S h o r t a n d St o u t
B old and hardy, dw arves are kn ow n as
D warf
“Y e r l a t e , e l f !” c a m e t h e r o u g h e d g e o f a f a m i l i a r
voice. Bruenor Battlehammer walked up the back of his
dead foe, disregarding the fact that the heavy monster lay
on top of his elven friend. In spite of the added discomfort,
the dwarf’s long, pointed, often-broken nose and gray-
streaked though still-fiery red beard came as a welcome
sight to Drizzt. “Knew I’d fi ndy e in trouble if I came out
an' lookedfor ye!"
—R. A . S a lvatore, The Crystal Shard
K in gdom s rich in ancient grandeur, halls carved into the
roots o f m ountains, the ech oin g o f picks and h am m ers
in deep m ines and blazing forges, a com m itm en t to
clan and tradition, and a burning hatred o f goblins and
orc s —th ese co m m o n threads unite all dw arves.
skilled w arriors, m iners, and w orkers
o f stone and metal. T h ough they stand
w ell under 5 feet tall, dw arves are so
broad and com pact that they can weigh
as much as a human standing nearly tw o
feet taller. Th eir cou rag e and endurance
are also easily a match for any o f
the larger folk.
D w arven skin ranges from deep brow n to a paler
hue tinged with red, but the m ost com m on sh ades are
light brow n or deep tan, like certain ton es o f earth.
Th eir hair, w orn long but in sim ple styles, is usually
black, gray, or brow n, though paler dw arves often have
red hair. M ale dw arves value their beard s highly and
g room them carefully.
L ong M em ory, L ong G rudges
D w arves can live to be m ore than 4 0 0 years old, so the
oldest living dw arves often rem em ber a very different
w orld. F or exam ple, som e o f the oldest dw arves living
in Citadel Felbarr (in the w orld o f the Forgotten R ealm s)
can recall the day, m ore than three centuries ago, w hen
or c s con q u ered the fortress and drove them into an exile
that lasted over 2 5 0 years. T h is longevity grants them a
perspective on the w orld that shorter-lived races such as
hum ans and halflings lack.
D w arves are solid and enduring like the m ountains
they love, w eathering the pa ssa ge o f centuries with stoic
endurance and little change. Th ey resp ect the traditions
o f their clans, tracing their an cestry ba ck to the
fou nding o f their m ost ancient stron gholds in the youth
o f the w orld, and don't abandon th ose traditions lightly.
Part o f th ose traditions is devotion to the g od s o f the
dw arves, w h o uphold the dw arven ideals o f industrious
labor, skill in battle, and devotion to the forge.
Individual dw arves are determ ined and loyal, true to
their w ord and decisive in action, som etim es to the point
o f stu bborn n ess. M any dw arves have a strong sen se
o f ju stice, and they are slow to forget w ron g s they have
suffered. A w ron g don e to one dw arf is a w ron g done to
the d w a rf’s entire clan, so w hat begin s as on e dw arf’s
hunt for ven gean ce can b e c o m e a full-blow n clan feud.
C la n s a n d K in g d o m s
D w arven kin gdom s stretch deep beneath the m ountains
w here the dw arves m ine gem s and preciou s m etals
and forge item s o f w onder. They love the beauty and
artistry o f preciou s m etals and fine jew elry, and in som e
dw arves this love festers into avarice. W hatever w ealth
they ca n ’t find in their m ountains, they gain through
trade. Th ey dislike boats, so enterprising hum ans and
halflings frequently handle trade in dw arven g ood s
along w ater routes. Trustw orthy m em bers o f other races
are w elcom e in dw arf settlem ents, though so m e areas
are off lim its even to them.
T h e ch ief unit o f dw arven society is the clan, and
dw arves highly value so cia l standing. Even dw arves
w h o live far from their ow n k in gdom s cherish their clan
identities and affiliations, recog n ize related dw arves,
and invoke their an cestors’ n am es in oaths and curses.
To be clan less is the w orst fate that can befall a dwarf.
D w arves in other lands are typically artisans,
esp ecia lly w eapon sm ith s, arm orers, and jew elers. S om e
b e c o m e m ercen a ries or bodyguards, highly sought after
for their cou rag e and loyalty.
S lo w to T r u st
Dwarves get along passably well with most other races. “The
difference between an acquaintance and a friend is about a
hundred years,” is a dwarf saying that might be hyperbole,
but certainly points to how difficult it can be for a member o f
a short-lived race like humans to earn a dwarf’s trust.
Elves. “ It’s not wise to depend on the elves. No telling what
an elf will do next; when the hammer meets the orc’s head,
they’re as apt to start singing as to pull out a sword. They’re
flighty and frivolous. Two things to be said for them, though:
They don’t have many smiths, but the ones they have do very
fine work. And when orcs or goblins come streaming down
out o f the mountains, an elf’s good to have at your back. Not
as good as a dwarf, maybe, but no doubt they hate the orcs
as much as we do.”
Halflings. “Sure, they’re pleasant folk. But show me a
halfling hero. An empire, a triumphant army. Even a treasure
for the ages made by halfling hands. Nothing. How can you
take them seriously?”
Humans. “You take the time to get to know a human, and
by then the human’s on her deathbed. If you’re lucky, she’s
got kin— a daughter or granddaughter, maybe— who’s got
hands and heart as good as hers. That’s when you can make
a human friend. And watch them go! They set their hearts on
something, they’ ll get it, whether it’s a dragon’s hoard or an
empire’s throne. You have to admire that kind o f dedication,
even if it gets them in trouble more often than not.”

