The shadow dragon is a type of dragon in the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons.
Contents
Publication history
The shadow dragon first appeared in the first edition Monster Manual II (1983).
The shadow dragon appeared in second edition for the Greyhawk setting in the Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Appendix (1990), and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).
The shadow dragon appeared in third edition for the Forgotten Realms setting in Monsters of Faerûn (2001). The shadow dragon also appears in Draconomicon: The Book of Dragons (2003).
The shadow dragon appears as a template in the 5th Edition Monster Manual, its first inclusion in the core monster manual, along with a sample creature, the Young Red Shadow Dragon. In this version of the rules, the Shadow Dragon is not a distinct species, but a transformation that can occur to any True Dragon which lingers too long in the Shadowfell. This transformations makes the Dragon stealthier, highly resistant to damage while in darkness, and sensitive to sunlight, while granting it a breath weapons that animates those it slays into an undead shadows.
Description
A shadow dragon is an evil dragon that uses illusion magic, and can breathe a cloud of darkness that blinds creatures. It also drains their life energy. It can shoot a shadow ball that freezes its enemies in its tracks.