Dragon Species Generator

Press New dragon for a species to draw: build, hide, head, breath, lair and habit.

Dragon Species Generator: 30 dragons

A rearing wingless serpent dragon balanced on two forelegs, with scales ridged like a fingerprint and long whiskers that trail like a catfish's. It breathes bubbles that drift and do not pop, lairs in a mine that was closed long ago and weaves nests for birds that never use them.

Padlock: keep a part. Arrows: change only that part.

Buildrearing wingless serpent dragon balanced on two forelegs
Hidescales ridged like a fingerprint
Headlong whiskers that trail like a catfish's
Breathbubbles that drift and do not pop
Lairin a mine that was closed long ago
Habitweaves nests for birds that never use them

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Dragon of the day

A rearing wingless serpent dragon balanced on two forelegs, with scales ridged like a fingerprint and long whiskers that trail like a catfish's. It breathes bubbles that drift and do not pop, lairs in a mine that was closed long ago and weaves nests for birds that never use them.
A short legless winged serpent dragon as thick as a drainpipe, with scales worn smooth on the belly from crawling and ram's horns curled tight against its cheeks. It breathes warm air that smells of fresh bread, lairs in a marsh where the ground cannot be trusted and hoards books it cannot read.
A long wingless dragon whose four legs barely reach the ground, with scales like candle wax that has run and small round ears set far back. It breathes dew that hangs on every web in the morning, lairs in a flooded quarry with cranes still standing and sings to the rooks as they come in to roost.
A knotted wingless serpent dragon on two long forelegs, with a hide banded like a wasp and fins where ears should be. It breathes a slow fall of snow with no two flakes alike, lairs in the vault of a bank that failed and lives on thistles and nettles.
A wingless river-length dragon on four short legs, with scales that darken toward the tail and a ruff of spines round its jaw. It breathes dew that hangs on every web in the morning, lairs under a harbour wall among the mooring chains and hoards spoons bent out of shape.
A wingless river-length dragon on four short legs, with paper-thin skin that shows its veins and a crest like a rooster's comb. It breathes a long low note that rattles cups, lairs in the crater of a quiet volcano and eats mushrooms it finds by smell.
A rearing wingless serpent dragon balanced on two forelegs, with scales as rough as tree bark and a hooked beak in place of teeth. It breathes a column of water like a garden hose, lairs between two leaning stones on a moor and guards a crossroads but lets everyone pass.
A stooped two-legged winged dragon the size of a wardrobe, with a hide like the rind of a melon and an underbite and two tusks. It breathes a ribbon of blue flame no wider than a pencil, lairs on a heath among the gorse and lives on thistles and nettles.
A wingless river-length dragon on four short legs, with a white tail tip and a white chin and a crown of backswept horns. It breathes a shimmer of heat with no flame, lairs between two leaning stones on a moor and hoards clocks, every one kept wound.
A long wingless four-legged dragon as thin as a silk scarf, with a hide banded like a wasp and a snout that wrinkles when it thinks. It breathes sparks that drift down like dandelion seeds, lairs beneath a mill wheel that still turns and eats river fish, bones and all.
A rearing wingless serpent dragon balanced on two forelegs, with scales like candle wax that has run and long straight horns laid flat along its neck. It breathes fire so pale it only shows in the dark, lairs in a circle it has flattened in a barley field and eats only windfall apples.
A whippet-thin four-legged winged dragon as long as a punt, with soot-black scales that swallow the light and sideburns of tufted fur. It breathes a cold that stiffens the washing on the line, lairs in the boiler room of a shut factory and swallows stones to help it digest.
A knuckle-walking two-legged winged dragon the size of a pony, with square studs in rows, flat scales between and a forked tongue that never stays in. It breathes fine sand that buries its own tracks, lairs in a crack too narrow for anything else and waits at every stream for someone to build a bridge.
A short legless winged serpent dragon as thick as a drainpipe, with scales like tiles from a bathhouse floor and a throat pouch it can puff up. It breathes a flurry of crisp brown leaves, lairs in a circle it has flattened in a barley field and hoards books it cannot read.
A two-armed wingless serpent dragon as long as a tram, with scales like oyster shell that are pearl underneath and wide horns like the handlebars of a bicycle. It breathes a glow that warms a room and scorches nothing, lairs in a boulder field where every stone looks alike and weaves nests for birds that never use them.
A wingless river-length dragon on four short legs, with freckled scales that darken on the shoulders and eyebrows as long as its horns. It breathes hailstones the size of peas, lairs under a hedge that has not been cut in a century and sees the shepherd home from far behind.
A broad-winged four-legged dragon as heavy as a bull, with soot-black scales that swallow the light and one fang that hangs outside its lip. It breathes sparks that drift down like dandelion seeds, lairs in a wood where the trees have grown round it and stretches its whole length like a cat getting up.
A hawk-sized two-legged winged dragon, with scales like coins dulled by handling and fins where ears should be. It breathes dust that makes old things look new, lairs in a hollow where bluebells grow thickest and catches moths out of the air at dusk.
A long wingless four-legged dragon the size of a market street, with a hide as wrinkled as an elephant's knee and heavy eyelids that make it look half asleep. It breathes ice that forms a bridge as it goes, lairs at the top of a canyon wall and hoards odd socks in wrongly matched pairs.
A knuckle-walking two-legged winged dragon the size of a pony, with a pale stripe down the length of the spine and a lion's mane, combed back by the wind. It breathes a slow fall of snow with no two flakes alike, lairs in a rock pool as deep as a well and is afraid of hens for reasons it keeps to itself.
A short-winged four-legged dragon the size of a badger, with a hide like frost on a window and ram's horns curled tight against its cheeks. It breathes a draught that puts out every candle in the room, lairs under a harbour wall among the mooring chains and gives one shed scale a year to a child.
A long wingless dragon whose four legs barely reach the ground, with a hide like the rind of a melon and feathered eyebrows that hide its eyes. It breathes a still cold that skins a pond with ice, lairs in a rock pool as deep as a well and climbs the wall to leave the gate shut.
A thick wingless serpent dragon dragged along by two forelegs, with scales spotted like a thrush's breast and an underbite and two tusks. It breathes petals from whatever season it is not, lairs on a ledge above the snow line and eats mushrooms it finds by smell.
A wingless two-legged serpent dragon as long as a high street, with a saddle of darker scales across its back and sideburns of tufted fur. It breathes embers that glow and go out before they land, lairs in a flooded quarry with cranes still standing and sees the shepherd home from far behind.
A wren-sized two-legged winged dragon, with plum-dark scales that pale to silver at the throat and whiskers that curl at the ends. It breathes a glow that warms a room and scorches nothing, lairs under the roots of a fallen pine and collects the names of the people it meets.
A sway-backed old four-legged winged dragon the size of a bus, with a hide like burnt toast and a bony shield that covers the back of its neck. It breathes a flurry of crisp brown leaves, lairs in a marsh where the ground cannot be trusted and hoards chairs it never sits on.
A wingless serpent dragon on two forelegs, as long as a hedge, with scales like oyster shell that are pearl underneath and teeth that show even when its mouth is shut. It breathes a slow bank of fog, lairs under a harbour wall among the mooring chains and gives one shed scale a year to a child.
A top-heavy two-legged winged dragon as tall as a street lamp, with scales as rough as tree bark and ram's horns curled tight against its cheeks. It breathes bubbles that drift and do not pop, lairs inside a hollow mountain with one door and sneezes whenever it sees the colour yellow.
A coiled wingless serpent dragon on two short forelegs, with pale-edged sea-green scales and feathered eyebrows that hide its eyes. It breathes a column of water like a garden hose, lairs in a kiln at the back of a brickworks and is afraid of hens for reasons it keeps to itself.
A wingless two-legged serpent dragon as long as a ship's rope, with scales like dried mud that has split and a crest like a rooster's comb. It breathes warm air that smells of fresh bread, lairs in a mine that was closed long ago and eats pine cones like sweets.

