Choosing your race is one of the most thrilling parts of creating a character in the Dungeons & Dragons world. Your character DND races, also called species in more recent editions, are the basis of their identity and powers.
From the traditional races contained in the Player Handbook to the more fanciful options available in additional sourcebooks such as Volo Guide to Monsters and Mordenkainen Tome of Foes, there is a great variety of alternatives to choose from in the dungeons and dragons races. Unique racial characteristics are brought to the table by each dungeons & dragons race, and they include:
- Improvements in ability score
- Darkvision and other innate talents
- Skills in casting spells
- Immune systems and resistances
- Organic weaponry (beaks, claws)
Every player may find their ideal match, whether captivated by the heritage DND races or attracted by exotic possibilities from other planear origins, such as the Feywild or Shadowfell. A dizzying array of ordinary and magical creatures (Fey, Construct) coexist alongside humans and little halflings.
Learn about the several dungeons and dragons races, their subraces, and how they might improve your character abilities in various campaign settings, such as Ravnica or Eberron. Now that you have your Player Handbook (or D&D Free Rules if you are new to the game), it is time to prepare for an exciting adventure through the DND races!
Also Read: DND Barbarian 5e
Core D&D Races: The Classics of Character Creation
It is important to begin with the basic choices in the Player Handbook before delving into the Dungeons & Dragons racing universe. Many adventures rely on these heritage DND races, which provide a wide variety of racial features and ability scores to accommodate different playstyles. Let us take a look at these classic dungeons & dragons races that have enchanted gamers for years.
Human
Humans are the most versatile of all dungeons and dragons races. In the D&D Free Rules, humans receive a +1 to all ability scores, making them adaptable to any class. They are Medium sized and have a standard movement speed of 30 feet. What humans lack in flashy racial traits, they make up for in flexibility and potential.
Elf
Elves are a favorite among players, known for their grace and longevity. They come in several subraces, each with unique traits:
- High Elf: Gain a cantrip, perfect for aspiring spellcasters.
- Wood Elf: Increased movement speed and better stealth in nature.
- Drow: Superior Darkvision and innate spellcasting abilities.
All elves share Fey Ancestry, granting an advantage against being charmed and not needing to sleep; instead, they enter a meditative trance.
Dwarf
Dwarves are sturdy folk with a rich cultural heritage. Their racial traits include:
- Dwarven Resilience: Advantage on saving throws against poison and resistance to poison damage.
- Stonecunning: Expertise in History checks related to stonework.
Subraces like Hill Dwarves and Mountain Dwarves offer different ability score increases and additional benefits.
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Halfling
These small but mighty DND races are known for their luck and agility. Halflings are a Small size category with these notable traits:
- Lucky: Reroll 1s on d20 rolls.
- Brave: Advantage on saving throws against being frightened.
- Halfling Nimbleness: Move through spaces of creatures larger than you.
The Lightfoot and Stout subraces offer additional customization options.
Dragonborn
One of the more fantastical dungeons & dragons races in the core rulebook, Dragonborn are descended from dragons. Their key features include:
- Breath Weapon: A powerful attack based on their draconic ancestry.
- Damage Resistance: Tied to their draconic heritage.
Dragonborn make for imposing characters with a touch of the mystical.
Gnome
Gnomes are small, inventive, and often underestimated. They come in two main subraces:
- Forest Gnome: Minor illusion cantrip and the ability to speak with small beasts.
- Rock Gnome: Expertise with artisan tools and the ability to create small mechanical devices.
All gnomes have an advantage on mental saving throws against magic, making them surprisingly resilient.
Also Read: Wild Magic Table 5e
Half Elf
Combining the best of humans and elves, Half Elves are charismatic and versatile. They receive:
- +2 Charisma and +1 to two other ability scores of their choice.
- Fey Ancestry like their elven parents.
- Skill versatility allows them to choose two skill proficiencies.
Tiefling
With infernal heritage, Tieflings stand out in any crowd. Their racial traits include:
- Infernal Legacy: Innate spellcasting traits that grow as they level up.
- Hellish Resistance: Resistance to fire damage.
- Darkvision: Superior night vision.
Tieflings make for compelling characters with a touch of the otherworldly.
Consider your planned class and playstyle when selecting from these essential DND races. Remember that these racial characteristics have practical uses and provide a wealth of opportunities for roleplaying. These dungeons and dragons races offer a good basis for character creation in older and modern campaign settings, such as the Forgotten Realms, Eberron, and Ravnica.
