How can I bind a draconic spirit?

Question

My wizard is fond of summoning or conjuring elementals and binding them using planar binding, keeping them around for a while. Even keeping them a day is awesome, because concentration is not required, although longer is better, at a 1000 a pop.

Whether the combination of summoning/conjuring and binding works isn't the question; the GM has ruled that it does. Likewise, the issue of concentration isn't the question; the GM has ruled in that regard also. (Hours of work on my part, they flip through a few items, and say "sure".)

The issue is . . . elementals are not enough. I need power, more power. Elementals are great, but they tend to have low saving throws, and it sucks having your elemental incapacitated or turned against you.

I want . . . a dragon.

Maybe an actual dragon might be a bit overkill, hopefully not literally. A draconic spirit would be great.

Specifically, I want to summon a draconic spirit and bind it, in a similar manner as planar binding, but planar binding won't work because it doesn't work on dragons. I've searched through the 5e compendium and not run across anything that really fits, but it's a big game and I'm hoping someone has an angle I haven't thought of.

I intend to research in-game, but our GM prefers if we bring solutions and information rather than coming at it empty-handed. The wizard is 14th level, with 15th looming over the horizon. If there's something that will work that is out of the wizard's reach, that's okay. I could conceivably beg, borrow, barter, or buy whatever it is. If there's any way at all, that opens the door. Okay, not any way at all, a way short of wish. That's a price too high.

For what it's worth, my wizard has already tried it -- the draconic spirit was happy enough to hang around for an hour, but planar binding did nothing (GM: does that work on dragons? Wizard: maybe? GM, looking at spell, "nope".)

In fact, I really am less interested in binding it than getting it to hang around more-or-less voluntarily, so if actual coercion weren't necessary that would be a bonus.

So, my question is this: how can I extend the stay of a summoned draconic spirit in a way similar to planar binding, recognizing that planar binding won't work on dragons?

Answer 1

Try True Polymorph and Glyph shenanigans

The light is not worth the candle here, but this is a way that might get you there (and if not I hope smart people will point out why not). You will need an archmage to help. The timing may be a bit iffy, but I think it works. Follow this four step procedure:

1. Prepare an upcast Glyph of Warding with your Summon Draconic Spirit Spell. The glyph has been errataed to not only cause hostile effects so you can summon a friendly spirit. There is no need to rely on a Magic Circle (which would not work on a dragon). Glyph states If the spell requires concentration, it lasts until the end of its full duration, so your spirit should stick around for the full hour without needing your concentration enabling you to cast the Binding. Set the Glyph to trigger when you open your mouth to start casting the Planar Binding or such.

2. Have the friendly archmage cast True Polymorph on the dragon, temporarily turning it into a Celestial, Elemental, Fiend, or Fey. It now is a valid target for Planar Binding. When they do so is dependent on how you rule when the target for a spell is checked. It seems that is unclear RAW, but likely at the end of the casting. So they have plenty of time, and can do that while you are halfway into casting the Binding. If it were checked at the beginning of casting, it might work if they Polymorph as a reaction to the dragon being summoned.

3. Cast your Planar Binding as you usually would on a summoned creature. It says If the creature was summoned or created by another spell, that spell's duration is extended to match the duration of this spell, so this should extend the summons if needed, too. At the end of the hour, you are binding the Fey formerly known as a Dragon. It is now bound for however long your Binding spell level indicates. (At least I see nothing in Planar Binding that says it would drop off if the creature is polymorphed into another creature type).

4. The archmage drops the Polymorph concentration. Your bound creature reverts back to being a Dragon. You pay the archmage their outrageous fee for their services and happily trundle off with your new Dragon pal in tow.

Answer 2

Subdue, don't Summon

My other answer was a technical treatise on how what you ask could be achieved using the 5e rules mechanics. I do however think that this is approaching this from the wrong perspective. You say:

I want . . . a dragon.

If that's really what you are after, let's be honest: a Draconic Spirit is a sorry excuse for an actual dragon. Even if you can get it to stick around.

This is an area where the original game was arguably cooler than 5e. In OD&D, there were actual rules on how to subdue a dragon, and make it follow you around. (Granted, they were broken in that it was apparently a lot easier to do that than to kill the dragon, when it should have been a lot more difficult as appropriate for the bonus of getting your very own dragon). In the original Greyhawk campaign, Rob Kuntz player character Robilar ended up with a pair of Green Dragons, a fact that impressed him enough to name his blog after the fact. Gary Gygax main player character Mordenkainen had a pair of Red Dragons named Porky and Gorky.