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Build: all 60 builds

Four legs and two wings (the heraldic dragon) 12

broad-winged four-legged dragon as heavy as a bull Each wing is longer than the body. Draw one spread and one half folded to show the joints.
hump-backed four-legged winged dragon the size of a tractor The hump sits over the wing shoulders, where the flight muscles would be.
kitten-sized four-legged dragon on oversized wings Put it on a windowsill or a teacup rim, so the size is proved by something familiar.

Show all 60 builds (57 more)

Four legs and two wings (the heraldic dragon), continued

lanky four-legged winged dragon as tall as a giraffe Long legs need big joints. Draw the knees and hocks as knots before the bones between.
lean four-legged winged dragon the length of a greyhound Tuck the belly up high and let the ribs show. The wings fold flat along the spine.
long-necked four-legged winged dragon as tall as a barn door Give the neck a slow S and keep the head small, or the front half looks heavy.
pot-bellied four-legged winged dragon the size of a hay cart The belly is the biggest circle. Hang the legs from it like the legs of a table.
short-winged four-legged dragon the size of a badger Wings this small cannot lift it, so draw it running with them held out for balance.
stocky four-legged winged dragon the size of a cart horse Six limbs in all. Set the wings on a second pair of shoulders just behind the first.
sway-backed old four-legged winged dragon the size of a bus Let the spine sag between hip and shoulder and the wing tips drag on the ground.
thick-necked four-legged winged dragon the size of a rhino The neck is as wide as the head, so the head reads as the blunt end of a wedge.
whippet-thin four-legged winged dragon as long as a punt Late medieval heraldry gave the dragon four legs and the wyvern two. Draw all four.

Two legs and two wings (the wyvern) 12

broad-chested two-legged winged dragon the size of an ox A deep keel of chest holds the wing muscles. The waist behind it is narrow.
crouching two-legged winged dragon as big as a garden shed Fold it like a sitting hen: legs hidden, wings mantled forward over the knees.
hawk-sized two-legged winged dragon Perch it. Two feet grip the branch and the tail hangs below as a counterweight.
heavy two-legged winged dragon as big as a fishing boat Thick thighs, short shins. The wings double as a tent when it sits.
knuckle-walking two-legged winged dragon the size of a pony It walks on folded wings the way a bat crawls. The wing wrists carry the front.
long-tailed two-legged winged dragon the size of a swan The wyvern's tail is often shown pointed. Make it twice the body's length.
needle-thin two-legged winged dragon the length of a canoe Draw the spine as one whip line first, then hang the wings and legs from it.
stilt-legged two-legged winged dragon as tall as a flagpole Legs like a wading bird's. Stand it in shallow water and show the reflection.
stooped two-legged winged dragon the size of a wardrobe The wing wrists stand higher than the head, like a vulture's shoulders.
top-heavy two-legged winged dragon as tall as a street lamp Head and wings are large and the legs thin, so lean it forward as if about to tip.
upright two-legged winged dragon the size of a stork A wyvern has two legs and two wings. It stands like a bird, weight over the feet.
wren-sized two-legged winged dragon Show it on a fingertip or a pencil. Dots for eyes are enough at this size.