Expanded sourcebooks such as Volo Guide to Monsters and Mordenkainen Tome of Foes provide new dungeons & dragons races with distinct planar origins and skills, offering players more exotic alternatives. Having said that, any adventurer would be well to begin by becoming an expert in these main races.
Your race is just one facet of your character, so keep that in mind as you develop your character further. A one of a kind person prepared to take on the challenges of the multiverse is born from its interaction with your class, background, and personal experience. The talents you get as a player, such as Darkvision for stealth, natural weaponry for battle, and intrinsic spellcasting, are heavily influenced by the dungeons & dragons race you choose.
Expanded D&D Races: Exploring Beyond the Basics
Although the Player Handbook provides a good overview of DND races, there are many more exciting alternatives in the universe. With these enhanced options, you may add even more variety and excitement to your character building process. Let us dive into some of these fascinating dungeons and dragons races that you might encounter in various campaign settings or sourcebooks like Volo Guide to Monsters and Mordenkainen Tome of Foes.
Aasimar
Descended from celestial beings, Aasimar is one of the most captivating DND races. These beings of divine heritage possess unique racial traits:
- Celestial Resistance: Resistance to necrotic and radiant damage.
- Healing Hands: The ability to heal others with a touch.
- Light Bearer: Can cast the Light cantrip as an innate spell.
Aasimar comes in different flavors, each with celestial transformation ability, making them versatile for martial and spellcasting classes.
Genasi
Born of elemental influences, Genasi are fantastical dungeons & dragons races that embody the four elements. Each subrace has distinct natural abilities:
- Fire Genasi: Resistant to fire and can cast Produce Flame.
- Water Genasi: Can breathe air and water, resistant to acid damage.
- Earth Genasi: Can pass through difficult terrain and cast Pass Without Trace.
- Air Genasi: Can hold their breath indefinitely and cast Levitate.
Genasi makes for excellent elementalists or characters connected to the elemental planes.
Goliath
Goliaths are hardy mountain folk, standing at the upper limit of the Medium size category. Their racial traits include:
- Stone Endurance: Can reduce damage taken as a reaction.
- Powerful Build: Count as one size larger for carrying capacity.
- Mountain Born: Acclimated to high altitude and cold climates.
These traits make Goliaths excellent tanks and front line fighters.
Tabaxi
Feline humanoids with a penchant for curiosity, Tabaxi brings agility and charm to any party. Their notable features include:
- Feline Agility: Can double their movement speed in short bursts.
- Cat Claws: Natural weapons for climbing and combat.
- Cat Talent: Proficiency in Perception and Stealth.
Tabaxi excels as a rogue or any class that benefits from high Dexterity.
Firbolg
These gentle giants have a strong connection to nature. Firbolgs possess these unique abilities:
- Hidden Step: Can turn invisible as a bonus action.
- Powerful Build: Like Goliaths, they are one size larger for carrying capacity.
- Firbolg Magic: Can cast Detect Magic and Disguise Self.
Firbolgs make excellent druids or nature oriented clerics.
Kenku
Flightless bird folk with a tragic history, Kenku are known for their mimicry abilities. Their racial traits include:
- Expert Forgery: Advantage on forgery checks.
- Mimicry: Can perfectly imitate sounds they have heard.
Kenku is perfect for players who enjoy creative roleplaying and stealthy characters.
Triton
Hailing from the ocean depths, Tritons bring the sea mysteries to land. They possess:
- Amphibious: Can breathe air and water.
- Control Air and Water: Innate spellcasting tied to their aquatic nature.
- Emissary of the Sea: Can communicate with water breathing creatures.
Tritons make for excellent paladins, and any class that benefits from their diverse ability scores increases.
Yuan ti Pureblood
These snake like humanoids, while controversial, offer unique gameplay opportunities:
- Magic Resistance: Advantage on saving throws against spells.
- Poison Immunity: Completely immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition.
- Innate Spellcasting: Access to several useful spells.
Yuan ti Purebloods shines when it comes to social manipulation or casting spells.
Players seeking to craft exciting and distinctive characters have many possibilities with these extended DND races. Whether you are interested in the ethereal Aasimar, the powerful Genasi, or the cunning Tabaxi, these dungeons and dragons races may provide complexity and mystery to your campaign.
Remember that many dungeons & dragons races have fascinating cultural histories, backgrounds, and interesting technical qualities. Think about how your character background and culture may impact their character goals and personality in addition to the ability score improvements and spellcasting attributes when you choose an extended race.
You may give your character more complexity by choosing a race linked to a particular plane of origin, such as the Feywild or the elemental realms. These DND races may provide depth to your game in any environment, whether it is the Forgotten Realms, Eberron, or something you made yourself.