Now, 5e does not have actual rules for subduing dragons, and in fact makes it unlikely to subdue chromatic dragons with general comments such as:

They believe in their innate right to rule, and this belief is the cornerstone of every chromatic dragon's personality and worldview. Trying to humble a chromatic dragon is like trying to convince the wind to stop blowing. (MM, p. 86)

Also Fizban's entirely omits the subject. However, there is hope. The White Dragon specifically says:

Powerful creatures can sometimes gain a white dragon's obedience through a demonstration of physical or magical might. (MM p. 102)

So, it might be possible to travel to the icy north, and subdue a Young White Dragon with appropriate demonstrations of magical prowess that your character as a level 14 Wizard should be able to produce. You'll get a real dragon, with a proper breath weapon that deals 10d8 instead of a measly 2d6. And you'll get a constant source of worry, of course, that the chaotic evil and rather stupid dragon will behave, and your DM will have a constant source of entertainment for all involved.

This clearly is something that you need to work out by collaborating on it with your DM. And you will have to undertake actual adventures to achieve it. It may or may not fit your group or DM's style, but if it does, I think this is the better solution.

Answer 3

True Polymorph (Object to Creature) for real dragon friend

If it is a longer lasting dragon friend (without using concentration to keep it) that you want, then you only need True Polymorph and a large object that would be around the same size as a large creature.

1. Cast True Polymorph on the large object and turn it into a CR 9 (or below) young dragon (you can create any creature that is CR 9 or below via the spell text).
2. While concentrating on the spell talk to it, feed it, don't fight things or boss it around, and offer it things it likes for that whole hour until it is your best buddy (True Polymorph states, for the object to creature method: "If the spell becomes permanent, you no longer control the creature. It might remain friendly to you, depending on how you have treated it").
3. The hour ends and the spell is permanent, and you now have your own young dragon best friend and possible mount that does not require concentration.
4. Also, this way if it gets dispelled, drops to 0 hp, or dies, it's just that large object again and you cast the spell on it again doing steps 1-3 to get your buddy back. True Polymorph, by itself, is essentially free as well if you use a spell focus or component pouch.

If you do make one, and you are a good aligned character, I highly suggest making a CR 9 Young Silver Dragon, as they are described as "the friendliest and most social of the metallic dragons, silver dragons cheerfully assist good creatures in need." They also love hanging out with humanoids, but if you are an actual human they like them the most. Also, stuff they like is listed on the page in the link of their name above, along with their stats, etc. They basically like anything to do with history or interesting technologies. They are the nerdy dragons.

To address the other solution above that involves using planar binding there is a fault to it that would make it possibly not work that way. Planar binding states: "or created by another spell, that spell's duration is extended to match the duration of this spell", and when you use True Polymorph you are creating a creature via spell, so the duration of the True Polymorph with the creature being a fey, fiend, elemental, or celestial would be extended, not the Summon Draconic Spirit. Although this depends on your DM and how much of a stickler they are on wordings.

This other solution above could work, but it involves more spell slots, more time, more money, and only lasts 180 days at most while also being a bit risky lol. However, if you are a neutral or evil aligned character that often does bad things, then their option might be the only way to go.

Answer 4

True Polymorph for getting a real dragon

After some due consideration, here is yet another approach that combines the benefits of the other two: a technical method and getting an actual dragon.

1. Prepare an upcast Glyph of Warding with a Conjure Elemental spell (cast at level 6, 7 or 8, using the next higher slot for the glyph), as in this answer. I know of Invisible Stalker as an option for CR 6, of Elemental Myrmidons for CR 7, and Big Xorn (from DotMM) for CR 8 -- maybe not all of them will be available, but the Invisible Stalker should be.

2. Prepare another upcast Glyph of Warding using your level 9 slot and store a level 8 Planar Binding in it, triggering on the appearance of the elemental, and binding it to servitude for 180 days.

3. Once the elemental is bound, cast True Polymorph on it, and hold the concentration until the effect is permanent. Depending on the challenge rating of the elemental you summoned, you will be able to turn it into either a Young White Dragon (CR 6), a Young Black Dragon (CR 7), or a Young Green Dragon (CR 8).

What about this dragon?

• The traits of vanishing and being forced to be friendly to you imposed by the Conjure Elemental spell are not part of the creature's statistics that are replaced by True Polymorph, so they will endure for the duration of Planar Binding and serve you during this time

• The polymorphed creature "retains its alignment and personality", so it will hate you just as much as the original elemental, but like it not be able to do anything about it while under the effect of Planar Binding

This all will cost you at least two days, 2 level 9 slots, 1 level 8 slot, 1 level 7 slot and 1 level 6 slot, plus the material components. Not a cheap undertaking by any means.

You now have a dragon, which will serve you for 180 days, and then vanish.

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P.S. I expect from your comments that your DM might opt to shut this down, and there is enough ambiguity about the rules involved here to make this ruling territory even without invoking rule 0. The due diligence to obtain precendence on what is likely RAW is here, and I think this is as close to RAW as you can get.