G ods, G old, and C lan

D w a rves w h o take up the adventuring life m ight be
m otivated by a desire for treasure—for its ow n sake, for
a sp ecific p u rpose, or even out o f an altruistic desire to
help others. Other dw arves are driven by the com m a n d
or inspiration o f a deity, a direct calling or sim ply a
desire to brin g glory to on e o f the dw arf gods. Clan and
an cestry are also im portant m otivators. A d w a rf might
seek to restore a clan ’s lost honor, avenge an ancient
w ron g the clan suffered, or earn a new p lace w ithin the
clan after having been exiled. Or a dw arf m ight search
for the axe w ielded by a m ighty ancestor, lost on the field
o f battle centuries ago.
D warf N am es
A d w a rf’s nam e is granted by a clan elder, in a ccord a n ce
with tradition. Every p roper dw arven nam e has been
u sed and reu sed dow n through the generations. A
d w a rf’s n am e b elon g s to the clan, not to the individual.
A dw arf w h o m isu ses or brings sham e to a clan nam e
is stripped o f the nam e and forbidden by law to use any
dw arven nam e in its place.
M ale Names: Adrik, A lberich, Baern, Barendd, Brottor,
Bruenor, Dain, Darrak, D elg, Eberk, Einkil, Fargrim ,
Flint, Gardain, Harbek, Kildrak, M orgran, Orsik,
Oskar, R angrim , Rurik, Taklinn, Thoradin, Thorin,
Tordek, Traubon, Travok, Ulfgar, Veit, Vondal
Female Names: Am ber, Artin, Audhild, Bardryn,
Dagnal, D iesa, Eldeth, Falkrunn, Finellen, G unnloda,
G urdis, Helja, Hlin, Kathra, Kristryd, Ilde, Liftrasa,
M ardred, R isw ynn, Sannl, Torbera, Torgga, Vistra
Clan Names: Balderk, Battleham m er, Brawnanvil,
Dankil, Fireforge, Frostbeard, G orunn, H olderhek,
Ironfist, Loderr, Lutgehr, R um naheim , Strakeln,
Torunn, Ungart
D w arf T r aits
Your dw arf character has an assortm ent o f inborn
abilities, part and parcel o f dw arven nature.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution sco re
in creases by 2.
Age. D w a rves m ature at the sa m e rate as hum ans, but
they’re con sid ered y ou n g until they reach the age o f 50.
On average, they live about 35 0 years.
Alignment. M ost dw arves are lawful, believing firmly
in the benefits o f a w ell-ordered society. Th ey tend
tow ard g o o d as w ell, with a stron g sen se o f fair play and
a b elief that everyone deserv es to share in the benefits o f
a ju st order.
Size. D w a rves stand b etw een 4 and 5 feet tall and
average about 150 pou nds. Your size is M edium .
Speed. Your b a se w alk in g sp eed is 25 feet. Your
sp eed is not redu ced by w earin g heavy armor.
Darkvision. A ccu stom ed to life underground, you
have su perior vision in dark and dim condition s. You
can see in dim light w ithin 6 0 feet o f you as if it w ere
bright light, and in darkness as if it w ere dim light. You
ca n ’t d iscern color in darkness, only shades o f gray.
Dwarven Resilience. You have advantage on saving
th row s against p oison , and you have resistan ce against
p oison dam age (explained in chapter 9).
Dwarven Combat Training. You have proficiency
w ith the battleaxe, handaxe, th row in g hamm er,
and w arham m er.
Tool Proficiency. You gain proficiency with the
artisan’s tools o f y ou r choice: sm ith’s tools, b rew er’s
supplies, or m a son ’s tools.
Stonecunning. W h enever you m ake an Intelligence
(H istory) ch eck related to the origin o f stonew ork, you
are con sid ered proficient in the H istory skill and add
double your p roficiency bon u s to the check, instead o f
your n orm al proficiency bonus.
Languages. You can speak, read, and w rite C om m on
and D w arvish. D w arvish is full o f hard con son a n ts and
guttural sou n ds, and th ose characteristics spill over into
w hatever other language a dw arf m ight speak.
Subrace. T w o m ain su braces o f dw arves populate the
w orld s o f D &D: hill dw arves and m ountain dw arves.
C h oose on e o f these subraces.
H il l D w arf
A s a hill dwarf, you have keen sen ses, deep intuition,
and rem arkable resilience. T h e gold dw arves o f Faerun
in their m ighty southern k ingdom are hill dw arves, as
are the exiled Neidar and the d eb a sed K lar o f K rynn in
the D ragon lan ce setting.
Ability Score Increase. Your W isd om score
in creases by 1.
Dwarven Toughness. Y our hit point m axim um
in creases by 1, and it in creases by 1 every tim e you
gain a level.
M o u n t a in D w arf
A s a m ountain dwarf, you're stron g and hardy,
a ccu stom ed to a difficult life in rugged terrain. You’re
probably on the tall side (for a dw arf), and tend tow ard
lighter coloration. The shield dw arves o f northern
Faerun, as w ell as the ruling Hylar clan and the noble
D aew ar clan o f D ragon lance, are m ountain dw arves.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength sco re
in creases by 2.
Dwarven Armor Training. You have proficiency w ith
light and m edium armor.
D uergar
In cities deep in the Underdark live the duergar, or gray
dwarves. These vicious, stealthy slave traders raid the surface
world for captives, then sell their prey to the other races of
the Underdark. They have innate magical abilities to become
invisible and to temporarily grow to giant size.
E lf
“ I HAVE N EVER IM A G IN E D SU C H B E A U T Y E X ISTE D ,”

Goldmoon said softly. The day’s march had been difficult,

but the reward at the end was beyond their dreams.
The companions stood on a high cliff over the fabled
city of Qualinost.
Four slender spires rose from the city’s corners like glisten-
ing spindles, their brilliant white stone marbled with shining
silver. Graceful arches, swoopingfrom spire to spire, soared
through the air. Crafted by ancient dwarven metalsmiths,
they were strong enough to hold the weight of an army, yet
they appeared so delicate that a bird lighting on them might
overthrow the balance. These glistening arches were the
city’s only boundaries; there was no wall around Qualinost.
The elven city opened its arms lovingly to the wilderness.
—M a rg a ret W eis & T ra cy H ick m a n ,
Dragons of Autumn Twilight

Elves are a m agical p eop le o f otherw orldly grace, living
in the w orld but not entirely part o f it. They live in
p la ces o f ethereal beauty, in the m idst o f ancient forests
or in silvery sp ires glittering w ith faerie light, w here
soft m usic drifts through the air and gentle fragrances
w aft on the breeze. Elves love nature and m agic, art
and artistry, m usic and poetry, and the g o o d things
o f the world.
fem ales are about the sam e height, and m ales are only
m arginally heavier than fem ales.
E lves’ coloration en com p a sses the norm al hum an
range and also includes skin in sh ades o f copper,
bron ze, and alm ost bluish-white, hair o f green or blue,
and eyes like p o o ls o f liquid gold or silver. Elves have no
facial and little b od y hair. Th ey favor elegant cloth in g in
bright colors, and they enjoy sim ple yet lovely jew elry.

