Dragon, Outer

Outer dragons, natives of the vast reaches of space, can be encountered on diverse worlds. They are generally neutral, but their alignments vary more than those of other dragons.

Age Categories

As a dragon ages, it goes through 12 age categories. Its base statistics change as noted on Table: Dragon Age Categories.

Age Category: This is the age category’s name.

Age in Years: This is the dragon’s actual age.

CR: This column modifies the dragon’s base CR.

Size: This column shows the number of size categories by which to increase the dragon’s base size, depending on its age. Instead of the standard increases to ability scores when it achieves a larger size, a true dragon gains ability score increases according to its age category, as indicated on Table: Dragon Ability Scores.

Hit Dice: This shows how many Hit Dice a dragon gains over its base Hit Dice as it grows. Increases to Hit Dice grant extra hit points, feats, and skill ranks as well as increasing base attack bonus and base save bonuses. Dragons have skill ranks equal to 6 + their Intelligence modifier per Hit Die. A dragon’s increases to ability scores for gaining Hit Dice are included in the totals on Table: Dragon Ability Scores.

Natural Armor: This shows the amount the dragon’s base natural armor bonus increases with each age category.

Breath Weapon: Each dragon has a breath weapon that deals a base amount of damage. This multiplier increases the number of dice of damage dealt. For example, a mature adult with a base breath weapon that deals 2d6 acid damage would deal 14d6 acid damage (due to the ×7 multiplier).

Combat

Table: Dragon Attacks and Speeds lists attacks a dragon can employ and the damage it deals (a dash indicates a dragon of that size doesn’t possess that attack). Dragons gain other abilities listed here at specific age categories.

Fly Speed: A dragon’s fly speed increases based on its size.

Bite: This is a primary attack that deals the indicated damage plus 1-1/2 times the dragon’s Strength bonus (even though it has more than one attack). A dragon’s bite attack has reach as if the creature were one size category larger (+10 feet for Colossal dragons).

Claws: These primary attacks deal the indicated damage plus the dragon’s Strength bonus.

Tail Slap: The dragon can slap one foe each round with its tail. A tail slap is a secondary attack that deals the indicated damage plus 1-1/2 times the dragon’s Strength bonus (this is an exception to the normal secondary attack rules).

Wings: The dragon can slam foes with its wings, even when flying. Wing attacks are secondary attacks that deal the indicated damage plus 1/2 the dragon’s Strength bonus.

Crush (Ex)

A flying or jumping Huge or larger dragon can land on foes as a standard action, using its body to crush any of them that are three or more size categories smaller than the dragon. A crush attack affects as many creatures as fit in the dragon’s space. Creatures in the affected area must succeed at a Reflex save (DC equal to that of the dragon’s breath weapon) or be pinned, automatically taking bludgeoning damage during the next round unless the dragon moves off them. If the dragon chooses to maintain the pin, it must succeed at a combat maneuver check as normal. Pinned foes take damage from the crush each round if they don’t escape. A crush attack deals the indicated damage plus 1 -1/2 times the dragon’s Strength bonus.

Tail Sweep (Ex)

A Gargantuan or larger dragon can sweep its tail as a standard action. The sweep affects a half-circle with a radius of 30 feet (or 40 feet for a Colossal dragon), extending from an intersection on the edge of the dragon’s space in any direction. Creatures within the swept area are affected if they are four or more size categories smaller than the dragon. A tail sweep automatically deals the indicated damage plus 1-1/2 times the dragon’s Strength bonus (round down). Affected creatures can attempt Reflex saves to take half damage (DC equal to that of the dragon’s breath weapon).

Breath Weapon (Su)

Using a breath weapon is a standard action. A dragon can use its breath weapon once every 1d4 rounds, even if it possesses more than one breath weapon. A breath weapon always starts at an intersection adjacent to the dragon and extends in a direction of the dragon’s choice. Breath weapons come in two shapes, lines and cones, whose areas vary with the dragon’s size. If a breath weapon deals damage, those caught in the area can attempt Reflex saves to take half damage. The save DC against a breath weapon is 10 + 1/2 the dragon’s HD + the dragon’s Constitution modifier. Saves against various breath weapons use the same DC; the type of saving throw is noted in the variety descriptions. A dragon can use its breath weapon when it is grappling or being grappled.

Additional Dragon Rules

Alien Presence (Ex)

A juvenile or older outer dragon has an aura that functions as frightful presence with a range equal to 30 feet × the dragon’s age category. The effect of each dragon’s alien presence is noted in its description.

Damage Reduction

Dragons gain damage reduction as they age, as indicated in each dragon’s specific entry. Their natural weapons are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.

Dragon Senses (Ex)

Dragons have darkvision 120 ft. and blindsense 60 ft. They see four times as well as a human in dim light and twice as well in normal light.

Immunities (Ex)

Every dragon is immune to sleep and paralysis. In addition, a dragon is immune to additional forms of attack, as given in its description.

