Why did Dragons lose access to Cleric spells?


Pathfinder First Edition General Discussion


Going through the dragons in the first Bestiary I noticed nothing stating certain dragons having access to Cleric spells as arcane spells to add to their spells known. Which I find quite silly, considering how dragons are known, and have always in D&D/d20 system, been envious of the great magic they have learned to harness and manipulate. Being able to use Cleric spells as arcane spells was a great representation of that.

What was the designers' reasons for taking that away? I feel as if the lethality and utilities of a true dragon have been taken away from them. Has anyone chosen to keep them around via keeping to 3.5 edition version?

I also noticed they gave them all extra dragon abilities, like the Bronze's vortex and wave mastery. I'd love to incorporate that into my games, but now they outshine the dragons from my 3.5 books like Monsters of Faerun, Draconomicon, and dragons in Dragon Magazine issues.


A couple of dragons do still have cleric spells available to them. Its mentioned as a note on the table that gives the dragons caster level and special abilities. Its just been limited to gold and silver dragons.


You can also give them spells based on their theme. The umbral dragon has access to necromancy based divine spells.

Dark Archive

High level dragons can gain access to limited wish and wish, which amounts to the same thing as long as you sprinkle some diamonds into the dragon's horde.


probably because of sorcerers. When 3E came out, the sorcerer/dragon/kobold connection was established, probably as a way of getting more dragons into dungeons and dragons (in 4E of course they went the extra step with a humanoid dragon race). It is also, I believe, when Draconic became a language, THE language for arcane spellcraft.


I like red dragons having access to cleric spells, but there is an easy enough workaround. Dragons have a solid use magic device skill and treasure hoards, give the dragon a few wands.

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