Which edition had the best dragons?

[Sacrosanct]

1e. Not just because the art, but because it was when dragons could be used throughout the entire campaign life based on the age rating system. You could have a relatively low level party take on a young dragon, and an ancient dragon of the same type would be a tough challenge for a high level party (high level in AD&D being 9-12th level). As mentioned, an ancient dragon's breath weapon would take out most equal level PCs, even if they made their Saving throw.

 

[DarkCrisis]

I recall in a game I ran the heroes fought a dragon inside a large cavern. They obliterated it.

In another I had them fight one outside... where it could fly. Casualties were high before they brought it down.

 

[Zaukrie]

As much as I think 5e has watered down monsters.....lair and legendary actions are awesome additions to the game. It is also possible I published something on DMsGuild to make dragons more dangerous.......

1e and 2e dragons were crazy dangerous, IMO, since characters died much easier than 4e or 5e characters.

 

[Aldarc]

4e for many of the aforementioned reasons that others have said.

 

[Jacob Lewis]

For the benefit of those who skipped 4th edition, this is how dragons looked by the time Essentials rolled out. You can see the pieces that carried over into what are now Legendary and Lair Actions in 5th edition.

 

[darkwillow]

I never played 4e so that is quite interesting evolution. While I like the trigger, the fact that it is only using the tail under that scenario seems off.

 

[Zaukrie]

I never played 4e so that is quite interesting evolution. While I like the trigger, the fact that it is only using the tail under that scenario seems off.

that's mostly flavor, though. Could just as easily be claw or bite or wing.

 

[darkwillow]

that's mostly flavor, though. Could just as easily be claw or bite or wing.

I think the word "flavor" is the most of overused word since 2e

If the dragon is hitting you 3 squares away making it a claw doesn't make sense without a lot of justification (dragon saw you leaving, pounced over to your position, hit you with one claw, then returned to its original position, without skipping a beat). In any case a claw or a bite would be different damage.

Tail makes sense but not having a tail sweep the ground and hit people at the start of a melee fight or at any time during the fight makes me a little sad.

Anyway my point is that they really improved it for 5e.

 

[Jacob Lewis]

Tail makes sense but not having a tail sweep the ground and hit people at the start of a melee fight or at any time during the fight makes me a little sad.

That's because dragons in 4e were designed to be uniquely different from one another. Plus, its easy to lift specific actions or traits from one to another. Behold

 

[darkwillow]

That's because dragons in 4e were designed to be uniquely different from one another. Plus, its easy to lift specific actions or traits from one to another. Behold

I see, thats cool