D&D Monster Spotlight: Green Dragons
Not all dragons live in mountains and breath fire. Some like getting into nature… and breathing chlorine gas at it!This week it’s green dragons!
We spent a little time looking at red dragons a few weeks ago, and now I’m back to talk about another classic. A little different, but just just as terrifyingly dragony, it’s the Green Dragon.
First Edition
Green dragons are commonly found in underground lairs near or in forests. Do they like to blend in with their surroundings or do they just enjoy have a favorite color that they like to surround themselves with? Who knows. Like the red dragon, greens are generally mean and evil, but don’t seem to have the same attitude of assumed superiority that their primary colored cousins do. Armed with claws, teeth, and a vicious chlorine gas breath, green dragons are nothing to sneeze at.
Second Edition
2E green dragons are described as “bad tempered, mean, cruel, and rude,” which I find very funny for some reason. They’ve been known to kill and enslave forest creatures, and that’s fine I guess but they also *whispers* used a tone of voice toward me one time. Green dragons also have thinner scales compared to other varieties of dragon, making for greater flexibility but lower defense. Though, at 13 hit dice, they aren’t exactly pushovers, either. They’re also a little similar to cats, only using their breath weapon or magic to start against more formidable enemies while choosing to toy with weaker looking ones.
Third Edition
If you want a long chart breaking down the many, many ages and evolutions of the green dragon, 3E is your book. If not, you should know that their breath weapon is now a code of corrosive acidic gas (previously chlorine specifically) and they are able to breath underwater indefinitely with no loss to their breath weapon, magic, or abilities. They’re also described as being a fairly inquisitive and intelligent dragon, stalking more threatening looking prey to size them up and questioning travelers in order to find out more about their society and abilities… Presumably before killing said adventurer and razing their society to the ground.
Fourth Edition
The 4E green dragon only has minor changes compared to previous editions. This is when they break down stats and attacks for young, adult, elder, and ancient dragons, but they also specify how good green dragons are at negotiation and manipulation. They will also use their tail as a weapon now, which seems like something they should have been utilizing all along and I’d bet a few DM’s had thrown it in at least as flavor text prior to 4E.
Fifth Edition
There is truly too much in fifth edition to break down any dragon quickly, so I’m just going to run through the greatest hits. Adult and Ancient green dragons have legendary actions in 5E consisting of Detect, and Tail and Wing attacks each. At it’s weakest, an adventurer wold have to pass a DC19 Dex saving throw or take 13 bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. On top of this they have lair actions including vines erupting from the ground to restrain you and magical fog that leaves you charmed, making it difficult if not almost entirely impossible to fight a green dragon in its own home. But really, the entire region they reside in won’t be much better with their regional effects including ten foot high and thick Sleeping-Beauty-style thicket walls and an army of rodents and birds acting as the dragon’s personal spies.
I know we’re playing Dungeons and Dragons, but just the same… no thanks.
Have you encountered a green dragon? Was it as mean as the book says? Would you inflict this upon your players? Let us know in the comments!
Happy Adventuring!