Slender an d G racefu l A T im eless P e r spe ctiv e

W ith their unearthly grace and fine features, elves
appear hauntingly beautiful to hum ans and m em bers
o f m any other races. They are slightly shorter than
hum ans on average, ranging from w ell under 5 feet
tall to just over 6 feet. T h ey are m ore slender than
hum ans, w eigh in g only 100 to 145 pou nds. M ales and
Elves can live w ell over 700 years, giving them a broad
perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-
lived races m ore deeply. Th ey are m ore often am used
than excited, and m ore likely to be cu riou s than
greedy. They tend to rem ain a lo o f and unfazed by petty
happenstance. W h en pursuing a goal, however, w hether
adventuring on a m ission or learning a n ew skill or art, to do so. S o m e might jo in with rebels fighting against
elves can be focu sed and relentless. They are slow to oppression , and others m ight b e c o m e cham pion s o f
m ake friends and en em ies, and even slow er to forget m oral cau ses.
them. T h ey reply to petty insults w ith disdain and to
seriou s insults with vengean ce. E lf N am es
Like the bran ches o f a youn g tree, elves are flexible
E lves are con sid ered children until they declare
in the face o f danger. T h ey trust in diplom acy and
them selves adults, so m e tim e after the hundredth
com p rom ise to resolve differences b efore they escalate
birthday, and before this p eriod they are called
to violence. T h ey have been kn ow n to retreat from
by child nam es.
intrusions into their w ood la n d h om es, confident
On declarin g adulthood, an elf selects an adult nam e,
that they can sim ply w ait the invaders out. But w hen
although th ose w h o k n ew him or her as a youngster
the n eed arises, elves reveal a stern m artial side,
m ight continue to u se the child nam e. E ach e lf’s adult
dem onstrating skill w ith sw ord, bow , and strategy.
nam e is a unique creation, though it m ight reflect
the n am es o f resp ected individuals or other fam ily
H id d en W o o d l a n d R e a lm s
m em bers. Little distinction exists betw een m ale
M ost elves dwell in sm all forest villages hidden am ong n am es and fem ale nam es; the grou pin gs h ere reflect
the trees. Elves hunt gam e, gather food, and grow only general tendencies. In addition, every elf bears a
vegetables, and their skill and m agic allow them to fam ily nam e, typically a com bination o f other Elvish
support th em selves w ithout the n eed for clearin g and w ords. S om e elves traveling am ong hum ans translate
p low in g land. They are talented artisans, crafting finely their fam ily n am es into C om m on , but others retain the
w ork ed cloth es and art objects. Their contact with Elvish version.
outsiders is usually lim ited, though a few elves m ake a
Child Names: Ara, Bryn, Del, Eryn, Faen, Innil.
g o o d living by trading crafted item s for m etals (w hich
Lael, Mella, Naill, Naeris, Phann, Rael, Rinn, Sai,
they have n o interest in m ining).
Syllin, Thia, Vall
Elves en cou ntered outside their ow n lands are
Male Adult Names: Adran, Aelar, A ram il, A rannis,
com m on ly traveling m instrels, artists, or sages. H um an
Aust, B eiro, Berrian, C arric , Enialis, Erdan, Erevan,
n obles com p ete for the serv ices o f elf instructors to
G alinndan, Hadarai, Heian, H im o, Im m eral, Ivellios,
teach sw ordplay or m agic to their children.
Laucian, M indartis, Paelias, Peren, Q uarion, Riardon,
R olen, S oveliss, Tham ior, Tharivol, Theren, Varis
E x plo r a tio n a n d A d ven tu r e
Elves take up adventuring out o f w anderlust. S in ce
they are s o long-lived, they can enjoy centuries o f
exploration and discovery. They dislike the p a ce o f
hum an society, w hich is regim ented from day to day but
constantly changin g over d ecades, s o they find careers
that let them travel freely and set their ow n pace. Elves
also enjoy exercisin g their m artial p row ess or gaining
greater m agical pow er, and adventuring allow s them
 H a u g h t y b u t G r a c io u s
Although they can be haughty, elves are generally gracious
even to those who fall short of their high expectations—
which is most non-elves. Still, they can find good in just
about anyone.
Dwarves. “ Dwarves are dull, clumsy oafs. But what they
lack in humor, sophistication, and manners, they make up in
valor. And I must admit, their best smiths produce art that
approaches elven quality.”
Halflings. “ Halflings are people o f simple pleasures, and
that is not a quality to scorn. They’re good folk, they care
for each other and tend their gardens, and they have proven
themselves tougher than they seem when the need arises."
Humans. “All that haste, their ambition and drive to
accomplish something before their brief lives pass away—
human endeavors seem so futile sometimes. But then
you look at what they have accomplished, and you have to
appreciate their achievements. If only they could slow down
and learn some refinement.”
Female Adult Names: Adrie, Althaea, Anastrianna,
Andraste, Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn,
D rusilia, Enna, Felosial, Ielenia, Jelenneth, Keyleth,
Leshanna, Lia, M eriele, M ialee, Naivara, Q uelenna,
Quillathe, Sariel, Shanairra, Shava, Silaqui,
Theirastra, Thia, Vadania, Valanthe, X anaphia
Family Nam es (Comm on Translations): A m akiir
(G em flow er), A m astacia (Starflow er), G alanodel
(M oonw hisper), H olim ion (D iam onddew ), Ilphelkiir
(G em blossom ), Liadon (Silverfrond), M eliam ne
(O akenheel), Nai'lo (Nightbreeze), S ian nodel
(M oon brook ), X iloscien t (G oldpetal)
E lf T r aits
Your elf character has a variety o f natural abilities, the
result o f th ou san ds o f years o f elven refinem ent.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity s co re
in creases by 2.
Age. A lthough elves reach physical maturity at about
the sam e age as hum ans, the elven understanding o f
adulthood g o e s beyon d physical grow th to en com p ass
w orldly experience. A n elf typically claim s adulthood
and an adult nam e around the age o f 100 and can live
to be 750 y ears old.
Alignment. Elves love freedom , variety, and self-
expression , so they lean strongly tow ard the gentler
aspects o f chaos. Th ey value and protect others'
freedom as w ell as their ow n, and they are m ore
often g o o d than not. T h e d row are an exception; their
exile into the U nderdark has m ade them vicious and
dangerous. D row are m ore often evil than not.
Size. Elves range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and
have slender builds. Your size is M edium .
Speed. Your ba se w alk in g sp eed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. A ccu stom ed to twilit forests and the night
sky, you have su perior vision in dark and dim conditions.
You can see in dim light w ithin 6 0 feet o f you as if it
w ere bright light, and in dark n ess as if it w ere dim light.
You ca n ’t discern color in darkness, only shades o f gray.
Keen Senses. You have proficiency in the
P erception skill.
Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throw s
against bein g charm ed, and m agic ca n ’t put you to sleep.
Trance. Elves d on ’t n eed to sleep. Instead, they
meditate deeply, rem aining sem icon sciou s, for 4
hours a day. (The C om m on w ord for such m editation
is “trance.”) W h ile meditating, you can dream after a
fashion; such dream s are actually m ental ex ercises that
have b e c o m e reflexive through years o f practice. After
resting in this way, you gain the sa m e benefit that a
hum an d oes from 8 hours o f sleep.
Languages. You can speak, read, and w rite C om m on
and Elvish. Elvish is fluid, w ith subtle intonations and
intricate gram m ar. Elven literature is rich and varied,
and their son g s and p oem s are fam ous am ong other
races. M any bards learn their language s o they can add
Elvish ballads to their repertoires.
Subrace. Ancient divides am ong the elven people
resulted in three m ain subraces: high elves, w o o d elves,
and dark elves, w h o are com m on ly called drow. C h oose
on e o f th ese subraces. In som e w orlds, th ese su braces
are divided still further (such as the sun elves and m oon
elves o f the Forgotten R ealm s), s o if you w ish, you can
c h o o s e a narrow er subrace.
H ig h E lf
A s a high elf, you have a keen m ind and a m astery o f
at least the ba sics o f m agic. In m any o f the w orlds
o f D&D, there are tw o kinds o f high elves. One type
(w hich includes the gray elves and valley elves o f
Greyhawk, the Silvanesti o f D ragon lance, and the
sun elves o f the Forgotten R ealm s) is haughty and
reclusive, believing them selves to be su perior to
non-elves and even other elves. T h e other type
(including the high elves o f G reyhawk. the
Q ualinesti o f D ragon lance, and the m oon elves
o f the Forgotten R ealm s) are m ore com m on
and m ore friendly, and often en cou ntered
am ong hum ans and other races.
T h e sun elves o f Faerun (also called gold
elves or sunrise elves) have b ron ze skin and
hair o f copper, black, or golden blond. Their
eyes are golden, silver, or black. M oon elves (also
called silver elves or gray elves) are m uch paler,
w ith alabaster skin som etim es tinged w ith blue.
They often have hair o f silver-white, black, or blue,
but various sh ades o f blond, brow n, and red are
not u n com m on . T h eir eyes are blue or green and
flecked w ith gold.
Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score
in creases by 1.
E lf Weapon Training. You have proficiency with
the lon gsw ord, shortsw ord, shortbow , and longbow .
 Cantrip. You k n ow one cantrip o f your ch oice from
the w izard spell list. Intelligence is your spellcastin g
ability for it.
Extra Language. You can speak, read, and w rite one
extra language o f your choice.
W ood E lf
A s a w o o d elf, you have keen se n se s and intuition, and
your fleet feet carry you quickly and stealthily through
your native forests. T h is category includes the w ild
elves (grugach) o f G reyhaw k and the K agonesti o f
D ragon lance, as w ell as the races called w o o d elves in
G reyhaw k and the Forgotten R ealm s. In Faerun, w o o d
elves (also called w ild elves, green elves, or forest elves)
are reclusive and distrusting o f non-elves.
W o o d elves’ skin tends to be cop p erish in hue,
som etim es with traces o f green. Th eir hair tends tow ard
b row n s and blacks, but it is occa sion ally blond or
cop p er-colored . T heir eyes are green, brow n, or hazel.
Ability Score Increase. Your W isd om score
in creases by 1.
E lf Weapon Training. You have proficiency w ith the
longsw ord, sh ortsw ord, shortbow , and longbow .
Fleet o f Foot. Your ba se w alking speed
in creases to 35 feet.
Mask o f the Wild. You can attempt to hide even w hen
you are only lightly o b scu red by foliage, heavy rain,
falling snow , mist, and other natural phenom ena.
D a r k E lf (D row )
D escen d ed from an earlier su brace o f dark-skinned
elves, the d row w ere banished from the su rface w orld
for follow in g the g o d d e ss Lolth dow n the path to
evil and corruption. N ow they have built their ow n
civilization in the depths o f the Underdark, patterned
after the W ay o f Lolth. A lso called dark elves, the drow
have black skin that resem b les polish ed obsidian and
stark w hite or pale y ellow hair. Th ey com m on ly have
very pale eyes (so pale as to b e m istaken for white) in
sh ades o f lilac, silver, pink, red, and blue. Th ey tend to
be sm aller and thinner than m ost elves.
D row adventurers are rare, and the race d o e s not exist
in all w orlds. C h eck with your D u n geon M aster to see
if you can play a d row character.
Ability Score Increase. Your C harism a score
in creases by 1.
Superior Darkvision. Your darkvision has a
radius o f 120 feet.
Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack
rolls and on W isd om (P erception ) ch eck s that rely on
sight w hen you, the target o f your attack, or w hatever
you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.
Drow Magic. You k n ow the dancing lights cantrip.
W h en you reach 3rd level, you can cast the faerie fire
spell on ce p er day. W h en you reach 5th level, you can
also cast the darkness spell on ce per day. C harism a is
your sp ellcastin g ability for these spells.
Drow Weapon Training. You have proficiency with
rapiers, sh ortsw ords, and hand crossb ow s.
T he Da r k n ess o f t h e D row
Were it not for one renowned exception, the race o f drow
would be universally reviled. To most, they are a race of
demon-worshiping marauders dwelling in the subterranean
depths o f the Underdark, emerging only on the blackest
nights to pillage and slaughter the surface dwellers they
despise. Their society is depraved and preoccupied with the
favor of Lolth, their spider-goddess, who sanctions murder
and the extermination o f entire families as noble houses
vie for position.
Yet one drow, at least, broke the mold. In the world o f the
Forgotten Realms, Drizzt Do'Urden, ranger o f the North, has
proven his quality as a good-hearted defender o f the weak
and innocent. Rejecting his heritage and adrift in a world that
looks upon him with terror and loathing, Drizzt is a model
for those few drow who follow in his footsteps, trying to find
a life apart from the evil society o f their Underdark homes.
Drow grow up believing that surface-dwelling races are
inferior, worthless except as slaves. Drow who develop a
conscience or find it necessary to cooperate with members of
other races find it hard to overcome that prejudice, especially
when they are so often on the receiving end o f hatred.

