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This thread, the fourth in a series, is to list the summoning options of the new Summon X spells in the Bestiary and discuss their relative merits. This time, Summon Dragon, available only to Arcane tradition casters.
Summon Dragon(Level 5+):
Level 5: River Drake(3), Flame Drake(5)
Level 6: Jungle Drake(6), Wyvern(6), Young White Dragon(6), Frost Drake(7), Young Black Dragon(7), Young Brass Dragon(7)
Level 7: Desert Drake(8), Young Copper Dragon(8), Young Green Dragon(8), Dragon Turtle(9), Young Blue Dragon(9), Young Bronze Dragon(9)
Level 8: Adult White Dragon(10), Young Red Dragon(10), Young Silver Dragon(10), Adult Black Dragon(11), Adult Brass Dragon(11), Young Gold Dragon(11)
Level 9: Adult Copper Dragon(12), Adult Green Dragon(12), Adult Blue Dragon(13), Adult Bronze Dragon(13)
Level 10: Adult Red Dragon(14), Adult Silver Dragon(14), Adult Gold Dragon(15)
Generally we're looking at a two action ability to take three attacks (draconic frenzy) for all of these and some form of breath weapon, which is going to have bad DCs for your level. The drakes also have a fast movement ability, which you don't care about.
I'm only going to list breath weapons and any unique call outs. They're large unless I say otherwise. Drake breath recharges in 1d6 rounds, dragons in 1d4. All dragons recharge their breath on a crit strike.
I'm assuming no spellcasting on dragons except innate spells.
Spell Level 5 options
River Drake(3): 4d6 acid 10' burst, persistent and speed reduction on a fail.
Flame Drake(5): 6d6 fire 20' burst
Spell Level 6 options
Jungle Drake(6): Poison 1d6 enfeeble 1 10' burst (but reflex then fortitude), also has a poison bite and grab plus drag
Wyvern(6): A very nasty poison bite! With a quite low DC. Also can dive bomb people with some effects, but you have to burn some moves to set it up, and it'll probably miss.
Young White Dragon(6): 7d6 cold 30' cone, ground slam to knock people prone
Frost Drake(7): 8d6 cold 20' burst, difficult terrain
Young Black Dragon(7):8d6 acid 60' line
Young Brass Dragon(7): 8d6 fire 60' line
Spell Level 7 options
Desert Drake(8): 9d6 electricity 15' burst plus a rider that is bad for you
Young Copper Dragon(8): 8d6 acid 60' line or slowing gas
Young Green Dragon(8): 96d poison 40' cone
Dragon Turtle(9): Huge, 10d6 fire 50' cone (works under water), one action capsize on smaller boats
Young Blue Dragon(9): 5d12 electricity 80' line, can create water
Young Bronze Dragon(9): 6d12 electricity 60' line or repulsion gas, can double water speed of nearby allies
Spell Level 8 options
Adult White Dragon(10): 11d6 cold 40' cone, obscuring mist and gust of wind at will
Young Red Dragon(10): 11d6 fire 40' cone
Young Silver Dragon(10): 10d6 cold 30' cone or paralyzing gas, detect alignment (evil)
Adult Black Dragon(11): 12d6 acid 80' line, corrupt water, darkness innate spell
Adult Brass Dragon(11): 12d6 fire 80' line, special gust of wind in a cone with a blind effect
Young Gold Dragon(11): 11d6 fire 30' cone or weakening gas, detect alignment (evil) and locate object (gems)
Spell Level 9 options
Adult Copper Dragon(12): 13d6 acid 80' line, stone shape and at will hideous laughter and grease spells
Adult Green Dragon(12): Huge, 13d6 poison 50' cone, suggestion and entanglex2 spells
Adult Blue Dragon(13): Huge, 9d12 electricity 100' line, illusory creature(6), illusory object(6). Unless the inability for summoned things to "create things of value" includes a permanent spell, this can create an unlimited duration illusory object.
Adult Bronze Dragon(13): Huge, 8d12 electricity 80' line or repulsion gas, water speed boost to allies
Spell Level 10 options
Adult Red Dragon(14): Huge, 15d6 fire 50' cone, suggestion spell
Adult Silver Dragon(14): Huge, 15d6 cold 40' cone or weakening gas, detect alignment (evil)
Adult Gold Dragon(15): Huge, 15d6 fire 40' cone and weakening gas, sunburst, locate object (gems), and detect alignment (evil)
Conclusion: So far this is the best summon spell I've reviewed with the most options. Even though summons at spell levels 5+ are pretty trash in direct combat due to the level discrepancy, the dragons are at least tough flesh walls with an elemental AOE that you can customize for any weaknesses you might be facing. The save DCs will be relatively low, but you might get 2-3 uses out of it.
Also note that the chromatic dragons have a few spells that could be useful, especially the Adult Blue, if you're willing to use a 9th level slot to backdoor access a permanent illusion that is normally a 5th level slot. The metallic dragons lack useful inherent spells, but have debuffing options on their breath weapons.
and some form of breath weapon, which is going to have bad DCs for your level.
Thanks for the outline! Can you elaborate on the quoted, it's your Spell DC so why bad for your level?
Cheers
Edit sorry was thinking of Dragon Form
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Yeah, summons use their own DCs, which are quite a few levels behind you.