Blight Dragon

Shadowbound Undead Dragon | CR 12 | Apex Mythic Creature

Physical Description

A massive, rotting stone dragon half-consumed by darkness. Its wings are skeletal shadows, its chest is cracked to reveal a void of swirling undeath, and fragments of its original marble statue body still cling to its limbs. It flickers between half-seen states of physical ruin and ghostlike horror.

Personality and Motivation

The dragon is trapped in undeath, tethered to its ancient statue body. Though intelligent, it behaves more like a cursed animal—bound to obey the will of its binder (currently Mossmother Veyla). It is driven by hunger, grief, and hatred for the sun. If freed, it acts on its own destructive will: to cover the world in shadow and rot.

Fighting Strategy

• Starts battle bound to the statue, with limited range and strong defenses.
• As players disrupt the statue with radiant/force effects, it becomes freed and enters a second, more violent phase.
• Seeks to kill and corrupt enemies to spawn Shadow Statues, escalating the encounter.
• Retreats to the statue before dawn or is destroyed.
• Uses predictable devastating actions and battlefield pressure to force player responses.

Core Stats

• AC: 18 (20 while within 30 ft of the statue)
• HP: 180 (250 after statue destroyed)
• Speed: 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)
• Initiative: +4
• Saves: Dex +5, Con +7, Wis +6
• Skills: Stealth +8, Perception +7, Intimidation +6

Resistances / Immunities / Vulnerabilities

• Resistances: Necrotic, Cold, Lightning, Nonmagical Weapons
• Immunities: Poison, Exhaustion, Paralyzed
• Vulnerabilities: Radiant damage, bright light
• While in bright light, loses all resistances and has AC reduced by 2 for 1 round.

Unique Traits

Statue Anchor

While within 30 ft of its original statue:

• Gains +2 AC
• Resistance to all damage except radiant
• If the statue is destroyed, it begins to disintegrate (2 rounds), but gains additional Legendary actions

Sunbound Doom

At dawn, if the dragon is not touching its statue, it is instantly destroyed. This creates a hard time limit on the encounter. Consider tracking rounds as a countdown.

Shadow Reproduction

If the Blight Dragon kills a humanoid, it may raise a Shadow Statue (AC 15, HP 50) at that location.

• A Bound Blight Entity spawns and remains dormant unless disturbed or until the next dusk.
• Statues may be destroyed through radiant damage, sunlight, or by being smashed.

Living Shadow

• Invisible in magical darkness and heavily obscured areas
• Immune to darkvision detection
• Can pass through narrow openings like mist while shadowbound

Actions

Multiattack

• 1 Bite + 2 Claws
• Bite: +9 to hit, 2d10+5 necrotic
• Claw: +9 to hit, 2d6+5 slashing

Blight Breath (Recharge 5–6)

• 60-ft line, 5 ft wide
• DC 17 Con save
• 8d8 necrotic + Poisoned (1 min, save ends at end of each turn)

Shadow Lash

• 60 ft. range; +9 to hit; 3d8 necrotic
• Target makes DC 16 Dex save or becomes restrained by shadows (save ends at end of each turn)
• If in bright light, this ability fails

Predictable Legendary Action

“Wings of Decay” – Devastating Sweep

• Tell: At the end of its turn, The dragon lifts both wings and begins drawing in air. The ground cracks beneath it, and an eerie wind pulls inward.
• Neutralization:
• Deal 15+ radiant damage before its next turn
• Or cast Daylight / expose statue to bright light
• Resolution (start of next turn):
• 20-ft radius around the dragon erupts with decaying force
• DC 16 Dex Save:
• Fail: 6d8 necrotic + knocked prone
• Success: Half damage
• Creatures in bright light auto-succeed

Legendary Resistance (Alternative)

Shatterform (3/day)
Instead of passing a failed save, the Blight Dragon sacrifices 15 HP to succeed. This causes part of the statue to fall off, showing it is breaking free. Each time this is used, the statue becomes more vulnerable to destruction.