The Dragonborn has been a playable race in Dungeons & Dragons 5E since the Player’s Handbook (PHB) was released in 2014, however, since then, some people have been unhappy with their mechanics. Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons (FToD) aims to correct this by giving us a new version of the dragonborn to play, as well as introducing us to a whole new type of our scaly friends.
The PHB original
Before we get into the juicy new versions, let’s take a look at what the PHB version already gave us:
Ability Scores – Str +2 Cha +1
Size – Medium
Speed – 30ft
Age – Dragonborn mature at 15 and live until the age of 80.
Alignment – Dragonborn tend towards extremes, picking a side in the cosmic struggle, whilst most are good, those who choose evil can be great villains.
Draconic Ancestry – Choose a type of dragon from the table below to represent your Draconic Ancestry, your breath weapon and resistance are determined by your choice.
| Dragon | Damage Type | Breath Weapon |
|---|---|---|
| Black | Acid | 5 by 30ft. Line (Dex save) |
| Blue | Lightning | 5 by 30ft. Line (Dex save) |
| Brass | Fire | 5 by 30ft. Line (Dex save) |
| Bronze | Lightning | 5 by 30ft. Line (Dex save) |
| Copper | Acid | 5 by 30ft. Line (Dex save) |
| Gold | Fire | 15 ft. cone (Dex save) |
| Green | Poison | 15 ft. cone (Con save) |
| Red | Fire | 15 ft. cone (Dex save) |
| Silver | Cold | 15 ft. cone (Con save) |
| White | Cold | 15 ft. cone (Con save) |
Breath Weapon – You have a breath weapon of destructive energy, your choice of dragon determines the damage type, saving throw required, and the size and shape as shown in the table above.
This ability requires an action and the DC is 8 + Con mod + proficiency bonus, doing 2d6 damage on a failed saving throw or half as much on a successful save. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level.
You can use this ability once and can use it again after a short or long rest.
Damage Resistance – You have resistance to the damage type associated with your choice of dragon.
Languages – You can speak, read, and write Common and Draconic.
The Fizban’s versions
In FToD each type of dragonborn is given more mechanical distinction from its brethren, however, they all share common aspects described here:
Ability Scores – You can increase one ability score by 2 and a different score by 1, alternatively you can increase three different ability scores by 1.
Age – Dragonborn live for around a century.
Languages – Dragonborn can speak, read, and write Common and one other language your DM agrees is appropriate.
Chromatic Dragonborn
Creature Type – Humanoid
Size – Medium
Speed – 30ft
Chromatic Ancestry – You have a magical affinity connected to a chromatic dragon ancestor, choose which dragon you are connected to from the table below. This also determines the damage type for your other traits:
| Dragon | Damage Type |
|---|---|
| Black | Acid |
| Blue | Lightning |
| Green | Poison |
| Red | Fire |
| White | Cold |
Breath Weapon – When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can replace one of the attacks with an exhalation of destructive magical energy in a 30 ft. line that is 5 ft. wide. Every creature in this area must make a Dexterity saving throw, the DC equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Con modifier. On a failed save a creature takes 1d10 damage of the type associated with your Chromatic Ancestry or half as much damage on successful save. The damage increases to 2d10 at 5th level, 3d10 at 11th level, and 4d10 at 17th level. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.
Draconic Resistance – You have resistance to the damage type associated with your Chromatic Ancestry.
Chromatic Warding – From 5th level onwards, you can use your action to become immune for 1 minute to the damage type associated with your Chromatic Ancestry. You can use this ability once per long rest.
Metallic Dragonborn
Creature Type – Humanoid
Size – Medium
Speed – 30ft
Metallic Ancestry – You have a magical affinity connected to a metallic dragon ancestor, choose which dragon you are connected to from the table below. This also determines the damage type for your other traits:
| Dragon | Damage Type |
|---|---|
| Brass | Fire |
| Bronze | Lightning |
| Copper | Acid |
| Gold | Fire |
| Silver | Cold |
Breath Weapon – When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can replace one of the attacks with an exhalation of destructive magical energy in a 15 ft. cone. Every creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving throw, the DC equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Con modifier. On a failed save a creature takes 1d10 damage of the type associated with your Metallic Ancestry or half as much damage on successful save. The damage increases to 2d10 at 5th level, 3d10 at 11th level, and 4d10 at 17th level. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.
Draconic Resistance – You have resistance to the damage type associated with your Metallic Ancestry.
Metallic Breath Weapon – At 5th level, you gain a second breath weapon you can use in the place of a single attack when you take the Attack action. This breath is exhaled in a 15 ft. cone, with the DC equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Con modifier. When you use this ability choose one of the following options:
- Enervating Breath – Each creature within the cone must succeed on Con saving throw or become incapacitated until the start of your next turn.
- Repulsion Breath – Each creature within the cone must succeed on a Str saving throw or be pushed 20ft away from you and knocked prone.
You can only use your Metallic Breath Weapon once per long rest.
Gem Dragonborn
Creature Type – Humanoid
Size – Medium
Speed – 30ft
Gem Ancestry – You have a magical affinity connected to a gem dragon ancestor, choose which dragon you are connected to from the table below. This also determines the damage type for your other traits:
| Dragon | Damage Type |
|---|---|
| Amethyst | Force |
| Crystal | Radiant |
| Emerald | Psychic |
| Sapphire | Thunder |
| Topaz | Necrotic |
Breath Weapon – When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can replace one of the attacks with an exhalation of destructive magical energy in a 15 ft. cone. Every creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving throw, the DC equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Con modifier. On a failed save a creature takes 1d10 damage of the type associated with your Gem Ancestry or half as much damage on successful save. The damage increases to 2d10 at 5th level, 3d10 at 11th level, and 4d10 at 17th level. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.
Draconic Resistance – You have resistance to the damage type associated with your Gem Ancestry.
Psionic Mind – You can send telepathic messages to a creature within 30 feet of you, the creature must be able to understand at least one language, but you don’t need to share a language.
Gem Flight – From 5th level onwards, you can use a bonus action to manifest spectral wings for 1 minute. Whilst you have these wings, you gain a fly speed equal to your walk speed and can hover. You can use this ability once per long rest.
Do you prefer the new dragonborn or the PHB original? Which of the new dragonborn options is your favourite? If you’re interested in more FToD content then check out the new feats here, or if you’re interested in other races, check out our races section. In the meantime good luck out there adventurers, and try to sneeze into fireplaces where possible.
I wish I could have a gemstone dragon bloodline sorcerer