D&D MONSTER RANKINGS - DRAGONS

[@alganhar1]

I played an NG Human Mage in one campaign many years ago, who had a FaerieDragon 'Familiar', and was not actually my first choice. The DM's 8 year old daughter had been badgering her father about joining the game, so he turned around and said alright, you will get to play, but you will not get to play a character until you are a little older, for now, I have a mage in the party and you can play his Familiar. That is how I got Taliya, a female FaerieDragon that over several years of that campaign managed to pull the party into some of the most ridiculous (yet fun) predicaments in her incessant and obsessive search for the perfect pastry! We actually instituted a roll for when my mage delved into his scroll case for one of his precious prepared spell scrolls, giving a chance every time he did so of actually producing a random recipe for a tasty treat that Taliya had secreted into said scroll case because it was 'important'. She turned out to be the best familiar I have ever seen in any campaign before or since, and I think that was largely due to the fact that she was played, and played well, by an 8 year old little girl with a love of pranks and sweets :). The best thing, is none of us ever actually knew what that Faerie dragon was going to do, she became as much a member of the party as any of the other characters, with her own goals, her own vices and her own strengths. That little Faerie Dragon got the party into a huge amount of trouble, yet a well placed illusion from her also got us OUT of a lot of trouble. It was brilliant, said 8 year old recently graduated from University, and is now DM'ing for a bunch of teenagers, one of whom is my youngest daughter (14).... And one of her favourite characters was that Faerie Dragon... I guess we all have a certain fondness for the first character we ever played but Taliya was special!

[@SaraphDarklaw]

alganhar1 This is so cute.

[@kierdiocos9209]

bro thats hella adorable

[@theofficalchairmanrevoluti614]

I love this story

[@blitz849]

you just made me smile, thank you!

[@fightingfalcon777]

Things like this are what I love about D&D

[@dmlanse]

The kobold cry's......skipped in player races.... Skipped in monster races.....skipped in Volo's... And skipped in dragonkin.... Fear not kobolds, you will still always be my friend =3

[@00ironskull]

Or the feed to my undead hordes

[@gasparperalta3725]

I feel you fellow Kobold fan Asper has neglected this wonderful race for long enough

[@SageSchispell]

Kobolds are listed as humanoids, not sure why it was skipped in monster races tbh... and with dragonborn being in here kobolds should have too, since they are in fact closer to being dragons then the dragonborn in my opinion. I mean the dragonborn have visual scales and a breath weapon that pales in comparison. Kobolds have actual working scales and can sometimes grow wings... so, what makes dragonborn dragonkin again?

[@dmlanse]

@@SageSchispell they should have also been in the Volos list

[@gasmonkey1000]

While I like Esper's content what does he have against the cutebolds? How could anyone dislike them? They're cute, loyal, ingenious, and potent magic users.

[@tonylu2471]

I'm now imagining an encounter with a brass dragon. >me: going to the store. Not gonna be long. >minding my own business buying things. >sees brass dragon walking toward me. >thinking to myself "don't engage", "don't engage" >dragon sees me. >crap. >"hello" dragon says. >say nothing, say nothing, keep moving. "Hello!" Crap. Crap. Super crap. >trapped in a day long conversation with brass dragon. >get no shopping done.

[@jesterssketchbook]

Brass Dragon: and how about this weather! Hot enough for ya?"

[@qoyote]

Broke: "My dad and I talk too much" Woke: "My dad and I are brass dragons"

[@adolw3266]

guys i think my mum's a brass dragon

[@ryanedwards7487]

One of my favorite campaigns ever had a character that was an ancient silver dragon. He was so ancient he was actually starting to lose himself in lore. He'd only really be his true self when the situation demanded it, and he preferred to fight as a human (he'd often take the visage of heroes he had met over the centuries), or use a comely maiden disguise to glean information from nearby towns. However, he'd also sometimes lose himself (anytime he was using his polymorph ability if he failed his role) and transform into something or someone else for a turn. It turned out he had swallowed one of 7 keys holding back the forces of the devils on the realms and had forgotten, so when we went through the entire dungeon to get it, only to find an empty pedestal, he just starts laughing and goes: Now I remember: I ate it to keep some little tyrant from finding it here...no wonder I've had 250 years of mild indigestion! That was 20ish years ago right after 3rd edition had come out, and I still remember that character fondly.

[@justcallmesoggy6762]

I might have to steal this idea its great

[@2MeterLP]

I have a silver dragon in my campaign that poses as a beautiful elf who runs a magic shop. She was crippled by an ancient red dragon when she was young, so her dragon body reminds her of that horror. She only turns into a dragon when forced to and has to roll saves while in combat to keep the PTSD at bay. All the power of an adult silver dragon in an elfs small body gave her the magic power of a draconic sorcerer over time. She helps young magic users pay for their education and loves to meet interesting adventurers in her shop. It was damn hard for me to keep her true form a secret for over half a year, but damn the face of my players when their favorite NPC got stabbed by Sahuagin and turned into a dragon was priceless.

[@orinanime]

Ryan that is an amazing story and outstanding character. You must have had a great DM

[@hadeskingoftheunderworld7010]

@@2MeterLP damn love this idea there are a lot of dragons in the world im building and i was thinking of makeing an npc luke this

[@evilestmonkeey]

That's fucking awesome man

[@fortello7219]

Silver Dragons are my personal top Dragon. Though I'm surprised you didn't give mention to their most important aspect. They live in the moment! Unlike the long life outlook of *all* other true dragons, the Silver Dragon looks at the world with the time scale of humans, and often uses it's shapechange ability to integrate itself with the world at large. It cares for the middling wars between nations, the thwarting of deceptive betrayers, the struggles of simple farmers. And often intervenes, but without losing sight of long term ramifications.

[@thedoomslayer8900]

Now this may not sound familiar, but Chromium the Mutable in MTG follow that sort of thing. He's silver and has an ability to turn into a human

[@fortello7219]

@@thedoomslayer8900 S-so? I mean, I'm just highlighting what is written about Silver Dragons in the Monster Manual. Nothing against your guy though.

[@thedoomslayer8900]

@@fortello7219 It's cool. I was pointing out the similarities lol

[@brianc9374]

Coppers and greens are mine

[@MRCrazyKorn]

I recently did a Homebrew one shot with my brother as DM and everyone who participated got their own adult dragon mount. My brother asked me for my favorite dragon and I immediately without thinking chose silver. I couldn't have been happier with my choice.

[@davidjay7116]

When my uncle invited me to try out D&D for the first time he said I could be any character I wanted. Anything I wanted, really? I half jokingly said I'll be a dragon then. He rubbed his chin and thought for a second and said, "I think that Council of Wyrms box set let's you roll dragons. Sure." I read through all the dragons and easily picked the silver dragon for many of the same reasons you mentioned here. Silvers will always be my favorite.

[@adamjones9354]

But what about half-Dragon Dragonborn? Or if a Dragon breeds with a half-Dragon? How far can it go? Will we end up with a 95% Dragon who has ever so slight human features (like meticulously hidden nipples)? the world needs answers!

[@Radicalalaska]

Half dragons are infertile. Thats the downside to turning yourself into one.

[@Somber_Knight]

half-dragon dragonborn dragon sorcerer dragon warlock mounted on a dragon both with a dragon familiars and all wearing dragon armor.and a full party of these characters fighting dragon armies. CR-200.

[@_Gecko]

David Richardson Downside??? Imagine the potential for a half-dragon bard

[@anthonydonnelly1157]

@@_Gecko Oh my god the powers of both of D&D's horinest species combined, Humans and Dragons, would be unstoppable as a bard. Imagine the mess....!

