Feats for dragons


Advice


I'm statting up a dragon the PCs in my game may encounter, and I've got lots of open feat slots. There was a 3rd party book I once saw that had lots of dragon-based feats such as feats to modify the dragon's attacks, breath weapon, and other draconic attributes, so I'm open to 3rd party stuff. Anyone have any recommendations?


Ooo I own that book! In the company of Dragons I believe it's called (correct me if that's not what your thinking of) Great book, really fun

Unfortunately, I'm at work right now and don't have access to it. Give me an hour or 2 and I can get back to you on it.

In the mean time, you should check out the bestiary. It has several monster feats that fit perfectly with dragons such as flyby attack and wingover. I'd consider them essential picks.

Liberty's Edge

If you are ok with 3.5 feats, no less valid than 3rd party, the draconomicon has tons of feats specifically for dragons. There are feats to improve your breath weapon, add rider effects (cold slows, fire sets you aflame). It also gives new spells for dragons and dragon tactics.

If you only want pathfinder, it's tough to go wrong with flyby. There is a supposing number of dragons that don't have it despite it being a staple of what dragons do, swoop down, incinerate, and fly away. Eldritch heritage could add a few cool powers if it fits the dragons theme, if you want to be silly with it take Eldritch heritage (dragon) and pick an opposed color. Surprise the players when the red dragon breaths ice.


Power Attack, Flyby Attack, Multiattack if it has wing or tail attacks, they're spellcasters so Extend Spell is nice for having buffs up ahead of time.

Seconded on looking at the dracomonicon. Metabreath feats are especially nasty, at the cost of requiring a longer recharge time after using them. But if you only plan for the breath weapon to be an opener anyway, well you get the idea.


Awesome Blow, because no one has yet mentioned it. probably my favorite monster feat.

Also, from in the company of dragons

SCULPT BREATH WEAPON
Three times per day as a free action you can modify your breath weapon by changing the area's shape to either a cylinder (10-foot, 30 feet high), a 40-foot cone, four 10-foot cubes, a ball (20-foot radius spread), or a 120-foot line. The effect can be centered anywhere in the area of its normal line or cone effect. The breath weapon works normally in all respects except for its shape. For example, a lightning bolt whose area is changed to a ball deals the same amount of damage, but affects a 20-foot-radius spread from anywhere along where it's line would normally be.

The book has other feats, but most of them are focused on the playable dragon race they have, and so aren't as useful.


To give you (more) fitting answers, knowing what's its color and age category and whether you want the dragon to be antagonistic or helpful would help (me).

Otherwise I'd recommend Flyby Attack, Hover, Snatch, Wingover and/or metamagic feats improving its spellcasting.

Ruyan.

Grand Lodge

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Typical Dragon Feats should be on ALL dragons IMHO:
Power Attack, Fly By Attack, Toughness, Multi-attack

Focus on Melee:
Improved Bullrush>Awesome Blow, Improved Natural Attack, Arcane Strike, Sunder, Greater Sunder

Focus on Breath weapon:
Ability Focus- Breath Weapon, Sculpt Breath Weapon

Focus on Fear/Intimidation Tactics:
Ability Focus-Frightful Presence, Scent of Fear, Cornugon Smash, Intimidating Prowess

Focus on Flight tactics:
Hover, Wingover, Snatch, Ability Focus- Breath Weapon

Acid Maw:
Ability Focus- Breath Weapon, Improved Natural Attack, (Drop multi-attack for Vital strike), Noxious Bite, Improved Vital strike.


Ten'shun the Tengu wrote:
Ooo I own that book! In the company of Dragons I believe it's called (correct me if that's not what your thinking of) Great book, really fun

I don't think this was the one; the book I saw was 100+ page hardcover with new dragon types such as Sin Dragons. I may get the PDF of the book you have, though, so thanks for mentioning it.

@Falcar - I didn't think of Eldritch Heritage; that could be interesting. I'll have to see if there's a bloodline that's appropriate.

@Fruian - Cornugon Smash and associated feats could be something as well, since this dragon has a huge Intimidate modifier.

Grand Lodge

Flyby attack, Power Attack, Improved Natural Attack(Bite),Vital Strike. Assuming the dragon can cast 1st level spells learn True Strike. Bite counts as a primary attack so power attack gets a bonus and you get to use 1.5 your STR bonus for Bite Damage

1-Cast True Strike and keep your distance.

2-Flyby Power Vital Strike Bite, Then Fly Away.

3-repeat


The original book about dragons was the Draconomicon from 3.0.

It has PrCs for dragons like the Bloodscaled Fury, stuff for PCs working with or against dragons (as mounts, familiars or foes), a lot of different dragons (elemental and planar family, undead variants like the vampiric dragon), and examples of how to customize your dragon.

Featwise there are monstrous feats (and who can take them, like druids), general, epic (reprint from the ELH) and meta-breath feats.

The 12 breath feats were brand-new then. The nastiest of them are maximize breath (does exactly what it says) and quicken breath (full attack plus AE). Depending on purpose - going nova, battlefield control or surprising the PCs - they can all be put to use. One of the PrCs can use their breath to spawn elementals instead doing damage, which was an interesting twist...but then one can put only so many dragons into a campaign.

The monstrous feats are for things like fly-by, snatch up PC with bite, swallow on next round while turning, and come back for the next appetizer.

I read that Paizo is making a dragon book too, so I am looking forward to that.

Grand Lodge

Vatras wrote:

The original book about dragons was the Draconomicon from 3.0.

It has PrCs for dragons like the Bloodscaled Fury, stuff for PCs working with or against dragons (as mounts, familiars or foes), a lot of different dragons (elemental and planar family, undead variants like the vampiric dragon), and examples of how to customize your dragon.

Featwise there are monstrous feats (and who can take them, like druids), general, epic (reprint from the ELH) and meta-breath feats.

The 12 breath feats were brand-new then. The nastiest of them are maximize breath (does exactly what it says) and quicken breath (full attack plus AE). Depending on purpose - going nova, battlefield control or surprising the PCs - they can all be put to use. One of the PrCs can use their breath to spawn elementals instead doing damage, which was an interesting twist...but then one can put only so many dragons into a campaign.

The monstrous feats are for things like fly-by, snatch up PC with bite, swallow on next round while turning, and come back for the next appetizer.

I read that Paizo is making a dragon book too, so I am looking forward to that.

People really love the FLy by..As do I

But not many people use Crush to its full extent. Heck most people do not even see the Crush ability. But flying by, Dispelling the freedom of movement from the cleric/wizard and sitting on him basically takes him completely out the fight. If you can get both Wizard and Cleric...bonus points...cause your size is big enough to pin both them down while you claw and maw the fighter to death without his healer getting him through the fight. Also dealing damage to the pinned targets with the crush.

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