Running a Bronze Dragon fight this week? Loreify records your session and writes the recap, including every monster, NPC and loot drop your party ran into.
Bronze Dragon 5e: Every Age, Lightning, Repulsion and the Fight at Sea
A bronze dragon is a lawful good metallic dragon built for the coast. It breathes a line of lightning, has a second breath that blasts creatures away, swims as fast as it walks and breathes water. Bronzes are CR 2 as wyrmlings, CR 8 young, CR 15 adult and CR 22 ancient. The adult has 212 hit points, AC 19 (18 in 2024), lightning immunity and a 90-foot lightning line at DC 19. In 2024 it adds something no 2014 bronze had: Guiding Bolt as a legendary action, which it can repeat with every legendary action it has (three a round, four in its lair).
Bite.Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) piercing damage.
Breath Weapons (Recharge 5–6).The dragon uses one of the following breath weapons. Lightning Breath. The dragon exhales lightning in a 40-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, taking 16 (3d10) lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Repulsion Breath. The dragon exhales repulsion energy in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 12 Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is pushed 30 feet away from the dragon.
Stat block from the SRD 5.1 (2014 rules) by Wizards of the Coast, licensed under CC-BY-4.0. Check an encounter with this monster in the encounter calculator.
Lightning Breath (Recharge 5–6).Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 12, each creature in a 40-foot-long, 5-footwide Line. Failure: 16 (3d10) Lightning damage. Success: Half damage.
Repulsion Breath.Strength Saving Throw: DC 12, each creature in a 30-foot Cone. Failure: The target is pushed up to 30 feet straight away from the dragon and has the Prone condition.
Stat block from the SRD 5.2.1 (2024 rules) by Wizards of the Coast, licensed under CC-BY-4.0. Check an encounter with this monster in the encounter calculator.
The 2024 wyrmling trades armor for health: AC drops from 17 to 15 and hit points rise from 32 to 39. It also gets two Rends (+5, 8 each) instead of one bite, and Repulsion Breath with no recharge. That last change means a 2024 wyrmling can blast someone 30 feet away and knock them prone every turn, saving its lightning for when it recharges.
Multiattack.The dragon makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite.Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) piercing damage.
Claw.Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage.
Breath Weapons (Recharge 5–6).The dragon uses one of the following breath weapons. Lightning Breath. The dragon exhales lightning in a 60-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 55 (10d10) lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Repulsion Breath. The dragon exhales repulsion energy in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is pushed 40 feet away from the dragon.
Stat block from the SRD 5.1 (2014 rules) by Wizards of the Coast, licensed under CC-BY-4.0. Check an encounter with this monster in the encounter calculator.
Lightning Breath (Recharge 5–6).Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 15, each creature in a 60-foot-long, 5-footwide Line. Failure: 49 (9d10) Lightning damage. Success: Half damage.
Repulsion Breath.Strength Saving Throw: DC 15, each creature in a 30-foot Cone. Failure: The target is pushed up to 40 feet straight away from the dragon and has the Prone condition.
Stat block from the SRD 5.2.1 (2024 rules) by Wizards of the Coast, licensed under CC-BY-4.0. Check an encounter with this monster in the encounter calculator.
The young bronze has 142 hit points in both editions and an Insight bonus (+4) that makes lying to it harder than lying to most dragons its age. The 2014 version hits for 40 with bite and claws; the 2024 version's three Rends (+8) total 48, and it can swap one for Repulsion Breath each turn. A 40-foot shove is enough to take most characters out of melee range, and in 2024 it also leaves them prone.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day).If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Multiattack.The dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite.Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (2d10 + 7) piercing damage.
Claw.Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d6 + 7) slashing damage.
Tail.Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d8 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
Frightful Presence.Each creature of the dragon's choice that is within 120 feet of the dragon and aware of it must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the dragon's Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.