A serpent with forelegs (the lindworm) 12

coiled wingless serpent dragon on two short forelegs Stack the coils like rope on a dock and rest the chin on the top loop.
eel-sized wingless serpent dragon on two forelegs Put it in a bucket or a rain barrel. The forelegs hook over the rim.
flat-bodied wingless serpent dragon on two splayed forelegs The body is wide and low like a ray's. It casts almost no shadow.
knotted wingless serpent dragon on two long forelegs Tie one loose overhand knot in the body. Shade under each crossing.
rearing wingless serpent dragon balanced on two forelegs It lifts the front third like a cobra. The forelegs hang free in the air.
ribbon-thin wingless serpent dragon on two clawed forelegs Draw it threaded through a fence or a row of trees to show how little width it has.
stub-armed wingless serpent dragon as thick as an oak trunk In Swedish tales the lindworm is mostly limbless, so keep these arms very small.
thick wingless serpent dragon dragged along by two forelegs Show the furrow it leaves behind. The elbows stick out wide like a seal's flippers.
two-armed wingless serpent dragon as long as a tram The arms sit close behind the head. Everything after them is coil.
wingless serpent dragon on two forelegs, as long as a hedge Central European art often gives the lindworm forelimbs. The rest trails like a snake.
wingless two-legged serpent dragon as long as a high street Too long for the page. Let it leave the frame and come back in further along.
wingless two-legged serpent dragon as long as a ship's rope Lay the body in loops and let the forelegs grip the nearest loop.

Wings and no legs (the amphiptere) 12

coiling legless winged serpent dragon the size of a python At rest it wraps a post and folds the wings over the coils like a cloak.
heavy legless winged serpent dragon that glides, never flaps Fixed, outstretched wings and a body hanging in a shallow curve below.
hose-thin legless serpent dragon on bat wings It cannot stand, so show it hanging by its tail or looped over a branch.
kite-tail-long legless serpent dragon on feathered wings Draw each wing as a bird's, with long flight feathers at the tip, not as a bat's.
legless serpent dragon on four small wings Two pairs of wings, front and back. Beat them out of step in the drawing.
legless serpent dragon on wings like a moth's Soft, wide, dusty wings held flat. The body is the thin line between them.
legless winged serpent dragon as long as a river bend Use the body as the path the eye follows across the page, wings near the front.
legless winged serpent dragon as slim as a whip Flick it into an S with the wings at the first bend. Speed lines suit it.
legless winged serpent dragon that never lands Draw only sky around it. The body trails behind the wings like a streamer.
legless winged serpent dragon the length of a clothes line The amphiptere of heraldry is a winged serpent. The wings do all the work, so make them big.
short legless winged serpent dragon as thick as a drainpipe A stubby body and wide wings. In flight it looks like a letter T.
sparrow-sized legless winged serpent dragon A flock of them reads as a swarm of commas. Draw ten, not one.

Long and wingless (the East Asian dragon) 12

bracelet-sized long wingless dragon on four tiny legs Wrap it round a wrist, a branch or a brush handle to give the scale.
long wingless dragon on four short legs, as long as a barge Chinese dragons are most often shown snake-like with four legs. Space the legs far apart.
long wingless dragon whose four legs barely reach the ground Tiny legs, huge body. It rows itself along like a lizard on warm sand.
long wingless four-legged dragon as heavy as a fallen tree Thick as a trunk, and just as slow. Rest the chin on the ground.
long wingless four-legged dragon as long as a kite string Most of it is far away. Let the body shrink to a thread as it nears the horizon.
long wingless four-legged dragon as thin as a silk scarf Twist it like ribbon so the belly and the back each show in turn.
long wingless four-legged dragon coiled into a perfect ring Head meets tail. Use a plate or a compass for the outer circle first.
long wingless four-legged dragon looped in a figure of eight Decide which loop is nearer and overlap it, or the eight reads as flat.
long wingless four-legged dragon that walks along rooftops Step the four feet across the tiles with a long sag of body between each pair.
long wingless four-legged dragon the length of a waterfall Hang it down the page head first, the feet finding holds on the rock.
long wingless four-legged dragon the size of a market street It flies without wings. Draw it swimming through the air with a rippling spine.
wingless river-length dragon on four short legs Let it wind through clouds or water. Show only the loops that surface.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. Each entry gives a limb layout and a size in one phrase; no species, name or look from any book, film, show or game. The five groups follow kinds that heraldry and folklore tell apart, checked on 2026-09-30: late medieval heraldry set a dragon with four legs apart from a wyvern with two (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_dragon); a wyvern has two wings, two legs and often a pointed tail (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyvern); a lindworm is a serpent often shown with forelimbs and in Swedish folklore mostly limbless (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindworm); an amphiptere is a winged serpent of European heraldry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphiptere); Chinese dragons are most commonly shown snake-like with four legs and mostly without wings (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_dragon). The other notes are drawing advice. Licence: own work

Hide: all 60 hides

Plain colours 15

bone-white scales over a pink belly White needs shadow to exist. Shade the underside in a cool grey.
butter-yellow scales that fade to cream Fade from the spine down. The belly is the palest part.
copper scales going green at the joints Put the green where water would sit: neck folds, the jaw hinge, the root of the tail.

Show all 60 hides (57 more)

Plain colours, continued

dusty lilac scales that darken along the back Keep the flanks pale and let the ridge of the back carry the weight of the colour.
ink-blue scales that look black indoors Show it half in a doorway: black inside, blue where daylight reaches.
moss-green scales edged in gold Draw the gold only on the lower edge of each scale. A full outline flattens it.
pale-edged sea-green scales Work wet into wet if you paint it, so the greens run together.
plum-dark scales that pale to silver at the throat The throat is the only light area. It pulls the eye to the head.
scales as orange as a ripe pumpkin Shade orange with red-brown, never with black.
scales the brown of turned earth after rain Vary the brown from scale to scale. No two clods of earth match.
scales the grey-green of lichen Dab the colour on unevenly. Lichen grows in patches.
scales the pink of the inside of a shell A warm pink with a cool shadow. Keep the edges soft.
scales the red of old brick Mix a little brown into the red. A pure red looks like a toy.
soot-black scales that swallow the light Keep one rim of reflected light along the back, or the shape is a hole.
storm-grey scales that shine blue Leave thin slivers of the paper white where the sheen catches.