H a l f l in g
R e g is t h e h a l f l i n g , t h e o n l y o n e o f h is k in d f o r
hundreds of miles in any direction, locked hisfingers be-
hind his head and leaned back against the mossy blanket
of the tree trunk. Regis was short, even by the standards
of his diminutive race, with thefluff o f his curly brown
locks barely cresting the three-foot mark, but his belly was
amply thickened by his love of a good meal, or several, as
the opportunities presented themselves. The crooked stick
that served as his fishing pole rose up above him, clenched
between two of his toes, and hung out over the quiet lake,
mirrored perfectly in the glassy surface o f Maer Dualdon.
—R.A. S a lvatore, The Crystal Shard
liv e s : a p lace to s e ttle in p e a ce and quiet, far from
m arauding m on sters and clashing arm ies; a blazing fire
and a generous m eal; fine drink and fine conversation.
T hough som e halflings live out their days in rem ote
agricultural com m u n ities, others form n om ad ic bands
that travel constantly, lured by the open road and the
w ide h orizon to d iscov er the w on d ers o f n ew lands and
peop les. But even th ese w an derers love p ea ce, food,
hearth, and hom e, though h om e m ight be a w agon
jostlin g along an dirt road or a raft floating dow nriver.
Sm all an d P r a c t i c a l
T h e dim inutive halflings survive in a w orld full o f larger
creatu res by avoiding n otice or, barring that, avoiding
offense. Standing about 3 feet tall, they appear relatively
h arm less and s o have m anaged to survive for centuries
in the sh ad ow o f em pires and on the edg es o f w ars and
political strife. They are in clined to be stout, w eighing
betw een 40 and 45 pounds.
H alflings’ skin ran ges from tan to pale with a ruddy
cast, and their hair is usually b row n or sandy brow n
and wavy. T h ey have brow n or h azel eyes. H alfling m en
often sport lon g sideburns, but bea rd s are rare am ong
them and m ustaches even m ore so. They like to w ear
sim ple, com fortable, and practical clothes, favoring
bright colors.
H alfling practicality extends beyon d their clothing.
T h ey ’re c on cern ed w ith basic n eed s and sim ple
p leasu res and have little u se for ostentation. Even the
w ealthiest o f halflings keep their treasures lock ed in a
cellar rather than on display for all to see. Th ey have
a knack for finding the m ost straightforw ard solution
to a problem , and have little patience for dithering.
K in d a n d C u r io u s
H alflings are an affable and cheerful people. They
cherish the bon ds o f fam ily and friendship as well
as the com forts o f hearth and hom e, h arboring few
dream s o f gold or glory. Even adventurers am ong
them usually venture into the w orld for reason s o f