Breath Weapons (Recharge 5–6).The dragon uses one of the following breath weapons. Lightning Breath. The dragon exhales lightning in a 90-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw, taking 66 (12d10) lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Repulsion Breath. The dragon exhales repulsion energy in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 19 Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is pushed 60 feet away from the dragon.
Legendary Actions
The adult bronze dragon can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The adult bronze dragon regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Detect.The dragon makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Tail Attack.The dragon makes a tail attack.
Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions).The dragon beats its wings. Each creature within 10 ft. of the dragon must succeed on a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw or take 14 (2d6 + 7) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.
Stat block from the SRD 5.1 (2014 rules) by Wizards of the Coast, licensed under CC-BY-4.0. Check an encounter with this monster in the encounter calculator.
Challenge 15 (XP 13,000, or 15,000 in lair; PB +5)
Traits
Amphibious.The dragon can breathe air and water.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day, or 4/Day in Lair).If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Multiattack.The dragon makes three Rend attacks. It can replace one attack with a use of (A) Repulsion Breath or (B) Spellcasting to cast Guiding Bolt (level 2 version).
Rend.Melee Attack Roll: +12, reach 10 ft. Hit: 16 (2d8 + 7) Slashing damage plus 5 (1d10) Lightning damage.
Lightning Breath (Recharge 5–6).Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 19, each creature in a 90-foot-long, 5-footwide Line. Failure: 55 (10d10) Lightning damage. Success: Half damage.
Repulsion Breath.Strength Saving Throw: DC 19, each creature in a 30-foot Cone. Failure: The target is pushed up to 60 feet straight away from the dragon and has the Prone condition.
Spellcasting.The dragon casts one of the following spells, requiring no Material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 17, +10 to hit with spell attacks):
At Will: Detect Magic, Guiding Bolt (level 2 version), Shapechange (beast or humanoid form only, no temporary hit points gained from the spell, and no concentration or temporary hit points required to maintain the spell), Speak with Animals, Thaumaturgy
1/Day Each: Detect Thoughts, Water Breathing
Legendary Actions
Legendary Action Uses: 3 (4 in Lair). Immediately after another creature’s turn, the adult bronze dragon can expend a use to take one of the following actions. The adult bronze dragon regains all expended uses at the start of each of its turns.
Pounce.The dragon moves up to half its Speed, and it makes one Rend attack.
Thunderclap.Constitution Saving Throw: DC 17, each creature in a 20-foot-radius Sphere centered on a point the dragon can see within 90 feet. Failure: 10 (3d6) Thunder damage, and the target has the Deafened condition until the end of its next turn.
Stat block from the SRD 5.2.1 (2024 rules) by Wizards of the Coast, licensed under CC-BY-4.0. Check an encounter with this monster in the encounter calculator.
The 2014 adult fights like every 2014 adult dragon: Frightful Presence (DC 17), bite and two claws (46 damage at +12), and Detect / Tail / Wing Attack as legendary actions. The 2024 adult is a different creature. Its Spellcasting (DC 17, +10 to hit) gives it:
Its legendary actions are Guiding Light (cast Guiding Bolt), Pounce (move half Speed, one Rend) and Thunderclap (DC 17 Constitution, 20-foot-radius sphere within 90 feet, 10 thunder damage and Deafened until the end of the target's next turn). None of the three says it can't be repeated before the dragon's next turn, so the dragon can spend every use on the same one.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day).If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Multiattack.The dragon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite.Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 20 (2d10 + 9) piercing damage.
Claw.Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d6 + 9) slashing damage.
Tail.Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (2d8 + 9) bludgeoning damage.
Frightful Presence.Each creature of the dragon's choice that is within 120 feet of the dragon and aware of it must succeed on a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the dragon's Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.
Breath Weapons (Recharge 5–6).The dragon uses one of the following breath weapons. Lightning Breath. The dragon exhales lightning in a 120-foot line that is 10 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 23 Dexterity saving throw, taking 88 (16d10) lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Repulsion Breath. The dragon exhales repulsion energy in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 23 Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is pushed 60 feet away from the dragon.
