Dragon Companion (Dragon Defender)

A dragon companion’s abilities are determined by the dragon defender’s level and its dragon racial traits. Table: Dragon Companion Base Statistics determines many of the base statistics of the dragon companion. They remain creatures of the dragon type for purposes of determining which spells can affect them.

Table: Dragon Defender Dragon Companion Base Statistics

Class Level

This is the character’s defender level. The defender’s class levels do not stack with levels of any other classes that are entitled to an animal companion for the purpose of determining the dragon companion’s statistics.

Hit Dice

This is the total number of 12-sided (d12) Hit Dice the dragon companion possesses, each of which gains a Constitution modifier, as normal.

Base Attack Bonus 

This is the dragon companion’s base attack bonus. A dragon companion’s base attack bonus is equal to its Hit Dice. Dragon companions do not gain additional attacks using their natural weapons for a high base attack bonus.

Saves

These are the dragon companion’s base saving throws. A dragon companion has good Fortitude, Reflex, and Will saves.

Skills

Dragon companions with Intelligence scores above the base value modify these totals as normal (an dragon companion receives a number of skill ranks equal to 6 + its Intelligence modifier per HD). A dragon companion cannot have more ranks in a skill than it has Hit Dice. Dragon companion skill ranks are set once chosen, even if the creature changes when the summoner gains a new level.

Dragon Companion Skills

The following skills are class skills for dragon companions: Acrobatics* (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb* (Str), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Fly* (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Perception* (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth* (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str). All of the skills marked with an (*) are class skills for dragon mounts. Dragon companions with an Intelligence of 3 or higher can put ranks into any skill. Note that dragon companions receive Spellcraft (Int) as a free class skill, even if they do not gain the ability to cast spells.

Feats

Dragon companions can select any feat they are physically capable of using, including those listed under Monster Feats (see the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary). GMs might expand this list to include feats from other sources.

Natural Armor Bonus

The number noted here is an improvement to the dragon companion’s existing natural armor bonus.

Str/Con Bonus

Add this modifier to the dragon companion’s Strength and Constitution scores.

Int/Cha Bonus

Add this modifier to the dragon companion’s Intelligence and Charisma scores.

Special

This includes a number of abilities gained by dragon companions as they increase in power. Each of these bonuses is described below.

Breath Weapon (Su): A dragon companion’s breath weapon deals 1d6 points of energy damage per Hit Dice in a line or cone, as determined by the companion’s dragon subtype. The base breath weapon is listed with each dragon mount, below. Every dragon companion deals one kind of damage, and has either a line or a cone. Each breath weapon allows a Reflex save for half damage, the save DC for a dragon companion’s breath weapon is 10 + 1/2 the mount’s Hit Dice + the dragon’s Constitution modifier. A dragon mount may use its breath weapon once every four rounds, not to exceed a total number of uses per day equal to 3 + the mount’s Constitution modifier.

Change Shape (Su): A dragon companion can assume any animal or humanoid form a number of times per day equal to 1/2 its Hit Dice as if using polymorph.

Link (Ex): A defender and his dragon companion share a metal link that allows for communication across any distance (as long as they are on the same plane). This effect functions as the telepathic bond spell, but with unlimited range. This communication is a free action, and duplicates the effects of the telepathic bond allowing the defender to council with his dragon at any time. In addition, this link places both the defender and the dragon under the permanent effect of a deathwatch spell, enabling the two to monitor each other’s conditions at all times.

Ward of the Dragon (Sp): A dragon companion can place a protective ward upon its defender to keep him in the battle for as long as possible. This ward functions as the shield other spell, using the dragons Hit Dice as the caster level. The dragon can use this ability a number of times per day equal to its Charisma modifier.

Dragon Powers (Ex or Su): As a dragon defender gains more power, his dragon companion gains the additional special abilities of a dragon many years older. At 2nd level, the dragon companion gains the special abilities of a wyrmling dragon of its subtype. This improves to those of a young dragon at 7th level, a young adult dragon at 12th level, and a mature adult dragon at 17th level.

Evasion (Ex): If a dragon companion is subjected to an attack that normally allows a Reflex save for half damage, it takes no damage if it makes a successful saving throw.

Ability Score Increase (Ex): The dragon companion adds +1 to any two of its ability scores, except Dexterity.