com m unity, friendship, w anderlust, or curiosity. They
love d iscoverin g n ew things, even sim ple things, such
as an exotic fo o d or an unfam iliar style o f clothing.
H alflings are easily m oved to pity and hate to see any
living thing suffer. Th ey are generous, happily sharing
w hat they have even in lean tim es.
B lend in to th e C row d
H alflings are adept at fitting into a com m u n ity o f
hum ans, dw arves, or elves, m aking them selves valuable
and w elcom e. T h e com bination o f their inherent stealth
and their u nassum ing nature helps halflings to avoid
unw anted attention.
H alflings w ork readily w ith others, and they are loyal
to their friends, w hether halfling or oth erw ise. Th ey can
display rem arkable ferocity w hen their friends, fam ilies,
or com m u n ities are threatened.
Pa s t o r a l P l e a s a n t r i e s
M ost halflings live in sm all, p ea cefu l com m u n ities with
large farm s and w ell-kept groves. They rarely build
kin gdom s o f their ow n or even hold m uch land beyond
their quiet shires. T h ey typically don ’t r ecog n ize any
sort o f halfling nobility or royalty, instead look in g to
fam ily elders to guide them. Fam ilies preserve their
traditional w ays despite the rise and fall o f em pires.
M any h alflings live am ong other races, w h ere the
halflings’ hard w ork and loyal ou tlook offer them
abundant rew ards and creature com forts. S o m e halfling
com m u n ities travel as a w ay o f life, driving w ag on s or
guiding boats from pla ce to place and m aintaining no
perm anent hom e.
A ffa b le a n d Po s it iv e
Halflings try to get along with everyone else and are loath to
make sweeping generalizations— especially negative ones.
Dwarves. “ Dwarves make loyal friends, and you can count
on them to keep their word. But would it hurt them to smile
once in a while?”
Elves. "They’re so beautiful! Their faces, their music, their
grace and all. It’s like they stepped out o f a wonderful dream.
But there’s no telling what’s going on behind their smiling
faces— surely more than they ever let on.”
Humans. “ Humans are a lot like us, really. At least some
o f them are. Step out of the castles and keeps, go talk to the
farmers and herders and you’ ll find good, solid folk. Not that
there’s anything wrong with the barons and soldiers— you
have to admire their conviction. And by protecting their own
lands, they protect us as well.”
Ex plo r in g O ppo r tu n ities
H alflings usually set out on the adventurer’s path to
defend their com m u n ities, support their friends, or
explore a w id e and w onder-filled w orld. For them,
adventuring is less a career than an opportunity or
som etim es a necessity.
H alflin g N am es
A halfling has a given nam e, a fam ily nam e, and possibly
a nicknam e. Fam ily n am es are often n ick n am es that
stuck so tenaciously they have been p a ssed dow n
through the generations.
Male Names: Alton, Ander, Cade, Corrin, Eldon, Errich,
Finnan, Garret, Lindal, Lyle, M erric, M ilo, O sborn,
Perrin, R eed, R o s co e , W ellby
Female Names: Andry, Bree, Callie, Cora, Euphem ia,
Jillian, Kithri, Lavinia, Lidda, Merla, N edda, Paela,
Portia, Seraphina, Shaena, Trym , Vani, Verna
Family Names: Brushgather, G oodbarrel, G reenbottle,
High-hill, Hilltopple, Leagallow , Tealeaf, T horngage,
T osscob ble, U nderbough
H a l f l in g T r aits
Your halfling character has a num ber o f traits in
co m m o n with all other halflings.
Ability Score Increase. Y our D exterity sco re
in creases by 2.
Age. A halfling reach es adulthood at the age of
20 and generally lives into the m iddle o f his or her
se co n d century.
Alignment. M ost halflings are law ful g ood. A s a rule,
they are good-hearted and kind, hate to see others in
pain, and have n o tolerance for op pression . Th ey are
also very orderly and traditional, leaning heavily on
the support o f their com m u n ity and the com fort o f
their old ways.
Size. H alflings average about 3 feet tall and w eigh
about 40 pou nds. Your size is Sm all.
Speed. Your base w alkin g sp eed is 25 feet.
Lucky. W h en you roll a 1 on an attack roll, ability
check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must
u se the n ew roll.
Brave. You have advantage on saving throw s against
bein g frightened.
Halfling Nimbleness. You can m ove through the
sp ace o f any creature that is o f a size larger than yours.
Languages. You can speak, read, and w rite C om m on
and Halfling. T h e H alfling language isn’t secret, but
h alflings are loath to share it w ith others. Th ey write
very little, so they don ’t have a rich b od y o f literature.
T h eir oral tradition, however, is very strong. A lm ost all
h alflings sp ea k C om m on to con verse w ith the p eople
in w h ose lands they dw ell or through w h ich they
are traveling.
Subrace. The tw o m ain kinds o f halfling, lightfoot and
stout, are m ore like closely related fam ilies than true
su braces. C h oose on e o f these subraces.
L ig h t f o o t
A s a lightfoot halfling, you can easily hide from notice,
even using other p eop le as cover. Y ou’re inclined to be
affable and get along w ell with others. In the Forgotten
R ealm s, lightfoot halflings have spread the farthest and
thus are the m ost co m m o n variety.
L ightfoots are m ore prone to w anderlust than other
halflings, and often dw ell alongside other races or take
up a n om adic life. In the w orld o f G reyhawk, th ese
halflings are called hairfeet or tallfellows.
Ability Score Increase. Your C harism a score
in creases by 1.
Naturally Stealthy. You can attempt to hide even
w hen you are ob scu red only by a creature that is at least
o n e size larger than you.
St o u t
A s a stout halfling, you ’re hardier than average and have
so m e resistan ce to p oison . S o m e say that stouts have
dw arven blood. In the Forgotten R ealm s, th ese halflings
are called stronghearts, and they’re m ost com m on
in the south.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution sco re
in creases by 1.
Stout Resilience. You have advantage on saving
th row s against p oison , and you have resistan ce
against p oison dam age.
Human
T h e s e w e r e t h e s t o r ie s o f a r e s t l e s s p e o p l e w h o

long ago took to the seas and rivers in longboats, first to

pillage and terrorize, then to settle. Yet there was an energy,
a love of adventure, that sangfrom every page. Long into
the night Uriel read, lighting candle after precious candle.
She'd never given much thought to humans, but these
stories fascinated her. In theseyellowed pages were tales of
bold heroes, strange andfierce animals, mighty primitive gods,
and a magic that was part and fabric of that distant land.
—E lain e C u n n in g h a m , Daughter of the Drow

