Dragons gain new powers as they accumulate more energies. At each stage of growth, they gain a new ability, usually culminating with the twelfth ability when they accumulate enough karma. The usual progression of powers is as follows:

• Level 1: Breath weapon is an amalgam of past lives' breath weapons
• Level 2: Immunity to instant death
• Level 3: Immunity to forgetfulness
• Level 4: Immunity to undeath
• Level 5: Scale grants bearer karmic redemption
• Level 6: Zone of consequences
• Level 7: Invoke instant karma, once per year
• Level 8: Reincarnate other
• Level 9: Sense karmic consequences
• Level 10: Bind fate
• Level 11: Summon Aeonians
• Level 12: Commune with past lives

Avatar dragons also have all the powers of their current form and an amalgamation of past forms. The above is on top of their other powers.

All dragons accumulate energies by absorbing them naturally from the area around them. As such, they must carefully cultivate their lairs to provide the right kinds of energies, hence they hoard appropriate objects.

Other common powers include karmic retribution, deny fate, power drain, and time travel.