Magma Dragon (Ancient, Spellcaster)
Level 18Attacks
Abilities
90 feet. DC 37 will A creature that first enters the area must attempt a Will save. Regardless of the result of the saving throw, the creature is temporarily immune to this monster's Frightful Presence for 1 minute. Critical Success The creature is unaffected by the presence. Success The creature is Frightened 1. Failure The creature is Frightened 2. Critical Failure The creature is Frightened 4.
Trigger The dragon is targeted with an attack Effect The dragon raises a wing, gaining a +2 circumstance bonus to AC against the triggering attack. If the dragon is Flying, they descend 10 feet after the attack.
The dragon takes on the appearance of a Medium humanoid. This does not change their Speed or their attack and damage bonuses with their Strikes but might change the damage type their Strikes deal (typically to bludgeoning). The monster changes its shape indefinitely. It can use this action again to return to its natural shape or adopt a new shape. Unless otherwise noted, a monster cannot use Change Shape to appear as a specific individual. Using Change Shape counts as creating a disguise for the Impersonate use of Deception. The monster's transformation automatically defeats Perception DCs to determine whether the creature is a member of the ancestry or creature type into which it transformed, and it gains a +4 status bonus to its Deception DC to prevent others from seeing through its disguise. Change Shape abilities specify what shapes the monster can adopt. The monster doesn't gain any special abilities of the new shape, only its physical form. For example, in each shape, it replaces its normal Speeds and Strikes, and might potentially change its senses or size. Any changes are listed in its stat block.
A magma dragon's burrow Speed functions only when the dragon is Burrowing through magma or molten lava.
The dragon spits a molten boulder at a target within 120 feet. This deals 12d6 fire,5d12 bludgeoning damage, with a DC 40 reflex save. If the creature fails its save, it's encased in magma that instantly cools and has Hardness 10, HP 40, and BT 20. The encased creature can't breathe and is Restrained (Escape).
The dragon breathes a blast of magma that deals 10d6 fire,5d12 bludgeoning in a 60-foot cone (DC 40 reflex). They can't use Pyroclastic Breath again for 1d4 rounds
If the next action the dragon uses is Pyroclastic Breath, the magma clings to those it damages. Each creature that fails its save against Pyroclastic Breath takes 5d6 persistent fire damage, and as long as it has this persistent fire damage, it also takes a –10-foot status penalty to its Speeds. Effect: Volcanic Purge
Description
Magma dragons represent a brash and volatile aspect of dragonkind. Territorial and unpredictable, magma dragons are known for protecting their hunting grounds with a fierce and proud demeanor that brooks no challengers. Passionate in the extreme, magma dragons in their draconic forms can often seem utterly bestial, impulsively jumping at threats and challenges with a wild abandon, but this belies an intellect that many underestimate.
For many magma dragons, they begin life in small clutches and struggle immediately for dominance. These fights can be brutal and are sometimes fatal, but magma dragon parents understand that to survive in this world, one must be strong and powerful, and thus make allowances for this. There are few among magma dragons where an impassioned killing does not appear somewhere in their history, but were one to get close enough to get reasons out of a magma dragon, many often can explain exactly why the kill needed to happen and how there was no alternative.
To say that "might makes right" among magma dragons is a gross oversimplification of their ethos as a society. They believe that the strongest should, in fact, rule—that much is true—but also, they very specifically believe that claims of rulership must be backed by not only strength and aggression, but also a careful cultivation of resources, protection of chosen communities, and an overall appreciation of the lands they call their own. To do anything less is considered an affront by other magma dragons, and many a battle has begun due to one magma dragon stumbling on the domain of another and assuming it's unkept, or unkempt in some way, and attempting to claim it. This battle for dominance and stewardship often leads magma dragons to believe that their way is better, for they're stronger and assumed wiser through their use of fine battle tactics and skill at arms.