It should be no surprise that dragons are a big part of multidimensional adventure of Planescape.

But no matter the setting, when it comes to DnD, no creature represents the magic of the game better than dragons. Even for high-level players, dragons can pose a serious threat, and often represent a tactical challenge. Even 50 years after the release of DnD's first edition, dragons are still a major feature of many campaigns. That goes double when there's so much lore to be found about the most powerful of DnD's mighty dragons; this makes these formidable foes into well-rounded characters, and can even add to the immensity of their power.

12 Niv-Mizzet Is As Cunning As It Gets

From Guildmasters' Guide To Ravnica

Niv-Mizzet is essentially an import to Dungeons & Dragons, ing the game with other Magic: The Gathering content in Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica. As such, he's never been represented with the unbelievable stat blocks that were more common in older editions, but he's extremely tough by 5e standards with a Challenge Rating of 26.

Outside of his physical prowess, what makes Niv-Mizzet such a unique threat is how smart he is. With 30 Intelligence, he's likely to outwit the party at every turn, which can be devastating when they're already the underdogs. Throw in some serious spellcasting progress, and the typical threats that dragons pose might be the least of the party's worries.

11 Tchazzar Achieved Divinity In The Mortal Realm

From Forgotten Realms

Tchazzar isn't at the top of the food chain in of DnD dragons, serving underneath the dragon goddess Tiamat. In that capacity, however, Tchazzar took on a role that puts most to shame. Lording over the confederation of Chessenta, Tchazzar built himself up as an object of worship, which, combined with a divine spark from Tiamat, allowed him to actually take on the role of a god.

In DnD 3e, Tchazzar was given a challenge rating of 40, placing him among the most elite challenges in the game, although it's still not a number that fully reflects his divinity. If he ever returns to DnD, it may very well be in a narrative capacity rather than as a Monster Manual challenge, but it's safe to say he'll never be a dragon to be trifled with.

10 Arauthator Has Sworn Revenge Against All Spellcasters

From The Rise Of Tiamat For Forgotten Realms

Nicknamed the Old White Death, Arauthator is highly dangerous as his history of fighting mages and other dragons suggests. With 306 HP, a challenge rating of 15, and the ability to cast spells up to ninth level with a +8 bonus to hit, he's a force to be reckoned with. But in his natural element in the Sea of Ice, the white dragon is nigh-invulnerable, with the ability to scale walls of solid ice and reverse failed saving throws at will.

Arauthator's past is a tragic one, and explains his prickly attitude, especially when it comes to spellcasters. He was orphaned as a young dragon when his entire brood was slain by the mage Tulrun, and after that, he dedicated his life to revenge, not against Tulrun alone, but all mages. Arauthator's rampage continued until he met Tulrun himself. The two powerful casters engaged in peace talks, eventually agreeing that Arauthator would stop terrorizing the Silver Marches, but that Tulrun and his camp would let the dragon live in peace. However, their pact was short-lived and certainly won't prevent a DnD party from facing the dragon's wrath.

9 Klauth Is The Most Sinister Of D&D's Ancient Dragons

From Storm King's Thunder For Forgotten Realms

All ancient dragons are lethal, but none are more horrific than Klauth. While he appears to be an average red dragon, he is a far superior evil when compared to the rest of his ancient brethren. Also known as Old Snarl, he's widely recognized as one of the oldest dragons still alive in the Forgotten Realms setting - excluding those who cheated death by transforming into dracoliches. Klauth boasts a challenge rating of 25, spells up to level 14, and a Strength stat of 30 - that's a +10 bonus for those keeping score at home.

Klauth is most infamous for killing other ancient dragons that rival him, or otherwise threaten to sur his own power. As a result, he is without question the strongest of all the ancient dragons. He dwells in the mountains of the Klauthen Vale - so named for him - and can cause magma to erupt from the ground to deter intruders. With the might of a dragon and the wisdom of a wizard, Klauth is one of the most feared and brutal creatures in the DnD universe.

8 Daurgothoth Is The Most Powerful Of D&D's Dracoliches

From D&D 3.5e

Compared to other dracoliches, Daurgothoth stands at the pinnacle of undead dragons. To say he's power-hungry would be an understatement: Daurgothoth aims to become the most powerful being in Faerûn, and intends to do so by raising his very own army of living, breeding dracoliches. He also happens to be an archmage, which means the oft-rigid rules of spellcasting aren't so strict for him. Daurgothoth can bend magic to his will, resulting in some truly powerful - and, for the party, devastating - spells.