[@DarkWarchieff]

If you go the magic ritual path for half-dragon, do you get to choose type or will a higher power choose for you? if it's the former, does it influence your alignment or can you be a lawful good black half-dragon paladin?

[@dilophosaurussk4333]

Guard drake: Dragon Wyvern: Dragon/Flying Pseudodragon: Dragon/Flying Dragonborn: Normal/Dragon Half-dragon: Dragon Dragon turtle: Dragon/Water White dragon: Dragon/Ice Black dragon: Dragon/Dark Faerie dragon: Fairy/Dragon Gold dragon: Dragon/Fire Copper dragon: Dragon/Poison Red dragon: Dragon/Fire Bronze dragon: Dragon/Electric Blue dragon: Dragon/Electric Green dragon: Dragon/Poison Brass dragon: Dragon/Poison Silver dragon: Dragon/Ice

[@SerDerpish]

dilophosaurus sk Steel Dragon: Dragon/Steel

[@bigfatcarp93]

Brass is more like Fire, and Copper is more like Earth.

[@someguynamedsomething9612]

wyverns defining trait is its poison tail it should prob be dragon/poison

[@حَسن-م3ه9ظ]

Technically, all chromatic dragons would be dark type, which's could the "evil type" in japanese

[@Prodmullefc]

@@bigfatcarp93 maybe this is just because of my line of work, but I'd say copper was dragon/electric

[@witchBoi_Connor]

The way I see it, the Silver Dragon is the most likely one you’ll see as an NPC, Seeing as they can stay in human form nigh indefinitely.

[@yanderenejoyer]

@Khaeldranis Sure, but the silver dragon is the only one that revels in joining humanoid civilization, thus being able to stay polymorphed for a very long time without feeling the need to go back to its original form

[@thurismundbotheric7598]

Then you have never had a properly dmed blue

[@maniacram]

Tyler you guys singing the praise of the silver dragon, Stfu.

[@Getreidekeks]

maniacram what’s your problem dude

[@maniacram]

B. Vaegler uh no nothing really. Just trying to fanboy it up for the gold dragon 🤣

[@gabrieltallent1658]

I will always love bronze dragons for a few reasons. Firstly, I love the look, the yellowish scales and the shape the wings and the head are the best of the dragons in my opinion. Secondly, I've love the whole "warrior scholar" thing, no matter where it is, and third, an old story my mother told me. She was DMing, and decided the party needed to be taken down a peg or two, so she made a 1st lvl thief, and a baby bronze dragon named Larry. She gave them both a ring of invisibility, a wand of fireball and a wand of magic detection, and then put along the side of the road. Then, from the perspective of the party, a fireball comes from no where and they hear "I am the great wizard so and so, give up your magic items or die". Of course like any D&D party they try to bluff first, then the thief and Larry use the wand of magic detection, and cause there high level, they light up like Christmas trees. So they toss it all on the floor, and it all gets taken. Then halfway across field they turn off the rings and the party sees that they got grifted by a 1st lvl thief and a baby bronze dragon. They give chase and kill the thief, and just as their about to kill Larry, he said "Masters no kill Larry", and, as any DM could tell you, this was the point at which the party fell in love. It was supposed to be a one off, she had to voice that dragon for a year or 2 and, in her setting, Larry is alive to this day.

[@davidcannon3515]

Too cute, that gets a thumbs up my friend

[@MrDe4dGuy34]

I agree wholeheartedly with your assertions on the dragonborn. They are a cool race that is unfortunately undermined by weak mechanics. For my games, I usually give them a natural armor bonus of +1 and make their breath weapons deal 1d8 points of damage per 3 Hit Dice the dragonborn has (2d8 at 3rd, 3d8 at 6th, 4d8 at 9th, and so forth). That’s how the dragonborn’s breath weapon worked in 3.5, so I just carried it over. However I like your proposed progression of the dragonborn’s breath weapon as it certainly gives it a much bigger “umph” in the ouch factor and kewlness.

[@kyleellis9177]

I made mine a use as many times as you have Proficiency bonus per rest and its a bonus action. I had it go from 1d6 +con modifier and Proficieny bonus from levels 1-3, 4-7 is 1d8 +con mod/PB, 8-11 is 1d10+con mod/PB, 12-15 is 1d12 +con/PB.16-19 is 1d20 +con/PB. and level 20 I let them use all charges of it to create a 1 time breath barrier. I wanted the breath weapon to be something used alot more so i made its damage remain relatively low so had to make it a bonus action to have it used over other choices of action.

[@seangere9698]

For me 3.5 was the last of the true D&D editions. The only thing I never liked about the Dragon born is their limitations on what they can have and that they are sterile. I mean they are the chosen ones of Bahamut, why would the Good Dragon God put such a bs limitation on his chosen few? Wouldn't it be better to have his personal chosen champions be able to bring others into the world to help fight the Dragon spawn of Tiamat?

[@kyleellis9177]

@@seangere9698 Are dragonborn technically aasimar then just like really weak dragon themed ones? bahamut is a god after all?

[@MrDe4dGuy34]

I remember in Races of the Dragon that it said certain followers of Bahamut practiced a ritual called the Rite of Rebirth that allowed humanoid races to become a dragonborn. That’s how the dragonborn were originally created. It was a template that essentially made characters more Draconic in their abilities, but it didn’t give them as high of a level adjustment that the half-dragon did in 3.5. @Kyle Ellis In a way you could consider the dragonborn the Draconic equivalent of an aasimar, however aasimar are the result of a coupling between a mortal and a celestial being (usually an angel). I don’t know if dragons give birth to dragonborn, but I don’t think it would be a big stretch to say they do in your games.

[@kyleellis9177]

@@MrDe4dGuy34Yeah i have to say right now in 5e even kobolds are more interesting then dragonborn, atleast lorewise.

[@emc246]

In one campaign my party allied with a Blue dragon in a civil war and ended up having the largest battle of the war in a desert city above his lair. I don't remember his actual name perfectly, but we called him Salami when we knew he couldn't hear us. If he heard us, I have no doubt that the DM would have him make us very dead. In another story, my party used a portable hole to steal an entire alchemy lab from an enemy base, and later used it to create potions. We had one character sneak into the room where a young dragon had taken over a tower and hit it with a poison potion. After everyone else ran into the room, we found out it was a Green Dragon. We all ended up very dead.

[@thurismundbotheric7598]

"Salami" would have definitely electricuted your asses, as for the poison, it was a good plan at least

[@TheFirstLanx]

I love faerie dragons! They have all manner of little tricks! In the first story arc I ever ran there was a conclave of them who thought of themselves as the guardians of the forest. They greatly hindered the evil bugbears but didn't have the strength or temperament to take them on. So they teamed up with the PCs and a local pack of wolves. They were led by Titan the Black, an "ancient" dragon who was older than anyone can remember and whose wings supposedly blot out the sky! That was not technically untrue.... faerie dragons don't live all that long and he *was* big enough to blot out the sky if you happen to be the size of a faerie dragon... Most of my faerie dragons were about the sizeof a duck and Titan was the size of a goose. Nevertheless, Titan was very useful to the party once they managed to overcome the little dragon's extreme laziness. He rode into battle upon his noble steed: the ranger, and he proved very distracting. Unfortunately, faerie dragons can be processed into a potent, illegal and highly valuable narcotic, and they are endangered as a result. The party have decided to undertake a quest to destroy the dwarven mafia and put a stop to this horrific practice!

