone. Failure: The target regains 36 (8d8) hit points; for any hit points that are restored above the target’s hit point maximum, its hit point maximum is reduced by an equal value. Instead of reducing the hit point maximum, Plants instead gain temporary hit points equal to the overhealed value (up to a maximum of 15). Success: Half the healing.
Pollen Breath. The area in a 30-foot cone, spreading around corners, becomes lightly obscured for 1 minute or until a strong wind (such as one created by gust of wind) disperses it. Any non-Plant creature (except the dragon) that starts its turn inside the area becomes poisoned. Further, if such a creature starts its turn inside this area and the dragon’s Verdant Aura, it becomes restrained (escape DC 19) by plants.
Spellcasting. The dragon casts one of the following spells, requiring no material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 16):
At will: purify food and water, locate animals or plants (plants only)
1/day: insect plague, wall of thorns
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Legendary Action Uses: 3 (4 in Lair). Immediately after another creature's turn, the dragon can expend a use to take one of the following actions. The dragon regains all expended uses at the start of each of its turns.
Awaken. The dragon conjures 1d6 + 2 awakened shrubs (with a +6 to hit on its melee attacks, dealing 1d6 damage on a hit) and the dragon can’t take this action again until the start of its next turn. The summoned creatures appear in an unoccupied space within the dragon’s Verdant Aura and act as an ally of the dragon. The shrubs remain for 1 minute, until they or the dragon die, or until the dragon dismisses any number of them as a bonus action.
Poison Cloud. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 19, each creature in a 10-foot emanation originating from the dragon. Failure: 11 (2d10) poison damage. Success: Half damage.
Pounce. The dragon moves up to half its speed, and it makes one Rend attack.
Verdant Dragon
Huge • Dragon • Neutral Good
Armor Class 15
Hit Points 218 (19d12 + 95)
Speed 40 ft., burrow 30 ft., fly 80 ft.
Initiative +5 (15)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 (+4) | 10 (+0) | 20 (+5) | 14 (+2) | 13 (+1) | 14 (+2) |
Skills Animal Handling +6, Nature +12, Perception +11
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 21
Languages Common, Draconic
CR 13 (XP 10,000 or 11,500 in lair, PB +5)
Bloodied - More Bark, Less Flowers. While bloodied, the dragon’s AC is increased to 19.
Leafy Resistance (1/Day, or 2/Day in Lair). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. When it does so, the area of its Verdant Aura is reduced by 10 feet.
Regeneration. The dragon regains 10 hit points at the start of each of its turns. If the dragon takes fire or necrotic damage, this trait doesn't function on the dragon's next turn.
Speak with Plants. The dragon can communicate with Plants as if they shared a language.
Verdant Aura. The ground in a 30-foot emanation originating from the dragon is difficult terrain for creatures other than the dragon or Plants. This trait only works if the dragon is in contact with the ground, and the ground can sprout plants.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon makes three Rend attacks.
Rend. Melee Weapon Attack: +9, reach 10 ft. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) slashing damage.
Gaia Breath (Recharge 5-6). Constitution Saving Throw: DC 18, each creature in a 60-foot cone. Failure: The target regains 27 (6d8) hit points; for any hit points that are restored above the target’s hit point maximum, its hit point maximum is reduced by an equal value. Instead of reducing the hit point maximum, Plants instead gain temporary hit points equal to the overhealed value (up to a maximum of 10). Success: Half the healing.
Pollen Breath. The area in a 30-foot cone, spreading around corners, becomes lightly obscured for 1 minute or until a strong wind (such as one created by gust of wind) disperses it. Any non-Plant creature (except the dragon) that starts its turn inside the area becomes poisoned. Further, if such a creature starts its turn inside this area and the dragon’s Verdant Aura, it becomes restrained (escape DC 18) by plants.
Spellcasting. The dragon casts one of the following spells, requiring no material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 15):
At will: purify food and water, locate animals or plants (plants only)
1/day: insect plague, wall of thorns
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Legendary Action Uses: 3 (4 in Lair). Immediately after another creature's turn, the dragon can expend a use to take one of the following actions. The dragon regains all expended uses at the start of each of its turns.
Awaken. The dragon conjures 1d6 + 1 awakened shrubs (with a +5 to hit on its melee attacks, dealing 1d4 damage on a hit) and the dragon can’t take this action again until the start of its next turn. The summoned creatures appear in an unoccupied space within the dragon’s Verdant Aura and act as an ally of the dragon. The shrubs remain for 1 minute, until they or the dragon die, or until the dragon dismisses any number of them as a bonus action.
