D&D: Renaming dragons with more interesting themes

I’m listening to Landmoor by Jeff Wheeler; there’s a Sinew Dragon in it.

Sinew Dragon was such a good name and far more imaginative than D&D’s chromatic and metallic dragons that I was inspired to try to rename the TTRPG titular creatures with more interesting themes.

D&D dragons renamed with a body part/anatomy theme

Chromatic Dragons;

• Black Dragons become Venomscale Dragons: “Venom” relates to their acid-breath and poisonous nature. “Scale” is a general reptilian anatomical feature. This emphasizes their toxic nature.
• Blue Dragons become Skyclaw Dragons: “Sky” connects to their desert habitat (often clear skies) and lightning breath. “Claw” represents their territorial and dominating nature, suggesting they grasp control.
• Green Dragons become Bilewyrm Dragons: “Bile” is associated with poison and corruption, fitting their manipulative nature and poisonous breath. “Wyrm” is an older word for dragon.
• Red Dragons become Heartfire Dragons: “Heart” symbolizes their intense greed and passion (which manifests as arrogance and anger). “Fire” directly relates to their breath weapon.
• White Dragons become Frostfang Dragons: “Frost” connects to their cold environment and breath weapon. “Fang” emphasizes their bestial, savage nature and predatory instincts.

Metallic Dragons;

• Brass Dragons become Whispertongue Dragons: “Whisper” reflects their love of conversation and riddles. “Tongue” is the anatomical feature directly involved in speech.
• Copper Dragons become Japehide Dragons: “Jape” means joke or trick, representing their prankster nature. “Hide” refers to their skin and suggests their tendency to be solitary and hidden.
• Bronze Dragons become Watchwing Dragons: “Watch” reflects their role as guardians and observers. “Wing” is a key anatomical feature of dragons and connects to their aerial abilities.
• Silver Dragons become Silversoul Dragons: “Soul” for kindness, compassion, and willingness to help. “Silver” is retained for its connection to their original name and colour.
• Gold Dragons become Crownfire Dragons: “Crown” symbolizes their majesty, wisdom, and high status among dragons. “Fire” relates to their powerful breath weapon and suggests their inner strength and dedication to good.

D&D dragons named after a weather theme

Chromatic Dragons;

• Black Dragons become Murk Dragons: Bogs and swamps are often associated with stagnant water, decay, and a generally unpleasant, murky environment. This reflects the Black Dragons’ association with acid, swamps, and their cunning, cruel nature.
• Blue Dragons become Storm Dragons: Lightning is a key component of storms, and storms often occur in arid environments like deserts (thunderstorms in deserts, dust storms). This maintains the Blue Dragons’ lightning breath weapon and desert association while emphasizing their territorial and dominating nature (storms are powerful and dominating forces).
• Green Dragons become Mist Dragons: Mists and fogs are sometimes illustrated as they creep through forests, suggesting an atmosphere of mystery and deception. This reflects the Green Dragons’ association with forests, poison (usually murky, like mist), and their deceptive, corrupting nature.
• Red Dragons become Sun Dragons: The sun is the source of intense heat and fire. Mountains are often closer to the sun and thus hotter. This keeps the Red Dragons’ fire breath and mountain habitat while emphasizing their arrogance and perceived superiority (the sun is the centre of our solar system).
• White Dragons become Blizzard Dragons: Blizzards are extreme cold weather events associated with arctic regions. This maintains the White Dragons’ cold breath and arctic habitat, emphasizing their savage and primal nature (blizzards are harsh and unforgiving).

Metallic Dragons;

• Brass Dragons become Zephyr Dragons: Zephyrs are gentle, warm breezes. This reflects the Brass Dragons’ talkative and curious nature and their preference for warm environments like deserts (where gentle breezes are welcome). They keep the connection to heat, although in a more gentle form.
• Copper Dragons become Chinook Dragons: Chinooks are warm, dry winds descending from the Rocky Mountains’ eastern slopes (and similar mountain ranges elsewhere). They can cause rapid temperature changes and are sometimes associated with unusual weather patterns. This reflects the Copper Dragons’ trickster nature and association with rocky hills/mountains, with the wind being mischievous. The association with acid is lost, but the changeability of the wind replaces it.
• Bronze Dragons become Tide Dragons: Tides are affected by weather patterns and are a constant force along coastlines. This maintains the Bronze Dragons’ coastal habitat and their role as guardians (like the constant ebb and flow of the tides). The lightning breath is still relevant as storms at sea produce lightning.
• Silver Dragons become Cloud Dragons: Clouds are associated with high mountains and can bring snow (cold) or rain (a form of paralysis in large quantities). This reflects the Silver Dragons’ mountain habitat, kindness (clouds bring rain, which is essential for life), and their association with the cold. The changing shapes of clouds also reflect their ability to take on human form.
• Gold Dragons become Aurora Dragons: Auroras (Northern/Southern Lights) are majestic and awe-inspiring phenomena in the upper atmosphere. This reflects the Gold Dragons’ majestic and wise nature, dedication to good (auroras are beautiful and natural phenomena), and tendency to live in secluded places (auroras are best seen away from light pollution).