[@esperthebard]

That is the creative magic of D&D right there

[@DarkWarchieff]

what would they taste like? they seem meal sized to me. Would it be an evil act or just another count of hunting?

[@TheFirstLanx]

Definitely evil. They'd taste like Rainbow skittles though. Green dragons in my setting smell and presumably taste like mint. The tiefling rogue has made it her personal quest to eat an entire green dragon. She's even picked out the green dragon in question. No idea how she plans to pull that off yet, but so far she's sold her soul for beauty and bargained with a demon to acquire the power to eat infinite pudding.

[@DarkWarchieff]

@@TheFirstLanx how is that a practical bargain? some sort of insane character or what?

[@TheFirstLanx]

A very impulsive character. I wanted to give all my players' characters an opportunity to get a unique custom little ability to flesh them out a bit more, with the restriction that it not be a combat feature. This was after they'd just completed a fairly significant goal and were crossing into the tier of play where they utterly outclass most regular mortals. The tiefling rogue chose the ability to eat infinite pudding, and since she'd had some dealings with demons before that seemed like a convienient way to explain it. The wizard chose the ability to pull infinite all nighters and never require sleep to pursue his studies relentlessly. The elf rogue chose the ability to make people feel they were either more or less drunk than they actually were, helpful for suave social manipulations. The eldritch knight chose the power to bring his paintings to life with spell slots to embrace his creative powers. Finally, the Goliath barbarian/ranger chose the ability to ignore some degree of exhaustion and any encumbrance that couldn't completely pin him to the floor to reflect his stubborn refusal to admit his limitations. Of the lot, the tiefling rogue was the only one who required assistance from demons, and the only thing the demon asked in return was "eat lots of pudding, I can experience it through you and I loooooooooove pudding." A very minor bargain compared to the time she sold her soul. A case might be made that she is insane. She's remarkably sane about her insanity most of the time though. The kind of thing that makes it into such stories are the outliers =P

[@WolfShroom]

I really like the idea of having a Silver Dragon be the DM's pc, popping in to the players on occasion as a way for the DM to communicate with characters in-game.

[@Alexander-z6x]

Dm playing a silver dragon for good stuff, succubus for information and thievery, a devil for the evil and god as emergency nope

[@mediadetective6104]

Green Dragons are a personal favorite of mine. Always love a antagonist that uses his/her smarts and cunning as they’re greatest weapon rather than just strength. A great example is Raishan from Critical Role. Dracolich dragons are also a favorite for the same reasons. Best villain, a Green Dracolich

[@mattmark94]

agreed, in my campaign an ancient green dragon is behind all the conflicts and political instabilities in the region. He's pitting many factions against each other, waiting for the right moment to conquer all.

[@mediadetective6104]

@@mattmark94 I'm planning to do something similar in a campaign I'm writing up in my head.

[@esperthebard]

Well said. You'll notice that "brute" type monsters usually fall low on my rankings. They have their role to play, yes, but the creatures that lead to more complex challenges are often satisfying on a deeper level.

[@yincheri1421]

Raishan is my favourite representation of a green dragon so far, selfish, charismatic and cunning

[@magiv4205]

Raishan is my favorite villain in all of Critical Role. And there are MANY.

[@racekitty]

You know if know the trope five bad band the evil dragons fit each role pretty well The big bad:red dragon being the most powerful and wrathful fits the role to a T The dragon:blue dragons are a bit more level headed than their red cousins and can be a starscream character The evil genius:green dragons are the smartest of all the chromatic dragons The dark chick:black dragons don't have to be female but fits the role by being manipulative and sadistic The brute:white dragons are dumbest of all and most primal as well being the most likely to be taken out first So if you want to make chromatic dragon team you can use this as a base to work upon

[@heisamonster]

This here is the content I can’t believe I didn’t know I needed. Aaaaaaand now I need a Pseudodragon.

[@RokuroCarisu]

Unfortunately, the only way to get one by basic rules is a playing a Warlock with the Pact of the Chain.

[@FaustCrowley]

@@RokuroCarisu Or house rules and a generous DM.

[@redactedfractal3038]

I’m gonna get a pseudodragon and just have it be my cat but with fire.

[@mihai000000]

@@RokuroCarisu u can get one in baldur's gate with find familiar spell on a PC , assuming you have the right alignment

[@kevincall170]

What about wizard

[@RedwoodTheElf]

"It's an armored, flying, fire-breathing, magic-using hyper-intelligent killing machine. YOU slay it!" - Typhan-Knee I would probably have put the Faerie Dragon in C or B-Tier, however. How about a ratings video for the Fey?

[@TheManBehindtheScreen]

For me the blue dragons have always been my favorite. There's just something about their attitude and style that really resonates with me. Everything from the relatively unique look to the details about their lairs and, most important of all, the intricacies of their personalities helps to give them this incredibly fun style when it comes to role playing a blue. This was only further reinforced for me as I did my own extensive research for my own personal look at the blues. Though it's not mentioned in the 5th edition monster manual, there's a lot of really fantastic detail for them out there that's been compiled not only from the previous editions but the various settings. Forgotten Realms, for example, presents the idea of the blues having a hierarchical society completely unique to them, something none of the other chromatic dragons have. The details on their parental habits, slim as they are, also provide some unique insight into them, to say nothing of great inspiration for encounter hooks. After all, having it turn out that a prideful, calculating, malicious blue dragon is actually a very good and highly protective parent just lends that extra level of depth that really brings them to life in a way that I feel all the other dragons fall just a little bit short on.

[@MoonrayDrake]

I also read, I believe in the draconomicon, that blue dragons will sometimes roll around in their hoard when they think no one's watching. That struck me as humourous and adorable in a strange way I had not thought possible, and it made me like the blue dragon all the more for it.

[@TheManBehindtheScreen]

@@MoonrayDrake I wish I'd found that little detail, that's just wonderful. Now I'm imagining one pulling a Scrooge McDuck and swimming around in its hoard.

[@themagescorner]

lightning breath is the coolest!

[@ccvcharger]

"Now a dragon may not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think of beauty." Speak for yourself.

[@StilvurBee]

...

[@hadeskingoftheunderworld7010]

Now, my first real introduction into dragons in literature was through the eragon books. And those go to no end describing dragons as both beautiful and terrible. Like a storm they are a force of nature that can sweep away with a single strokr but it hads a sort of morbid beauty abiut it that can only be found in something so terrifically powerful

[@PeriodicallyRational]

I dont even play D&D, not sure why I watched this. But the way you talk is simply fantastic. Keep up the awesome work.

[@MoneyGIitch]

Same bruh I just think dragons are cool haha.

[@DivineOrange]

Same but I like dnd

[@luckyday5721]

Silver dragons were always my favorite in concept even before learning of their actual stories and I like them even more

[@therobotFrom94]

My party encountered a Green Dragon posing as the goddess of a tribe of Satyrs in an huge forest; I'm a fairly new power and had never seen one before so I had no idea what was going on! We ended a session with the Dragon trying to bargain with us so as to eat our elf. We like the elf. We'd rather she wasn't eaten

[@AveGluteusMaximus]

The human history/culture part at the start was extremely well put together and I was thoroughly engaged

[@gabrieltallent1658]

My father always call faerie dragons "flying rats"

[@lordsubziro2824]

I thought flying rats were bats...

[@uUuWolf16uUu]

thats because faerie dragons are flying rats... but even worse... they are even more annoying.

[@demonlordotrt754]

@@lordsubziro2824 na man thats seagulls

[@lunatic0verlord10]

4:26 I always found it weird how Tiamat is *Lawful* Evil when dragons are more known for being *Chaotic* Evil (and sometimes Neutral).

