Dungeons & Dragons Black Guard Drake Miniature

This is a highly detailed miniature of a Black Guard Drake.

This model was created by MZ4250 who makes amazingly accurate models of the Monster Manual creatures and provided by Commercial License.

A Black Guard Drake in Dungeons & Dragons is a fearsome draconic creature bred through dark rituals by cults devoted to Tiamat or other evil powers. These creatures are not naturally occurring dragons but corrupted spawn, often created by warping the eggs of chromatic dragons with necromantic or abyssal energies. The result is a large, heavily muscled drake with scales as black as pitch, eyes that glow with malevolence, and a presence that radiates malice and intimidation. Unlike true dragons, Black Guard Drakes lack wings, making them more akin to powerful, quadrupedal predators rather than airborne terrors. Their sheer physicality, however, more than compensates for this, as they are built for brutal close-quarters combat.

These drakes are typically used as guardians, enforcers, or war beasts by dark forces, including dragon cults, death knights, or powerful necromancers. Their loyalty is conditioned through pain, magic, or blood pacts rather than any true bond, making them dangerously aggressive and only barely controllable. They are particularly resistant to radiant damage and divine magic, a trait that reflects their defiance against the forces of good. Many are enhanced with magical armor plating or bone grafts, further reinforcing their role as living engines of war.

In combat, a Black Guard Drake lunges forward with claws and fangs, using its sheer strength to break enemy lines. Some variants possess a shadowy breath weapon or an aura of fear, though this varies by edition and source. They are often encountered in high-level campaigns as part of elite enemy forces or as the personal pets of powerful villains. Their presence usually signals not just physical danger, but also the involvement of dark, extraplanar powers or sinister plots. Their origins, methods of creation, and distinct features make them a grim and memorable addition to any D\&D campaign.

19.51mm tall at 32mm scale.