D&D dragons re-themed with geography and terrain in mind

Chromatic Dragons;

• Black Dragons become Bog Dragons: “Bog” captures the swampy habitat and these dragons’ dark, murky nature.
• Blue Dragons become Dune Dragons: “Dune” directly relates to their desert environment and evokes images of shifting sands and vast, empty lands.
• Green Dragons become Grove Dragons: “Grove” refers to a small wood or forested area, which is appropriate for the dragons’ association with forests and their subtle, insidious nature.
• Red Dragons become Peak Dragons: “Peak” emphasizes their mountain lairs and sense of being at the top of the hierarchy.
• White Dragons become Glacier Dragons: “Glacier” links them to icy, arctic regions and their cold breath weapon.

Metallic Dragons;

• Brass Dragons become Mesa Dragons: “Mesa” refers to a flat-topped hill with steep sides, often found in arid regions. This reflects their desert habitat and less aggressive nature, as mesas are usually places of refuge.
• Copper Dragons become Canyon Dragons: “Canyon” is a name for a deep, narrow valley with steep sides, often rocky and mountainous. The name fits their preference for rocky terrain and their more solitary nature.
• Bronze Dragons become Coastline Dragons: “Coastline” directly relates to their habitat near the sea and their role as guardians of coastal areas.
• Silver Dragons become Cirque Dragons: A “cirque” is a bowl-shaped hollow at the head of a glacier, often high in mountains. This reflects their high-altitude lairs and their tendency to be removed from human affairs.
• Gold Dragons become Highland Dragons: “Highland” suggests a mountainous or elevated region suitable for the most majestic and powerful of the metallic dragons. It also evokes a sense of ancient, secluded places.

D&D dragons based on medieval weapons and armour

Chromatic Dragons;

• Black Dragons become Mangonel Dragons: A mangonel was a siege engine that hurled large projectiles. This reflects the Black Dragon’s destructive acid breath and their tendency to “launch” attacks from the murky depths of their swamps.
• Blue Dragons become Arbalest Dragons: An arbalest was a powerful crossbow with high accuracy. This suits the Blue Dragon’s precise lightning breath and their calculated, dominating nature.
• Green Dragons become Mace Dragons: A mace was a blunt, crushing weapon, often associated with poison or disease due to its ability to inflict gruesome wounds. This reflects the Green Dragon’s poisonous breath and corrupting influence.
• Red Dragons become Flamberge Dragons: A flamberge is a large, wavy-bladed sword known for its devastating cuts and fiery appearance. This mirrors the Red Dragon’s fiery breath and their overwhelming power and destructive tendencies.
• White Dragons become Ice Dart Dragons: An ice dart is a simple, sharp projectile made of ice. This reflects the White Dragon’s cold breath and their primal, direct, and brutal fighting style.

Metallic Dragons;

• Brass Dragons become Mail Dragons: Mail (chainmail) was a common and relatively flexible form of armour. This reflects the Brass Dragon’s adaptability and preference for conversation over confrontation, as mail offered some protection but allowed for movement and interaction.
• Copper Dragons become Scale Dragons: Scale armour consists of small metal plates sewn onto a backing. It was lighter than plate armour but still offered good protection. This reflects the Copper Dragon’s more solitary nature and use of tricks and agility, as scale armour allowed for greater mobility.
• Bronze Dragons become Breastplate Dragons: A breastplate is a crucial armour protecting vital organs. This reflects the Bronze Dragon’s role as a guardian, protector, and strong defence against evil.
• Silver Dragons become Gauntlet Dragons: Gauntlets protect the hands and allow for skilled manipulation. This reflects the Silver Dragon’s ability to shapeshift and interact with mortals and their helpful and often subtle interventions.
• Gold Dragons become Full Plate Dragons: Full plate armour was the most advanced and comprehensive form of medieval armour, offering excellent protection and signifying high status. This reflects the Gold Dragon’s immense power, wisdom, and status as the most powerful of the metallic dragons.

Creative Commons: Nature Dragon by LordHannu.