[@kjj26k]

Well, she calls herself Queen, and you can't be queen without laws.

[@peterherrman5092]

The dragons are not her primary followers

[@booley]

You should do a part two and three So many dragons and dragon kin you missed The Steel Dragon The Mercury The Yellow and Orange The Epics The Planar dragons The Purple or Deep Dragon

[@xilehq8327]

booley yeah I know. Purple dragons are my favorite too

[@Julian-pw5mv]

Kobolds

[@The_Sharktocrab]

Those arent official for 5th edition

[@andreaslois3074]

Purple (not deep) and steel are so cool

[@lisagaughan7154]

What about the Shadow Dragon?

[@ZerglingOne1]

Brass dragons are my favorite. They're great combatants, quest givers, sources of lore for your world, and they're probably the best main NPC you can have. I once wrote a brass dragon that was the most famous writer in the world, and he was the driving force behind the party's story. Everything they did was written into his latest book, and it gave them a great connection to the real world where their actions as players could influence the lore of the world. For that reason, brass dragons take my top spot. I knew they were #1 or 2 on your list at the very start, because they are just that versatile as characters in a world. Silver dragons are as well, but they're just a little too goody goody for me.

[@Tenescra]

I know its in the Tome of Beasts but I LOVE the idea behind Void dragons. Their insanity, knowledge, and cool ass abilities make them incredibly fearsome encounters and bosses!

[@3eve0n]

Yes, silver dragons are my favorite! I'm so happy to see them at #1

[@jgr7487]

I can totally see a Brass Dragon shape-changed into a humanoid enjoying an Arab bazaar with its haggling, storytelling & such! but the Black & the Green are still my favorites!

[@ThePeasentMonarch]

What about the Steel dragons? I know they aren't in the MM in 5e but they are canon in the forgotten realms.

[@grerook9427]

Actually in the book "dungeon of the mad mage" a steel dragon appears, it's stats are those of an adult silver dragon but it's lawful evil and has a acid breath, it also has a duregar form

[@shandaniel2999]

I think that good dragons are more useful because they can be an NPC ally or a sympathetic villain. The best of both good and evil dragons are always the ones who’s most powerful weapon is their mind.

[@MadSwedishGamer]

They're also perfect antagonists of evil campaigns.

[@zionthedragon8866]

How is a good dragon a villian? It wouldn't be a "good" dragon then. Also, if you like mind dragons, then you should have seen the gem dragons. They primarily use their minds for things.

[@shandaniel2999]

Zion The Dragon I was talking about villains who think that they are doing the right thing like Stain or Thanos. Also The gem dragons sound interesting can you tell me where I can learn about them?

[@zionthedragon8866]

@@shandaniel2999 who is stain? Also, thanos wasn't a villian, misguided? Yes. Wrong? Absolutely not. Over population is a serious problem, even in modertimes, it's a threat to humanity. Gem dragons can be learned about in the orginal d&d (1st edition), 2nd, 3rd, and council of wyrms place. You didn't know about the third main dragon, but the other 2 main Dragons? Why.....

[@АртёмУсенко-и4ю]

I think enemy metallic dragons would be antagonists (broader term: anything in opposition to the main character), rather than just villians (narrower term: evil antagonist).

[@John-doe955]

30:15 ah yes, bards do tend to strive to “perform” within a dragon’s lair.

[@allenr316]

I've always been partial to the Bronze. I love their design (in all editions so far) and I love the environment that their lairs tend to be.

[@iPhoneeditor]

Shout-out to the Shadow Dragon. That one is very fun.

[@Bluecho4]

If you want to learn more about dragons as a metaphor for the human experience, I recommend _Facing the Dragon: Confronting Personal and Spiritual Grandiosity_ by the late Robert Moore. It uses the archtype of the dragon to examine the internal struggle in all people with what Moore called "Grandiose Energies". And how grandiosity - the belief in and drive towards personal greatness - can be both a positive force and a source of malignant narcissism. A person's inner dragon can be a glorious thing, majestic and capable of great work, but only when the person acknowledges its influence. To do otherwise is to go through life unaware of one's limitations, and leads to toxic behavior, carelessness, selfishness, and resentment.

[@esperthebard]

Thanks for the recommendation

[@Zeus687]

Just added this to my wishlist, thank you!

[@aricbasner8172]

for me, as a wizard, I always covet knowledge (sometimes to the extent of endangering the party just to learn a bit of lore) my favorites are the pseudodragon and the bronze dragon.

[@dudewithlaptop8663]

I'd love a player like that at my table😂

[@NicolasPine]

Wyrm - No legs, Wings Wyvern - 2 legs, 2 wings Dragon - 4 legs, 2 wings

[@jabberwockthelemur2961]

Don't forget: Drake - 4 legs, no wings

[@Kain5th]

Sounds like you’re reading off of a kfc menu lol

[@baddragon7057]

Aphire - 2 Wings, No Legs

[@Nox-eg3rq]

Chad dragon - 4 legs , 4 wings Source don't exist

[@Wutever917]

Drake: 4 legs, no wings

[@thecognitiverambler8911]

Bronze dragons are my favorite - but primarily for aesthetic reasons. I think they are the coolest looking dragons overall, and I love the lightning breath - tropical / seaside domain. I agree silvers are the most interesting from a personality standpoint - but if I were to RP someone of dragon descent (thus choosing to a degree my personality) - the bronze aesthetic has my heart through and through.

[@kebabloodmoon6848]

I've always loved the blue. Easily one of my favorite of the true dragons who can tease, toy, and torment a party all without being seen simply for its own amusement.

[@carlospomares3225]

Honestly I feel most aligned with the Silver Dragon, ever since I first learned of, it embodies what I personally beleve in.

[@Bluecho4]

