Harness the Power – The Best Ridable Dinos in D&D
Dungeons & Dragons is a game of high adventure, but if you play it right, it’s also a game chock full of ridable dinos.
Since the dawn of history, humanity has sought one thing. To defeat the time-traveling Rulons by harnessing the power of dinosaurs, in order to drive them off of prehistoric earth. The echoes of this battle can be felt in the psyche today.
That’s why, ever since you were probably in 3rdish grade or so, you’ve always wanted to ride a dinosaur. And now, thanks to the power of Dungeons & Dragons, you can. Here are the best, most ridable dinos in all of 5th Edition.
Triceratops
Let’s start with the workhorse of the dinos, the triceratops. This majestic beast has three horns and an armored frill that gives it a halfway decent armor class. And at 95 hit points, a triceratops will keep kicking (well, stomping, for 3d10+6 damage) long after a warhorse would’ve been glue.
Add on top of that a gore attack that can turn into a trampling charge with a 50 ft. move speed? It’s just delicious.
Deinonychus (Small Rider Only)
Sadly, your ridable raptor dinos are only suited to small riders. Your dream of charging into battle atop the back of a deadly, claw-footed hunting dino only works if you are a small creature, like a halfling or a gnome.
But if you are? Not only do you get a fast mount, but you also get one capable of pouncing onto its prey and knocking them prone with a devastating (though not nearly as much as a triceratops) charge.
If you’re a medium rider? Try an axe beak!
Quetzalcoatlus
Quetzalcoatluses soar high above the battlefield, and have the innate flyby ability, meaning they don’t take opportunity attacks when flying out of an opponent’s reach. As a result, from the back of a quetzalcoatlus, you can lance enemies out of the sky. And so will your mount, which is capable of dealing an extra 6d6 +2 on a charge from more than 30 feet away.
But with a fly speed of 80 feet? That’s easy to manage.
Brontosaurus
These tall drinks of water are big beasts that we know do move in herds. So why not tame one and use it as a mobile battle platform? Especially since it can deal devastating stomps and tail slams, to the tune of 5d8 +5 or 6d8 + 5, with a massive 20-foot reach. Of course, you have to figure out where you’re going to keep it.
Tyrannosaurus Rex
It’s good to be the king. And if you want to be the king, you should ride the king. The tyrant king. All the way to the bank, or wherever you want, really. With a jaw that deals 4d12 + 7 damage, a tail attack that does 3d8 + 7, and the ability to hold prey in its mouth, a T. Rex makes for an effective combatant.
If you can tame one in the first place. And keep it fed and cared for.
What’s your favorite ridable dino?