The most important thing is choosing a dungeons & dragons race that fits your character intended class mechanically and makes you want to give them more depth and personality. More and more races are available in Dungeons & Dragons, opening up a world of possibilities for exciting and distinctive characters. So, unleash your inner wizard and free your mind with these fascinating DND races!
Monstrous D&D Races
Some players want dungeons and dragons races that are a little more horrific. These DND races provide fresh roleplaying chances while challenging conventional character development status quo. Some exciting options may add a touch of the terrible to your gaming sessions. Let us have a look at them.
Goblin
Often seen as pesky villains, Goblins make for surprisingly versatile player characters:
- Fury of the Small: Bonus damage against larger creatures.
- Nimble Escape: You can disengage or hide as a bonus action.
- Darkvision: 60 feet of night vision.
Goblins excel as sneaky rogues or unconventional spellcasters.
Kobold
These draconic dungeons & dragons races pack a punch despite their small stature:
- Pack Tactics: Advantage on attacks when allies are nearby.
- Grovel, Cower, and Beg: Can distract enemies to help allies.
Kobolds make for excellent support characters or crafty fighters.
Orc
Orcs bring raw power to any party:
- Powerful Build: Can carry more than their size suggests.
- Aggressive: Can move as a bonus action towards enemies.
- Primal Intuition: Proficiency in two skills from a specific list.
Perfect for barbarians or any martial class that likes to get up close and personal.
Bugbear
These hairy goblinoids offer some surprising benefits:
- Long Limbed: Extended reach in melee combat.
- Surprise Attack: Extra damage on surprised creatures.
- Sneaky: Proficiency in Stealth.
Bugbears make excellent ambush predators or stealthy fighters.
Hobgoblin
Disciplined and tactical, Hobgoblins bring military precision to adventuring:
- Martial Training: Proficiency with light armor and two martial weapons.
- Saving Face: Can boost a failed roll using nearby allies.
Great for tactical fighters or war minded spellcasters.
Lizardfolk
These reptilian humanoids offer a unique perspective on adventuring:
- Natural Armor: Unarmored AC of 13 + Dexterity modifier.
- Bite: A natural weapon that can be used in combat.
- Hold Breath: Can hold breath for extended periods.
Lizardfolk makes for excellent survivalists and unconventional druids.
Minotaur
These imposing bull headed humanoids bring strength and strategy:
- Horns: A natural weapon that can be used to charge.
- Goring Rush: Can make a bonus attack after dashing.
- Hammering Horns: Can shove creatures after hitting them.
Minotaurs are unexpectedly agile barbarians or formidable frontline combatants.
These monstrous DND races offer a new approach to character development. Their distinct ethnic characteristics and innate talents will significantly impact your gameplay. Although you will not find information on these races in the Player Handbook, you may find them described in sourcebooks such as Volo Guide to Monsters.
Think about how your monster history could shape their character traits and aspirations before you choose their race. Are you an ogre attempting to dispel preconceptions? A race of reptiles that have figured out how to read human emotions? You may enhance your roleplaying experience with these elements.
Planar and Exotic D&D Races
In the Dungeons & Dragons world, players may choose from various exotic and planeswalker DND races, providing an opportunity for totally unique character development experiences. Adding a touch of the supernatural to your games, these fanciful races often have fascinating planar origins. Let us look at a few of these out of the ordinary, unconventional dungeons and dragons races.
Githyanki and Githzerai
These psychic warriors, once enslaved by mind flayers, have evolved into two distinct dungeons & dragons races:
Githyanki
- Deckers of the Astral Sea
- Innate Psionics: Mage Hand cantrip and Jump spell
- Martial Prodigy: Proficiency with light and medium armor
Githzerai
- Monks of Limbo
- Mental Discipline: Advantage against being charmed or frightened
- Psychic Knack: Shield spell once per long rest
Both races excel in psionic themed classes or as unconventional fighters and monks.
Aarakocra
These bird folk from the Elemental Plane of Air soar above the rest:
- Flight: A flying speed of 50 feet
- Talons: Natural weapons for unarmed strikes
- Language Diversity: Speak, read, and write Auran
Aarakocra makes excellent ranged combatants or airborne spellcasters.
Tortle
Hailing from tropical islands, these turtle folk bring a laid back approach to adventuring:
- Natural Armor: Base AC of 17, regardless of Dexterity
- Shell Defense: Can entirely withdraw into their shell for protection
- Survival Instinct: Proficiency in Survival skill
Tortles excel as tanky frontliners or wise spellcasters.