I've come up with a number of different uses for dragons, especially in the context of my own homebrew setting: 1) "A Black Wurm is in Vetrice". A common saying among the people, used to describe unfortunate circumstances. The "Black Wurm" is an ancient black dragon, that took residence in the ruins of once-mighty Vetrice, capital of the Vetricean Empire (the Roman Empire analogue). Vetrice is now a stinky mire, the ruined columns and half-collapsed architecture poking out from an enormous bog. The Black Wurm devours all intruders to the city, and continues to luxuriate in the demise of Vetrice, even a thousand years after its sacking and abandonment. 2) The city of Porpherie - a Venice-style city of canals, where merfolk live and build alongside surface-dwelling traders - is the home of a bronze dragon. A banker and important member of the city's council of business leaders that run the trade empire, the bronze dragon makes liberal use of his shapeshifting ability to attend meetings and vote on policy. His bank is considered impenetrable, for he considers it a mark of pride that the wealth entrusted to him be protected. His lair lies deep beneath the city, at the end of a system of underwater tunnels that even Porpherie's merfolk inhabitants cannot fully navigate. The bronze dragon is moved to direct action only rarely, usually when the interests of the trade empire are threatened, or by the rise of unspeakable evil. The last time he so acted, he flew alongside armies marching in crusade against a once-great city that fell to the worship of devils. His breath was used to knock defenders from the walls, allowing righteous forces to scale them in safety and breach the city. It was the last time he intervened, for the bloodbath was extensive and heartbreaking, even against a city fallen to infernalism. As recompense to that city's people and their descendants - who often carry the stain of past devilry in their forms - the bronze dragon always gives generous interest rates on any Tiefling's bank account, and low interest rates on their loans. It is official bank policy. 3) The old Iron Empire enjoyed the patronage of metallic dragons, who counseled the Old Iron King and defended his lords. So intertwined was the imperial order in with these dragons, that their approval became necessary for an emperor's rule to be seen as legitimate. This fact came to the fore only a century or so ago, when the last Iron King died without an heir. The metallic dragons, in looking at the nobles who would make claim for the throne, saw none as worthy. Lacking legitimacy, none of the nobles dared take the title of Iron King, and so the empire has fragmented. They are now known, collectively, as the Metallic Principalities, named so for the Princes who jockey for position and for the metallic dragons that individually give favor to one noble house or another. The dragons continue to wait for one who is worthy, while the nobles make and break alliances, curry favor, and balance their ambitions against public and courtly opinion. The Metallic Principalities, naturally, are known for their rich mineral wealth, tracts of land, and their stock of tamed drakes and wyvern-riding knights. 4) A blue dragon that, curiously, makes his home not in a desert, but off the coast, in a rocky island near a prosperous trade route, upon which a tall, white stone crag juts towards the sky. His greed is matched only by his vanity, and he finds the only thing better than owning treasure is owning the _producers_ of treasure. The blue dragon, therefore, keeps a great many slaves, living in the tunnels all throughout the island. Not merely laborers - he has kobolds enough for that task - but a large and varied selection of artisans, artists, and craftsmen. Stone workers who etch the tunnels with carvings proclaiming the dragon's greatness. Paintings that erect portraits of his handsomeness, and landscapes depicting the devastation he's wrought. Bone carvers that stock his hoard with fine crafts, made from the bones of his victims. And even metallurgists, who melt down the raw ore the dragon steals from nearby mines, and strike them into coins with his face and name. So that even if his treasure is robbed, all will know that the coins are, now and forever, _HIS_ property. He hopes that with his likeness etched into deep stone and cast in gold (which never corrodes), proof of his existence and greatness will persist in the world long after the sun grows cold, and the last of the stars falls from the sky.

[@crazy13alex]

All of these sound amazing! If it's not too much to ask for, I'd like your opinion of something I wrote a year ago. It's a bit long, but this is it: A Vortex of Undeath and Emptiness: Within the countless realms of the Abyss, a new dominion was claimed. Its lord, a mortally unfathomable size, made its new sanctuary in its image. That is to say, the realm itself was its body. Earth replaced with scales, membranes, nerves, muscle, flesh and eyes. Oceans replaced with its own blood and stomach acid. Mountains made from its teeth, claws, horns and a mariad of other bones. What should have been a sun was a gaping maw and from it, spilled forth a green and black miasma that made the very sky. The only source of light here, were the many eyes that gazed from above and below. However, where are the inhabitants? The abominations that spawned through the icker that was once present here? Before this depth of the abyss was changed, they all attacked a visiter in a frenzy. Now all that are left of them are disappearing remnants in the oceans that continue to digest them. Their bodies assimilated into the dimension itself, and the icker they once came from was now part of the crimson ocean. At the center of it all was a gargantuan heart, who's atria was rooted deep within the creature that made up the very land, and extending into the unseen sky. Two distinct energies swirled within the heart. One identical to the miasma that creates the sky. The other, more potent energy pulses through the realm, making tremors within the flesh beneath the scaly earth. Both immeasurable and constantly raging as a maelstrom of necrotic and demonic energy. A phylactery rests within the center of the heart. A bottomless hole within a fathomless emptiness. (Gulnoruk's phylactery inside of Karakoth's "heart") Translation: Even though Karakoth (elder brother/astral dragon turned demon lord) is the true ruler of this part of the Abyss, he allows Gulnoruk's influence (younger brother/astral dragon turned dracolich) within his void. Eventually, Gulnoruk possesses a reptilian/draconian like beast from the recycled remains of digested demons that Karakoth summons up for him. Being remade of his own flesh, Karakoth is the perfect supplier of vessels for Gulnoruk to leave the Abyss. Even if he's destroyed, his soul just retreats into the Abyss and at his brother's side, where reaching it is suicide if you're not a demon prince/lord. Gulnoruk's miasma and Karakoth's ever-shifting body will eventually kill and reanimate, or digest and assimilate lesser intruders.

[@Bluecho4]

@@crazy13alex Friggin' beautiful.

[@thurismundbotheric7598]

You truly understand the concept of blues

[@corbinbarron8772]

Wyrm

[@oattdavid]

This is maybe late but this was an amazing video. I love how dragons are depicted in D&D and your explanation in each dragon there is. And again amazing video.

[@springbreezeFIM]

I used a Dragon turtle in my home campaign once

[@hamishmarshall7782]

Faced a few of them in the old Champions of Krynn video game series.

[@WampaStompa1996]

I'm loving these videos, and am currently binge watching the whole playlist. I don't know what made me randomly want to look up stuff about D&D, but I'm loving it!

[@aidbotwoody939]

I will always stand by and say that the Purple are my absolute favorites

[@esperthebard]

Purples are really cool, and I'm considering making a video about obscure dragons

[@purpleboye_]

Not to mention that purple is -objectively- the best color

[@qualityqueensfirstbomb6450]

username checks out@@purpleboye_

[@beastwarsFTW]

I like Orange and its napalm breath.

[@esperthebard]

@@purpleboye_ purple is my favorite color

[@Talimara1]

28:27 Can we All take a moment to appreciate the fact that this Gold Dragon either found or had commissioned a pillow big enough for his own head? Gold Dragons may be the most humble dragons, but that is most definitely by dragon standards!

[@sblower9410]

And then there is the Tin Dragon: this dragon thinks its powerful are rare, but is actually neither. lol.

[@RokuroCarisu]

A mercury dragon could be interesting...

[@DarkWarchieff]

@@RokuroCarisu exists, it's utterly insane and has to stay away from susceptible mortals. It's chaotic good because it's a metallic.

[@nuclearbirds]

It's from the far away land of Tin Land (my dealer won't tell me where he gets it)

[@General12th]

Bronze dragons are the offspring of copper dragons and tin dragons.

[@sblower9410]

@@General12th makes sense

[@Indigo_404]

I have always liked the silver dragons. They just seem so cool, wanting to make friends and observe the tiny humanoids.

[@BundleOSticks]

Bronze and Silver dragons have always been my top two, but I'd say Bronze now tops silver. The coastal environment, its love of historical artifacts and books, just makes it seem like the ideal representation of what I'd want in life

[@thewilliamdraven]

Monsters don't have childs in their hearts. It's in their stomachs you'll find the children.

[@adviel]

I would have added the Dracolich, I know it is classified as an undead but it's an undead dragon. Also you could have at least mention the 3e Gem dragon s.

[@esperthebard]

I considered the dracolich, but I already featured it in my undead ranking, along with the shadow dragon.

[@thesovereignofdawn9300]

In which video are featured the shadow dragon?

[@esperthebard]

@@thesovereignofdawn9300 Well damn, it's actually a dragon, not an undead ... so I guess it will have to go into my obscure dragons video sometime. It did take the #1 slot in my deadliest monsters video though: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGOtfIdrqK6Fb5o

[@GeryonM]

The Gems first appeared dragon magazine for the 1st edition, then again in 2nd. I wanted to play an emerald in Council of Wyrms but my group disbanded before I could get enough support.

[@GeryonM]

The Gems first appeared dragon magazine for the 1st edition, then again in 2nd. I wanted to play an emerald in Council of Wyrms but my group disbanded before I could get enough support.

