Dragonborn are not dragons, but they do resemble them in a way. Often tall in stature and powerful in build, the dragonborn species bear the colorful scales and magic breath of their namesakes, but lack the tails and wings of true dragons. Dragonborn hatch from eggs and burst into the world full of vigor, maturing quickly.
Dragonborn are all one species, but distinctions can be made between those with different colors of scales, which are an indicator of tangible differences in biology. Silver dragonborn are known to be able to breathe ice and favor living in the cold - mountains or tundra, when they can. Red dragonborn spit fire and enjoy the heat of deserts.
Despite these apparent vast differences, all dragonborn are able to interbreed with one another and produce viable offspring. It is common for dragonborn civilizations to act as a melting pot, and in our current age, few dragonborn separate one another by way of color. Infant dragonborn tend to take on a mixture of their parents' appearances; children of white and red dragonborn are often bright pink, for example. As a dragonborn ages their scales tend to dull and turn more like the color of their mother, though it is not unheard of for adult dragonborn to retain a few specks or streaks of their other parent's heritage especially as scars received in youth.
The true relationship between dragons and dragonborn is inscrutable. Throughout history some dragons have claimed clans of dragonborn as minions or subjects, but today no true dragon attests to a biological relationship. Some historians propose that perhaps dragons and dragonborn have a shared ancestor in the distant past, though certain scholars from both species have gone on record taking offense at the suggestion.
Dragonborn in the World
In Des Forabis, the highest population center of dragonborn is the desert nation Coterra. Centuries ago Coterra was a major superpower, but battles between clans of dragonborn eventually collapsed the country into ceaseless war. Eventually, the clan wars coalesced around two major families: Avein and Zoresh. The differences between dragonborn of different colors mattered not anymore; all that mattered is which clan one swore allegiance to. Finally, these wars were put to an end by a marriage between clans, and a new peace now holds.
Dragonborn Player Characters
As a dragonborn you are, in part, defined by your scales. Your appearance and your innate magical powers are intrinsically linked. Most dragonborn people aren't able to take advantage of these powers the way you are: your average red dragonborn might be able to withstand some hotter temperatures and sneeze puffs of smoke, but through training or talent you are able to exhale gouts of flame and take the full brunt of fiery attacks without sweat.
Whether or not there is any true connection between the two species, dragonborn of a particular type tend to resemble dragons of the same. Black-scaled dragonborn often bear sharply curved horns and spines that resemble bone. Silver-scaled dragonborns' heads and backs are decorated with a long, webbed frill.
As a Forabian dragonborn, you might be from Coterra, or from another land far removed from those drawn-out feuds, where many dragonborn live in smaller numbers among the other species of the world.
The vast majority of dragonborn are
chromatic (black, blue, green, red, white) or
metallic (brass, bronze, copper, gold, silver). Sometimes, in places of high or weird magic, or under the right stars, an ordinary dragonborn family gives birth to a
gem dragonborn child (amethyst, crystal, emerald, sapphire, topaz). Such births are exceedingly rare, and the glittering gem dragonborn almost always bear strange powers and unusual destiny. If you wish to play as a gem dragonborn, work with your DM to define the circumstances of your birth and what those might mean for you; otherwise, as a chromatic or metallic dragonborn, you're more likely to have a normal upbringing.
Dragonborn Traits
Ability Score Bonus. You gain a +2 to Strength and +1 to Charisma.
Age. Dragonborn mothers lay singular fertilized eggs after about 4 months of pregnancy, which then hatch about 7 months later. Dragonborn infants can walk hours after birth, and grow to full maturity in 15 years. Most dragonborn live to be about 80 years old.
Size. Your size is Medium. Most dragonborn are tall and sturdy, over 6 feet in height and 250 pounds in weight.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Draconic Ancestry. You bear chromatic or metallic scales, matching your mother's heritage. Or you may be an extremely rare gem dragonborn. Whether through training or talent, you are able to harness the magical powers matching your scales. Check the
Draconic Ancestry Table to determine the appropriate values for your
Breath Weapon and
Damage Resistance abilities. Your Ancestry also determines additional unique abilities below.
Breath Weapon. When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can replace one of your attacks with an exhalation of magical energy. Your draconic ancestry determines the size, shape, and damage type of the exhalation.
When you use your breath weapon, each creature in the area of the exhalation must make a saving throw, the type of which is determined by your draconic ancestry. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 1d10 damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 2d10 at 5th level, 3d10 at 11th level, and 4d10 at 17th level.
After you use your breath weapon, you can't use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
Damage Resistance. You have resistance to the damage type associated with your draconic ancestry.
Draconic Ancestry Table:
| Dragonborn |
Damage Type |
Breath Weapon |
| Amethyst |
Force |
15 ft. cone (STR save) |
| Black |
Acid |
5 by 30 ft. line (DEX save) |
| Blue |
Lightning |
5 by 30 ft. line (DEX save) |
| Brass |
Fire |
5 by 30 ft. line (DEX save) |
| Bronze |
Lightning |
5 by 30 ft. line (DEX save) |
| Copper |
Acid |
5 by 30 ft. line (DEX save) |
| Crystal |
Radiant |
15 ft. cone (CON save) |
| Emerald |
Psychic |
15 ft. cone (INT save) |
| Gold |
Fire |
15 ft. cone (DEX save) |
| Green |
Poison |
15 ft. cone (CON save) |
| Red |
Fire |
15 ft. cone (DEX save) |
| Sapphire |
Thunder |
15 ft. cone (CON save) |
| Silver |
Cold |
15 ft. cone (CON save) |
| Topaz |
Necrotic |
15 ft. cone (CON save) |
| White |
Cold |
15 ft. cone (CON save) |
Chromatic Dragonborn Traits
Chromatic Warding. Starting at 5th level, as an action, you can channel your draconic energy to protect yourself. For 1 minute, you become immune to the damage type associated with your Chromatic Ancestry. Once you use this trait, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest.
Metallic Dragonborn Traits
Metallic Breath Weapon. At 5th level, you gain a second breath weapon. When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can replace one of your attacks with a different type of exhalation than your usual elemental breath, using the same area of effect and Save DC. Whenever you use this trait, choose one:
Enervating Breath. Each creature in the area of effect must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or become incapacitated until the start of your next turn.
Repulsion Breath. Each creature in the area of effect must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be pushed 20 feet away from you and be knocked prone.
Gem Dragonborn Traits
Psionic Mind. You can send telepathic messages to any creature you can see within 30 feet of you. You don't need to share a language with the creature for it to understand these messages, but it must be able to understand at least one language to comprehend them.
Gem Flight. Starting at 5th level, you can use a bonus action to manifest your strongest telekinetic powers for 1 minute. For the duration, you gain a flying speed equal to your walking speed and can hover. Once you use this trait, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest.