In the reck on in gs o f m ost w orlds, hum ans are the

youngest o f the co m m o n races, late to arrive on the
w orld scen e and short-lived in com p a rison to dw arves,
elves, and dragons. Perhaps it is b eca u se o f their shorter
lives that they strive to achieve as m uch as they can in
the y ears they are given. Or m aybe they feel they have
som eth in g to prove to the elder races, and that’s w hy
they build their m ighty em pires on the foundation o f
con q u est and trade. W hatever drives them, hum ans
are the innovators, the achievers, and the pion eers
o f the w orlds.
A Broad Spectrum
W ith their penchant for m igration and conquest,
hum ans are m ore physically diverse than other com m on
races. T h ere is n o typical hum an. A n individual can
stand from 5 feet to a little over 6 feet tall and w eigh
from 125 to 250 pou nd s. H um an skin sh ades range
from nearly black to very pale, and hair c o lo rs from
black to blond (curly, kinky, or straight); m ales might
sp ort facial hair that is sp arse or thick. A lot o f hum ans
have a dash o f nonhum an blood, revealing hints o f elf,
o r c , or other lineages. H um ans reach adulthood in their
late teens and rarely live even a single century.
V a r ie t y in A l l T h i n g s
H um ans are the m ost adaptable and am bitious p eople
am ong the com m on races. Th ey have w idely varying
tastes, m orals, and custom s in the m any different lands
w here they have settled. W h en they settle, though,
they stay: they build cities to last for the ages, and
great kin gdom s that can persist for long centuries. A n
individual hum an m ight have a relatively short life span,
but a hum an nation or culture p reserves traditions
w ith origins far beyon d the reach o f any single hum an’s
m em ory. They live fully in the present—m akin g them
w ell suited to the adventuring life—but also plan for the
future, striving to leave a lasting legacy. Individually and
as a group, hum ans are adaptable opportunists, and
they stay alert to changin g political and socia l dynam ics.
 E v e r y o n e ’s S e c o n d - B e s t F r i e n d s
Just as readily as they mix with each other, humans mingle
with members o f other races. They get along with almost
everyone, though they might not be close to many. Humans
serve as ambassadors, diplomats, magistrates, merchants,
and functionaries o f all kinds.
Dwarves. “They’re stout folk, stalwart friends, and true to
their word. Their greed for gold is their downfall, though.”
Elves. “ It’s best not to wander into elven woods. They don't
like intruders, and you’ll as likely be bewitched as peppered
with arrows. Still, if an elf can get past that damned racial
pride and actually treat you like an equal, you can learn a lot
from them.”
Halflings. "It’s hard to beat a meal in a halfling home, as
long as you don’t crack your head on the ceiling— good food
and good stories in front o f a nice, warm fire. If halflings had
a shred o f ambition, they might really amount to something.”
L a s t in g In s t it u t io n s
W h ere a single elf or dw arf m ight take on the
respon sibility o f guarding a sp ecia l location or a
pow erfu l secret, hum ans found sacred orders and
institutions for such p u rp oses. W h ile dw arf clans and
halfling elders pass on the ancient traditions to each
n ew generation, hum an tem ples, governm ents, libraries,
and c o d e s o f law fix their traditions in the b e d ro ck o f
history. H um ans dream o f im m ortality, but (except for
th ose few w h o seek undeath or divine ascen sion to
esca p e death’s clutches) they achieve it by en su ring that
they w ill be rem em b ered w hen they are gone.
Although som e hum ans ca n b e xenoph obic, in
general their societies are inclusive. H um an lands
w elcom e large num bers o f nonh u m an s com pa red to the
p roportion o f hum ans w h o live in nonhum an lands.
Ex em plar s of A m bitio n
H um ans w h o seek adventure are the m ost daring and
am bitious m em bers o f a daring and am bitious race.
Th ey seek to earn glory in the eyes o f their fellow s
by am assin g pow er, w ealth, and fam e. M ore than
other people, hum ans cham pion cau ses rather than
territories or groups.
H u m a n N am es a n d Eth n icitie s
Having s o m uch m ore variety than other cultures,
hum ans as a w hole have no typical nam es. S o m e hum an
parents give their children n am es from other languages,
such as D w arvish or Elvish (p ron ou n ced m ore or less
correctly), but m ost parents give n am es that are linked
to their region ’s culture or to the n am ing traditions o f
their ancestors.
The material culture and physical characteristics
o f hum ans can change w ildly from region to region.
In the Forgotten R ealm s, for exam ple, the clothing,
architecture, cuisine, m usic, and literature are different
in the northw estern lands o f the Silver M arch es than
in distant Turm ish or Im piltur to the east—and even
m ore distinctive in far-off Kara-Tur. H um an physical
characteristics, though, vary accord in g to the ancient
m igrations o f the earliest hum ans, s o that the hum ans
o f the Silver M arch es have every p ossib le variation o f
coloration and features.
In the Forgotten R ealm s, nine hum an ethnic groups
are w idely r ecog n ized , though over a d ozen others are
found in m ore localized areas o f Faerun. T h ese groups,
and the typical n am es o f their m em bers, can be u sed as
inspiration no m atter w hich w orld your hum an is in.
C a l is h it e
Sh orter and slighter in build than m ost other hum ans,
Calishites have dusky brow n skin, hair, and eyes.
T h ey’re found prim arily in southw est Faerun.
Calishite Names: (M ale) Aseir, Bardeid, Haseid,
K hem ed, M ehm en, Sudeim an, Z asheir; (female)
Atala, Ceidil, Ham a, Jasmal, Meilil, Seipora, Yasheira,
Zasheida; (surnam es) Basha, D um ein, Jassan, Khalid,
M ostana, Pashar, Rein
C hondathan
Chondathans are slender, tawny-skinned folk with
brow n hair that ranges from alm ost blond to alm ost
black. M ost are tall and have green or brow n eyes,
but these traits are hardly universal. H um ans o f
Chondathan d escen t dom inate the central lands o f
Faerun. around the Inner Sea.
Chondathan Names: (M ale) Darvin, D orn, Evendur,
G orstag, Grim , H elm , Malark, M orn, Randal,
Stedd; (fem ale) A rveen e, Esvele, Jhessail, Kerri,
Lureene, Miri, R ow an, Shandri, Tessele; (surnam es)
A m blecrow n , B uckm an, D undragon, E venw ood,
G reycastle, Tallstag
Dam aran
Found prim arily in the n orthw est o f Faerun, D am arans
are o f m oderate height and build, w ith skin hues
ranging from tawny to fair. Th eir hair is usually brow n
or black, and their eye c o lo r varies widely, though brow n
is m ost com m on .
Damaran Names: (M ale) Bor, Fodel, Glar, Grigor,
Igan, Ivor, K osef, Mival, Orel, Pavel, S ergor; (female)
Alethra, Kara, Katernin, Mara, Natali, Olma, Tana,
Zora; (surnam es) Bersk, Chernin, Dotsk, Kulenov,
M arsk, N em etsk, Shem ov, Starag
Illu sk a n
Illuskans are tall, fair-skinned folk with blue or steely
gray eyes. M ost have raven-black hair, but those w ho
inhabit the extrem e northwest have blond, red, or
light brow n hair.
Illuskan Names: (M ale) Ander, Blath, Bran, Frath,
Geth, Lander, Luth, M alcer, Stor, Taman, Urth;
(fem ale) Am afrey, Betha, Cefrey, Kethra, Mara, Olga,
Silifrey, W estra; (surnam es) B rightw ood, Helder,
H ornraven, Lackm an, Storm w ind, W indrivver
M ulan
D om inant in the eastern and southeastern sh ores o f
the Inner Sea, the Mulan are generally tall, slim , and
am ber-skinned, with eyes o f hazel or brow n. T heir hair
ranges from black to dark brow n, but in the lands w here
the M ulan are m ost prom inent, n obles and m any other
Mulan shave o ff all their hair.
Mulan Names: (M ale) Aoth, Bareris, Ehput-Ki,
Kethoth, M um ed, R am as, So-K ehur, T hazar-D e,
Urhur; (female) Arizim a, Chathi, Nephis, Nulara,
Murithi, S efris, Thola, Umara, Z olis; (surnam es)
Ankhalab, Anskuld, Fezim , Hahpet, Nathandem,
Sepret, Uuthrakt
R ash em i
M ost often found east o f the Inner S e a and often
interm ingled with the M ulan, R a sh em is tend to b e short,
stout, and m uscular. They usually have dusky skin, dark
eyes, and thick black hair.
Rashem i Names: (M ale) Borivik, Faurgar, Jandar,
Kanithar, M adislak, R alm evik, Shaum ar, Vladislak;
(fem ale) Fyevarra, H ulm arra, Im m ith, Imzel,
Navarra, Shevarra, Tam mith. Yuldra; (surnam es)
Chergoba, D yernina, Iltazyara, Murnyethara,
Stayanoga, U lm okina
Sh o u
Th e Sh ou are the m ost num erou s and pow erfu l ethnic
group in Kara-Tur, far to the east o f Faerun. T h ey are
yellow ish -bron ze in hue, with black hair and dark
eyes. S h ou su rnam es are usually presented before
the given nam e.
Shou Names: (M ale) An, Chen, Chi, Fai, Jiang, Jun,
Lian, Long, M eng, On, Shan, Shui, W en; (female)
Bai, Chao, Jia, Lei, Mei, Qiao, Shui, Tai; (surnam es)
Chien, Huang, Kao, Kung, Lao, Ling, Mei, Pin, Shin,
Sum , Tan, W an
T e t h y r ia n
W id espread along the entire S w ord C oast at the
w estern edge o f Faerun, Tethyrians are o f m edium build
and height, w ith dusky skin that tends to g row fairer
the farther north they dwell. Their hair and eye color
varies widely, but brow n hair and blue eyes are the m ost
com m on . Tethyrians prim arily use C hondathan nam es.
Tu ram i
Native to the southern sh ore o f the Inner S ea , the
Turami p eop le are generally tall and m uscular, with
dark m ahogany skin, curly black hair, and dark eyes.
Turami Names: (M ale) Anton, D iero, M arcon, Pieron,
R im ardo, R om ero, Salazar, U m bero; (fem ale) Balam a,
D ona, Faila, Jalana, Luisa, Marta, Quara, Selise,
Vonda; (surnam es) A gosto, A storio, Calabra, D om ine,
Falone, M arivaldi, Pisacar, R a m on d o
H um an T r a it s
It’s hard to m ake generalizations about hum ans, but
your hum an character has th ese traits.
Ability Score Increase. Your ability sc o r e s each
in crease by 1.
Age. H um ans reach adulthood in their late teens and
live less than a century.
Alignment. H um ans tend tow ard no
particular alignm ent. T h e best and the w orst are
found am ong them.
Size. H um ans vary w idely in height and build, from
barely 5 feet to w ell over 6 feet tall. R egardless o f your
position in that range, your size is M edium .
Speed. Your ba se w alk in g sp eed is 30 feet.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write C om m on
and on e extra language o f your ch oice. H um ans typically
learn the languages o f other p eop les they deal with,
including o b scu re dialects. They are fond o f sprinkling
their sp eech w ith w ord s b orrow ed from other tongues:
O rc cu rses, Elvish m usical expression s, D w arvish
m ilitary phrases, and so on.
Va r ia n t H u m a n T r a it s
If your campaign uses the optional feat rules from chapter 5,
your Dungeon Master might allow these variant traits, all of
which replace the human’s Ability Score Increase trait.