No Breath (Ex)

Outer dragons don’t need to breathe and are immune to inhaled poisons, suffocation, and drowning. See the universal monster rules for more information.

See in Darkness (Ex)

Outer dragons can see perfectly in darkness, even that created by deeper darkness.

Spell Resistance (Ex)

As dragons grow older, they become more resistant to spells and spell-like abilities, as indicated in their descriptions. A dragon’s SR is equal to 11 + its CR.

Spells

A dragon knows and casts arcane spells as a sorcerer of the level indicated in its specific description. Its caster level depends on its age, as shown for each type.

Table: Dragon Age Categories
Age Category Age in Years CR Size Hit Dice Natural Armor Breath Weapon
1 Wyrmling 0–5 Base Base Base Base Base
2 Very young 6–15 Base + 2 Base + 1 Base + 2 Base + 3 Base × 2
3 Young 16–25 Base + 4 Base + 2 Base + 4 Base + 6 Base × 3
4 Juvenile 26–50 Base + 5 Base + 2 Base + 6 Base + 9 Base × 4
5 Young adult 51–100 Base + 7 Base + 3 Base + 8 Base + 12 Base × 5
6 Adult 101–200 Base + 8 Base + 3 Base + 10 Base + 15 Base × 6
7 Mature adult 201–400 Base + 9 Base + 3 Base + 12 Base + 18 Base × 7
8 Old 401–600 Base + 11 Base + 4 Base + 14 Base + 21 Base × 8
9 Very old 601–800 Base + 12 Base + 4 Base + 16 Base + 24 Base × 9
10 Ancient 801–1,000 Base + 13 Base + 4 Base + 18 Base + 27 Base × 10
11 Wyrm 1,001–1,200 Base + 14 Base + 4 Base + 20 Base + 30 Base × 11
12 Great wyrm 1,201+ Base + 16 Base + 5 Base + 22 Base + 33 Base × 12
Table: Dragon Ability Scores
Age Category Str Dex Con Int Wis Cha
1 Wyrmling Base Base Base Base Base Base
2 Very young Base + 4 Base – 2 Base + 2 Base + 2 Base + 2 Base + 2
3 Young Base + 8 Base – 2 Base + 4 Base + 2 Base + 2 Base + 2
4 Juvenile Base + 10 Base – 2 Base + 6 Base + 4 Base + 4 Base + 4
5 Young adult Base + 12 Base – 4 Base + 6 Base + 4 Base + 4 Base + 4
6 Adult Base + 14 Base – 4 Base + 8 Base + 6 Base + 6 Base + 6
7 Mature adult Base + 16 Base – 4 Base + 8 Base + 6 Base + 6 Base + 6
8 Old Base + 18 Base – 6 Base + 10 Base + 8 Base + 8 Base + 8
9 Very old Base + 20 Base – 6 Base + 10 Base + 8 Base + 8 Base + 8
10 Ancient Base + 22 Base – 6 Base + 12 Base + 10 Base + 10 Base + 10
11 Wyrm Base + 24 Base – 8 Base + 12 Base + 10 Base + 10 Base + 10
12 Great wyrm Base + 26 Base – 8 Base + 14 Base + 12 Base + 12 Base + 12
Table: Dragon Attacks and Speeds
Size Fly Speed (maneuverability) 1 Bite 2 Claws 2 Wings 1 Tail Slap 1 Crush 1 Tail Sweep Breath Weapon
Line Cone
Tiny 100 ft. (average) 1d4 1d3 30 ft. 15 ft.
Small 150 ft. (average) 1d6 1d4 40 ft. 20 ft.
Medium 150 ft. (average) 1d8 1d6 1d4 60 ft. 30 ft.
Large 200 ft. (poor) 2d6 1d8 1d6 1d8 80 ft. 40 ft.
Huge 200 ft. (poor) 2d8 2d6 1d8 2d6 2d8 100 ft. 50 ft.
Gargantuan 250 ft. (clumsy) 4d6 2d8 2d6 2d8 4d6 2d6 120 ft. 60 ft.
Colossal 250 ft. (clumsy) 4d8 4d6 2d8 4d6 4d8 2d8 140 ft. 70 ft.

Spell-Like Abilities: A dragon’s caster level for its spell-like abilities is equal to its total Hit Dice.

Starflight (Su)

In outer space, an outer dragon can survive in the void and fly at incredible speed. Travel times vary, but a trip within a single solar system should take 3d20 hours, and a trip beyond should take 3d20 days or more if the dragon knows the way to its destination. An outer dragon can carry one rider of one size category smaller than itself, four passengers two sizes smaller, eight passengers three sizes smaller, or 16 passengers four or more sizes smaller. Passengers are protected from the void of outer space.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 4 © 2013, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors: Dennis Baker, Jesse Benner, Savannah Broadway, Ross Byers, Adam Daigle, Tim Hitchcock, Tracy Hurley, James Jacobs, Matt James, Rob McCreary, Jason Nelson, Tom Phillips, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Sean K Reynolds, F. Wesley Schneider, Tork Shaw, and Russ Taylor.

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