Daurgothoth debuted in D&D's revised third edition, commonly known as 3.5e, with a challenge rating of 50. However, he's yet to make an official appearance in D&D 5e. However, several homebrew versions of Daurgothoth attempt to adapt the all-powerful dracolich to 5e rules, and he's just as powerful there as he's ever been.

7 Capnolithyl Is A Vampiric Dragon

From 3.5e

Capnolithyl looked like a regular black drake, but was actually a vampiric smoke drake who could change his form at will. Also known as Brimstone, Capnolithyl is able to change into a cloud of embers and possesses a magical collar that allows him to leave his hoard, something even most vampiric dragons aren't normally able to do.

The mage Sammaster, who founded the Cult of the Dragon and created the first dragonliches, approached Capnolithyl to help with his initial experiments. He started by turning Capnolithyl into a vampire, but then decided on another course of research and simply discarded the dragon. In retaliation, Capnolithyl helped to destroy the mage and took over his citadel. Although Capnolithyl and vampiric dragons have yet to appear officially in 5e,Capnolithyl's transformational abilities and pure Chaotic Evil alignment make him one of the most destructive dragons in DnD.

6 Borys Is Half-Dragon, Half-Human

From The Dark Sun Setting For 2e & 4e

Native to the world of Athas, which only appears in the Dark Sun campaign setting for 2e and 4e, Borys is somewhat different from other of his race. Originally, he was the Sorcerer-King of the City of Doom, Ur Draxa, but the powerful figure became corrupted by his own lust for power.

This occurred when Borys began to fuel his powers by sacrificing the life force of other living creatures. His powers eventually grew to the point where he was able to transform himself into a dragon. By doing so, he not only obtained the power of the ancient dragons but also enhanced his own psionic abilities. Attacks are scarcely able to pierce his leathery skin, and he's so consumed with his own goals that he's likely to ignore them even if they do. Although he's one of the most powerful beings in his own world, Borys, along with the entire Dark Sun setting, has yet to appear in 5e.

5 Dregoth Is Borys' Terrible Successor

From The Dark Sun Setting For 2e & 4e

The demise of Borys in the Prism Pentad novel series brought a sense of hope and relief to the inhabitants of Athas. However, their hope was soon shattered following the return of the Undead-Dragon King Dregoth. According to the Dregoth Ascending trilogy, Dregoth spent over two millennia traveling across the multiverse thanks to the powers of the Planar Gate.

Over the course of Dregoth's travels, he discovered the presence of True Gods and studied their divine nature and power, seeking to claim it for himself. Upon his return, he had become so powerful that he was close to being considered the first true dragon god of Athas.

4 Bahamut Is A Draconic Deity

From All Editions Of D&D

Bahamut, also known as the Platinum Dragon or King of the Good Dragons, is a member of both the Draconic Pantheon and the Faerûnian Pantheon in the Forgotten Realms setting. In short, that means he's widely worshiped by dragons and humanoids both as the god of justice. Although his natural form is that of a platinum dragon, he'll often appear to humans as a wizened old man, sometimes in the garb of a typical peasant. He disdains combat and prefers to talk his enemies into surrender when possible - but don't mistake his pacifism for weakness.

Bahamut is incredibly powerful, and although he doesn't have an official stat block for 5e, his abilities are well described in the 2e - 4e sourcebooks entitled Draconomicon. He is able to buff his allies, can use several elemental breath attacks, and is immune to any and all spells cast below level five. To make matters worse, he can summon another dragon whenever he wishes, as an aspect of himself. With such overwhelming power, Bahamut is nothing short of a force of nature, showing why platinum dragons are one of the coolest dragons in D&D.

3 Tiamat Is Bahamut's Rival

From All Editions Of D&D

As the goddess of all evil dragons, Tiamat is the antithesis of her twin brother Bahamut. Tiamat is one of the most powerful bosses in Dungeons and Dragons and appears in several settings, but is best known for her role in the Forgotten Realms setting. She's also referenced extensively during the githyanki questline in Baldur's Gate 3, as lore has it that Tiamat has an indeterminate deal with the dragon-riding gith.

Tiamat has a challenge rating of 30, with 615 HP and an armor class of 25. Like most dragons, she has access to Legendary Actions, Innate Spellcasting, and low-level Magical Immunity. However, her multiple heads grant her various additional boons: she can take one reaction per turn instead of per round, and cast a wide variety of elemental breath attacks. Also, Tiamat technically can't be killed: if she ever drops to zero HP, her corporeal form will disappear, but her essence will persist and can eventually revive her physical body.