Patterns 15

a dark band of scales from eye to eye The mask hides where the eye sits. Add one bright dot inside it.
a hide banded like a wasp Wrap the bands round the form. Each one curves more as it nears the edge.
a hide marbled in two shades of green Let the two greens swirl without mixing, like oil on water.
a hide patched like a piebald horse Draw the map of patches first, in big uneven islands.
a pale stripe down the length of the spine The stripe is your centre line. It shows every twist of the body.
a saddle of darker scales across its back The saddle sits between the shoulders and hips and stops halfway down the ribs.
a white tail tip and a white chin Small markings make a character. Keep them the same in every drawing.
eye spots along both flanks Each eye spot is three rings: dark, pale, dark. They startle like a moth's.
freckled scales that darken on the shoulders Flick the freckles from a stiff brush, or dot them with the pencil tip.
rings round its tail like a raccoon's Count an odd number of rings and end on a dark tip.
scales checkered like a snake's belly Offset each row by half a scale, the way bricks are laid.
scales in a zigzag down each flank A zigzag follows the muscle underneath. It bends where the body bends.
scales spotted like a thrush's breast Spots bunch on the chest and thin out toward the tail.
scales that darken toward the tail One smooth step of value from head to tail tip. Squint to check it.
tiger stripes from snout to tail Break each stripe once. Unbroken stripes look painted on.

Textures 15

a hide as wrinkled as an elephant's knee Wrinkles gather at the joints and run across the direction of the bend.
a hide of loose skin that hangs in folds Folds hang from the neck and belly. Shade inside each one.
keeled scales that stand up when it is cross Lift the scales along the neck only. The rest stay flat.
paper-thin skin that shows its veins Draw the veins in a lighter line than the outline, branching like a leaf.
pebbled skin like a toad's Bumps of three sizes, scattered. Put the biggest over the shoulders.
plates as big as dinner dishes along its back Count the plates and make them shrink toward the tail.
scales as rough as tree bark Draw long vertical cracks, then cross them with short ones.
scales fringed with fine bristles The bristles only show at the outline. Leave the inside clean.
scales ridged like a fingerprint Fine curved lines inside each scale, all following the same direction.
scales that overlap like roof slates Start at the tail and work forward, so each row covers the one behind.
scales that shed in long papery strips Hang a strip or two from the neck or jaw. It shows the dragon is growing.
scales worn smooth on the belly from crawling Rough above, polished below. Change your mark where the two meet.
smooth scales like river pebbles Each scale is a soft oval with one small highlight, all on the same side.
square studs in rows, flat scales between Draw the studs in straight lines down the back and leave the sides smooth.
tiny scales that look like velvet from afar Do not draw them. Suggest them with a soft, even tone and a fuzzy edge.

Like other things 15

a hide like burnt toast Black at the ridges, brown in the hollows. Scratch pale crumbs out with an eraser.
a hide like cracked glaze on an old plate A net of fine cracks over a smooth colour. Keep the cracks thin.
a hide like frost on a window Draw feathery fern shapes spreading from the spine outward.
a hide like the rind of a melon Smooth, with a raised net of pale lines over the top.
resin-tipped scales like a pine cone's They open when it is warm and close in the cold. Pick one and say which.
scales like candle wax that has run Let them droop and overlap unevenly, thicker toward the bottom.
scales like chips of sea glass Soft, frosted colour with no hard highlights. The edges are rounded.
scales like coins dulled by handling Round, flat and overlapping. A few carry a worn pattern.
scales like dried mud that has split Big flat plates with deep dark cracks between. Curl the edges up a little.
scales like fallen beech leaves Curl a few edges up and scatter some loose ones on the ground behind it.
scales like hammered tin Each scale has a dent. Put a dark crescent on one side and a light one opposite.
scales like oyster shell that are pearl underneath Show the pearl only where a scale lifts or the mouth opens.
scales like the pages of a wet book Thin layers that lift at the edges. Draw the edge of each as two close lines.
scales like tiles from a bathhouse floor Square scales laid in a grid that bends over the body.
scales like wet slate Dark, flat and shiny. Reflect a strip of sky along the back.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. Each entry is a colour, pattern or texture written to follow the word "with". No colour scheme from any book, film, show or game. The notes are drawing advice. Licence: own work

Head: all 60 heads

Horns and antlers 15

a crown of backswept horns Draw the horns as a fan of curves from one point behind the eyes.
a left horn snapped to a stump The break is flat and pale. It tells a story the drawing does not have to explain.
a row of small horns along each brow Six small spikes shade the eye like eyelashes.

Show all 60 heads (57 more)

Horns and antlers, continued

a single flat horn like a shovel blade From the front it is a line, from the side a plate. Pick the side view.
a stag's antlers, shed and regrown each year Antlers branch upward from the back of each tine. Count the points on both sides.
forward-pointing horns like a bull's Aim the tips where the eyes look. The head lowers when it is serious.
horns ringed like a tree's cross-section Rings mark each year. Space them closer toward the base.
horns that have grown into each other like roots One tangled shape, not two. Draw the outline and shade the gaps.
horns that spiral like a seashell Wrap a line round a cone. The turns get closer near the tip.
long straight horns laid flat along its neck They lie back when it flies and lift when it lands.
one long horn that curves over its nose The curve mirrors the line of the snout. Leave air between the two.
ram's horns curled tight against its cheeks Each horn is a spiral seen from the side. Draw the outer loop first.
soft, velvet-covered horn buds Round the tips and add short fuzzy strokes. They are not sharp yet.
two short horns like a young goat's Blunt cones, slightly apart. They make any dragon look young.
wide horns like the handlebars of a bicycle The span is wider than the head. Check it still fits through its own cave door.