D ragonborn
H e r f a t h e r s t o o d o n t h e f i r s t o f t h e t h r e e s t a ir s
that led down from the portal, unmoving. The scales of his
face had grown paler around the edges, but Clanless Mehen
still looked as if he could wrestle down a dire bear him-
self. Hisfamiliar well-worn armor was gone, replaced by
violet-tinted scale armor with bright silvery tracings. There
was a blazon on his arm as well, the mark of some foreign
house. The sword at his back was the same, though, the one
he had carried since even before he hadfound the twins left
in swaddling at the gates o f Arush Vayem.
father’sface was a skill she'd been fortunate to learn. A
human who couldn’t spot the shift of her eyes or Havilar’s
would certainly see only the indifference of a dragon in
Clanless Mehen’sface. But the shift of scales, the arch of a
ridge, the set of his eyes, the gape of his teeth—herfather's
face spoke volumes.
But every scale of it, this time, seemed completely still—
the indifference of a dragon, even to Farideh.
—E rin M . Evans, The Adversary
B orn o f dragons, as their nam e p roclaim s, the
dragonborn w alk proudly through a w orld that greets
them with fearful in com prehen sion . S h a ped by d racon ic
g od s or the dragons them selves, dragonborn originally
hatched from dragon eggs as a unique race, com bin in g
the best attributes o f dragons and hum anoids. S o m e
dragonborn are faithful servants to true dragons, others
form the ranks o f soldiers in great w ars, and still others
find them selves adrift, with no clear calling in life.
P r o u d D r a g o n K in
D ragon born look very m uch like dragons standing erect
in hum anoid form , though they lack w in gs or a tail. The
first dragonborn had sca les o f vibrant hues m atching
the colors o f their dragon kin, but generations o f
interbreeding have created a m ore uniform appearance.
Their sm all, fine sca les are usually brass or bron ze
in color, som etim es ranging to scarlet, rust, gold, or
copper-green. T h ey are tall and strongly built, often
standing clo se to 6 1/2 feet tall and w eigh in g 3 0 0 pou nds
or m ore. T heir hands and feet are strong, talonlike
claw s w ith three fingers and a thum b on each hand.
T h e b lood o f a particular type o f dragon runs
very strong through so m e dragonborn clans. T h ese
dragonborn often boast sca les that m ore closely m atch
th ose o f their dragon a n cestor—bright red, green, blue,
or white, lustrous black, or gleam ing m etallic gold,
silver, brass, copper, or bronze.

Self-S u fficien t C lan s
To any dragonborn , the clan is m ore im portant than
life itself. D ragon born ow e their devotion and respect
to their clan above all else, even the gods. Each
dragon b orn ’s con du ct reflects on the h on or o f his or her
clan, and brin ging dishon or to the clan can result in
expulsion and exile. E ach dragonborn k n ow s his or her
station and duties w ithin the clan, and h on or dem ands
m aintaining the b ou n ds o f that position.
A continual drive for self-im provem ent reflects the
self-sufficiency o f the race as a w hole. D ragon born value
skill and excellen ce in all endeavors. T h ey hate to fail,
and they push th em selves to extrem e efforts b efore they
give up on som ething. A d ragonborn holds m astery o f
a particular skill as a lifetim e goal. M em bers o f other
races w h o share the sam e com m itm en t find it easy to
earn the resp ect o f a dragonborn.
T h ough all dragonborn strive to b e self-sufficient,
they recog n ize that help is som etim es n eeded in difficult
situations. But the best so u rce for such help is the
clan, and w hen a clan n eeds help, it turns to another
dragonborn clan b efore seek in g aid from other ra ce s—
or even from the gods.
D ragonborn Names
D ra gon born have person al n am es given at birth,
but they put their clan n am es first as a m ark o f
honor. A ch ild h ood nam e or nickn am e is often used
am ong clutchm ates as a descriptive term or a term
o f endearm ent. T h e nam e m ight recall an event or
center on a habit.
Male Names: Arjhan, Balasar, Bharash, D onaar, Ghesh.
H eskan, Kriv, M edrash, M ehen, Nadarr, Pandjed,
Patrin, Rhogar, Sham ash, Sh edinn, Tarhun, Torinn
Female Names: Akra, Biri, Daar, Farideh, Harann,
Flavilar, Jheri, Kava, K orinn, M ishann, Nala, Perra,
Raiann, Sora, Surina, Thava, Uadjit
U n c o m m o n Ra ces
The dragonborn and the rest o f the races in this chapter are
uncommon. They don’t exist in every world of D&D, and
even where they are found, they are less widespread than
dwarves, elves, halflings, and humans.
In the cosmopolitan cities o f the D&D multiverse, most
people hardly look twice at members of even the most
exotic races. But the small towns and villages that dot
the countryside are different. The common folk aren’t
accustomed to seeing members o f these races, and they
react accordingly.
Dragonborn. It’s easy to assume that a dragonborn is a
monster, especially if his or her scales betray a chromatic
heritage. Unless the dragonborn starts breathing fire and
causing destruction, though, people are likely to respond
with caution rather than outright fear.
Gnome. Gnomes don’t look like a threat and can quickly
disarm suspicion with good humor. The common folk are
often curious about gnomes, likely never having seen one
before, but they are rarely hostile or fearful.
Half-Elf. Although many people have never seen a half-elf,
virtually everyone knows they exist. A half-elf stranger’s
arrival is followed by gossip behind the half-elf's back and
stolen glances across the common room, rather than any
confrontation or open curiosity.
Half-Orc. It’s usually safe to assume that a half-orc is
belligerent and quick to anger, so people watch themselves
around an unfamiliar half-orc. Shopkeepers might
surreptitiously hide valuable or fragile goods when a half-orc
comes in, and people slowly clear out o f a tavern, assuming a
fight will break out soon.
Tiefling. Half-orcs are greeted with a practical caution, but
tieflings are the subject o f supernatural fear. The evil o f their
heritage is plainly visible in their features, and as far as most
people are concerned, a tiefling could very well be a devil
straight from the Nine Hells. People might make warding
signs as a tiefling approaches, cross the street to avoid
passing near, or bar shop doors before a tiefling can enter.
Childhood Nam es: Clim ber, Earbender, Leaper, Pious, D r a c o n ia n s
Shieldbiter, Z ea lou s in the Dragonlance setting, the followers o f the evil goddess
Clan Nam es: Clethtinthiallor, D aardendrian, D elm irev, Takhisis learned a dark ritual that let them corrupt the
D rachedandion, Fenkenkabradon, K epesh km olik, eggs o f metallic dragons, producing evil dragonborn called
Kerrhylon, K im batuul, Linxakasendalor, Myastan, draconians. Five types o f draconians, corresponding to the
N em m onis, N orixius, Ophinshtalajiir, Prexijandilin, five types o f metallic dragons, fought for Takhisis in the War
o f the Lance: auraks (gold), baaz (brass), bozak (bronze),
Shestendeliath, Turnuroth, Verthisathurgiesh, Yarjerit
kapak (copper), and sivak (silver). In place o f their draconic
breath weapons, they have unique magical abilities.
D r a g o n b o r n T r a it s
Your d racon ic heritage m anifests in a variety o f traits
Draconic Ancestry. You have d racon ic ancestry.
you share with other dragonborn.
C h oose on e type o f dragon from the D ra con ic A n cestry
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength sco re table. Your breath w eapon and dam age resistan ce are
in creases by 2, and your C harism a sco re in creases by 1.
determ ined by the dragon type, as sh ow n in the table.
Age. Y oung dragonborn grow quickly. T h ey w alk
Breath Weapon. Y ou can u se your action to exhale
hours after hatching, attain the size and developm ent
destructive energy. Your d racon ic an cestry determ ines
o f a 10-year-old hum an child by the age o f 3, and reach
the size, shape, and dam age type o f the exhalation.
adulthood by 15. T h ey live to be around 80.
W h en you u se your breath w eapon , each creature in
Alignment. D ragon born tend to extrem es, m akin g a the area o f the exhalation m ust m ake a saving throw,
co n s cio u s ch oice for on e side or the other in the co sm ic
the type o f w hich is determ ined by your dracon ic
w ar betw een g o o d and evil (represented by Bahamut
ancestry. T h e D C for this saving th row equals 8 +
and Tiamat, respectively). M ost dragonborn are good,
your Constitution m odifier + your proficiency bonus. A
but th ose w h o side with Tiam at can be terrible villains.
creature takes 2d6 dam age on a failed save, and half
Size. D ragon born are taller and heavier than hum ans,
as m uch dam age on a su ccessfu l one. T h e dam age
standing w ell over 6 feet tall and averaging alm ost 250
in creases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4 d 6 at 11th level, and 5d6
pou nds. Your size is M edium .
at 16th level.
Speed. Your b a se w alk in g sp eed is 30 feet. A fter you u se your breath w eapon , you c a n ’t u se it
again until you com plete a short or lon g rest.
D r a c o n ic A n c est r y
Damage Resistance. You have resistan ce to the
Dragon Damage Type Breath Weapon d am age type a ssocia ted w ith your dracon ic ancestry.
Black Acid 5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save) Languages. You can speak, read, and w rite C om m on
Blue Lightning 5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save) and D ra con ic. D ra con ic is thought to be on e o f the
Brass Fire 5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save) oldest languages and is often u sed in the study o f m agic.
Bronze Lightning 5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save) T h e language sou n d s harsh to m ost other creatu res and
includes num erou s hard con son a n ts and sibilants.
Copper Acid 5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
Cold Fire 15 ft. cone (Dex. save)
Green Poison 15 ft. cone (Con. save)
Red Fire 15 ft. cone (Dex. save)
Silver Cold 15 ft. cone (Con. save)
White Cold 15 ft. cone (Con. save)
G nome
Sk i n n y a n d f l a x e n - h a ir e d , h is s k in

