Epic Dragons

Like other dragons, epic dragons are gigantic, winged, reptilian creatures. The epic dragons fall entirely outside the commonly accepted categories of chromatic and metallic dragons, and may originate on another plane of existence. They are further distinguished from the common dragons described in the Monster Manual by their tremendous size (even at hatching), their longer life span (with corresponding greater increases in power as they age), and their mastery of unusual energy forms.

While common dragons are easily categorized by alignment and temperament, epic dragons display much more individual variation in these areas. Epic dragons are usually neutral, pursuing their on interests rather than the great causes of alignment conflict. Some are extremely selfish and ill-tempered, while others are as beneficent as gold dragons. Like other dragons, however, almost all epic dragons covet and hoard wealth.

All epic dragons speak Draconic.

Epic Dragon Age Categories
CategoryAge (Years)
Wyrmling0-10
Very young11-30
Young31-50
Juvenile51-100
Young adult101-200
Adult201-400
Mature adult401-800
Old801-1,200
Very old1,201-1,600
Ancient1,601-2,000
Wyrm2,001-2,400

Combat

Epic dragons share all the combat characteristics of standard dragons, as described in the Monster Manual. Even wyrmling epic dragons are Huge, however, and are capable of making tail sweep and crush attacks. Although there is no size category larger than Colossal, the oldest epic dragons have a greater reach and deal more damage with their attacks than other Colossal dragons, as shown on the Epic Dragon Face & Reach table below.

Epic Dragon Face & Reach
SizeFaceReach
Huge10 ft. by 20 ft.10 ft.
Gargantuan20 ft. by 40 ft.15 ft.
Colossal40 ft. by 80 ft.15 ft.
Colossal+40 ft. by 80 ft.20 ft.
Epic Dragon Attacks
Size1 Bite2 Claws2 Wings1 Tail Slap1 Crush1 Tail Sweep
Huge2d82d6ld82d62d82d4
Gargantuan4d62d82d62d84d62d6
Colossal4d84d62d84d64d82d8
Colossal+8d64d84d64d88d64d6
Epic Dragon Breath Weapons
SizeLine¹Cone²
Huge100 ft.50 ft.
Gargantuan120 ft.60 ft.
Colossal140 ft.70 ft.
Colossal+160 ft.80 ft.
¹ A line is always 5 feet high and 5 feet wide.
² A cone is as high and wide as its length.

Wyrmling epic dragons possess certain abilities that common dragons do not acquire until later in life, including frightful presence, spellcasting, and spell resistance. An epic dragon with a caster level above 20th gains the Improved Spell Capacity feat as a bonus feat once for every three caster levels above 20th. Any epic dragon can choose epic feats for which it otherwise meets the prerequisites. Epic dragons also have access to all feats available to non-epic dragons.

Empower Spell-Like Ability: An epic dragon can apply theEmpower Spell feat to one of its spell-like abilities that it can use at least twice per day. If the dragon has limited use of the spell-like ability (3/day, for example), the empowered ability uses up two uses of the ability. If the dragon can use the ability at will, there is no cost for empowering the ability. The dragon does not need to specify a spell-like ability when it chooses this feat; it can apply the feat to any spell-like ability it possesses.

Maximize Spell-Like Ability: The dragon can apply the Maximize Spell feat to one of its spell-like abilities that it can use at least three times per day If the dragon has limited use of the spell-like ability (3/day, for example), the maximized ability uses up three uses of the ability. If the dragon can use the ability at will, there is no cost for maximizing the ability. The dragon does not need to specify a spell-like ability when it chooses this feat; it can apply the feat to any spell-like ability it possesses.

Epic dragons fly even faster than common dragons, and can cover greater distances.

Epic Dragon Overland Flying Speeds
 - Flight Speed-
 250 feet300 feet350 feet
One Hour
Normal40 miles50 miles60 miles
Hustle80 miles100 miles120 miles
One Day
Normal320 miles400 miles480 miles

Except as noted here, epic dragons conform to the general information that applies to all dragons given in the Monster Manual.


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