Frills, crests and ears 15

a bony shield that covers the back of its neck A flat plate with a scalloped edge. It hides the neck from above.
a crest like a rooster's comb A row of soft rounded lobes from brow to nape. It flops to one side.
a crest of quills that rattle Thin, hollow lines in a loose bundle. Draw a few crossing.
a crest of stiff feathers it can raise Up means alarm. Flat means calm. Choose before you draw.
a frill that opens like a fan Draw the spokes first, then stretch skin between them in shallow curves.
a hood it spreads when it rears Wide and flat like a leaf, with the head as the stem.
a ruff of spines round its jaw Short spines, all pointing back, like the collar of a lion's mane.
a sail of skin down the back of its neck The sail is tallest at the middle. Light shows through it, so keep it pale.
a throat pouch it can puff up Draw it deflated as loose folds, or inflated as a smooth round ball.
feathered eyebrows that hide its eyes Shadow the eyes under the tufts. Only a glint shows.
fins where ears should be Webbed fins fold and spread. Draw them half open.
restless ears like a bat's Give each ear a different angle. One is always listening somewhere else.
small round ears set far back Tiny ears make the skull look long. Leave a wide space between ear and eye.
soft ears that hang like a hound's Soft, heavy ears pull the expression toward gentle.
two long plumes that trail from its brow Let them float behind the head on a different curve from the neck.

Whiskers, beards and manes 15

a braided beard tied off with reeds Draw the braid as stacked Y shapes and finish with a knot.
a lion's mane, combed back by the wind Sweep every stroke in one direction and let a few locks break free.
a mane like a horse's down its neck It falls to one side. Decide which and show the parting.
a mane that drifts upward like weed in a pond Every lock curves upward. Nothing hangs.
a moustache of stiff bristles Short straight strokes fanning from the nostrils. It twitches before a sneeze.
a muzzle gone grey with age Grey hairs round the nose and lips age the face, as they do on an old dog.
a shaggy mane full of twigs and burrs Break the outline of the mane with small sharp shapes caught in it.
a tuft at the tip of its chin like a goat's One small pointed tuft. It makes a long jaw look longer.
a tuft that droops across one eye Hiding one eye makes the other more important. Put the highlight there.
a wispy beard under its chin A few loose strokes, longer in the middle. Keep it thin enough to see through.
eyebrows as long as its horns Two long hairs sweep back over the skull. They show which way it is moving.
long whiskers that trail like a catfish's Two smooth lines from the corners of the mouth. They drift in the air like weed.
sideburns of tufted fur Tufts below the ears widen the face. The snout looks narrower between them.
two jointed feelers held out ahead Two thin, jointed lines held forward and apart, like an insect's.
whiskers that curl at the ends Spiral each tip once. Curls read as friendly.

Jaws, snouts and eyes 15

a blunt snout like a tortoise's Short and square, with the mouth a firm straight line.
a forked tongue that never stays in The fork is a small Y. Flick it to one side of the mouth.
a hooked beak in place of teeth The top half curves down over the bottom. One clean notch marks the nostril.
a jaw that opens far wider than it should Show it yawning. The hinge sits behind the eye, not below it.
a long narrow snout like a heron's bill Draw it as a thin wedge. The eye sits right at the back of it.
a snout as flat as a duck's bill Wide and rounded at the tip. From above it is a spoon.
a snout that wrinkles when it thinks Three short creases across the bridge of the nose do it.
an extra eyelid in its brow, always shut Draw it as a shut lid in the centre of the brow, a single curved line.
an underbite and two tusks The lower jaw sticks out past the upper. The tusks point up and slightly out.
eyes on stalks like a crab's Each eye turns alone. Point them in two directions.
eyes that shine like a cat's at night Leave the iris as bare paper and darken everything round it.
heavy eyelids that make it look half asleep Cover the top half of each eye. The pupil peeks out below.
nostrils set on top of its snout It can breathe with only its nose above water. Draw it doing that.
one fang that hangs outside its lip A single odd tooth is easier to remember than a full set.
teeth that show even when its mouth is shut Let three or four overlap the lip on each side, uneven like a crocodile's.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. Each entry is one feature of the head, written to follow the word "and". No look from any book, film, show or game. The notes are drawing advice. Licence: own work

Breath: all 60 breaths

Fire and heat 15

a glow that warms a room and scorches nothing Light the faces round it from one side, like people at a hearth.
a low flame it keeps lit like a pilot light A tiny steady flame at the back of the open mouth, never out.
a ribbon of blue flame no wider than a pencil Draw the flame as a thin taper with a pale core and no smoke at all.

Show all 60 breaths (57 more)

Fire and heat, continued

a shimmer of heat with no flame Bend the lines of whatever is behind it. The breath itself is invisible.
a single spark once a day One bright dot and a great deal of effort. Draw the face it pulls first.
embers that glow and go out before they land Dots that shrink and darken along their path. The last few are grey.
fire so pale it only shows in the dark Set the scene at night and let the breath be the only light source.
fire that crackles but gives no light Draw the flame in black and grey. The surroundings stay dark.
flame with a green rim round a yellow heart Yellow in the middle, green outside. Keep the two from mixing to brown.
flames in the shape of small birds Each flame gets two flicks for wings. They scatter upward.
nothing but perfect smoke rings Each ring is an ellipse with a dark outer edge. They widen as they drift.
short puffs of flame like someone blowing out candles A row of small separate flames in the air, each one a teardrop.
slow orange fire that rolls like syrup Thick, heavy curls that sag. This fire falls instead of rising.
sooty smoke that draws pictures as it rises Let the smoke form a rough shape of something the dragon is thinking about.
warm air that smells of fresh bread You cannot draw a smell, so draw the villagers who have stopped to sniff.

