Purple Dragons
Purple dragons, or "Deep Dragons", as they are often known, twist and squeeze through the hidden trails in the world beneath the world, enacting through careful subtlety workings beyond the greatest ambitions of their baser, more brutal kin.
The more precise a purple dragon's knowledge, the smaller the action required from them to enact their will, and so far from the sun, economy of action reigns supreme.
The dragon does not move until it has calculated the fewest strikes, the simplest words, the least expenditure of servants and treasure required to ruin its enemies utterly, but when decided up on a course acts with a speed and exactitude utterly devoid of mercy or hesitation.
Purple Dragon Lore
Arcana DC 15: Even the least talented purple dragons have an innate ability to subtly shift the perceptions of creatures in the grips of terror, provoking panicking and infighting with the tiniest of magical nudges.
History DC 15: Purple dragons are known to be extremely averse to direct conflict, preferring negotiation and deceit, or hit-and-run tactics when nonviolent options fail.
History DC 20: Those who have had brushes with purple dragons report a constricting fear, one that narrowed their vision to the point of near-blindness without the aid of bright lights.
Nature DC 15: Purple dragons support entire ecosystems of tiny symbiotic organisms, including terror-inducing psychoactive fungus and invisible, light-eating motes.
Nature DC 20: The spores of a purple dragon's breath weapon mature quickly when exposed to oxygen and nutrients, rapidly growing and bursting into a spray of acid if not cleared away.
Purple Dragon Tactics
The dragon begins combat with its nightmare spore breath, then tries to put as much distance between itself and its enemes as it can, using its Spider Climb and Quick Squeeze to break line of sight. As soon as its foes think it has escaped, it returns and hits them with it Stone Tomb Breath, then stays close enough to affect them with its Extinguishing aura while it Dodges and Hides. If a creature is low on health and sinking in the area affected by the dragon's Stone Tomb breath, it darts in to knock them unconscious then tries to retreat again.
Older variants first use their awful scuttle to avoid reprisal, then alternate between their Hysterical Blindness and Acrid Spore Burst. If their breath weapon recharges while enemies are still covered in spores, it prefers to use its Stone Tomb breath over its Nightmare Spore Breath.
If reduced below a half of its hit points the dragon begins positioning itself near an escape route. If reduced below a quarter of its hit points, the dragon dashes to flee, trying to end that movement out of line of sight.
Purple Dragon Social Encounters
- The party have missed their opportunity to avert the coming of a great evil, and all that is left is to prepare for its imminent arrival. The greatest sages of the land know of no way that it may be defeated, but a dragon of the dee might hold the knowledge.
- The party need to secure passage through the territory of a purple dragon; neither the party nor the dragon is assured of a victory if it comes to blows, so the dragon proposes a deal; it will let them pass if each of them, in turn, reveals to it a secret they fear being known to the rest of the party, or leaves in its trust an object of great sentimental value.
- A purple dragon seeks to determine how surface dwellers manage without their sight, as it has heard they are dreadfully reliant on just the one sense. It shadows the party in their travels through the Underdark as a scientific exercise, periodically using its Hysterical Blindness on them and occasionally sneaking close enough to extinguish their lights at moments of great inconvenience.
Purple Dragon Wyrmling
Medium dragon, neutral evil
- Armor Class 15 (Natural Armor)
- Hit Points 27 (5d8 + 5)
- Speed 30 ft., burrow 15 ft., climb 30 ft., fly 60 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 13 (+1)
- Saving Throws DEX +2, CON +3, WIS +3, CHA +3
- Skills Perception +3, Persuasion +3, Stealth +4
- Damage Immunities Poison, Psychic
- Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened, Poisoned
- Senses Blindsight 10 ft., Darkvision 90 ft., Passive Perception 13
- Languages Common, Draconic, Undercommmon
- Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Quick Squeeze. The dragon may move through any space larger than its skull without squeezing.
Spider Climb. The dragon can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
Extinguishing Aura. The dragon is surrounded by an aura of light-eating microbes. At the beginning of the dragon's turn, each light source within 5 ft. diminishes one level; from bright light to dim light, or from dim light to darkness.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d10 + 2) piercing damage.
Breath Weapons (Recharge 5–6). The dragon uses one of the following breath weapons.
Nightmare Spore Breath. The dragon exhales a cloud of spores in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 11 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 5 (1d10) psychic damage and is covered in spores until a creature takes an action to remove them. While covered in these spores, a creature is Frightened.