[@chunckenugget7015]

No linnorms? I figured you would’ve talked about them after talking about Norce Mythology. Either way great job on the video. Silver’s are also my favorite

[@sameraiza5767]

Mythologicaly speaking western dragons used to breathe plague. So the green and black dragons are closer to the origional lore

[@zionthedragon8866]

No, the uses to breath pestilence in Europe (mainland), so only if the green breathed a gas that made crops wither, animals perish, and humans sick, then it would be the most accurate, but on the British isles, there were fire breathing dragons. Also speaking, if we are technically speaking in terms of mythos, most of the creatures (in traditional old European terms) wouldn't be dragons except primarily the main 3 d&d dragon groups, for the word was a French word used for the Celtic monster that had: the body of a snake, 2-4 wings of a bird (sometimes bat), paws (both forlimbs & hindlimbs) of a cat, ivory triangular spikes, a face mixed between a wolf, cat, and man's face, carp scales, cat/wolf/fox/dog ears, sometimes horns that are a mix between a deer and a bull(cow if female), and a spaded tail. Most books and stuff, however, is lost to time, with little remaining untranslated from this one vague page piece, and the rest taught through oral tradition of the celts, who unlike most telephone cases, made it critical that nothing changed over time. But now, modernly since we a society care little for traditions, values, and beliefs, disregard the correct usage of the word and made it, like the word: gender, rape, and various other words into a broad umbrella term used for many things. This can also be paralleled to D&D's usage of dragons breath into various versions, like ice, acid, lightning and so on. But You are mostly right and seem well versed on the matter, except I would also add red to that list.

[@CyberSaurian]

Cool

[@Arkume8Beltz]

That make me think the dragons represent the rulers/kings/politicians/multinational directives/bankers..steal the gold/money to only stay on it, when other people die to don't have it..xD

[@zionthedragon8866]

@@Arkume8Beltz Um, most of those people you listed don't do that, and like I said, other creatures where blended into dragons, but no, despite what tolkien and D&D dragons say, the ORIGINAL dragons never hoarded gold coins. They DID gaurd a magical well that could heal almost any wound.

[@NevisYsbryd]

Yes and no. Dragons varies wildly from particular to particular even within the same time and culture. Excluding a few outliers that seemed odd to even call 'dragons' (such as the firebreathing reptile-cat-thing from France) , the terms used for them were nebulous and fluid; drake, dragon, wyrm, wurm, linnorm, and the like were oft used far more interchangeably than they are today. Technically, the D&D True Dragons are the classical firedrake model, drakes being a quadroped winged reptile with a long neck, tail and wings. Firebreathing ones are extremely rare in ancient mythology (the only one that I know of is Beowulf's) . Even drake models are rare, the majority being far more serpentine than lizard-like and most of them being slithering creatures rather than flying. Quite a few of them actually had a distinct relationship with bodies of water. Most myth and folklore dragons did rely on either teeth and claws or venom or pestilence as their offensive tools, though. So black, green, red and some of the less standard D&D ones like Fang Dragons. Although keep in mind that not all Western dragons were evil, especially prior to its Christianization. Some were nor more malevolent than any other animal and a (rare) few were even considered fortunate (the Welsh Red Dragon, as one example) . As far as their hoarding is concerned-that, again, varies; dragons in mythology, especially the stronger ones, are among the most individualistic of creatures both in personality and nature. Some had very strong links to guarded treasure-the Norse Fafnir and Beowulf's dragon both guarded immense hoards, for example. Others were little besides gluttonous murder machines, such as the Lambton Worm.

[@Jaszcz07]

I've been planning to use a silver dragon as an owner of a lodge high up in the mountains, allowing travelers to take shelter within, only asking for tales, rumors, maybe recipes from various lands. And from then on, craft a kind of murder mystery or something of the sort, with the dragon helping the party solve it without actually revealing itself (snowstorm traps everyone in and the culprit can't leave, etc.).

[@Hawdkoah]

I'm rather fond of gem dragons, myself. Sapphire dragons in particular.

[@Sabamonster]

I love the conjecture about why "Dragons are so prolific" and how they represent the trials and tribulations of life. Well done mate.

[@carsonrush3352]

Esper, I hope you don't mind me placing a list of who you place in the top 2 tiers on these videos. I do this so I can quickly refer to these lists when I research the best monsters. I can edit them to move the spoilers out of view, if you like. B Tier: half dragons and dragon turtles A Tier: white, black, faerie, gold, copper, red, bronze, blue, green, brass, and silver.

[@esperthebard]

You did it just right, putting the spoiler info down so it's not visible unless someone clicks to expand. Thanks Carson!

[@carsonrush3352]

@@esperthebard, okay! I just went back through all of your tier videos and fixed my comments so that I wouldn't give any spoilers. Cheers!!!

[@esperthebard]

@@carsonrush3352 Your efforts are commendable, good sir

[@daltonthedemon]

I would have to say a pretty excellent video in terms of define each of the dragons and their personalities. Great workman, very great job.😁

[@omicrex8527]

Where would you have ranked the Shadow Dragon? As it has a template just like the Half Dragon

[@omicrex8527]

To be fair, he was using only the 3 Core Monster Books from 5e. Astral Dragons don’t make an appearance in them, do they? I haven’t been able to read in depth through all the entries yet.

[@thurismundbotheric7598]

Astral Dragons are not in 5e yet, and shadow dragons are treated as a form of corruption by the dragon spending time in or near the Shadowfell, hence the template

[@BlackBeastWorkshop]

That speech about the silver dragon was solid. Good video with amazing writing.

[@surtur9861]

I was searching for this very vid 3 days ago...i was sure it definetly existed. It didn't. Now it does. Thank you.

[@esperthebard]

thanks for watching Surtur!

[@anthonydonnelly1157]

@@esperthebard You have been blessed by one of the Giant's gods of Craft! Surely that must mean that this list was forged with a power to rival the GODS! haha

[@luiz918]

What about Steel Dragons?! Their lore is incredible. They spend the majority of their lives as a humanoid race, one at a time, not even being able to remember their several former lives, gathering wisdom and experiences as its treasure in the form of books, songs, spells and artifacts itself made or recovered through adventures. I would really rank them at second place, just bellow Silver Dragons.

[@5minutesofcrack719]

My favorite thing about fearie dragons is the fact u can have one as a familiar

[@TheFirstLanx]

Do you mean pseudodragons? Faerie dragons are not (ordinarily) familiars. They'd be tremendously powerful if they were, what with getting a whole lot of spells, senses, movement options, invisibility and being an extra "concentration slot" as it were, not to mention their breath. Be careful giving your players faerie dragons as familiars if the degree of power they have is of any concern to your game. When my players met them their reaction was "omgitssocuteIwantone" too, so I can definitely relate =P

[@Servellion]

I like DnD's lore, but I hate how it's definition of dragonhood gets used by zealots of pedantry to say Wyvern-style dragons in completely different franchise aren't true dragons.

[@fortello7219]

Only one mention of Kobolds!?

[@zavexcapricious2519]

Fortello they are humanoids, that's why

[@fortello7219]

@@zavexcapricious2519 So... are... dragonborn?

[@Varatho]

It's some kind of meme at this point. The Kobold is conspicuously absent from any of his lists you would think it to be on.

[@kyleellis9177]

Kobolds are dog/mole people not draconic. the current misunderstanding is because living so often in dragon lairs as servants they just started wearing the dragons scales so it knows they are the dragons servants. (that the only way i can connect first/second edition kobolds with now) you want though you can borrow the idea i use were Co-Balds are 2 headed naked mole rat people. Edit: and fortello dragon born are only humanids as a game mechanic same with things like goliaths and firbolgs not being giantkin or tieflings being fiends or aasimar being celestials. And arent the playable kobolds in volos presented as humanoids?