Frost and cold 15

a cold that stiffens the washing on the line Shirts hang like boards. Give them straight edges and sharp corners.
a damp cold that fogs every window Draw the view through a window, then rub half of it out.
a draught that puts out every candle in the room Bend a row of smoke trails the same way. The wicks are still red.
a fall of fine snow Small dots near the mouth, larger and softer as they drift down.
a frost that paints grass white overnight White blades with dark footprints where something has walked.
a ring of frost on whatever it faces A white circle with a feathered edge on a wall, a door or a shield.
a slow fall of snow with no two flakes alike Six arms on every flake. Draw one large and several small.
a still cold that skins a pond with ice Thin ice shows as a pale sheet with one dark crack and a trapped leaf.
a wind that leaves icicles on its own chin Hang three icicles of different lengths from the lower jaw.
cold mist that freezes puddles The mist is a soft grey wedge. Where it touches, draw cracked ice.
cold that turns the air to glitter Scatter tiny four-pointed stars. Keep them inside one beam of light.
frost that grows ferns on glass Start each fern from the edge of the pane and branch inward.
hailstones the size of peas Short streaks for speed, and a few bouncing off the ground.
ice that forms a bridge as it goes A rough arch of ice growing from the mouth toward the far bank.
sleet that comes in sideways Slanted dashes, all at one angle. Lean every figure into it.

Water and weather 15

a column of water like a garden hose One clean arc with a splash at the far end. Useful for watering.
a damp breeze that curls every page it touches Draw a book or a notice board with all the corners turned.
a mist that makes moss grow where it settles Soften every hard edge the mist has touched with a fringe of green.
a rainbow whenever the sun is behind it The bow comes out of a fine spray. Keep the colours faint and in order.
a slow bank of fog Fog hides things from the ground up. Show only the tops of trees and roofs.
a spout of muddy river water Brown and heavy, with a leaf or a twig carried in it.
a waterfall it can turn on and off Falling water is vertical strokes with white left between them.
bubbles that drift and do not pop Each bubble carries a tiny curved window of light near the top.
clouds in small white puffs A row of puffs rising from the nostrils, each higher and larger.
dew that hangs on every web in the morning Rows of tiny drops along the threads, bigger at the bottom of each curve.
drizzle so fine it only shows against dark trees Leave the sky plain. Hatch thin lines over the darkest shape only.
sea spray that smells of salt Short flicks and dots flung forward, with a few gulls following.
steam that whistles like a kettle A tight jet near the mouth that opens into a soft cloud.
thunder out of a clear sky A sound, so draw the rooks leaving the trees and the dog under the table.
warm rain enough for exactly one garden A small cloud of its own, with slanted rain under it and dry ground beyond.

Light and odd things 15

a beam of light like a torch A cone that widens from the mouth, with dust showing inside it.
a flurry of crisp brown leaves Leaf shapes of three kinds, tumbling. Turn each a different way.
a glittering dust that shows where the wind goes Draw the path of the wind as a ribbon of specks round a corner.
a long low note that rattles cups Show the tea in the cups shaking in rings.
a swarm of fireflies Dots of light with no pattern. Leave dark between them.
dust that makes old things look new Half of an object is dull and half is bright where the breath has passed.
feathers as if a pillow had burst Curved feathers rocking down, a few caught on the horns.
fine sand that buries its own tracks Sand pours in a smooth fan and softens whatever it covers.
glowing moths that fly straight for the moon A loose rising line of small pale wings.
petals from whatever season it is not Blossom in the snow or in an autumn wood. The contrast is the picture.
pollen that sets the whole meadow sneezing A yellow haze, and every face in it with eyes shut.
smoke that spells its own name wrongly Smoke letters are thick and wobbly. Let the last one fall apart.
soot that settles as fine black snow Dark flecks on a pale ground. They gather on ledges and hats.
the sound of a bell and nothing else Draw rings spreading in the air from the open mouth.
sparks that drift down like dandelion seeds Each spark hangs under a tiny tuft. They float, they do not fall.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. Each entry is what the dragon breathes, written to follow the words "It breathes". Nothing harmful to copy, and no breath taken from any book, film, show or game. The notes are drawing advice. Licence: own work

Lair: all 60 lairs

Rock and height 15

across the only road over a mountain pass The road runs straight up to it and starts again on the other side.
at the top of a canyon wall Draw the wall in bands of rock and put the lair where a band has fallen out.
between two leaning stones on a moor Two tall stones tilt toward each other. A long shape lies in the gap.

Show all 60 lairs (57 more)

Rock and height, continued

in a boulder field where every stone looks alike Hide it. One boulder has an eye.
in a cave behind a scree slope Loose stones fan out below the entrance. A path of bare rock shows where it walks.
in a cave that hums when the wind is right Draw the grass leaning toward the entrance.
in a crack too narrow for anything else Show the tail outside. The rest has to be imagined.
in a mine that was closed long ago Rotten props, a rusted cart and rails that lead into the dark.
in an abandoned quarry Square steps cut into a hill, with a still green pool at the bottom.
in the crater of a quiet volcano A bowl seen from the rim. A thread of steam rises from the middle.
inside a hollow mountain with one door A dark arch in a cliff, with scorch marks or polish round the edge.
on a cliff face among nesting seabirds White streaks on the rock and birds wheeling at every height.
on a ledge above the snow line Bare rock above, cloud below. The ledge is one flat line in a steep picture.
on a pillar of rock in a dry valley A single tall stack, wider at the top than the base.
under an overhang hung with icicles The icicles frame the entrance like teeth. Keep them uneven.