Poison Cloud. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 18, each creature in a 10-foot emanation originating from the dragon. Failure: 5 (1d10) poison damage. Success: Half damage.
Pounce. The dragon moves up to half its speed, and it makes one Rend attack.
Verdant Dragon
Huge • Dragon • Neutral Good
Armor Class 17
Hit Points 310 (23d12 + 161)
Speed 40 ft., burrow 30 ft., fly 80 ft.
Initiative +6 (16)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 (+6) | 10 (+0) | 24 (+7) | 18 (+4) | 17 (+3) | 18 (+4) |
Skills Animal Handling +9, Nature +16, Perception +15
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 25
Languages Common, Draconic
CR 19 (XP 22,000 or 25,000 in lair, PB +6)
Bloodied - More Bark, Less Flowers. While bloodied, the dragon’s AC is increased to 21.
Leafy Resistance (3/Day, or 4/Day in Lair). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. When it does so, the area of its Verdant Aura is reduced by 10 feet.
Regeneration. The dragon regains 15 hit points at the start of each of its turns. If the dragon takes fire or necrotic damage, this trait doesn't function on the dragon's next turn.
Speak with Plants. The dragon can communicate with Plants as if they shared a language.
Verdant Aura. The ground in a 30-foot emanation originating from the dragon is difficult terrain for creatures other than the dragon or Plants. This trait only works if the dragon is in contact with the ground, and the ground can sprout plants.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The dragon makes three Rend attacks.
Rend. Melee Weapon Attack: +12, reach 10 ft. Hit: 20 (4d6 + 6) slashing damage.
Gaia Breath (Recharge 5-6). Constitution Saving Throw: DC 21, each creature in a 60-foot cone. Failure: The target regains 45 (10d8) hit points; for any hit points that are restored above the target’s hit point maximum, its hit point maximum is reduced by an equal value. Instead of reducing the hit point maximum, Plants instead gain temporary hit points equal to the overhealed value (up to a maximum of 20). Success: Half the healing.
Pollen Breath. The area in a 30-foot cone, spreading around corners, becomes lightly obscured for 1 minute or until a strong wind (such as one created by gust of wind) disperses it. Any non-Plant creature (except the dragon) that starts its turn inside the area becomes poisoned. Further, if such a creature starts its turn inside this area and the dragon’s Verdant Aura, it becomes restrained (escape DC 21) by plants.
Spellcasting. The dragon casts one of the following spells, requiring no material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 18):
At will: purify food and water, locate animals or plants (plants only)
1/day: insect plague, wall of thorns
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Legendary Action Uses: 3 (4 in Lair). Immediately after another creature's turn, the dragon can expend a use to take one of the following actions. The dragon regains all expended uses at the start of each of its turns.
Awaken. The dragon conjures 1d6 + 3 awakened shrubs (with a +6 to hit on its melee attacks, dealing 1d8 damage on a hit) and the dragon can’t take this action again until the start of its next turn. The summoned creatures appear in an unoccupied space within the dragon’s Verdant Aura and act as an ally of the dragon. The shrubs remain for 1 minute, until they or the dragon die, or until the dragon dismisses any number of them as a bonus action.
Poison Cloud. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 21, each creature in a 10-foot emanation originating from the dragon. Failure: 16 (3d10) poison damage. Success: Half damage.
Pounce. The dragon moves up to half its speed, and it makes one Rend attack.
QUICK REFERENCE
USING MONSTER VARIANTS
Monster variants allow the GM to adjust encounters to better match the party’s strength, narrative needs, or world-building logic. A weaker variant may represent a juvenile, wounded, or lesser specimen, while a stronger variant can serve as a leader, champion, ancient creature, or apex predator.
Variants can be used to fine-tune difficulty without changing the core identity of the monster, making them ideal for scaling encounters, reinforcing hierarchy within a faction, or creating memorable boss-style enemies. You can even use the same stat block but different variants in the same encounter if you want.
Design Note. Each monster is primarily balanced around its normal version. Weaker and stronger variants are derived adjustments and may not always preserve every tactical nuance or “feel” of the original creature. GMs are encouraged to review variants carefully and adjust abilities or tactics as needed to best suit their table.