Dungeons & Dragons Undead Dragon Miniature

An undead dragon in *Dungeons & Dragons* is a powerful and terrifying creature that has returned from death, usually through dark magic or necromantic rituals. Unlike living dragons, undead dragons retain many of their former physical traits, such as their massive size, fearsome claws, and devastating breath weapon, but their appearance becomes twisted and decayed, with rotting flesh, exposed bones, and glowing, malevolent eyes.

There are different types of undead dragons in *D&D*, with the most notable being the dracolich and the zombie dragon. A dracolich is an undead dragon that has willingly undergone a transformation into undeath, often in a bid for eternal life and greater power. These creatures retain all their intelligence, magic, and memories from life, making them formidable foes. A zombie dragon, on the other hand, is typically a dragon that has been reanimated by a necromancer or dark force. These dragons are mindless or controlled, lacking the cunning and magical abilities they had in life, but they are still dangerous due to their immense physical power.

Undead dragons often serve as the guardians of ancient tombs, liches’ lairs, or other cursed locations. They are motivated by hatred, vengeance, or the will of their dark masters. Encountering one is a rare and deadly event, as they combine the sheer strength of a dragon with the resilience and unnatural nature of undeath, making them incredibly difficult to destroy.