Variant: Dragons as Innate Spellcasters – Dragons are innately magical creatures that can master a few spells as they

age, using
this variant. A young or older dragon can innately cast a number of spells equal to its Charisma modifier. Each spell can be cast
once per day, requiring no material components, and the spell's level can be no higher than one-third the dragon's challenge
rating (rounded down). The dragon's bonus to hit with spell attacks is equal to its proficiency bonus + its Charisma bonus. The
dragon's spell save DC equals 8 +its proficiency bonus + its Charisma modifier. (MM p.86)

Chromatic Dragon Spellcasters

Highest Spell Spell
Prof Spells
Dragons CR Cha Spell Sample Spells Attack Save
Bonus Known
Level Bonus DC
Black Dragons
Young Black darkness, Melf's acid arrow, fog cloud,
7 +3 15 2 2nd +5 13
Dragon scorching ray
Adult Black vitriolic sphere, sickening radiance, Evard's black
14 +5 17 3 4th +8 16
Dragon tentacles, blight, hunger of Hadar
Ancient Black power word pain, finger of death, disintegrate,
21 +7 19 4 7th +11 19
Dragon circle of death, hold monster
Blue Dragons
Young Blue wall of sand, thunder step, lightning bolt, blink,
9 +4 17 3 3rd +7 15
Dragon magic missile, slow
Adult Blue telekinesis, hold monster, dimension door, wall
16 +5 19 4 5th +9 17
Dragon of stone, wall of force
Adult Blue telekinesis, hold monster, dimension door, wall
17 +5 19 4 5th +9 17
Dracolich of stone, wall of force
Ancient Blue chain lightning, force cage, teleport,
23 +7 21 5 7th +12 20
Dragon etherealness
Green Dragons
Young Green ray of sickness, charm person, detect thoughts,
8 +3 15 2 2nd +5 13
Dragon invisibility, suggestion
Adult Green cloudkill, charm monster, modify memory,
15 +5 17 3 5th +8 16
Dragon mislead, hallucinatory terrain, dimension door
Ancient Green project image, mirage arcane, prismatic spray,
22 +7 19 4 7th +11 19
Dragon teleport
Red Dragons
Young Red fireball, scorching ray, haste, erupting earth,
10 +4 19 4 3rd +8 16
Dragon Aganazzar's scorcher
Adult Red
17 +6 21 5 5th immolation, wall of fire, enervation +11 19
Dragon
Ancient Red incendiary cloud, fire storm, delayed blast
24 +7 23 6 8th +13 21
Dragon fireball, sunburst, divine word
White Dragons
Young White
6 +3 12 1 2nd ice knife, Snilloc's snowball swarm +4 12
Dragon
Adult White fire shield (using the chill shield option), ice
13 +5 12 1 4th +6 14
Dragon storm, sleet storm
Ancient White
20 +6 14 2 6th cone of cold, wall of ice +8 16
Dragon
Metallic Dragon Spellcasters
Highest Spell Spell
Prof Spells
Dragons CR Cha Spell Sample Spells Attack Save
Bonus Known
Level Bonus DC
Brass Dragons
Young Brass see invisibility, magic mouth,
6 3 15 2 2nd 5 13
Dragon blindness/deafness, sleep, detect thoughts
Adult Brass charm monster, sending, wall of sand, hypnotic
13 5 17 3 4th 8 16
Dragon pattern, tongues
scrying, Rary's telepathic bond, Otto's
Ancient Brass
20 6 19 4 6th irresistible dance, legend lore, hold monster, 10 18
Dragon
dream
Bronze Dragons
Young Bronze gust of wind, misty step, locate object, blur,
8 3 17 3 2nd 6 14
Dragon witch bolt, thunderwave, shield
Adult Bronze steel wind strike, control water, control winds,
15 5 19 4 5th 9 17
Dragon watery sphere, storm sphere, tidal wave
Ancient Bronze whirlwind, chain lightning, scatter, teleport,
22 7 21 5 7th 12 20
Dragon disintegrate, lightning bolt
Copper Dragons
Young Copper knock, sleep, invisibility, detect thoughts,
7 3 15 2 2nd 5 13
Dragon blindness/deafness, Tasha's hideous laughter
Adult Copper polymorph, greater invisibility, confusion,
14 5 17 3 4th 8 16
Dragon stinking cloud, major image, charm monster
Ancient Copper symbol, simulacrum, reverse gravity, project
21 7 19 4 7th 11 19
Dragon image, Bigby's hand, mental prison, seeming
Gold Dragons
Young Gold slow, nondetection, fireball, dispel magic,
10 4 20 5 3rd 9 17
Dragon counterspell, Aganazzar's scorcher, shield
Adult Gold hold monster, immolation, wall of fire, greater
17 6 24 7 5th 13 21
Dragon invisibility, dimension door
Ancient Gold sunburst, delayed blast fireball, antimagic field,
24 7 28 9 8th 16 24
Dragon teleport, globe of invulnerability, maze
Silver Dragons
Young Silver sleet storm, protection from energy, catnap,
9 4 19 4 3rd 8 16
Dragon locate object, identify, Leomund's tiny hut
cone of cold, ice storm, teleportation circle, skill
Adult Silver
16 5 21 5 5th empowerment, creation, Mordenkainen's 10 18
Dragon
private sanctum
Ancient Silver Otiluke's freezing sphere, prismatic spray, wall
23 7 23 6 7th 13 21
Dragon of ice, contingency, arcane gate

