Magma Dragon, Ancient

Between this dragon's jet-black scales run glowing rivulets of lava, and veins aglow with heat shine in the membranes of its wings.

Magma Dragon, Ancient (CR 17)

Huge Dragon (Extraplanar, Fire)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Initiative: +4
Senses: Dragon Senses; Perception +32
Aura: frightful presence (300 feet, DC 26)

Speed: 40 feet, Fly 200 feet (poor)
Space: 15 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 39, touch 8, flat-footed 39 (+31 natural, -2 size)
Hit Points: 310 (23d12+161)
Saving Throws: Fort +22, Ref +13, Will +21
Damage Reduction: 15/magic
Immunity: fire, paralysis, sleep
Spell Resistance: 28
Weaknesses: vulnerability to cold

Offense

Melee: bite +33 (2d8+18/19-20 plus 10 fire), 2 claws +33 (2d6+12/19-20), tail slap +31 (2d6+18), 2 wings +31 (1d8+6)
Reach: 10 feet (15 feet with bite)

Special Attacks: Breath Weapon (50-ft. cone, DC 28, 20d6 fire plus special), crush, magma breath

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 23rd; Concentration +28):

• Constant- Fire Shield (warm)
  
  
• At Will- Burning Hands (DC 16), Scorching Ray, Wall Of Fire
  
  
• 3/day- Delayed Blast Fireball (DC 22)

Spells Known (CL 17th; melee touch +34, ranged touch +20):

• 8th (4/day) - Horrid Wilting (DC 23), Moment of Prescience
  
  
• 7th (6/day) - Limited Wish, Power Word Blind, Waves of Exhaustion
  
  
• 6th (6/day) - Flesh to Stone (DC 21), Heroism, Greater, Move Earth
  
  
• 5th (7/day) - Cloudkill (DC 20), Telekinesis, Transmute Rock to Mud, Wall Of Stone
  
  
• 4th (7/day) - Dimension Door, Invisibility, Greater, Scrying (DC 19), Stoneskin
  
  
• 3rd (7/day) - Dispel Magic, Gaseous Form, Protection from Energy, Ray of Exhaustion (DC 18)
  
  
• 2nd (7/day) - Blur, Eagle's Splendor, Gust Of Wind (DC 17), Locate Object, Mirror Image
  
  
• 1st (8/day) - Burning Hands (DC 16), Magic Missile, Protection From Good, Obscuring Mist, Shield
  
  
• 0 (at will) - Acid Splash, Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Ray of Frost, Read Magic, Resistance, Touch of Fatigue (DC 15)

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
35 (+12)	10 (+0)	25 (+7)	22 (+6)	22 (+6)	21 (+5)

Base Attack Bonus: +23
CMB +37
CMD 47 (51 vs. Trip)

Feats: Fly-by Attack, Great Fortitude, Greater Vital Strike, Powerful Maneuvers, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Critical (claws), Improved Initiative, Improved Vital Strike, Iron Will, Multiattack, Vital Strike

Skills: Acrobatics +23 (+27 jump), Climb +38, Escape Artist +23, Fly +18, Intimidate +31, Knowledge (planes) +32, Perception +32, Sense Motive +32, Sleight of Hand +23, Stealth +18, Survival +32, Swim +38

Languages: Common, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Halfling, Ignan

Special Qualities: superheated

Special Abilities

Magma Tomb (Su)

Once per day, a great wyrm magma dragon can spit lava onto a target within 120 feet, dealing damage normally for its breath weapon. This magma cools instantly-it does not continue doing damage at this point but does entrap the victim (see universal monster rules in appendix; DC equals the dragon's breath weapon save DC, 3d6 minutes, hardness 8, hp 45).

Magma Breath (Su)

Three times per day, an ancient or older magma dragon can breathe a cone of lava instead of fire. The damage is unchanged, but the magma clings to those it damages, dealing half damage each round thereafter for 1d3 rounds. After this magma cools, it crumbles to dust.

Spell-Like Abilities (Sp)

A magma dragon gains the following spell-like abilities, usable at will (unless indicated otherwise) on reaching the listed age category. Very young-burning hands; Juvenile-scorching ray; Adult- wall of fire; Old-fire shield (warm shield, constant Ancient-delayed blast fireball (3/day Great wyrm-wall of lava*.

Superheated (Su)

At young age and older, a magma dragon's bite attack deals additional fire damage equal to its age category.

Ecology

Environment: Any Mountains or Underground
Organization: solitary
Treasure: triple


Temperamental and prone to violent outbursts, magma dragons are regarded by most other dragons as dangerously insane-an assumption that, more often than not, proves correct.

One can rarely predict a magma dragon's state of mind until it either attacks or attempts to engage in conversation.

For their part, magma dragons can justify all of their actions-they just rarely feel the need to do so.