Examples of lesser dragons include dragon turtles and wyverns. Lesser dragons do not improve in age categories and may lack all of the abilities of true dragons. True dragons are dragons which increase in power by age categories (wyrmling to great wyrm). The dragon type is broken down into several classifications. The third edition of D&D classifies dragon as a type of creature, simply defined as "a reptilelike creature, usually winged, with magical or unusual abilities". The "lung dragons" or spirit-dragons of Oriental Adventures are also true dragons. For example, mercury and steel dragons would seem to be metallic dragons, but in the Dungeons & Dragons world they are considered to be outside of the main family of metallic dragons because of various biological differences (though the book Dragons of Faerûn did list them as metallic dragons). In addition, there were other sub-species of true dragons that did not fit into the three main categories. ĪD&D 2nd edition and D&D 3rd edition divided true dragons further into three main categories: chromatic dragons, such as green and black dragons, which are evil- aligned metallic dragons, such as gold and silver dragons, which are good and neutral-aligned gem dragons, rare creatures that possess psionic abilities. For example, they had magic resistance, could no longer be subdued, and had physical attack forms besides just claws and bites. In the second edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons ( AD&D), dragons were completely reworked from their first edition counterparts, and were much more powerful. Some dragons (particularly metallic dragons) have two different kinds of breath, usually a lethal one (fire, ice, acid, electricity, etc.) and another that is typically non-lethal (paralysis, repulsion, confusion, etc.). Because D&D dragons are essentially monstrous creatures designed to antagonize player characters, the majority of dragons in D&D are evil by default. Typically, dragons do not vary widely in appearance or personality within a species, although exceptions are possible, especially in certain D&D settings, such as Eberron. Each species of dragon has a particular temperament associated with it, as well as a deeply rooted moral outlook derived from that temperament these factors underlie the personality and behavior of each individual dragon. A D&D dragon is protected by its scaly hide, the color of which is determined by the dragon's species, and which also offers a visual clue to the specific elemental nature of each species of dragon. Dragons are egg-layers, and most have sharp teeth, horns, and claws. Most dragons have the ability to breathe or expel one or more types of energy associated with their elemental affinity, as well as bearing some resistance to damage or injury from any other sources of such energy.
Essentially all species of dragon are said to be magical in nature, and in most species this nature is expressed as an affinity for some type of elemental power some dragon species are naturally able to cast magical spells, as well. Almost all species of dragon are highly intelligent (at least as intelligent as a human being) and are able to speak. Most species depicted have wings and are able to fly, and nearly all are quadrupedal. Except for the youngest dragons, they tend to be quite large-usually at least as big as a horse, and often much larger. All species appear to be generally reptilian or serpentine in their natural form. However, despite their variety, a number of traits are common to nearly all types of dragons. In the D&D universe, there are many different species of dragons. Dragon classification File:D&D red dragon1.jpg