Homebrew (Monster Manual or Fizban's Treasury of Dragons)
Abaia (Dragon Turtle) CR: 19 (18,000 XP)
Gargantuan dragon, unaligned
Armor Class: 21 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 374 (22d12 + 110) 22d12+110
Speed:
30 ft
, swim: 50 ft
Saving Throws: Dex +6, Con +13, Wis +8
Skills: Perception +9
Damage Resistances: cold, fire
Condition Immunities: charmed,frightened, poisoned
Senses: Truesight 120 ft., tremorsense 60ft., passive Perception 19
Languages: Aquan, Common, Draconic
Challenge Rating: 19 (18,000 XP)
Amphibious. The dragon turtle can breathe air and water.
Blessing of the Sea (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). If the dragon turtle would be reduced to 0 hit points, its current hit point total instead resets to 350 hit points, and it recharges its Steam Breath. Award a party an additional 62,000 XP (124,000 XP total) for defeating the dragon turtle after its Blessing of the Sea activates.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon turtle fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Unusual Nature. The dragon turtle doesn't require food or drink.
Actions
Multiattack. Abaia makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws. She can make one tail attack in place of its two claw attacks.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: 1d20+14 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 26 (3d12 + 7) 3d12+7 piercing damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: 1d20+14 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (2d8 + 7)
2d8+7 slashing damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: 1d20+14 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 26 (3d12 + 7)
3d12+7 bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 21 Strength saving throw or be pushed up to 10 feet away from the dragon turtle and knocked prone.
Steam Breath (Recharge 5–6). The dragon turtle exhales scalding steam in a 60-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 20 Constitution saving throw, taking 58 ( 15d6+6 ) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Being underwater doesn't grant resistance against this damage.
Reactions
Bloodied Breath. When reduced to half her starting hit points, Abaia's breath weapon recharges, and she uses it as a reaction.
Ocean Coil. If Abaia takes fire damage (including damage dealt in the form of steam), as a free action, each enemy within 10 feet of her takes 10 damage of the triggering type and the dragon turtle has advantage on attacks against targets who took damage until the end of her next turn.
Legendary Actions
Flexible Legendary Actions. Abaia can take 1 legendary action per 4 living enemies she is engaged with, up to a maximum of 3 legendary actions vs 12 opponents, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The dragon regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
- Detect. Abaia makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
- Tail Attack. Abaia makes a tail attack.
- Tidal Wave (Costs 2 Actions). Abaia churns the water around her. Each creature within 10 feet of the dragon must succeed on a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw or take 13 ( 2d6+6 ) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone. The dragon can then swim up to half her swim speed.
- Boiling Aura (Costs 3 Actions). The dragon turtle radiates intense heat. Until the start of the dragon turtle's next turn, whenever a creature starts its turn within 20 feet of the dragon turtle, that creature must succeed on a DC 24 Constitution saving throw or take 40 (9d8) fire damage. Being underwater doesn't grant resistance against this damage.
Dragon turtles are among the most fearsome creatures of the oceans. As large and voracious as the oldest of its land-based dragon kin, a dragon turtle strikes with its deadly jaws, steaming breath, and crushing tail.
A dragon turtle's rough shell is the same dark green color as the deep water where this monster dwells. Silver highlights lining the shell resemble light dancing on open water, and a surfacing dragon turtle is sometimes mistaken for the reflection of the sun or moon on the waves.
Dragons of the Deep. Like true dragons, dragon turtles collect treasure, first by sinking ships and then by sifting through the wreckage for coins and other precious items. A dragon turtle swallows treasure for transport, then regurgitates it when it reaches its lair.
Dragon turtles dwell in caves hidden in coral reefs or beneath the seafloor, or along rugged stretches of coastline. If a choice cave is already inhabited, a dragon turtle attacks its current residents in an attempt to take over.
Mercenary Monsters. A dragon turtle is smart enough to be bribed, and pirates sailing seas patrolled by these creatures quickly learn to offer them treasure in exchange for safe passage. Clever sahuagin sometimes ally with dragon turtles, enticing them with treasure to use their blistering breath weapons in sahuagin raids against ships and coastal settlements.
Elemental Might. Dragon turtles sometimes find their way through sunken planar rifts to the Elemental Plane of Water. Those monstrous specimens can often be found in the service of marids, which strap magnificent coral thrones to the backs of dragon turtles and ride them as mounts.
Suggested Environments
Environments. Coastal, Underwater