D&D Monster Spotlight: If You Can’t Take a Joke, Beware the Copper Dragon
If you’re looking for a monster who appreciates a good riddle or a funny story, the Copper Dragon is the monster for you.
First Edition
Don’t tell a First Edition Copper Dragon this to their face, but they aren’t exactly anything special as far as Dragons go. Like many Dragons they prefer the solitude of rocky caves lairs, usually in warm or arid climates. Also like many Dragons, they are fairly selfish and don’t care much for the goings on of the outside world if it doesn’t directly result in the acquisition of more hoard for them. Copper Dragons are, generally, Chaotic Good in 1E. This makes them notably less evil than many other Dragons. So if you’re going to be stuck in an encounter with any dragon of your choice, the Copper one may also bite, claw, know magic, and feel fairly blasé about you if you don’t have something for you. But at least they’re probably not evil.
Second Edition
By 2E Copper Dragons have a bit more personality. They’re “incorrigible pranksters” with a penchant for riddles. In fact, one of their go-to strategies is to taunt an annoy their opponent in the hope that they will give up or get frustrated and misstep. This can all get annoying, sure, but is far better than the random viciousness of a chaotic evil monster. They are as prideful as any other dragon, However, and while Copper Dragons aren’t particularly good losers they are very good winners. Whether that means being humble or giving out sparkly consolation prizes may be up to your DM.
Third Edition
In general a Copper Dragon appreciates a good joke and somebody who has a good sense of humor. Third Edition tells us that they don’t harm creatures who can tell (or take) a joke, spin a funny yarn, or tell them a riddle they hadn’t heard before. On the other hand, Copper Dragons are easily irritated by people who don’t laugh at their jokes or accept their tricks in stride. They are the epitome of that guy at the party. But unlike that guy if you don’t humor them you could find yourself trapped in mud or struck with their acidic breath weapon.
Fifth Edition
If you’re planning on visiting a Copper Dragon or land that you know a Copper Dragon resides over, you’re going to want to have a bard in your party. These Dragons are particularly fond of bards, which isn’t surprising since they appreciate wit, storytelling, and humor so much. But while they can be good hosts, Copper Dragons are wary and protective of their treasure, usually consisting of precious stones. If you get on their bad side, a Copper Dragon’s lair action can make stone spikes sprout from the ground in a twenty food radius or turn dry ground into deep mud.
Have you encountered a Copper Dragon? Did you tell it a joke or a story of some kind to win its favor? What is your best Copper-Dragon-Winning-Over riddle? Let us know in the comments!
Happy Adventuring!