Stone Tomb Breath. The dragon exhales a burst of stone-softening magic in a 15-foot cone, turning the ground in the area into difficult terrain for the next minute. A creature that begins its turn on the ground in the area must succeed on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be restrained (escape DC 11) as it begins to sink into the stone.
Stone Tomb. When the effect of the dragon's stone tomb breath ends, the stone hardens, increasing the escape DC to 25. The stone has an AC of 20, and the DC to escape is reduced by 1 whenever 10 or more damage is dealt to it from a single source.
Purple Dragon Lairs
Purple dragons make their lairs in tight and twisting cavern warrens, typically starting with a large open cave or the ruins of a cathedral or cistern and paring it down into divisions by weaving and guiding the living fungal growths that sprout from the stone wherever the dragon rests.
Much like castles, these lairs are highly defensive in their architecture, featuring bolt-holes and verticality that makes traversal for intruders difficult, fungal trip-wires and alarm spores to alert them of movement through the lair, and a multitude of carefully carved and hidden escape routes.
Purple Dragon Hoards
Living in close proximity as they do with gold and gem-eating creatures such as xorns and subterranean aurumvoraces, purple dragons rarely hoard precious materials, and the constant humidity and fungal incursions make art an unappealing store to them as well. Rather, the hoard of a purple dragon is its accumulated knowledge of the fears and weaknesses of lesser creature and societies; the dragon has a plan for how to bring ruin to each creature that it knows of, and upon discovery of a new creature its first priority is discovering what would be required to destroy it utterly.
To this end, it seeks sentimental tokens, both those of its own journies that it uses as mental landmarks for its vast stores of pratical knowledge, and those of other creatures that it can use to infer an avenue to their destruction.
Young Purple Dragon
Large dragon, neutral evil
- Armor Class 16 (Natural Armor)
- Hit Points 93 (11d10 + 33)
- Speed 40 ft., burrow 20 ft., climb 40 ft., fly 80 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 18 (+4) 13 (+1) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 16 (+3)
- Saving Throws DEX +4, CON +6, WIS +5, CHA +6
- Skills Perception +5, Persuasion +6, Stealth +7
- Damage Immunities Poison, Psychic
- Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened, Poisoned
- Senses Blindsight 30 ft., Darkvision 150 ft., Passive Perception 15
- Languages Common, Draconic, Undercommmon
- Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Quick Squeeze. The dragon may move through any space larger than its skull without squeezing.
Spider Climb. The dragon can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
Extinguishing Aura. The dragon is surrounded by an aura of light-eating microbes. At the beginning of the dragon's turn, each light source within 15 ft. diminishes one level; from bright light to dim light, or from dim light to darkness.
Actions
Multiattack. The dragon makes three attacks, one of which may be with its bite.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) poison damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) slashing damage. Instead of dealing damage, the dragon may grapple the target (escape DC 15).
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage and the target is pushed 5 feet away from the dragon.
Breath Weapons (Recharge 5–6). The dragon uses one of the following breath weapons.
Nightmare Spore Breath. The dragon exhales a cloud of spores in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 22 (4d10) psychic damage and is covered in spores until a creature takes an action to remove them. While covered in these spores, a creature is Frightened.
Stone Tomb Breath. The dragon exhales a burst of stone-softening magic in a 30-foot cone, turning the ground in the area into difficult terrain for the next minute. A creature that begins its turn on the ground in the area must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be restrained (escape DC 14) as it begins to sink into the stone.
A creature already affected by this ability that fails the saving throw sinks entirely beneath the surface, and is Blinded and cannot speak or breathe until it escapes.
Reactions
Phantasmagoria. As a reaction when a Frightened creature fails a Wisdom (Perception) check to detect it, the dragon forces the creature to succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or move up to half its speed and make a melee attack against a creature of the dragon's choice.
Adult Purple Dragon
Huge dragon, neutral evil
- Armor Class 17 (Natural Armor)
- Hit Points 168 (16d12 + 64)
- Speed 40 ft., burrow 30 ft., climb 40 ft., fly 80 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 20 (+5) 14 (+2) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 16 (+2) 18 (+4)
- Saving Throws DEX +6, CON +8, WIS +7, CHA +8
- Skills Perception +7, Persuasion +12, Stealth +10
- Damage Immunities Poison, Psychic
- Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened, Poisoned
- Senses Blindsight 60 ft., Darkvision 150 ft., Passive Perception 17
- Languages Common, Draconic, Undercommmon
- Challenge 11 (7,200 XP)
Quick Squeeze. The dragon may move through any space larger than its skull without squeezing.