Shared Healing (Sp): Starting at 11th level, a defender establishes an even closer bond with his dragon. Whenever the defender’s dragon takes enough damage to place its life in jeopardy, the defender can, as a free action, sacrifice up to half his current hit points and transfer those hit points to his dragon, thus preventing his dragon from dying. Each hit point sacrificed in this way heals 1 point of damage done to the dragon. Should a defender become gravely injured, his dragon can likewise sacrifice its own hit points to heal the defender. This ability can be used once per day, and an additional time per day at 10th level. Regardless of whether the defender or dragon uses the ability, each use counts against the total number of times per day it can be used.

Dragon Companion Base Form

Each dragon companion has the same base form, regardless of subtype. However, each dragon companion gains specific abilities according to their dragon type and subtype.

Starting Statistics

Size Medium; Senses darkvision 120 ft., low-light vision (4x), blind sense 60 ft.; Speed 30 ft., fly 40 ft. (good); AC +6 natural armor; Saves Fort (good), Ref (good), Will (good); Attack bite (1d6), 2 claws (1d4/1d4); Ability Scores Str 15, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 12; Special Abilities breath weapon (60-foot line or 30-foot cone), energy resistance 10.

Basic Advancement

At dragon companion gains the following advancement adjustments at the indicated level.

8th-Level Advancement: Size Large; Speed +10 feet to all modes, fly maneuverability worsens to (average); Attack bite (1d8), 2 claws (1d6/1d6), 2 wings (1d4/1d4); Ability Scores +8 Str, +4 Con, –2 Dex; Special Abilities breath weapon (80-foot line or 40–foot cone) DR 5/magic, energy resistance 20, frightful presence.

16th-Level Advancement: Size Huge; Speed additional +10 feet to all modes, fly maneuverability worsens to (poor); Attack bite (2d6), 2 claws (1d8/1d8), 2 wings (1d6/1d6), tail slap (1d8); Ability Scores +8 Str, +4 Con, –2 Dex; Special Abilities DR 10/magic, energy immunity, spell resistance (11 + Hit Dice).

DRAGON COMPANIONS

A dragon defender can bond with any one of the following dragons.

Chromatic Dragons

Chromatic dragon companions gain the following abilities according to their subtype.

• Black: Alignment CE; Speed: swim 30 ft.; Breath Weapon (line of acid); Energy Resistance (acid); Dragon Powers wyrmling (water breathing), young (swamp stride, speak with reptiles 3/day), young adult (darkness 2/day), mature adult (corrupt water).

• Blue: Alignment LE; Speed: burrow 20 ft.; Breath Weapon (line of electricity); Energy Resistance (electricity); Dragon Powers wyrmling (desert thirst), young (ghost sound 3/day, sound imitation), young adult (minor image 1/day), mature adult (electricity aura, ventriloquism 3/day).

• Green: Alignment LE; Speed: swim 30 ft.; Breath Weapon (cone of acid); Energy Resistance (acid); Dragon Powers wyrmling (water breathing), young (entangle 3/day, woodland stride), young adult (charm person 2/day), mature adult (suggestion 1/day, trackless step).

• Red: Alignment CE; Breath Weapon (cone of fire); Energy Resistance (fire); Dragon Powers wyrmling (fire subtype, vulnerability to cold), young (detect magic 3/day, smoke vision), young adult (pyrotechnics 3/day), mature adult (fire aura, suggestion 1/day).

• White: Alignment CE; Speed: burrow 20 ft., swim 30 ft.; Breath Weapon (cone of cold); Energy Resistance (cold); Dragon Powers wyrmling (icewalking, cold subtype, vulnerability to fire), young (ice shape, snow vision), young adult (fog cloud 3/day, gust of wind 1/day), mature adult (cold aura).

Gemstone Dragons

Gemstone dragon companions gain the following abilities according to their subtype.

• Amethyst: Alignment N; Speed: burrow 20 ft., swim 30 ft.; Breath Weapon (line of force); Energy Resistance (force); Dragon Powers wyrmling (immunity to poison), young (invisibility 1/day, stomp 3/day), young adult (kinetic reverberation 2/day), mature adult (explosive gem 1/day).

• Diamond: Alignment CN; Speed: burrow 20 ft., swim 30 ft.; Breath Weapon (cone of light); Energy Resistance (cold); Dragon Powers wyrmling (immunity to blindness), young (blinding scales, charm person 3/day), young adult (color spray 2/day), mature adult (diamond shards 1/day).