[@fortello7219]

@@kyleellis9177 Kyle Ellis Are you being serious right now? This list is specifically based on 5th edition's Monster Manual, Volo's Guide to Monsters, and Mordenkienen's Tome of Foes. They are classified as humaniods and are "distinctly related to dragons" and "were the first dragonspawn." So they're pretty much more dragon than the dragon born. So I don't know where you're getting your information, other than anime or possibly 1e Also that last part makes no sense. Why are so many defending this anyway? THIS WAS A JOKE RESPONSE. Like "*gasp* dragons? Full sized, true dragons? And not a mention of their most constant companions!?" Not a serious critisizm, but just a nitpick at the double standard of including Dragonborn.

[@MADHATTER016]

Inspiring. So well spoken. Thank you so much for this video.

[@jamesadamsfl]

Thank you for making this; it gives me so many ideas on how to use Dragons in role playing (though I wonder why you left out lindworms and lung dragons).My favorite is the Silver Dragon. I have mixed feelings on the D&D art as I just can't take a dragon with a mohawk seriously (the Pathfinder design was much better), but I like that the wings are unique (two talons) but aren't as ridiculous and overdone as the other metallic dragons', I just love them conceptually. The idea that these dragons are so interested in mortals' arts and inventions gives them an internal majesty to match their external majesty (head fins aside), and I find the idea that they are adventurous eaters gives them a sense of whimsy. I also like that while they don't go looking for battle, they are more active in the world than the hermit-like Gold Dragons. Their rivalry with Red Dragons makes their Frost breath even more appropriate as it makes the two breeds feel more like opposites of each other. I could easily see sending a party to find a Silver Dragon to seek help or advice in a larger campaign, or the Silver acting in disguise to secretly help out.2nd place goes to the Fairydragon, which I think totally negates the pseudodragon, as the fairy can perform the same functions and activities in addition to its own. The fairy nature is interesting too, and I kind of love the butterfly wings.

[@candiedginger8729]

I used the half dragon template with a whale once, that was a memorable monster. Though in hindsight I could have just used a dragon turtle. My favorite dragon is the white.

[@DaxterL]

I am currently developing a city in a desert where a blue dragon rules, not quite tyranic, not quite ultimately benevolent, he is more like a mafia boss that does care for the people in the city and protects them from the worst, leaving their own small problems to figure out on themselves, but he requires a fee to pay, entrance in the city itself requires an entrance fee everytime they go in, even in the same day. But so far it's just in a concept i need to get working on it... i'll get to it.. eventually... i just need to finish an episode or two of critical role... eh i still got time till next week.

[@TheFirstLanx]

That's my favourite kind of chromatic dragon too. I feel it's important to remember with dragons as rulers that they must in some way be beneficial to at least some part of the societies they rule in order for that rule to continue. As an adversary they form a sort of "status quo" to be challenged in spite of fearing not just the consequences of failure, but also the consequences of success. In such a story they form a narrative means to explore both the strongest virtues and most crippling vices of the human(oid) spirit. I've run a young green dragon who the (generally decent but not perfect) Empire tried to raise. He ran away into the wild and dangerous jungle to start his own kingdom of kobolds at the age of 3. Miraculously, at the age of 6 he's doing alright. He's got a small group of over a dozen kobolds he rules over as king and his favourite thing is to meet outsiders and show them the flourishing little society he's so proud of building in the hopes of convincing them to stay. He's always courteous and regal beyond his years. He understands that ruling through fear alone is unsustainable and so is always looking to benefit his people. He takes a hardline stance on duty to the kingdom though, and expects hard work from his subjects (and takes the "his" part of "his people" very literally). He is vain, of course, but understands that complimenting his minions on their cunning artifice and dilligence will benefit him in the long run, as does encouraging them to constantly strive to master their crafts. He hunts and protects his territory carrying four of his lightest kobolds armed with slings, and prefers to attack with the sun at his back to dazzle his intended foes, and has modeled his "soldiers" after the militaries he has witnessed and admired in the Empire where he hatched. Almost every aspect of his behaviour is determined by how he believes a proper ruler should act. He's narcissistic, possessing and tyrranically controlling BUT believes himself to be just and merciful. (he did spare the PCs, hoping to recruit them) I hope you find something you like in him, and would love to hear how your blue dragon turns out, as I find that sort of dragon very compelling!

[@esperthebard]

That sounds like a great idea for a location. I'm glad to see your creative gears turning.

[@DaxterL]

@@TheFirstLanx problem being for me to get working on it. I'll take a crack it this weekend cause we got some tests coming up. I need to look at some desert cities, cause they're not golden dots on a yellow background. There must be some flora or a running river to sustain the people.

[@jeffheun5258]

@@DaxterL if you're looking to design a big city, I suggest bagdad. The rivers running into it make it an interesting setting.

[@yanderenejoyer]

That's how mafia works

[@hails1136]

for some reason blue dragons are my favorite. i just think their one horn is so cool and reminds me of a unicorn. plus lightning breath is badass :3

[@MisheardMetal]

I can see people abusing a faerie dragon's euphoria breath like the cat spray in South Park. 😆

[@grandiflora8479]

I love the idea of a green dragon crimelord or Cult Leader, especially a crimelord in like an elven city in the woods somewhere~

[@activatewindows2305]

Blue dragon=best dragon

[@Tom_Blue222]

I say nei! bronze for life for those awkward stuck with your head outside the sand to talk to this maniac moments

[@thurismundbotheric7598]

You say that as if a blue wouldn't do the same thing if need be

[@dragonsl83r53]

Silver dragon: hold my beer🍺

[@rosewater1674]

This was helpful for me because currently I’m making a dnd character named Torch that has sworn to never kill a person after a tragic incident my brother suggested a dragon so I set out to see if there were any that could work for me! I’m thinking of maybe the cat-sized one I forgot the name

[@justiciar1964]

4:06 *looks at the size of a D&D dragon next to a human* ...yeah, just don't.

[@taviscaron4192]

How is this channel not waaaay bigger on KZbin than it is? Quality video good sir bard.

[@theatheistbear3117]

Could you after finishing all the official D&D Monsters from WOTC move on to Rank Kobold Press’ Monsters from “Tome Of Beasts” and “Creature Codex”?

[@martinmarvinii3139]

18:10, the point of the Dragonborn was to be artificially created servants to Dragons. They originally came from another dimension where the planet Toriel is instead known as Aber. In Aber the Primordials reign instead of the Gods, here Dragons are the dominant species. So basically Half-Dragons are the equivalent to interracial children while Dragonborn were slaves.

[@NotagYmra]

As a fan of Mesopotamian mythology, I really hate how Wizards of the Coast has appropriated Tiamat's name for their dragon goddess. The idea of the multi-headed, evil dragon goddess is great, but why not create an original name, instead of borrowing a name from an ocean goddess that represented absolute chaos (definitely not Lawful Evil) and was only occasionally depicted as draconic or serpentine?

[@esperthebard]

I hear ya on that, there are a few bits in D&D that take names or elements from mythology, then does something wacky with them

[@VetusDea]

One point: in the latest edition, they've revised her so that her alignment is CE rather than LE, though her followers and cults are themselves mostly LE.