Change Shape.The dragon magically polymorphs into a humanoid or beast that has a challenge rating no higher than its own, or back into its true form. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (the dragon's choice). In a new form, the dragon retains its alignment, hit points, Hit Dice, ability to speak, proficiencies, Legendary Resistance, lair actions, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as this action. Its statistics and capabilities are otherwise replaced by those of the new form, except any class features or legendary actions of that form.
Legendary Actions
The ancient bronze dragon can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The ancient bronze dragon regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Detect.The dragon makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Tail Attack.The dragon makes a tail attack.
Wing Attack (Costs 2 Actions).The dragon beats its wings. Each creature within 15 ft. of the dragon must succeed on a DC 24 Dexterity saving throw or take 16 (2d6 + 9) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then fly up to half its flying speed.
Stat block from the SRD 5.1 (2014 rules) by Wizards of the Coast, licensed under CC-BY-4.0. Check an encounter with this monster in the encounter calculator.
Challenge 22 (XP 41,000, or 50,000 in lair; PB +7)
Traits
Amphibious.The dragon can breathe air and water.
Legendary Resistance (4/Day, or 5/Day in Lair).If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Multiattack.The dragon makes three Rend attacks. It can replace one attack with a use of (A) Repulsion Breath or (B) Spellcasting to cast Guiding Bolt (level 2 version).
Rend.Melee Attack Roll: +16, reach 15 ft. Hit: 18 (2d8 + 9) Slashing damage plus 9 (2d8) Lightning damage.
Lightning Breath (Recharge 5–6).Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 23, each creature in a 120-foot-long, 10-foot-wide Line. Failure: 82 (15d10) Lightning damage. Success: Half damage.
Repulsion Breath.Strength Saving Throw: DC 23, each creature in a 30-foot Cone. Failure: The target is pushed up to 60 feet straight away from the dragon and has the Prone condition.
Spellcasting.The dragon casts one of the following spells, requiring no Material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 22, +14 to hit with spell attacks):
At Will: Detect Magic, Guiding Bolt (level 2 version), Shapechange (beast or humanoid form only, no temporary hit points gained from the spell, and no concentration or temporary hit points required to maintain the spell), Speak with Animals, Thaumaturgy
1/Day Each: Detect Thoughts, Control Water, Scrying, Water Breathing
Legendary Actions
Legendary Action Uses: 3 (4 in Lair). Immediately after another creature’s turn, the ancient bronze dragon can expend a use to take one of the following actions. The ancient bronze dragon regains all expended uses at the start of each of its turns.
Pounce.The dragon moves up to half its Speed, and it makes one Rend attack.
Thunderclap.Constitution Saving Throw: DC 22, each creature in a 20-foot-radius Sphere centered on a point the dragon can see within 120 feet. Failure: 13 (3d8) Thunder damage, and the target has the Deafened condition until the end of its next turn.
Stat block from the SRD 5.2.1 (2024 rules) by Wizards of the Coast, licensed under CC-BY-4.0. Check an encounter with this monster in the encounter calculator.
The ancient bronze is a Gargantuan, 444-hit-point storm. Its lightning line doubles in width to 10 feet and stretches 120 feet. The 2014 version keeps Change Shape, and its bite reaches 15 feet. The 2024 version swings three Rends at +16 for 27 each (81 total, against 52 for the 2014 bite and claws) and adds Control Water and Scrying to its daily spells. Thunderclap reaches 120 feet and deals 13 (3d8).
Bronze Dragon Changes in 2024
2014
2024
Breath weapons
One action, recharge 5–6, choose lightning or repulsion
Lightning recharges; Repulsion Breath doesn't
Repulsion effect
Pushed (30 to 60 ft.)
