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Dungeons & Dragonswouldn’t be Dungeons & Dragons without… well, dragons. They’re vital to the identity of the game and iconic parts of the high fantasy genre.Fighting Beholders or Mind Flayersis just as epic, but nothing feels quite the same as tackling a mighty dragon.
Dragons in D&D aren’t just monsters to run your sword through, though; they’re intelligent creatures with their own motivations. There are all kinds of dragons in D&D, so we’ve compiled information on one of the more interesting types you can encounter. The often-underused Metallic Dragons are more likely to be encountered as allies than enemies.
What Is A Metallic Dragon?
Starting with the basics, a dragon is a massive creature that roughly resembles a lizard but withwings that allow it to fly. Dragons canbreathe out an elemental attack, are usually very intelligent, and are one of the classic enemies for an adventuring party to face.
In D&D, dragons are split into three major categories depending on what type of scales they have. Metallic, Chromatic, and Gem. Metallic Dragons have scales which shine reflectively and are thenfurther divided by the colour of their scales.
Amongst Metallic Dragons, you can findGold, Silver, Bronze, Copper, and Brass Dragons. Each one has its own behaviours, preferred environment, and associated element. Unlike the evil Chromatic Dragons, Metallic Dragons are almost always good in alignment.
Other types of Metallic Dragon have been featured in D&D before, although they have been less prominent in Fifth Edition. They includeMercury, Iron, Steel, and Platinum Dragons.
Where Did Metallic Dragons Come From?
Where exactly Metallic Dragons, or dragons in general, come from will depend on your own game of D&D. If you or your DM have home-brewed an original setting, or adjusted an existing one, thenyou’re limited only by your own imagination.
Even amongst official settings, theexplanation for the origin of Metallic Dragons can vary. In Exandria, the official setting created by Matt Mercer of Critical Role, Metallic Dragons were the first ones to exist.
Bahamut, the Platinum Dragon and God of Justice created Metallic Dragonsto serve as the noble guardians of the less durable mortal races. Tiamat then created Chromatic Dragons as a counter, but the Metallic Dragons were the first.
Bahamut, the Platinum Dragon, and Tiamat, the Scaled Tyrant, are sworn enemies across more than one D&D setting. As patron deities to Metallic and Chromatic dragons, respectively,they are entirely opposedin almost all things.
In The Forgotten Realms, the D&D setting most people are familiar with, doesn’t have as clear cut an origin for dragons as Exandria does. Some scholars of the setting speculate thatthe Tearfall was a potential cause.
The Tearfall, a planet-wide disaster, is speculated to have been responsible for dramatic climate changes which may haveallowed the ancestors of dragons to start evolving into the powerful creatures we knowthem to be.
If you prefer something with a little more intrigue, another theory is thatdragon eggs rained down onto the planet during a meteor storm. That would mean dragons are extra-terrestrial and raise more questions than they answer, perfect to lead into a Spelljammer campaign.
Spelljammer is the way to go if you want to take yourD&D adventures into outer space. Magical sailships traverse the stars, allowing you to inject a dash of science fiction flavour into your high fantasy adventures.
Whether you’re playing in your own setting or an established one, you can mix and match ideas to come up with the origin you like best. That’s the beauty of D&D, you’relimited only by what you, or your Dungeon Master, decide to incorporate.
What Are Gold Dragons?
Gold Dragons are possibly the most striking looking dragons of any variety, with shining golden scales reflecting light sources. They areregal and majestic creaturesbut are often prone to isolationism.
Dedicated to the cause of good, Gold Dragons seek to find ways to right the wrongs of the world. When they choose to take direction action, evildoers typically won’t survive long when pursued by a mighty Gold Dragon andtheir powerful fire breath.
Chromatic Dragons only have one type of breath weapon, such as fire or lightning.Metallic Dragons have the benefit of two,one elementaland one betterequipped for disabling foesrather than killing.
The Gold Dragon has a gaseous breath thatsaps the strength of whoever is afflicted by it.
Although typically servants of good,Gold Dragons can often become arrogantand dismissive of the mortal races. Their power and long life spans have been known to cause them to think that only they can combat evil in a meaningful way.
When looking for a lair,Gold Dragons prefer idyllic spotsthat are also isolated. Caves behind waterfalls, lake beds, islands covered in mist, and ancient ruins of historical importance are all places you might find a Gold Dragon residing.
What Are Silver Dragons?
While a Gold Dragon seeks out ways to do good in the world,Silver Dragons take a less proactive approach. They might stop evil if they encountered it, or aid people if asked, but otherwise, they are more interested in indulging their curiosity.