Centaur
These half human, half horse beings gallop straight out of mythology:
- Equine Build: Counting as one size larger for carrying capacity
- Charge: Bonus damage when dashing into melee
- Hooves: Natural weapons for unique unarmed strikes
Centaurs make for excellent mounted combatants or nature oriented characters.
Vedalken
From the cityscape of Ravnica, these blue skinned inventors bring analytical minds to any party:
- Vedalken Dispassion: Advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws
- Tireless Precision: Proficiency and expertise in one skill or tool
- Partially Amphibious: Can breathe underwater for 1 hour per day
Wizards, artificers, and any intelligence based class are strong suits for Vedalken.
You may greatly mold your character identity and powers with the cornucopia of distinct racial qualities and natural talents offered by these planar and exotic DND races. Even though these races are not in the main Player Handbook, you may find information about them in books like Mordenkainen Tome of Foes and publications that are particular to certain settings.
Consider how the otherworldly nature of these dungeons and dragons races could affect their viewpoint and aspirations when you include them in your character building process. The tranquility of Material Plane civilizations may be too much for a Githyanki, while cramped quarters may be too much for an Aarakocra.
These dungeons & dragons races often provide inherent tale potential and hooks. In a world outside of Ravnica, a Vedalken may seek out various magical arts, while a Tortle may search out long lost legends of their ancestry.
Keep in mind that the true fun is in the roleplaying possibilities that these races provide, even when they have cool technical choices like different movement speeds, natural weaponry, or inherent spellcasting ability. Whether you are riding a centaur over the plains or an aarakocra in the sky, these exotic races add a new and exciting dimension to Dungeons & Dragons.
Racial Traits and Abilities
It is essential to know what powers and characteristics each dungeons & dragons race has while exploring the Dungeons & Dragons realm. These traits are fundamental to making a character and may have a major impact on how you play.
Ability Score Increases
Most DND races offer ability score increases, boosting certain stats:
- Legacy races often have fixed increases (e.g., Elves get +2 Dexterity)
- Modern rules allow for more flexible allocation
Special Abilities
Many dungeons and dragons races come with unique natural abilities:
- Darkvision: Common among races like Dwarves and Elves
- Resistances and immunities: Such as a Tiefling fire resistance
- Natural weapons: Like a Tabaxi claws or a Lizardfolk bite
Innate Spellcasting
Some DND races possess inherent spellcasting abilities:
- Tieflings can cast Hellish Rebuke
- Drow have access to Faerie Fire
Size and Speed
Different dungeons & dragons races have different size categories (often Small or Medium) and movement rates, which impact the mechanics of the game.
Keep in mind that these characteristics are only the foundation. What makes your character come to life is how you use them in your experiences. The key to mastering your chosen race is knowing these racial features, whether it is a conventional race from the Player Handbook or an exotic one from sourcebooks like Volo Guide to Monsters.
Choosing the Right Race for Your Character
An important part of creating a character in Dungeons & Dragons is deciding on their race. The technical advantages are important, but so is selecting a DND race that suits your goals and playstyle.
Think about these things while you are deciding between all the many dungeons and dragons races:
- Ability Score Increases: Do they complement your chosen class?
- Racial Traits: How do abilities like Darkvision or natural weapons fit your concept?
- Playstyle Synergy: Does the race movement speed or size category suit your intended role?
- Roleplaying Potential: How might a race planar origins or cultural background enrich your storytelling?
Enjoy optimizing, but do not forget to choose a dungeons & dragons race that captivates you on a storyline level. Pick a race that makes you happy, whether it is one from the Player Handbook legacy section or one from the expanded sourcebooks fantasy sections.
Reading works such as Tasha Cauldron of Everything can enlighten you about subraces and customization choices. To give your character idea even more life, they let you alter racial features and ability ratings.
You should choose a DND race if it gets you excited to start your next adventure!
Conclusion
As we near the end of our exploration of the many dungeons and dragons races, it has become abundantly evident that this is a rich, varied, and fascinating universe. Each dungeons & dragons race, whether it is one of the heritage races in the Player Handbook or one of the fanciful races in the extended sourcebooks, has its own set of possibilities for plot and gameplay.
Your choice of race is just the first step, whether you are playing as a traditional Human or a more exotic Genasi. What counts most is how you give your roleplay a unique personality. Let your creativity go wild while embracing your ethnic qualities and making the most of your innate skills!
Think of doing something new and scary before you go out on your next journey. Get out of your comfort zone and try a subrace you have never played before or a race with strange planar roots. You are invited to delve into the diverse array of DND races!