Water 15

at the bottom of a lake no one has measured Draw the surface only: calm, with one ring spreading.
at the mouth of a river where it turns salt Mud flats in long curves and channels that branch like veins.
behind the curtain of a waterfall The fall is a curtain. Show a dark shape and two points of light behind it.
beneath a mill wheel that still turns The wheel is a circle of paddles. Draw the splash at the bottom.
beneath the ice of a mill pond in winter Seen from above: a shadow, and a ring of breathing holes.
in a flooded quarry with cranes still standing Rusted jibs rise from flat water. The reflection doubles them.
in a hot spring that steams all winter Bare ground round the water and snow everywhere else.
in a marsh where the ground cannot be trusted Tussocks, black water between them and a mist a hand above the surface.
in a reed bed on the inside of a river bend Vertical strokes of reed with a long horizontal gap pressed flat.
in a rock pool as deep as a well A small circle of water with a darkness in the middle that goes down.
in a sea cave that floods at high tide A wet line on the wall marks the tide. Weed hangs below it.
in the drowned valley behind a dam A church spire or a chimney breaks the surface to show what lies below.
on a sandbank that moves with every storm Low, pale and surrounded by ripples. A few posts mark where it used to be.
on a shingle spit that grows and shrinks A long tongue of pebbles in the sea, with weed along its wet edge.
under a harbour wall among the mooring chains Chains hang in curves, crusted with shells. The water is green and dim.

Wood and field 15

among unpruned apple trees in a lost orchard Old trees in rows, unpruned. Windfalls lie in the long grass.
at the centre of a maze of hedges Seen from above, the paths lead in. The middle is a scorched circle.
in a bramble patch no one will clear A dome of thorny arcs. Blackberries on the outside, darkness within.
in a circle it has flattened in a barley field Stalks lie in a swirl. Seen from a hill, it is a perfect ring.
in a clearing ringed with toadstools A circle of pale caps in dark grass, and flattened ground at the centre.
in a field of sunflowers taller than a rider Every flower faces the same way except where something has pushed through.
in a hollow where bluebells grow thickest A haze of blue under bare trunks, with a dark track through it.
in a pinewood carpeted with needles No undergrowth, only straight trunks and a brown floor that hides footsteps.
in a wood where the trees have grown round it Trunks bend to fit a shape that has slept there for a hundred years.
in the split trunk of a storm-struck oak The split is wide enough for a door. Claw marks polish the bark at the entrance.
on a heath among the gorse Low, spiky bushes with yellow flowers. The earth is black from old fires.
under a hedge that has not been cut in a century The hedge is as wide as a barn. Draw the tunnel worn into its side.
under the last uncut stack in a hayfield A haystack with a tail. Keep the stack golden and the shadow cool.
under the roots of a fallen pine The root plate stands up like a wall. The hollow behind it is dry.
under trunks that fell across a gully Trunks cross a gully like roof beams. Ferns grow on top.

Built places 15

across the top of a viaduct A row of tall arches and a long shape draped along the rail bed.
among the chimneys on the town hall roof Chimney pots in rows. One of the shapes between them is not a chimney.
among the gears behind a stopped clock face Seen from inside, the numbers read backwards and the gears are taller than a door.
below the trapdoors of a shut playhouse Trapdoors, ropes and dusty scenery. A footlight still works.
in a barn among the rafters Beams cross in triangles. Hang it along the ridge like a sleeping bat.
in a hothouse misted over from within A glass shed glowing from inside. Wipe one pane clear in the drawing.
in a kiln at the back of a brickworks A domed oven of brick with an arched mouth, stacked round with pots.
in a railway tunnel the trains no longer use A black half circle in a hillside, with rails and saplings between them.
in an ice house dug into a hill A low brick dome under turf with a small door. It is cold all year.
in the boiler room of a shut factory Pipes as thick as trunks, a furnace door ajar and a red light inside.
in the cap of a windmill long out of use The cap is missing. Something looks out from the top.
in the roof space above a chapel ceiling Seen from outside: one slate missing from the roof and a glow behind it.
in the shaft of a well gone to dust A ring of stones, a frayed rope and a warm draught from below.
in the vault of a bank that failed A round steel door stands open. Inside: shelves, and a nest of ledgers.
in the vault under a roofless keep Steps go down from the grass into an arch. Only the vault is left.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. Each entry is a place, written to follow the word "lairs". No real named places and no settings from any book, film, show or game. The notes are drawing advice. Licence: own work

Habit: all 60 habits

What it eats 15

catches moths out of the air at dusk Jaws wide, neck stretched and a moth just out of reach.
chews coal from an old seam, slowly Black crumbs on the chin and a look of deep thought.
drinks from the same pool every morning Draw the reflection meeting the snout at the surface.

Show all 60 habits (57 more)

What it eats, continued

eats little but snow all winter A long furrow through a drift shows where it fed.
eats mushrooms it finds by smell Nose down, eyes shut. Leave a trail of snapped stalks.
eats only windfall apples Pile cores in a heap by the entrance. The heap tells the story.
eats pine cones like sweets Scatter stripped cone cores round its feet.
eats river fish, bones and all Draw it wading with its head under water and its tail in the air.
eats whatever the last flood left behind A tide line of branches and odd finds, nosed through one at a time.
grazes on seaweed at low tide Weed hangs from its jaws like a green beard.
leaves toothmarks in the chalk cliff it eats White grooves in a white wall. Shade them lightly.
lives on thistles and nettles Show the careful lips. It eats round the prickles.
raids beehives without ever being stung A cloud of bees, a calm face and a snout deep in the comb.
steals washing off the line to eat the pegs An empty line, shirts on the grass and a dragon chewing.
swallows stones to help it digest Round pebbles in a neat row, largest first.