Pushed and Prone
Adult melee
Bite + 2 claws, 46 damage
3 Rends, 63 damage (lightning on top of each)
Adult legendary actions
Detect, Tail, Wing Attack
Guiding Light, Pounce, Thunderclap
Breath damage, adult
66
55
Save proficiencies
Dex, Con, Wis, Cha
Dex, Wis
Initiative
+0
+10 adult, +14 ancient
How Bronze Dragons Fight
A bronze dragon fights from the water's edge and uses the sea as a weapon. Its line breath, its push and its amphibious body all work best on a beach, a pier, a ship or a sea cave.
Line up the lightning. A 90-foot line, 5 feet wide, usually catches one to three creatures. The bronze positions itself (often from the air, with an 80-foot fly speed) so that the line runs down a ship's deck, a corridor or a pier. Against an adult's DC 19, a wizard with Dexterity +2 fails on a 16 or lower (80%) and takes 55; a rogue with +10 still fails 40% of the time.
Push them off the edge. Repulsion Breath is a Strength save. On a failure the 2024 version pushes the target 60 feet and leaves it Prone. Aim it at the edge of a cliff, the side of a ship or a harbor wall. A character in heavy armor who lands in deep water has a real problem; the dragon breathes water and swims at 40 feet.
Fight underwater on purpose. Under the 2024 rules, a creature without a Swim Speed has Disadvantage on melee weapon attacks underwater unless the weapon deals Piercing damage, and ranged weapon attacks have Disadvantage within normal range and miss beyond it. (The 2014 rules exempt a list of weapons, such as daggers, spears and tridents, instead of all piercing weapons.) The bronze has a swim speed, so its Rends are unaffected. Lightning works fine under the waves.
The 2024 Guiding Bolt barrage. Guiding Light lets the adult cast its level 2 Guiding Bolt (5d6 radiant, about 17.5 damage) after each enemy's turn, up to three times a round (four in its lair). At +10 against AC 18 it hits 65% of the time, and each hit gives the next attack against that target Advantage. A typical 2024 adult round looks like this:
•On its turn: three Rends (+12) at the character it most wants down, about 47 damage expected against AC 18.
•Between enemy turns: Guiding Bolt three times, about 34 damage expected.
That's roughly 80 damage a round before the breath recharges.
Mind the prone trap. Repulsion leaves targets prone, and attacks against a prone creature have Disadvantage unless the attacker is within 5 feet. Don't follow a Repulsion Breath with Guiding Bolt at range. Use Pounce to land next to the prone character instead, then Rend with Advantage.
Thunderclap for crowds. Thunderclap has no save-for-half: on a failure it's 10 thunder damage and Deafened. If four characters are bunched, three Thunderclaps can deal 30 to each who keeps failing. Deafened doesn't stop spellcasting, but it does cut off shouted coordination.
Running a Bronze Dragon Encounter
These are 2024 budgets for four characters.
Bronze dragon
XP
Where it fits
Wyrmling
450
Moderate at level 2 (just past the 400 Low budget)
Young
3,900
High at level 5 (4,400); Moderate at level 6 (4,000)
Adult
13,000
High at level 11 (past the 11,600 Moderate budget); Moderate at level 12 (14,800)
Adult, in lair
15,000
Moderate at level 13 (16,800)
Ancient
41,000
High at level 17 (past the 28,800 Moderate budget); Moderate at level 19 (42,800)
Ancient, in lair
50,000
High at level 18 (past the 34,800 Moderate budget)
The terrain multiplies its strength. A young bronze on a ship's deck, with open sea on both sides, plays harder than a High fight at level 5 because every Repulsion Breath can end a character's participation. On dry land it plays easier than its XP suggests. Run the numbers in our encounter calculator, which also shows the 2014 Dungeon Master's Guide rating.
How Players Beat Bronze Dragons
•Spread perpendicular to it. A line only hits what's in a row. If the party stands side by side facing the dragon, its line catches one character; if they stand in single file down a pier, it catches all of them.
•Stay away from edges. Fight it inland, on wide ground, or tie yourselves to the mast. Repulsion only matters when there's somewhere bad to land.
