When designing your character as a first time player, it can be really intimidating figuring out something as simple as character race. Today we’re going to break down the dungeons and dragons races, and how to pick the character race that's right for you. STICK AROUND.
THE DWARF RACE
First up on the list of various races in the world of Dungeons and Dragons, wandering rocky terrains and dwelling deep underground, we have the Dwarf. These are resilient and hearty folk, with a deep history and of course, averaging about four and a half feet tall. They get a bonus to their constitution, and depending on the type of dwarf, you will also gain a bonus to your wisdom or your strength.
There are two sub-classes in the Player’s Handbook, the Hill Dwarf and the Mountain Dwarf. Because Dwarves can live to be well over 400 years old, this creates great opportunities for rich backstories with a Dwarf who’s seen their fair share of the world compared to most characters.
THE ELF RACE
From the ethereal plane of the Faewild, a place of magic and wonder, all the way to the dripping and twisting caverns in the heart of the world, we have the Elf. Living hundreds of years with memories that span multiple lifetimes, Elves can be some of the most complex characters as they have seen the world around them change. Oftentimes they are the mature adults of the world compared to the younger races.
The great thing about Elves is that they have a very rich history going back thousands of years. With so much lore, it’s only natural that they span 3 subraces, each with their own perks. The three subraces are: High Elf, Wood Elf, and Dark Elf or Drow. High elves are descendants of the original race of elves from the Faewild and as such are a proud race with deep roots.
The wood elves feel a deeper connection to the earth around them, and because of this they are often found in deep forests where they feel most at home. The drow revere Lolth, the Spider Queen, and for this they were banished to the depths of the underdark, deep in the caverns of the ground. Because of this, as a note, Drow are sensitive to light which can have ramifications depending on the DM’s rules.
Regardless of which subclass, you’ll get a boost to your Dexterity thanks to the nimble genes of the elves. Beyond that, high elves get a boost to their intelligence, wood elves to their wisdom, and Drow to their charisma. Elves are absolutely one of my favorite races because of how versatile and rich they can be.
THE HALFLING RACE
Third on our list, from the rolling hills of the simple countryside, most living far from any sort of adventure, we have the noble Halfling. Halflings are small creatures, averaging about 3 feet tall, they seek lives on the open road with the horizon as their guide, or simple lives in peace and solitude.
They come in two varieties, the Stout, and the Lightfoot. Both receive a +2 bonus to Dexterity, but the difference lies in the charismatic Lightfoot, or the stronger Stout. Both are small and nimble which makes them great rogues or rangers, but that won’t stop halflings from being clerics or paladins either.
THE HUMAN RACE
At number 4, from the great sprawling metropolis cities, or the most dangerous slums in the world, we have the ever adapting Humans. There is no one type of human, because similar to our own world, the race of humans is full of rich and beautifully diverse ethnicities in all shapes and colors.
Overall, these different ethnicities are just flavor, and don’t change the character stats. But humans are easily the most adaptable of the races, as they get a +1 bonus to all stats across the board. If your DM allows, there is the Variant Human option, which allows you to take a feat in exchange for some of the bonuses, but more on that in another video.
If you are a first time player who wants a character that feels more relatable until you get into the roleplaying, humans might be the best choice for you.
THE DRAGONBORN RACE
Ancient and powerful, with a natural gift for the arcane and spectacular, the number 5 spot goes to Dragonborn. The wonderful thing about dragonborn is the variety. They come in 10 colors, one for each of the chromatic dragons, and one for each of the metallic.
Each of the colors has their own elemental specialty based on their colors. All dragonborn get a bonus to both strength and charisma. Add to that the fact that they get a special breath weapon based on the element of your color of choice and you have yourself a pretty badass character already.
THE GNOME RACE
Tinkering late into the hours in their small homes, or fetching gems deep in the hills, up next are Gnomes. These curious and tiny creatures stand a little over 3 feet tall and carry an inquisitive enthusiasm into all aspects of their lives.
But don’t let their size fool you. They are adept at pretty much anything they set their mind to, and can live upwards of 500 years making them some of the wisest of all creatures.
THE HALF-ELF RACE
Born stuck between two worlds, never belonging to the human world, and looked down upon by their fellow elves, up next is Half-Elves.
Half Elf characters can be complex given their complicated heritage, and make great loner characters like rangers and rogues as they find it hard to fit in with normal society.
They have the advantage of a great boost to their stats thanks to their human lineage, and access to fae knowledge from their elf side.
THE HALF-ORC RACE
Similar to Half-Elves, Half-Orcs are unaccepted by their larger brethren, Orcs, and struggle in a human world that fears them for their size, but are too small to belong among their own kind.
This means that Half-Orcs find it hard to fit in as most society finds them either terrifying or look at them as criminals. Though they are not inherently evil, within a society that doesn’t accept them, very few rise above these standards.
Whether your half-orc is living amongst other orcs, or hidden in a city, they struggle to gain the acceptance of the world around them. Their human lineage makes them incredibly adaptable to any class, but are definitely well-built enough for some of the more athletically demanding classes.
THE TIEFLING RACE
From the fiery pits of hell, a bloodline tainted with dark magic, and infernal legacies that can stretch eons, last on the list of races, is the Tiefling. Tieflings are created when a human’s bloodline is somehow tainted by an infernal bloodline, usually in the way of a family member ages past entering into a contract with a devil.
Because of their appearance, Tieflings find it hard to be trusted and are even feared by most as they can easily appear to be a devil straight from the nine hells. But this also comes along with some added perks such as some innate spellcasting abilities with Darkness and Hellish Rebuke, and Thaumaturgy, as well as resistance to fire.
So if you’re looking for something edgy and fierce, the Tiefling might be just right.
We hope you found this blog useful and made it easier for you to decide on what race is the right one for your character.
As always, forge on, adventurers! And we'll see you next time...
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