Fighting Against Flying Monsters in Dungeons and Dragons

In Dungeons and Dragons sometimes adventurers find themselves facing creatures that fight from the air. Fighting against flying monsters in Dungeons and Dragons is difficult. Or at least….it should be….. Of course the specific rules of combat against such creatures varies depending upon which edition of Dungeons and Dragons that you play.

In this article I am going to discuss the rules from AD&D 1st Edition and 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons. There are many creatures in every edition of Dungeons and Dragons that can fly. Many of these creatures are likely to prefer combat from above. After all…..they feel safer in the air. But are they really safer there? In a fantasy game like Dungeons and Dragons adventurers have access to magic. They can sometimes fly up to meet their enemies in the sky. If they cannot fly they may still be able to cast magical spells at their flying antagonists. Or they might be able to bring their opponents to the ground by magical means. The fighters will have missile weapons to fire in the event that the creatures will not stay grounded.

Androsphinxes do more than just ask riddles….they can also fly

Fighting Flying Dragons

A flying dragon is able to fully use it’s breath weapon the way it is meant to be used…from above….. The Dragon can stay away from those pesky dragon slaying swords and still bring the heat. They can also use their claws from above and rend their enemies.

For those on the ground fighting these creatures cover and concealment are essential to survival. As this kind of battle is likely to involve missile combat and spell casting it is important for the adventurers to stay clear of the dragon’s most fearsome weapon.

Dragons can do more than just breath fire

Spreading out would also be advisable. A group that is not bunched up might lose one or two people to a breath weapon attack. But they will still have the ability to fight on and take the beast down.

Obviously it helps if one is prepared to fight a specific type of dragon. But dragon encounters are frequently not planned events. More often than not a dragon swoops down on a target of opportunity and then the battle is on. It may see a tasty little caravan down below as it is flying in search of food or treasure. It may see a few horsemen and decide it needs a little snack.

To prepare for such an encounter adventurers should probably prepare the right spells for combat and have plenty of arrows and crossbow bolts. If they intend to subdue the dragon they might also want to have equipment ready for capturing the creature. Nets perhaps.

Fighting Other Creatures From Above

There are many types of flying creatures that one must look out for. Rocs, Gargyoles, Griffins and Wyverns are dangers from above. And there are many others. Some of these creatures are among the strongest and most dangerous beasts in the game. A Roc is so powerful that it can snatch an elephant and take it home for a quick lunch.

This bird is hungry

A Roc is like an enormous eagle. They have nests on high mountain ledges far from the ground. But they have eye sight that gives them an edge over their prey. They will often see enemies down below long before anyone below knows there is a threat present in the sky. A Roc will often have young in their nest that need feeding. A gnome or a halfling is perfect for feeding the kids. But sometimes they might settle for a pack animal instead.

Some flying creatures are known to perch on high places pretending to be nothing more than a statue. Gargoyles for instance are often seen on high buildings. Some of these Gargoyles are merely decorative ornaments that push water away from the building during rain. But sometimes they are something far more sinister.

Gargoyles can be a nasty foe

Gargoyles are frequently the minions of evil wizards and other villains. And sometimes they pretend to be statues. Gargoyles can be very patient. They can stay motionless while adventurers explore the area and then strike suddenly when the delvers are busy looting treasures. They also have multiple attacks. And this can make them quite dangerous.

Griffins are another frequently encountered combatant in the skies. They are also similar to eagles in appearance. But they are much smaller than the Roc and are far less dangerous. What does make them deadly, however, is that they are often encountered in packs. Where one or perhaps two Rocs might be encountered Griffins can be found in much larger groups.

A Griffin about to pounce on an enemy

The Griffin has a wide wing span that allows it to propel itself through the air and swoop down on prey or enemies raking them with it’s claws and impaling them with it’s beak. A single Griffin is not a terrible threat. A pack of them is.

Wyverns are another deadly enemy from above. Like the Griffin they often do not hunt alone. They have one additional and very deadly weapon. Their tail. The tail is poisonous and this poison can be deadly. In 1st edition poison was often save or die. In 5th edition this poison is less deadly for the Wyvern but it can still be quite damaging.

