In the following table (hats off to you, Dmitri Mendeleev!), we've described many of the elemental dragons—some real to the game, some merely theoretical. Simply place your mouse pointer over each colored element to read each passage.
1
H
Hydrogen – While no known hydrogen dragons exist, the closest thing in the game might be either the gas spore… or, sadly, the gorbel.
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2
He
Helium – These dragons are known to float over parade routes, and possess comically high-pitched voices.
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3
Li |
4
Be |
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5
B |
6
C
Carbon – After slumbering for millennium within the ground, this creature can emerge as a diamond dragon. Fumes from its breath weapon have been thought to raise global temperatures.
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7
N |
8
O |
9
F |
10
Ne |
11
Na
Sodium – Its breath weapon raises blood pressure to unhealthy levels. Also extremely dangerous around water.
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12
Mg |
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13
Al
Aluminium – If there were ever a dragon minion, this fellow would be it.
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14
Si
Silicon – If we're stretching the definition, the desert-dwelling brown dragons (formerly sand dragons) are closest to silicon. Sadly, they do not transform into glass when attacked with fire (but we think they should).
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15
P |
16
S
Sulfur – While they do not have breath weapons, they can still emit deadly gas attacks.
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17
Cl
Chlorine – Green dragons once breathed a cloud of dangerous chlorine gas (or bertholite, as it's also known in warfare) and had the formal name "Draco Chlorinous Nauseous Respiratorus". A pure chlorine dragon, though? Possible hired by wealthy dungeon owners to swim in their magical pools and keep them clean.
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18
Ar |
19
K |
20
Ca |
21
Sc |
22
Ti
Titanium – This dragon has scales tougher than iron or steel dragons.
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23
V |
24
Cr
Chromium – Appeared back in Dragon Magazine #170. Originally "the most evil and greedy of all ferrous dragons. They seek treasure and are matched only by red dragons in their obsession for more." In battle, they breathed clouds of freezing mist and solid bolts of ice, and could cast their own version of the flesh to stone spell: flesh to crystal. In keeping with the true properties of this element, however, we feel chromium dragons should have instead been masters of magnetism, and with highly colored scales.
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25
Mn |
26
Fe
Iron – Appearing in Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons, "violent and ill-tempered, iron dragons and undoubtedly the most brutish and vicious of the metallic races." Despite elemental iron's habit of oxidizing, iron dragons do not rust as they age (but which would make a compelling look for ancient iron dragons) nor do they fear rust monsters.
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27
Co
Cobalt – Appearing in Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons, "they suffer no traveler to pass through their lands without bending knee and acknowledging their power, and anyone who refuses quickly comes to regret that error." Since cobalt was also once known as "kobold ore," we highly endorse a cobalt dragon/kobold army team-up.
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28
Ni
Nickel – Appeared back in Dragon Magazine #170. Originally the weakest of the metallic dragons (so 1 nickel dragon did not equal 5 copper dragons), they breathed a cloud of deadly vapors, occupied the same environs as black dragons, and caused mass irritation/itching/rash (seriously).
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29
Cu
Copper – Appearing in Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons, "charismatic, sly, and witty, copper dragons are by far the cleverest and most interesting of dragons—or so they say."
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30
Zn
Zinc – Thought to mate with copper dragons to form brass dragons, just as copper and tin dragons form bronze dragons (and gold and silver dragons form electrum dragons). Well, so we conjuncture.
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31
Ga |
32
Ge |
33
As
Arsenic – Clearly, the most venomous of dragons; their blood is sought after by assassins, poisoners, and creepy old aunts with a penchant for murder.
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34
Se |
35
Br |
36
Kr
Krypton – Its breath weapon reduces epic tier heroes to their whimpering 1st level selves.
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37
Rb |
38
Sr |
39
Y |
40
Zr
Zirconium – Often tries to pass itself off as some kind of astral diamond dragon. Their hoards are similarly over-valued.
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41
Nb |
42
Mo |
43
Tc |
44
Ru |
45
Rh |
46
Pd |
47
Ag
Silver – Appearing in Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons, "silver dragons embody all that is honorable about dragonkind."
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48
Cd
Cadmium – Occasionally pairs with a nickel dragon to create batteries of magical energy.
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49
In |
50
Sn |
51
Sb |
52
Te |
53
I |
54
Xe |
55
Cs |
56
Ba |
57
La |
72
Hf |
73
Ta |
74
W
Tungsten – Appeared back in Dragon Magazine #170. "Tungsten dragons are a no-nonsense species dedicated to the preservation and expansion of the forces of good. Unfortunately, tungsten dragons usually limit this preservation and expansion to their own domains." For whatever reason, tungsten dragons breathed a cone of blasting sand, and could cause spontaneous combustion in their opponents. In keeping with the true properties of this element, we'd suggest that tungsten dragons have a high resistance to fire, and with scales commonly used as filaments in dungeon explorers' lanterns.
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75
Re |
76
Os |
77
Ir |
78
Pt
Platinum – Appearing in Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons, "The god of honor, justice, and nobility, Bahamut is known as the Grandfather of Dragons or Lawbringer, but most often called the Platinum Dragon. Though the deity can appear in many forms, he is usually portrayed as a powerful dragon with platinum scales, the form he takes on when he goes to battle." Of course, this form deviates from his reference in Arabian mythology—that of a massive fish, holding up a bull with 4000 eyes, holding up a ruby mountain, holding up… well, that Bahamut holds up quite a bit, it turns out.
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79
Au
Gold – Appearing in Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons, "also called royal dragons or imperial dragons, gold dragons are the apex of an already unimaginably powerful race."
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80
Hg
Mercury – Appearing in Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons, "mercury dragons are a little bit crazy—but there's definitely a method to their madness."
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81
Tl |
82
Pb
Lead – the heaviest of dragons, they cannot be pulled, pushed, or shifted; and their aura draws enemies 1 square closer each round.
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83
Bi |
84
Po |
85
At |
86
Rn |
87
Fr |
88
Ra |
89
Ac |
104
Rf |
105
Db |
106
Sg |
107
Bh |
108
Hs |
109
Mt |
110
Uun |
111
Uuu |
112
Uub |
113
Uut |
114
Uuq |
115
Uup |
116
Uuh |
117
Uus |
118
Uuo |
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58
Ce |
59
Pr |
60
Nd |
61
Pm |
62
Sm |
63
Eu |
64
Gd |
65
Tb |
66
Dy |
67
Ho |
68
Er |
69
Tm |
70
Yb |
71
Lu |
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90
Th |
91
Pa |
92
U |
93
Np |
94
Pu
Plutonium – We've actually faced this dragon in Munchkin… the fiercest monster in its starter set.
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95
Am
Americium – While Tiamat has five heads, this creature has but three: that of a red, white, and blue dragon. Breathes explosive pyrotechnics, mainly for large celebratory displays.
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96
Cm |
97
Bk |
98
Cf
Californium – this dragon doesn't just have minions (his entourage) but also an agent… and a slight residuum habit.
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99
Es
Einsteinium – the wisest of dragons, with a crown of wildly jutting scales.
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100
Fm |
101
Md |
102
No |
103
Lr |
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Unfortunately, our table is far from complete. A few elements from the D&D universe do not appear within a standard periodic table: adamantine and orium are already dragons, but what of residuum? Then there are fictional elements from further afield: unobtainium, tibanna, quantonium—and from Magic: the Gathering: impervium, mizzium and necrogen.
If you have ideas for missing elements (what would a rutherfordium dragon possibly be like?), then by all means—send your thoughts to dndinsider@wizards.com or at the D&D Group page. After all, we'd love to complete the table.