Spider Climb. The dragon can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
Extinguishing Aura. The dragon is surrounded by an aura of light-eating microbes. At the beginning of the dragon's turn, each light source within 30 ft. diminishes one level; from bright light to dim light, or from dim light to darkness.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Multiattack. The dragon makes three attacks, one of which may be with its bite.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) piercing damage plus 5 (1d10) poison damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d6 + 5) slashing damage and the target is grappled (escape DC 17).
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage and the target is pushed 10 feet away from the dragon.
Breath Weapons (Recharge 5–6). The dragon uses one of the following breath weapons.
Nightmare Spore Breath. The dragon exhales a cloud of spores in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 33 (6d10) psychic damage and is covered in spores until a creature takes an action to remove them. While covered in these spores, a creature is Frightened.
Stone Tomb Breath. The dragon exhales a burst of stone-softening magic in a 60-foot cone, turning the ground in the area into difficult terrain for the next minute. A creature that begins its turn on the ground in the area must succeed on a DC 16 Strength saving throw or be restrained (escape DC 16) as it begins to sink into the stone.
A creature already affected by this ability that fails the saving throw sinks entirely beneath the surface, and is Blinded and cannot speak or breathe until it escapes.
Reactions
Phantasmagoria. As a reaction when a Frightened creature fails a Wisdom (Perception) check to detect it, the dragon forces the creature to succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or move up to half its speed and make a melee attack against a creature of the dragon's choice.
Bloodied Breath (1/Day.) As a reaction to being reduced below 85 hit points, the dragon immediately recharges and uses one of its breath weapons.
Legendary Actions
The dragon can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Awful Scuttle. The dragon moves up to half its climb speed. If it ends this movement out of sight of any hostile creatures, it may attempt a Dexterity (Stealth) check to hide.
Acrid Spore Burst. One creature that is covered in spores from the dragon's breath weapon takes 9 (2d8) acid damage as the spores rupture and slough off in a caustic spray.
Hysterical Blindness. One creature the dragon can see within 60 ft. must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or lose its darkvision for the next minute.
Ancient Purple Dragon
Gargantuan dragon, neutral evil
- Armor Class 21 (Natural Armor)
- Hit Points 248 (16d20 + 80)
- Speed 40 ft., burrow 40 ft., climb 40 ft., fly 80 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 23 (+6) 16 (+3) 20 (+5) 19 (+4) 18 (+4) 21 (+5)
- Saving Throws DEX +9, CON +11, WIS +10, CHA +9
- Skills Perception +10, Persuasion 17, Stealth +15
- Damage Immunities Poison, Psychic
- Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened, Poisoned
- Senses Blindsight 60 ft., Darkvision 300 ft., Passive Perception 20
- Languages Common, Draconic, Undercommmon
- Challenge 18 (20,000 XP)
Quick Squeeze. The dragon may move through any space larger than its skull without squeezing.
Spider Climb. The dragon can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
Extinguishing Aura. The dragon is surrounded by an aura of light-eating microbes. At the beginning of the dragon's turn, each light source within 60 ft. diminishes one level; from bright light to dim light, or from dim light to darkness.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Multiattack. The dragon makes three attacks, one of which may be with its bite.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (2d10 + 6) piercing damage plus 11 (2d10) poison damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) slashing damage and the target is grappled (escape DC 18).
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage and the target is pushed 15 feet away from the dragon.
Breath Weapons (Recharge 5–6). The dragon uses one of the following breath weapons.
Nightmare Spore Breath. The dragon exhales a cloud of spores in a 90-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 49 (9d10) psychic damage and is covered in spores until a creature takes an action to remove them. While covered in these spores, a creature is Frightened.
Stone Tomb Breath. The dragon exhales a burst of stone-softening magic in a 90-foot cone, turning the ground in the area into difficult terrain for the next minute. A creature that begins its turn on the ground in the area must succeed on a DC 19 Strength saving throw or be restrained (escape DC 19) as it begins to sink into the stone.
A creature already affected by this ability that fails the saving throw sinks entirely beneath the surface, and is Blinded and cannot speak or breathe until it escapes.