•Strength saves for the front line. Barbarians with Rage have Advantage on Strength saves. Put them where the cone will land.
•Get out of the water. Unless your party can breathe water and has swim speeds, don't chase it under. Ask an ally for Water Breathing before the fight if you must.
•Hit its Constitution and Charisma (2024). The 2024 adult has Constitution +6 and Charisma +5, down from +11 and +9. Its Wisdom (+7) and Dexterity (+5) are proficient.
•Honesty works. It's lawful good and has a strong Insight bonus. A party that's been wronged by a misunderstanding can usually talk its way out.
The Bronze as an Ally
Under the 2024 rules a bronze dragon is one of the most useful allies a party can earn, because its spells are practical (the 2014 bronze casts nothing). Its once-a-day Water Breathing lets up to ten willing creatures breathe underwater for 24 hours, opening sunken ruins to a party with no water magic. At-will Speak with Animals turns every gull, seal and fish into a witness. Detect Thoughts and Insight +7 make an adult bronze a sharp judge of a stranger's intent. An ancient's Scrying and Control Water can find a lost ship and part the sea to reach it.
In 2014 only the ancient can take another form, through Change Shape. In 2024 the adult and ancient cast Shapechange at will (Beast or Humanoid), so a bronze patron can walk the docks as a harbor master or swim alongside the party's ship as a dolphin while staying a Dragon under the disguise.
Bronze Dragon Encounter Ideas
The wrong ship. A young bronze has sunk two merchant ships it believed were slavers. One of them really was. The party is on the third ship when the dragon surfaces alongside. Its first move is a Repulsion Breath across the deck, not lightning: it wants to question the crew, and it reads lies well.
The lighthouse keeper (2024 rules). A harbor's lighthouse keeper is an adult bronze using Shapechange. When sahuagin raiders come at night, the keeper asks the party to hold the harbor mouth while it hunts the raiders' leader underwater, and hands them a day of Water Breathing to do it.
The drowned vault (2024 rules). A sunken temple lies at the bottom of a bay an ancient bronze claims. The party needs a relic inside. The dragon will open the way with Control Water, but only after watching the party for a week with Scrying to see whether they can be trusted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What CR is a bronze dragon in 5e?
A bronze dragon wyrmling is CR 2, a young bronze dragon CR 8, an adult bronze dragon CR 15 and an ancient bronze dragon CR 22. The CRs match in the 2014 and 2024 rules.
What breath weapons does a bronze dragon have?
Lightning Breath, a line of lightning damage on a Dexterity save, and Repulsion Breath, a 30-foot cone that pushes creatures away on a failed Strength save. In 2024 the push also knocks them Prone, and Repulsion Breath no longer needs a recharge.
Can a bronze dragon breathe underwater?
Yes. Every bronze dragon has the Amphibious trait (it breathes air and water) and a swim speed: 30 feet as a wyrmling, 40 feet at older ages.
Is a bronze dragon immune to lightning?
Yes. Bronze dragons are immune to lightning damage and have no other immunities or resistances.
How strong is an adult bronze dragon?
It's CR 15 with 212 hit points. The 2014 adult deals 46 damage with a full bite-and-claws Multiattack and 66 with its breath. The 2024 adult deals 63 with three Rends and 55 with its breath, and can add a 5d6 Guiding Bolt after up to three other creatures' turns each round (four in its lair).
What's the difference between a bronze and a blue dragon?
Both breathe lightning in a line, but a blue dragon is a lawful evil dragon that burrows, while the bronze is a lawful good coastal dragon that swims, breathes water and has a Repulsion Breath instead of a burrow speed. For another metallic with a two-breath kit, see the silver dragon.
Stat blocks: System Reference Document 5.1 (2014) and 5.2.1 (2024), Wizards of the Coast, CC-BY-4.0. Tactics, encounter math and ideas are Loreify's own.
This page includes material from the System Reference Document 5.1 and 5.2.1 by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Loreify is not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast.