Bahamut 5e

The lore that surrounds Dungeons & Dragons is expansive, to say the least. Stories, poems, historical accounts, and hidden tombs of knowledge connect the DnD multiverse. You could spend hours reading through lore before you ever sit down at a table. There are tales of warlords and knights, abominations and dragons. 

One of the oldest and most wildly known of the dragons is the mighty Bahamut, the Dragon God of Justice. Bahamut is also a creator entity in the world of DnD. He has been around since the beginning of time — Bahamat’s influence is undeniable. 

Who is Bahamut 5e?

Bahamut is a gargantuan lawful good platinum dragon deified in the Dragonian and Farunian pantheon. This massive dragon is said to be the only platinum dragon in existence. He is also the arch-rival of his sister Tiamat. 

Though the creation of Bahamut and Tiamat is unclear, they are both revered as powerful dragons in the celestial and material planes. 

Bahamut is also known to travel the mortal world using a variety of disguises and aliases. When in the mortal realm, Bahamut assumes the appearance of a human or demihuman surrounded by seven followers, the seven Golden Dragons from his court. These followers may be songbirds, dogs, or humans. 

Bahamut is lawful good, meaning he champions righteousness. Gold Dragons are drawn to his court because of his dedication to justice. All good dragons and creatures revere Bahamut because of his integrity. 

Personality 

Unlike other dragons, Bahamut is not extremely covetous of treasure. Instead, he uses his wealth and power to help those in need. However, he does keep a hoard of treasure in his palace and will punish those who attempt to take it. Bahamut is more charitable with his treasure.

Bahamut is compassionate and abhorrent to evil. Bahamut believes in punishment for even the slightest evil actions. Bahamut is not a violent or angry dragon. He would rather polymorph the guilty instead of killing them. He proclaims himself to be a protector of justice and depose not wish to inflict unnecessary violence. Bahamut is more of a diplomat than a warlord.

Overall, Bahamut prefers to talk with his opponents rather than battle them. He has impeccable persuasion and diplomatic skills. He can speak with even the most unruly of characters. 

Despite his preference for negotiation, Bahamut is a fearsome fighter. He possesses all of the abilities of natural dragons and some unique ones. Bahamut can channel arcane and divine powers to combat almost all creatures successfully. 

History of Bahamut 5e

Bahamut has been with DnD since the beginning. He first appears in Greyhawk, a supplementary rulebook for the original DnD publication. Greyhawk describes Bahamut as the Dragon King or Platinum Dragon. 

The 1977 Monster Manual gives the Platinum Dragon the name Bahamut. The publications Deities and Demigods (1980) and Manuel of the Planes (1987) explain Bahamut’s backstory and status as a deity. 

In the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Second Edition, Bahamut appears in several campaign settings. He is a good dragon of celestial origins.

The 4th edition of Dungeons & Dragons officially names Bahamut as a core god of justice. The 4th edition also describes Bahamut as a patron of lawful good Paladins and Clerics. He has appeared in almost every official setting in DnD since his inception.

Legend of Bahamut 5e DnD

Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons provides the most information regarding Bahamut, his origins, and the creation of the First World. Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything is the first sourcebook to describe The First World. Tasha’s Cauldron mentions the story of the First World as part of the origin story for the DnD multiverse. 

Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons expanded on the ideas in Tasha’s Cauldron. Fizban’s Treasury provides more detail on the creation and destruction of the First World and its impact on the DnD multiverse. Players can read “Elegy of the First World” in Fizban’s Treasury and his explanation. 

First World

At the beginning of time, brother and sister, Bahamut and Tiamat created the First World. Their cooperative effort made the Material Plane from Elemental Chaos. Bahamut formed the mountains and rivers, while Tiamat brought color to the world. 

Tiamat and Bahamut then created the ruby dragon Sardior. Sadidor then aided his creators in shaping the First World. They breathed life into other dragons, metallic and chromatic alike.

Then outsiders came to the First World. These outsiders were powerful in magic and supported by legions of followers. In battle, these outsiders became conquerors of the First World. Bahamut was banished. The victors denied Tiamat the dignity of dying in battle and imprisoned her in darkness. Sardior hid in the middle of the universe. 

Once they had conquered creation, the outsider gods seeded the realms with their followers. Elves went to the forest, Dwarves to the mountains. Orcs and Lizardfolk found their homes, and Humans were allowed to roam throughout creation. 

Banished, Bahamut traveled through the mortal plane, learning all he could about the outsider gods and the creatures who worshiped them. Eventually, he made peace with the outsider gods and their children. Bahamut became revered as a god in his own right, honored as the “Platinum Paladin.”

While Bahamut roamed the mortal plane, Tiamat also escaped her imprisonment. She called upon her followers to rise against the usurpers of the First World. In mourning for what she had lost, Tiamat embarked on a mission of vengeance. She used her eggs to create terrible entities to aid her henchmen in their tasks. 

The battle fractured Sardior’s mind into a thousand pieces, and he never returned.

The “Elegy for the First World” describes the First World’s birth and its destruction. Its destruction, much like the mind of Sardior, fractured and bent into what is known as the Material Plane in DnD 5e. 

Dragonfall War

The Dragonfall War was a conflict that occurred between the followers of Bahamut and the followers of Tiamat. The war began when some of Bahamut’s followers slew Tiamat’s wyrm-general Nagamat. Tiamat retaliated by creating all kinds of dragon-like abominations known as the Spawn of Tiamat. 

To combat the Spawn, Bahamut created the Dragonborn. During Bahamat’s exile, he traveled the mortal plane and learned about the new gods and those who worshiped them. Bahamut was able to craft a following of his own. When the Dragonfall War broke out, Bahamut allowed his followers to become Dragonborn and act as his knights. Because of this, many Dragonborn worship Bahamut as their creator god. 

Bahamut and Tiamat had always been rivals. Most accounts describe how Tiamat and Bahamut created the First World together. They could put their rivalry to good use until tensions boiled over into the Dragonfall War. Followers of both Tiamat and Bahamut still regard each other with apprehension. There are rumors that another battle between the two dragon gods is drawing close. 

Return of Bahamut

Initially weakened by the war with Tiamat, Bahamut wandered the mortal world again. He did his best to bring justice and right wrongs wherever he could. He took on a few different human forms. As word of his good deeds spread, the residents of the mortal world began to revere Bahamut’s aliases as legends.

As these legends grew, Bahamut recruited a group of loyal followers. One day, a group of adventurers discovered the sacred tree gem. This gem restored Bahamut’s name and allowed his followers to renew his worship. 

The more individuals worshiped Bahamut, the more powerful he became. He regained the power he had lost after the Dragonfall War. After helping to save the lives of Torm and Tyr, the gods granted Bahamut a spot in the Faerunian pantheon. 

Bahamut now resides in the Seven Heavens of Mount Celestia. He continues to rally his followers to the path of justice and prepares for a battle between himself and his sister Tiamat.

Bahamut 5e Stats

According to Fizban, Bahamut is gargantuan in size in physical dragon form. He has an AC of 23 with his natural armor. He has 585 hit points and a moving speed of 60ft. Bahamut is immune to acid, cold, fire, lightning, radiant damage, and non-magical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage. He cannot be charmed, deafened, frightened, paralyzed, or stunned. Bahamut has true sight up to 120ft and passive perception of 28. All of this places Bahamut at a challenge rating (CR) of 30.

However, even if Bahamut loses all his hit points, he has several features that ensure his virtual immortality. 

Bahamut 5e Features

Bahamut has the feature Legendary Resistance. Legendary Resistance means if he fails a saving throw, he can choose not to fail. He can do this up to five times per long rest.

Additionally, Bahamut has Platinum Brilliance. If Bahamut ever reaches zero hit points, he automatically resets to 500 hit points. He recharges his Breath Weapon and regains any expended Legendary Resistance. 

That’s not all! Bahamut can also use one of his Mythic Actions for one hour after using Platinum Brilliance, and he can award his challengers an additional 155,000 XP. Bahamut pretty much cannot die and if you do manage to knock him down to zero, he’ll reward you with a participation trophy… though, 155,000 XP is still pretty good. 