Reactions
Phantasmagoria. As a reaction when a Frightened creature fails a Wisdom (Perception) check to detect it, the dragon forces the creature to succeed on a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or move up to half its speed and make a melee attack against a creature of the dragon's choice.
Bloodied Breath (1/Day.) As a reaction to being reduced below 100 hit points, the dragon immediately recharges and uses one of its breath weapons.
Legendary Actions
The dragon can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Awful Scuttle. The dragon moves up to half its climb speed. If it ends this movement out of sight of any hostile creatures, it may attempt a Dexterity (Stealth) check to hide.
Acrid Spore Burst. One creature that is covered in spores from the dragon's breath weapon takes 18 (4d8) acid damage as the spores rupture and slough off in a caustic spray.
Hysterical Blindness. One creature the dragon can see within 60 ft. must succeed on a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or lose its darkvision for the next minute.
Great Wyrm Purple Dragon
Gargantuan dragon, neutral evil
- Armor Class 21 (Natural Armor)
- Hit Points 363 (22d20 + 132)
- Speed 40 ft., burrow 40 ft., climb 40 ft., fly 80 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 25 (+7) 18 (+4) 22 (+6) 21 (+5) 20 (+5) 23 (+6)
- Saving Throws DEX +11, CON +13, WIS +12, CHA +13
- Skills Perception +12, Persuasion 20, Stealth +18
- Damage Resistances Attacks made without advantage
- Damage Immunities Poison, Psychic
- Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened, Poisoned
- Senses Blindsight 120 ft., Darkvision 300 ft. (penetrates magical darkness), Passive Perception 22
- Languages Common, Draconic, Undercommmon
- Challenge 22 (41,000 XP)
Quick Squeeze. The dragon may move through any space larger than its skull without squeezing.
Spider Climb. The dragon can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
Extinguishing Aura. The dragon is surrounded by an aura of light-eating microbes. At the beginning of the dragon's turn, each light source within 120 ft. diminishes one level; from bright light to dim light, or from dim light to darkness.
Legendary Resistance (5/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Multiattack. The dragon makes three attacks, one of which may be with its bite.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (2d10 + 7) piercing damage plus 11 (2d10) poison damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d6 + 7) slashing damage and the target is grappled (escape DC 22) and restrained. Each other creature within 5 feet of the target must succeed on a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw or take half the attack's damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 20 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d8 + 7) bludgeoning damage and the target is pushed 20 feet away from the dragon. Each other creature within 5 feet of the target must succeed on a DC 22 Dexterity saving throw or take half the attack's damage and be pushed 10 feet away.
Breath Weapons (Recharge 5–6). The dragon uses one of the following breath weapons.
Nightmare Spore Breath. The dragon exhales a cloud of spores in a 300-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 77 (14d10) psychic damage and is covered in spores until a creature takes an action to remove them. While covered in these spores, a creature is Frightened.
Stone Tomb Breath. The dragon exhales a burst of stone-softening magic in a 300-foot cone, turning the ground in the area into difficult terrain for the next minute. A creature that begins its turn on the ground in the area must succeed on a DC 21 Strength saving throw or be restrained (escape DC 21) as it begins to sink into the stone.
A creature already affected by this ability that fails the saving throw sinks entirely beneath the surface, and is Blinded and cannot speak or breathe until it escapes.
Reactions
Phantasmagoria. As a reaction when a Frightened creature fails a Wisdom (Perception) check to detect it, the dragon forces the creature to succeed on a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw or move up to half its speed and make a melee attack against a creature of the dragon's choice.
Bloodied Breath (1/Day.) As a reaction to being reduced below 166 hit points, the dragon immediately recharges and uses one of its breath weapons.
Legendary Actions
The dragon can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below.
Awful Scuttle. The dragon moves up to half its climb speed. If it ends this movement out of sight of any hostile creatures, it may attempt a Dexterity (Stealth) check to hide.
Acrid Spore Burst. One creature that is covered in spores from the dragon's breath weapon takes 27 (6d8) acid damage as the spores rupture and slough off in a caustic spray.
Hysterical Blindness. One creature the dragon can see within 60 ft. must succeed on a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw or lose its darkvision for the next minute.
Art Credits
- Purple Dragon by Lars Grant-West
- Purple Dragon by Brynn Metheney
- Underdark by Titus Lunter
- Bisk, Goblin King by Rae Elderidge
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