• Emerald: Alignment LN; Speed: burrow 20 ft., swim 30 ft.; Breath Weapon (cone of sonic); Energy Resistance (sonic); Dragon Powers wyrmling (object reading 2/day), young (aerial expert, fog cloud 2/day), young adult (invisibility 2/day), mature adult (legend lore 1/day, sonic wave 1/day).

• Sapphire: Alignment LN; Speed: burrow 30 ft., swim 20 ft.; Breath Weapon (cone of sonic); Energy Resistance (electricity); Dragon Powers wyrmling (spider climb 3/day), young (earth glide 1/day, skate 3/day), young adult (detect teleportation 3/day), mature adult (meld into stone 1/day, stone shape 1/day).

• Topaz: Alignment CN; Speed: burrow 20 ft., swim 30 ft.; Breath Weapon (cone of dehydration); Energy Resistance (cold); Dragon Powers wyrmling (water breathing), young (feather fall 2/day, water jet), young adult (fog cloud 2/day), mature adult (control water 1/day).

Imperial Dragons

Imperial dragon companions gain the following abilities according to their subtype.

• Forest: Alignment CE; Speed: burrow 20 ft., climb 30 ft.; Breath Weapon (line of piercing); Energy Resistance (none); Dragon Powers wyrmling (immunity to paralysis, poison, and sleep, woodland stride), young (pass without trace 3/day, sound imitation), young adult (entangle 2/day, frightful presence), mature adult (blight 1/day).

• Sea: Alignment CG; Speed: swim 60 ft.; Breath Weapon (cone of fire [steam]); Energy Resistance (electricity); Dragon Powers wyrmling (water breathing), young (create water 3/day, torrent breath), young adult (hydraulic push 3/day, unfettered swimmer), mature adult (call lightning 1/day).

• Sky: Alignment LG; Breath Weapon (cone of electricity); Energy Resistance (electricity); Dragon Powers wyrmling (born aloft), young (cloud sight, detect evil 3/day), young adult (feather fall 3/day), mature adult (gust of wind 2/day).

• Sovereign: Alignment N; Breath Weapon (cone of sonic); Energy Resistance (sonic); Dragon Powers wyrmling (dogmatic concordance), young (detect good/evil 3/day, violent retort), young adult (calm emotions 2/day), mature adult (tongues 1/day).

• Underworld: Alignment LE; Speed: burrow 20 ft.; Breath Weapon (cone of fire); Energy Resistance (fire); Dragon Powers wyrmling (adamantine claws), young (smoke vision, soften earth and stone 2/day), young adult (stone shape 2/day), mature adult (spike stones 1/day, underworld burrower).

Metallic Dragons

Metallic dragon companions gain the following abilities according to their subtype.

• Brass: Alignment CG; Speed: burrow 20 ft.; Breath Weapon (line of fire); Energy Resistance (fire); Dragon Powers wyrmling (fire subtype, sleep breath, vulnerability to cold), young (move sand, speak with animal 3/day), young adult (desert wind, endure elements 2/day), mature adult (suggestion 1/day).

• Bronze: Alignment LG; Speed: swim 30 ft.; Breath Weapon (line of electricity); Energy Resistance (electricity); Dragon Powers wyrmling (repulsion breath, water breathing), young (speak with animals 3/day), young adult (create food and water 3/day, wave mastery), mature adult (fog cloud 2/day, frightful presence).

• Copper: Alignment CG; Breath Weapon (line of acid); Energy Resistance (acid); Dragon Powers wyrmling (climb stone, slow breath), young (grease 3/day, uncanny dodge), young adult (hideous laughter 1/day, trap master), mature adult (stone shape 1/day).

• Gold: Alignment LG; Speed: swim 30 ft.; Breath Weapon (cone of fire); Energy Resistance (fire); Dragon Powers wyrmling (fire subtype, vulnerability to cold, weakening breath), young (detect evil 3/day, detect gems 1/day), young adult (bless 2/day), mature adult (daylight 1/day, frightful presence).

• Silver: Alignment LG; Breath Weapon (cone of cold); Energy Resistance (cold); Dragon Powers wyrmling (cold subtype, paralyzing breath, vulnerability to fire), young (cloudwalking, detect evil 3/day), young adult (feather fall 2/day, fog vision), mature adult (fog cloud 1/day, frightful presence).

Planar Dragons

Planar dragon companions gain the following abilities according to their subtype.

• Adamantine: Alignment NG; Breath Weapon (line of fire); Energy Resistance (fire); Dragon Powers wyrmling (adamantine touch, paralyzing breath), young (greater damage, Improved Sunder, mirror image 1/day), young adult (dimension door 1/day), mature adult (dispel evil 1/day, frightful presence).

