Greater Death Dragon
Huge Undead, Typically Chaotic EvilDeath dragons are the Undead skeletal remains of metallic or chromatic dragons, infused with the lingering fires of the Cataclysm by foul magic. Rarely, death dragons arise when a dragon meets its end in a way that torments its soul and consumes it with a need for vengeance. Regardless of how it arose, a death dragon retains a shadow of its former personality. The stronger the death dragon, the more it fights the hate consuming it, holding on to some vestige of its memories.
A death dragon's bones burn with violet Cataclysmic fire, which it can unleash in a horrific mockery of the breath weapon it possessed in life. The breath snuffs out life force and infuses undeath into corpses it touches. These zombies burn with Cataclysmic fire and serve the death dragon's will, typically going on rampages to destroy all living creatures in sight.
Some death dragons manage to retain almost all of their former selves, albeit twisted by their state of being. These greater death dragons scheme to achieve their ends, all the while amassing and jealously guarding treasure hoards as they did in life. In battle, they are deadly foes, channeling the Cataclysmic fire that limns their bones and fuels their breath. They take cruel delight in snatching foes in their jaws, rushing into the air, then dropping the snared creatures to their doom.
AC 16 (natural armor)
HP 230 (20d12 + 100)
Speed 40 ft., fly 80 ft.
STR
23 (+6)
Save +6
DEX
10 (+0)
Save +5
CON
20 (+5)
Save +5
INT
11 (+0)
Save +0
WIS
14 (+2)
Save +7
CHA
10 (+0)
Save +0
Saving Throws DEX +5, WIS +7
Skills Perception +7, Stealth +5
Resistances Piercing
Immunities Necrotic, Poison
Condition Immunities Exhaustion, Poisoned
Senses Blindsight 60 ft., Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 17
Languages Common, Draconic
CR 14
Traits
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Unusual Nature. The dragon doesn't require air, food, drink, or sleep.
Actions
Multiattack. The dragon makes one Bite attack and two Claw attacks.
Bite. Melee Attack Roll: +11, reach 10 ft. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) Piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) Necrotic damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it has the Grappled condition (escape DC 19). Until this grapple ends, the target has the Restrained condition, and the dragon can't bite a different target.
Claw. Melee Attack Roll: +11, reach 5 ft. Hit: 10 (1d8 + 6) Slashing damage.
Cataclysmic Breath (Recharge 5-6). Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 18, each creature in a 60-foot Cone. Failure: 45 (10d8) Necrotic damage. A creature dies if this damage reduces it to 0 Hit Points. Additionally, any Medium or smaller Humanoid killed by this damage, as well as every corpse of such a creature within the cone, becomes a Zombie under the dragon's control. The zombie acts on the dragon's Initiative but immediately after the dragon's turn. Absent any other command, the zombie tries to kill any non-Undead creature it encounters. Success: Half damage only.
Legendary Actions
The dragon can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The dragon regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Claw. The dragon makes one Claw attack.
Cataclysmic Rush (Costs 2 Actions). The dragon moves up to half its flying Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks, carrying with it any creatures it is grappling. During this move, if it enters the space of a Medium or smaller creature, that creature takes 4 (1d8) Necrotic damage. A creature can take this damage only once per turn.