Fighting Against Flying Creatures in Dungeons and Dragons

Those fighting from below need to take steps to protect themselves. Concealment and cover were mentioned earlier. But keeping distance is sometimes advisable. The breath weapon of a dragon has a limited range. Granted…that range limit is not that short…..

Having ranged weapons and spells ready is essential. Unless you have the ability to fly yourself then you better let the damage do the flying for you. Attack spells that have the proper range are important. Bows and crossbows that can fire at a distance are good.

Flying Carpets can be useful for fighting in the air

Having access to flying spells and magic items is useful. The Fly spell is an important one for meeting the enemy in the air. Summoning flying creatures to aid you is another tactic. And of course…using a hold monster spell on a flying creature could have a devastating effect on them if it works. Gravity can do some serious damage to a creature that is above and suddenly drops hard to the ground.

Magic Items can turn the tide as well. Potions of flying and magic carpets can give the fighters a chance to get up close and personal with their flying enemies. Winged boots can also give this ability. A wand of paralyzation might be a useful weapon against a flying beast. A creature that can no longer use it’s wings is going to have a hard landing.

Specific Rules Involving Aerial Combat in Dungeons and Dragons

Unfortunately Dungeons and Dragons 5E does not discuss this subject at all in the Dungeon Masters Guide for 5th Edition. First Edition, however, went into great detail about the subject on pages 49-53 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide. The DMG goes into detail about the maneuverability of several creatures from the Monster Manual and puts them into specific classifications from A to D. And then it defines those classifications by what the flying creature can do while in the air.

The DMG also goes into detail about the ability of men to fly using various spells and magic items and the restrictions imposed upon them while doing so. Even flying mounts are discussed in terms of their combat maneuverability.

Flying Mounts

Specific methods of conducting aerial combat are defined on page 52 of the DMG. It offers two options:

  • At the beginning of each round the flyer moves in the direction that they were facing at the beginning of that round and any turn takes place at the end of that round by facing them in another direction
  • The alternate, and more accurate method, uses hex paper and allows arc turns through different hexes on the paper

In either method movement and attacks are simultaneous. Obviously initiative is still rolled to determine who acts first.

Look this guy in the eye while flying and you will drop like a rock….literally……

Missiles fired while in the air do so at penalties. At short range the penalty is -2 to hit. At medium range the penalty is -5 to hit. Long range targets will always be missed. One will only be able to fire this well while flying after months of practice. Without such practice one would hit no targets at all regardless of range. These penalties only apply while moving. If one is hovering or levitating they will suffer no penalties.

One other interesting point about this: even flying monsters such as Manticores take this penalty to hit if they are moving rather than hovering. It would be assumed that they would have the necessary practice at firing while moving but even they will not do it as well as they might if they were hovering or on the ground. Even a dragon using a breath weapon will not hit their targets as perfectly as they otherwise would from the ground. Targets of a flying dragon gain +2 to their saving throws.

The Coutl in flight

One other important note about flying creatures. Once they take damage equal to 50% of their hit points they must land. After 75% of their hit points have been lost they will be unable to safely land and may crash hard into the ground. However wing types vary. Membranous wings such as those of a succubus or dragon are different than feathered wings of a griffin. Feathered wings are not as easily damaged and thus creatures with them are only forced to land if they take even more damage. This amount is calculated by adding 50% hit points to the creature and then dividing the total by two.

As you can see…..First Edition expected adventurers would eventually desire to fight in the air at some point in their careers. Fifth Edition presumably does not have this expectation. Or perhaps the designers intend for the combat to be treated the same as any other.

The Shedu looks like a flying hippie but has great powers

Combat Against Aerial Creatures is Dangerous

Even if you can find a way to fly…..doing so has it’s own risks. For a person knocked off of their flying carpet is in serious trouble. A person whose potion of flying has run out is going to wish they stayed on the ground. Aerial creatures are used to fighting in the sky. Humans and humanoids are not. Engaging them in the air is dangerous business. And engaging from below can be equally dangerous. Avoiding these encounters entirely is often the best option. But sometimes there is no option to avoid fighting flying monsters in the sky in Dungeons and Dragons.

Meeting a Vrock in the sky is going to end badly for someone
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