[@esperthebard]

@@VetusDea She's LE in 5E, DMG p.10 and PHB p. 296

[@VetusDea]

She's listed as Chaotic Evil in her own stat block in Rise of Tiamat? Edit: Yeah, I saw the LE listing and I was confused when RoT put her down as CE, but (considering Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes calls her an 'entity of chaos bound to a plane of law',) I think she's supposed to be CE?

[@mattmark94]

even in the tome of foes the writers reminds us that tiamat is LE

[@RJ_Ehlert]

Hey Esper, you really knocked it out of the park with this video, good job.

[@Mystic_Damin]

"Thus the Blacks lie within their flooded, marshy, lairs, slinking amongst the ruins of fallen kingdoms and broken dreams, concocting their next sadistic plot." Sure hope that never gets taken out of context

[@Phireyon-Archives]

These videos have been a good help on being educated on creatures of d&d. I have been thinking of being a Dm and using dragons as mostly lore pieces. I’m taking inspiration from the dnd books for creatures.

[@Phireyon-Archives]

Addition. This is what I have so far a war thousand years ago broken down tabus between dragon kinds. 100 years before dragons of all type decided best to put humanoids into their place started a war, burned down many forests by the end leaving many places savannas flanked by forest. This war involves most humanoids vs the dragons and their allies. 50 years later a giant spell is sent making majority of the dragons primal. Then dragon hunting began as a way of the wealthy. Dragons are quite important to this world.

[@user-nx5vl9wy4s]

"the beautiful virgin..." *shudders*

[@anthonyterra9541]

I've personally only encountered a few of these incredible beasts. Ones that I hope to see soon include the Bronze Dragon, Gold Dragon, and above all else, the Dragon Turtle.

[@samgafford2371]

Dragon Turtle? You mean Kupa Kings?!!

[@lavenderscare4995]

Thinking about that, I wouldn't mind an aquatic Bowser transformation in a later game, sounds interesting.

[@NoNamesLeft0102]

Was trying to make a deity that had strong Draconic influence. A trickster deity. Your comments about the copper and green dragons helped me figure out the missing pieces in a manner that I never expected. Thank you.

[@purpleboye_]

Radiant dragons are boss

[@trequor]

Spelljammer for life

[@faviankennedy7171]

Very nice job. This guy is an expert story teller. Very talented.

[@kjellbjorge5271]

2:06 You have to wonder how all of these different cultures around the world thought about dragons at about the same time. Dragons had to exist or how did all these people think about the same idea around the same time ? If you're going to say there an idea of the lizard. Well you're going to be wrong cause England has no lizards. So, it can't be that. In China right now they have what is called a fossilized dragon scale. So, my question for you is What happened to all the dragons in the world ?

[@tyrogers1049]

I got kind of excited at first because I saw that picture of the adamantine dragon at the bottom left at 0:22 one of my favorite

[@nooneofimportance2110]

So no Deep Dragons, Steel Dragons, Shadow Dragons, Radiant Dragons, Force Dragons, or Prismatic Dragons? No Hellfire wyrms or Linorms? No Dragon Eels, Abyssal Drakes, or Dragonnels? No Gem Dragons or Planer Dragons? Ah man!

[@zionthedragon8866]

Some of those suck, or are bad, or not dragons (N.O.). Also he didn't mention gem dragons, which I am suprised you didn't mention. Plus he is primarily doing (minus player races) dragons that have their roots in D&D 1, and not spin off dragons made by outside sources working for D&D.

[@nooneofimportance2110]

@@zionthedragon8866 I did mention Gem Dragons. And everything I mentioned are from official D&D books. Just from older editions. Abyssal Drakes are from the 3.5 Draconomicon, as are Dragonnels, Radiant and Shadow dragons, and other planer dragons. 3.5 Monster Manuel 2 has the Hellfire Wyrm, as well as the Gem Dragons and Linnorms. I'm also surprised nobody mentioned Fang dragons since their such a big part of D&D lore from Faerun.

[@zionthedragon8866]

@@nooneofimportance2110 sorry on the gem part, also, I was refering to 1st edition through a little bit of second edition. Most could care less for 3 edition, except the casuals who want a scp meets sonic Archie character comic scenario. I am surprised no one mentions grey dragons, as they pre-date fang.

[@nooneofimportance2110]

@@zionthedragon8866 Yeah, I was introduced to D&D in 3.5 and absolutely loved it. Didn't care for 4th, and don't have the time or patience to get into 5th. Not a fan of 2nd, you had to severely mod it just to make it playable. Just like Fallout 76. Never did SCP meets sonic, did learn that Faerun GMs fall into 2 catagories, fanboys or player killers. Pretty much that's it.

[@zionthedragon8866]

@@nooneofimportance2110 scp meets sonic isn't a game, it was used as example to explain how 3 and 3.5 is seen, it has faults to, just like the others, and at times it can be over whelming and over complicated at times. 4 I don't fully understand the hate, 1 I love the most, 5 I mainly play now for it's more easier to understand premise, and 3 I wished alot of monsters and rules in that didn't exist, which is why I am glad 5th got rid of most of the dragons you mentioned. Although one of those groups (gems) should have been a main creature in the beginner's manual for all five editions, instead of offshoot books, or obscure info places. Also, it's the other way around with dragon half and dragon born, minus the dragon half part where any creature can be half dragon. I like dragonborn a little more then dragon half, and the fact the don't have an op dragon breath like an actual dragon.

[@siriusfork4730]

Wow, I would subscribe anyway from the amount of detail and time you put in this video, but dude, you won me over the instant you named each of the categories from their respective Queen song. Great job pal. Great job.

[@Mich199999]

To be fair im a bit confused, you say you dont wanna do teiflings in one video cause they are PC race's so it isn't fair to compare....but what about dragon born? You give the fact a creature can be a familiar an inherent high roleplay rank several times in the past yet give the pseudodragon a low score in general and in role playing despite also being a familiar.

[@esperthebard]

That video (devils or fiends, I don't remember which) was done before I had even started thinking about doing races in a ranking. The format seemed incompatible for player-based options, but lo and behold, it turned out to work well, and I did make the race tiers video (including the tiefling).

[@steakslapn9724]

I had a faerie Dragon in a campaign once, he was actually a half silver Dragon as well. His back story was that he belonged to a wizard who was obsessed with dragons and did experiments on the faerie Dragon. My players ran into him in a library(because he was obsessed with human history and culture), that the locals thought was haunted(invisible prankster terrorising locals and librarians). He ended up taking a shine to the pc's and followed them around, pulling pranks and occasionally being helpful. It was quite fun.

[@thaisasilva9508]

Primeiro comentário...uhuuu...amei chuchu😘😘😘😘😘

[@esperthebard]

Ganhaste! Beijos

[@esperthebard]

@@crisrody852 falo sim cara, minha alma é meio brasileiro

[@jooj3596]

Esper the Bard Krai

[@HBlueVanity]

In my current campaign our DM put in both a pseudo dragon and fae dragon for sale, as two of our party had been looking for some animal companions. So obviously both members immediately bought both, and now we have 2 cute lil dragons with big personalities added to our party! They are the absolute best in terms of roleplaying

[@LilacMage]

Traitor!!! To count HALF dragons on this list, HALF dragons over fullblood Cobolts?!?! Outrageous! A scandal! Shame shaaame.

[@davidvondoom2853]

For one of my campaigns, I designed a Red & Black dragon, that was a perfect blend of the two chromatics. A wizard had used magic on it's egg, before birth, allowing it to be this hybrid, since the offspring of two different coloured dragons will result in one or the other and not a fusion. But, I liked the idea of a hybrid, so I made one. It gave it Napalm Breath, that did both fire and acid dmg! >:D