The sample spells were chosen based on the dragon’s temperament. An older dragon may also use spells from a younger dragon’s
list, implying it learned the spells from earlier in its life. For example, an ancient silver dragon’s innate spellcasting trait may look
like the following:

Innate Spellcasting. The dragon’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 21, +13 to hit with spell attacks). The
dragon can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

1/day each: protection from energy, Leomund’s tiny hut, cone of cold, teleportation circle, wall of ice, contingency
Chromatic Dragons

Black Dragons
These dragons are brutal, cruel, and sadistic to creatures it considers lesser than them. They learn spells that augment their desire
to inflict pain, with a preference for spells that use acid and rot, but are not averse to just learning what will make its foes suffer
the most while dying.

Blue Dragons
These dragons are patient and methodical fighters. They will be loath to give up any advantage it has in a battle, and use spells to
keep itself on top. It may learn spells that let it attack from a distance even while its breath weapon is recharging, and spells that
let it keep its positional advantage, whether by giving itself more movement, or by slowing down its opponents.

Green Dragons
These dragons are known for their intelligence, and may seek spells to let their cunning shine. Those who learn spells may prefer
magic that will let it control and deceive others, but many still use poisonous spells, and spells that let it retreat quickly on the
occasions where its shrewdness is not enough.

Red Dragons
These dragons are ferocious and vengeful, proud and arrogant. Those that innately cast magic prefer powerful spells that can burn
those who oppose it into a crisp. The most ancient and powerful red dragons may be blessed by Tiamat with the ability to cast
divine word, drawing power from the goddess herself.

White Dragons
These dragons are the most primal of their kind, and the rare few that would learn spellcasting would favour cold spells that help
it hunt down and kill its prey.

Metallic Dragons

Brass Dragons
These dragons may use spellcasting to improve their ability to converse with others. They may cast tongues to listen to the stories
of exotic individuals, detect the thoughts of others, send telepathic messages, or simply use magic to pin down individuals who
may know interesting things that the dragon wants to learn about.

Bronze Dragons
These dragons live in coastlines and may develop the ability to magically control water. Being fierce warriors, bronze dragons may
use magic to augment their physical abilities, using evocation and abjuration spells. They may also move opponents to better
control the battlefield.

Copper Dragons
These dragons are tricksters and jokesters. Those who have the potential for magic may learn spells that let it indulge its sense of
humor. They mainly would use their spells to pull pranks on others. They are drawn to spells that have the most potential for
mischief.

Gold Dragons
These wise dragons are the embodiment of good, but may be private and withdrawn. Those who learn magic mainly use it to
defend themselves and others against evil. They may also learn fiery spells to smite their enemies.

Silver Dragons
These dragons are very social and enjoy the company of humanoids, especially humans. They disguise themselves as humanoids in
order to live among them, and those who use magic may use their abilities to be helpful to their humanoid companions, whether
by providing utility, or by damaging enemies with cold spells.