Silver Dragons, like otherMetallic Dragons, can shapeshift into a humanoid form. They would use this to join societies of Humans or Elves, fascinated by their culture and most especially their cuisines.
After first hatching, a Silver Dragon actually has bluish-gray scales, whichchange to silver as they get older.
Although less likely to engage in combat than the Gold Dragon, the Silver Dragon is no less dangerous. Theirbreath weapon is a cone of freezing cold, but they also have a secondary one, able to expel paralyzing gas as well.
Even though they spend much of their time in mortal civilizations, they still maintain a lair. They prefer these lairs to be among the clouds, typicallyfavoring the highest mountain peaksfor their draconic home.
What Are Bronze Dragons?
Bronze Dragons are among the most practical of their kind. While still almost always creatures of good, they alsofavour structure and order,believing that chaos is the seed of evil. They are careful planners and sticklers for the terms of an agreement.
Another interesting trait is that Bronze Dragons exhibit some of thegreed more typically associated with Chromatic Dragons,plundering shipwrecks or ruins for treasure. They will sometimes even charge for their acts of good, justifying it as only fair.
Bronze Dragons are actually unable to properly chew their food. One of the reasons they horde coins and precious stones is toinclude them in their meals, aiding in digestion.
Their breath weapon isa concentrated bolt of lightning, while their secondary one is a blast of pure repulsive force. It can knock foes back as far as 60 feet, so be wary of fighting them anywhere with ledges.
Bronze Dragons are superb swimmers, which may be why they prefer to make their lairs along coastal regions. It can often be impossible to reach their lairs without traveling underwater first, a strong barrier to entry.
What Are Copper Dragons?
Copper Dragons are outgoing and sociable creatures. Unlike Silver Dragons, who disguise themselves and hide their true nature,a Copper Dragon will happily interact with humanoidsin their true form.
Theyenjoy a good joke, exchanging riddles, and are evenknown to be fond of playing pranks. As amicable as they are, never forget that they’re still a dragon, prone to arrogance and fits of greed to increase the size of their horde.
Amongst their horde, Copper Dragons particularlyfavour precious ores, artworks, and interesting curios they’ve collected.
Theirbreath weapons are a slowing gas and a spray of acid, especially nasty when used in conjunction. Slowing a group of enemies, or your own party if you’re unlucky, makes it much easier to line them up for big damage from the acid.
Theyprefer hilltops and dry cavesfor their lairs, oftensetting up false walls and fake treasure hordes to fool and trap intruders. This preference for trickery as a first line of defense may stem from their fondness for pranks.
What Are Brass Dragons?
Even compared to their Silver and Copper cousins, no dragon is quite asoutgoing and happy to converseas the Brass Dragon. They enjoy conversation, oftenspending hours exploring a single topic, and caneasily be considered long-winded.
The typical arrogance of dragons manifests in the Brass asa belief that no intelligent being should be so unlucky as to not get to enjoy speaking with them, sometimes holding people as polite prisoners until they feel they’ve said all there is to say on a subject.
Brass Dragonsconsider themselves to be extremely humble, the most humble of all creatures, in fact, which is just another sign of their draconic arrogance.
If their conversation doesn’t put you to sleep, their knockout gas breath weapon is likely to. That is still better than the alternative, a fiery breath which works a little differently than the Gold Dragons. While the Gold exhales fire in a cone, the Brass blasts outa concentrated beam.
Brass Dragons enjoy arid and warm climatesfor their lairs, much like the Chromatic Blue Dragon. They can often be found indesert caves, sand blasted ruins, and deep beneath the sandsprovided the space is airy, well lit, and allows sunlight in.
Do Metallic Dragons Work Together?
Unlike Chromatic Dragons, which are more likely to battle each other than cooperate,Metallic Dragons are more prone to maintaining relationships with one another. What this looks like varies a little between each type.
Gold Dragons maintain a strict hierarchal structure among their own kind, each one usually well aware of their place within it. At the top of the pecking order is an elected leader known as the King or Queen Justice, referred to as “Your Resplendence.”
Silver Dragons, on the other hand,group together into clan-like structures, whileBronze Dragons enjoy each other’s companyand might be seen swimming or playing together. Alldragons are individualsthough, andmay conform to or reject these behaviors.
Metallic Dragons of the same type or even differing typesmay choose to work togetherto combat an especially dangeroussource of evil, although an evil of the magnitude and power that would motivate an alliance of that scale would be remarkably rare.