What it hoards 15

hoards bells that no longer ring Cracked bells of every size, mouths up, used as bowls.
hoards books it cannot read Stacks used as steps, with a bookmark in every one.
hoards chairs it never sits on Stack them in a tower with the legs tangled.
hoards clocks, every one kept wound Every face shows a different time. Draw the hands with care.
hoards feathers, one from each kind of bird Pin them in rows by length, like a collector's tray.
hoards horseshoes nailed in rows to the wall U shapes in a grid, all the same way up.
hoards jars of rainwater labelled by year Shelves of jars, each a little cloudier than the last.
hoards kites it has caught in passing Diamonds of paper hang from the roof by their strings.
hoards lost buttons, each known by heart A mound of small circles. Give a few two holes and a few four.
hoards maps of places that have changed Unroll one on the floor and weight the corners with stones.
hoards mirrors it avoids looking in Lean them facing the wall. Only their backs show.
hoards odd socks in wrongly matched pairs A long line of mismatched pairs laid out to dry.
hoards river-smoothed pebbles sorted by size Lay them in rows like a shop display. One is out of place.
hoards single gloves left on fence posts Lay them out in a row, palms up, no two alike.
hoards spoons bent out of shape A heap of curves that catches the light on every bowl.

What it does at dusk 15

bathes in the dust at the end of each day A cloud of dust with a snout and a tail sticking out of it.
calls once across the water, then waits for an answer A long neck, a still lake and rings spreading from nothing.
closes one eye at sunset, the other at midnight One lid down, one eye bright. The moon is not up yet.
counts its hoard every dusk to a different total Draw the lips moving mid-count and a puzzled brow.
hums until the bats come out Draw the bats pouring from the cave past its head.
makes one slow circuit of the valley at sunset A small dark shape against a low sun. The valley is the picture.
practises its roar where no one can hear A small cough of sound, an empty hillside and one unimpressed crow.
scratches its back on the same tree every night A trunk rubbed bare at shoulder height, with a few scales caught in the bark.
sees the shepherd home from far behind A flock, a figure and far behind them a careful shape.
sings to the rooks as they come in to roost Open mouth, lifted chin and a tree full of birds listening.
sleeps on a rock it warms each evening The rock is pale and smooth where it lies. Moss grows everywhere else.
stretches its whole length like a cat getting up Chin down, back arched high and the tail tip curled. Hold the stretch.
tidies its hoard before dark, then loses things by morning Everything is in rows. One item is missing and it knows.
turns three times before it lies down A spiral of scuffed ground with the dragon at the centre.
watches the lights come on in the village below Seen from behind: a long back, and small yellow windows far off.

Odd habits 15

answers every echo as though it were company Mouth open at a cliff face. The cliff says the same thing back.
buries things, then forgets where Small mounds everywhere, and a dragon digging up the wrong one.
can be heard snoring from the next valley Draw the sheep, all facing the same hill, all awake.
climbs the wall to leave the gate shut A closed gate, an undamaged latch and a broken wall top.
collects the names of the people it meets A wall of scratched names in many hands, some very old.
follows thunderstorms from one valley to the next Dark cloud ahead, clear sky behind and a long shape hurrying between.
gives one shed scale a year to a child A scale in two small hands. It is the size of a plate.
guards a crossroads but lets everyone pass It sits at the signpost like a toll keeper and nods at each cart.
is afraid of hens for reasons it keeps to itself It keeps a wall between itself and the yard. Draw it peering over.
keeps sheep badly, losing them weekly A dragon counting, a gap in the hedge and tufts of wool on the thorns.
laughs at its own jokes, alone, at length Head back, eyes shut. The only audience is a startled hare.
moves house every spring with its whole hoard A bundle in its jaws and a trail of dropped things behind.
sneezes whenever it sees the colour yellow A buttercup field, a scrunched face and both ears back.
waits at every stream for someone to build a bridge It stands at a stream a child could step over, thinking.
weaves nests for birds that never use them Lopsided baskets of twig and wool in every tree. All empty.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. Each entry is one thing the dragon does, written to follow the word "and". No habit taken from any book, film, show or game. The notes are drawing advice. Licence: own work

How it works

This dragon species generator writes one dragon to draw. Press New dragon and a sentence gives its build and size, its hide, a head feature, what it breathes, where it lairs and one habit. The lists are printed below.

Read the full guide

Builds from heraldry and folklore

The build sets the skeleton. Late medieval heraldry drew a dragon four legs and a wyvern two. Folklore adds the lindworm, a serpent often shown with forelimbs only, the winged serpent called an amphiptere, and the long wingless dragon of East Asia. Each build names a size by comparison, so put that object in the picture.

From one dragon to a species

A random dragon species generator deals one animal. To make it a species, draw it three times: an adult, a hatchling and the lair seen from outside. A timer and a sheet of 30 dragons come with the page.

Start with the spine as one line, then hang legs and wings from it. The gesture of a dragon is in that line.
Let the breath light the scene. Frost, fog and pale fire each change every colour near the head.
The habit is the story. Draw the dragon doing it, not posing.

Questions and answers

What is the difference between a dragon and a wyvern?

In heraldry since the late Middle Ages, a dragon has four legs and a wyvern has two. Both have two wings. The Build list is sorted the same way, so a two-legged result is a wyvern in heraldic terms.

Are these dragons from a book, film or game?

No. Every entry is a plain description written for this site. No species, name or look from any book, film, show or game appears. The five builds follow kinds that heraldry and folklore describe, as the note under that list says.

Can I use it as a draconic species generator for a story?

Yes. Read the sentence as a field note: the build and hide describe the animal, the lair gives its range and the habit its behaviour. Press again, keep the build you liked in mind, and you have a related species.

Does it draw the dragon for me?

No. It writes the description and you do the drawing. Nothing is made up on the spot: the words come from six fixed lists, each dealt right through before an entry returns.