• Anarchal: Alignment CN; Breath Weapon (line of energy; acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic, chosen each day); Energy Resistance (acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic); Dragon Powers wyrmling (confusion breath, immunity to compulsion), young (entropic shield 3/day, protection from law 2/day), young adult (chaos hammer 1/day), mature adult (dispel law 1/day, frightful presence).

• Arboreal: Alignment CG; Breath Weapon (cone of piercing); Energy Resistance (acid or sonic); Dragon Powers wyrmling (immunity to enchantments, speak with plants 3/day), young (pass without trace 2/day, trackless step, woodland stride), young adult (plant growth 1/day), mature adult (wall of thorns 1/day).

• Axial: Alignment LN; Breath Weapon (cone of force); Energy Resistance (acid or fire); Dragon Powers wyrmling (immunity to cold), young (arcane sight 1/day, immunity to disease and poison, true strike 2/day), young adult (magic circle against chaos 1/day), mature adult (constant vigilance, dispel chaos 1/day, frightful presence).

• Beast: Alignment CG; Speed: burrow 20 ft.; Breath Weapon (cone of cold or electricity); Energy Resistance (cold or fire); Dragon Powers wyrmling (jump 3/day, track), young (enlarge person/reduce person 2/day, gore attack), young adult (summon nature’s ally III 1/day), mature adult (dominate animal 1/day, frightful presence).

• Concordant: Alignment N; Breath Weapon (line of antithetical energy); Energy Resistance (acid or fire); Dragon Powers wyrmling (detect alignment 3/day, immunity to poison), young (invisibility 2/day, scrying 1/day, undetectable alignment), young adult (summon monster III 1/day,), mature adult (nondetection 1/day, true seeing 1/day).

• Hellstorm: Alignment LE; Breath Weapon (line of hellfire); Energy Resistance (fire); Dragon Powers wyrmling (fire subtype, firewalking, vulnerability to cold), young (charm person 3/day, infernal wounds), young adult (summon monster III [devils only] 1/day), mature adult (unhallow 1/day,).

• Radiant: Alignment LG; Breath Weapon (line of force); Energy Resistance (force); Dragon Powers wyrmling (immunity to blindness, radiant breath, see in darkness), young (burst of light 3/day, radiant aura), young adult (daylight 1/day), mature adult (searing light 1/day).

• Ruin: Alignment CE; Breath Weapon (cone of negative energy); Energy Resistance (cold or electricity); Dragon Powers wyrmling (aura of pain, immunity to confusion, disease, and poison), young (exhaustion breath, ray of enfeeblement 3/day), young adult (unshakable chill 2/day), mature adult (enervation 1/day, frightful presence).

Primal Dragons

Primal dragon companions gain the following abilities according to their subtype.

• Brine: Alignment LN; Speed: swim 30 ft.; Breath Weapon (line of acid); Energy Resistance (acid); Dragon Powers wyrmling (water breathing), young (obscuring mist 3/day, speak with animals [fish only] 3/day), young adult (water breathing 2/day), mature adult (control water 1/day, frightful presence).

• Cloud: Alignment CN; Speed: swim 30 ft.; Breath Weapon (cone of electricity); Energy Resistance (electricity); Dragon Powers wyrmling (mistvision), young (fog cloud 2/day, obscuring mist 3/day), young adult (spell resistance 11 + Hit Dice), mature adult (cloud form, solid fog 1/day).

• Crystal: Alignment CG; Speed: burrow 20 ft., climb 30 ft.; Breath Weapon (cone of sonic); Energy Resistance (sonic); Dragon Powers wyrmling (razor sharp), young (color spray 3/day, tremor sense 30 ft.), young adult (glitterdust 2/day), mature adult (rainbow pattern 1/day).

• Magma: Alignment CN; Breath Weapon (cone of fire); Energy Resistance (fire); Dragon Powers wyrmling (fire subtype, cold vulnerability), young (burning hands 3/day, superheated), young adult (scorching ray 2/day), mature adult (wall of fire 1/day).

• Umbral: Alignment CE; Breath Weapon (cone of negative energy); Energy Resistance (cold); Dragon Powers wyrmling (umbral scion), young (darkness 2/day, ghost bane), young adult (vampiric touch 1/day), mature adult (shadow breath, shadow walk 1/day)