Bahamut 5e Actions

Because Bahamut is a badass dragon god, he has a bunch of attacks and actions. This Platinum Dragon isn’t just formidable. He also packs a massive punch. 

Actions

Multiattack: Bahamhut can make one Bite attack, one Claw attack, and one Tail attack per turn.

Bite: This attack is +19 to hit with a reach of 20ft. On a hit, which he will make, the target takes 2d10+10 piercing damage plus 4d10 force damage. 

Claw: This attack also has +19 to hit with a 15ft reach. On a hit, the target takes 2d10 slashing damage. If the target is Huge or smaller, it will be grappled, DC 20. Luckily for the party, Bahamut can only grapple one target in this way at a time. 

Tail: This attack can also hit one target within 15ft. Bahamut gets an attack bonus of +19. On a hit, the target takes 2d10 + 10 slashing damage. If the target is a creature, it must make an STR saving throw or become prone, DC 27.

Breath Weapons: Bahamut has two fantastic Breath Weapon options to choose from:

• Exhalting Breath: Bahamut exhales the healing wind of Mount Celestia in a 30-foot cone. Any creature to Bahamut’s choosing regains 13d10 hp, and creatures that have been dead for less than an hour return to life with all their hp.

• Platinum Breath: Bahamut breathes platinum radiation, and all creatures within the 300ft cone must make a DEX saving throw, DC 26. On a failed save, the creature takes 12d10 and half as much if they somehow roll a successful save.  

Bonus Actions

Change Shape: Bahamut can turn into anything he chooses, humanoid or beast. He retains all of his stats except for size. He returns to his original form if reduced to 0 HP or uses another bonus action to change back. 

Legendary Actions

At the end of another creature’s turn, Bahamut can use a Legendary action. He has 3 options but can only use one at a time. 

Attack: Bahamut can make one Tail or Claw attack.

Furious Bite (costs 2 actions): Bahamut makes a Bite attack. The target must make a DC 27 WIS saving throw or be frightened until the end of its next turn.

Mythic Actions

Bahamut can use Mythic Actions as Legendary Actions if he has used Platinum Brilliance in the last hour. 

Celestial Shield: Bahamut manifests seven spectral golden dragons that protect him. He gains 77 temporary hit points. 

Celestial Lances: Bahamut conjures four massive lances that descend and slam into the ground in four distinct points within 150ft of Bahamut. Any creature within 20ft of a Lance must make DEX saving thrown, DC 27. When they fail, they take 7d6 force damage and half as much if they make the best roll ever. 

How to Use Bahamut in a Campaign

In most campaigns, Bahamut will be an NPC unless you run a campaign where every player is a legendary character or lesser deity. That type of campaign could work if done well. The party could roam the realms meddling in the lives of mortals, like a fantasy version of the Sims. 

However, I will be discussing how to use Bahumut as a DM. Bahamut has a ton of lore to work with. Adding the Dragon God of Justice might be a great way to give purpose to your party or teach them a lesson. 

Role-Playing

Since Bahamut can easily change his form, it is easy to introduce him to your party in most situations. There are a few established forms of Bahamut. In the game, Bahamut will most likely take the form of a humanoid because his proper form is a bit too awesome.

The DM can place Bahamut in a seemingly ordinary situation and encourage the players to interact with him. He could give them a quest or preach about the path of righteousness. In human form, Bahamut can gain the party’s trust and set them on a quest that will lead them to glory. 

If your party is full of murder hobos and they decide to attack or rob him, there would be severe consequences. 

Combat

Bahamut takes justice seriously, so they will feel his wrath if the party attempts to transgress against him. Luckily, Bahamut is a lawful good creature and can bring the dead back to life with his Exhalting Breath. 

If the party does enter into battle with Bahamut, it will be easy to bring them back. Bahamut will probably give them a lecture and send them on their way. 

In other situations, players will most likely fight with or against Bahamut in a large group. The party may join the side of Bahamut or Tiamat during a battle between the dragon siblings. It would be a lot of work, but a full-scale battle of the dragon’s gods would be an incredible final battle for your campaign. 

Bahamut 5e FAQs