walnut brown and his eyes a startling

turquoise, Burgell stood half as tall asAeron
climb up on a stool to look out the peephole. Like most hab-
itations in Oeble, that particular tenement had been built
for humans, and smaller residents coped with the resulting
awkwardness as best they could.
But at least the relative largeness of the apartment gave
Burgell room to pack in all his gnome-sized gear. The front
room was his workshop, and it contained a bewildering
miscellany of tools: hammers, chisels, saws, lockpicks, fair hair has a tendency to stick out in every direction,
as if expressing the gnom e’s insatiable interest in
tinted lenses, jeweler's loupes, and jars of powdered and
everything around.
shredded ingredients for casting spells. A fat gray cat, the A g n om e’s person ality is writ large in his or her
mage’s familiar, lay curled atop a grimoire. It opened its appearance. A m ale g n om e’s beard, in contrast to
eyes, gave Aeron a disdainfulyellow stare, then appeared his w ild hair, is kept carefully trim m ed but often
styled into cu riou s forks or neat points. A g n om e’s
to go back to sleep.
clothing, though usually m ade in m od est earth tones,
—R ich a r d L ee Byers, The Black Bouquet is elaborately d ecorated w ith em broidery, em bossin g,
or gleam ing jew els.
A constant hum o f busy activity p ervades the w arren s
and n eigh b orh ood s w h ere g n om es form their close- D elig h ted D ed icatio n
knit com m u n ities. L ou der sou n d s punctuate the hum:
A s far as g n om es are con cern ed , bein g alive is a
a cru n ch o f grinding gears here, a m inor explosion
w onderfu l thing, and they sq u eeze every o u n ce o f
there, a yelp o f su rprise or triumph, and esp ecially
enjoym ent out o f their three to five centuries o f life.
bursts o f laughter. G n om es take delight in life, enjoying
H um ans m ight w on d er about getting bored over the
every m om ent o f invention, exploration, investigation,
co u rse o f such a long life, and elves take plenty o f time
creation, and play.
to savor the beauties o f the w orld in their long years, but
g n om es seem to w orry that even w ith all that tim e, they
V ib r a n t E xpr essio n
ca n ’t get in en ough o f the things they w ant to do and see.
A g n om e’s en ergy and enthusiasm for living shines G n om es sp eak as if they ca n ’t get the thoughts
th rough every inch o f his or her tiny body. G n om es out o f their heads fast enough. Even as they offer
average slightly over 3 feet tall and w eigh 40 to 45 ideas and opin ion s on a range o f subjects, they still
pou nd s. T heir tan or brow n faces are usually adorn ed m anage to listen carefully to others, adding the
w ith broad sm iles (beneath their p rod ig iou s n oses), appropriate exclam ations o f su rprise and appreciation
and their bright eyes shine with excitement. Their along the way.

T h ough g n om es love jo k e s o f all kinds, particularly
puns and pranks, th ey’re ju st as dedicated to the m ore
seriou s tasks they undertake. M any g n om es are skilled
engineers, alchem ists, tinkers, and inventors. T h ey ’re
w illing to m ake m istakes and laugh at them selves in
the p r o ce s s o f perfectin g w hat they do, taking bold
(som etim es foolhardy) risks and dream in g large.
B rig h t B urrow s
G n om es m ake their h om es in hilly, w o o d e d lands. They
live underground but get m ore fresh air than dw arves
do, enjoying the natural, living w orld on the surface
w henever they can. T h eir h om es are w ell hidden by
both clever construction and sim ple illusions. W elcom e
visitors are quickly u sh ered into the bright, w arm
bu rrow s. T h ose w h o are not w elcom e are unlikely to
find the bu rrow s in the first place.
G n om es w h o settle in hum an lands are com m on ly
gem cutters, engineers, sages, or tinkers. S o m e hum an
fam ilies retain gnom e tutors, en su ring that their pupils
enjoy a m ix o f seriou s learning and delighted enjoym ent.
A gnom e m ight tutor several generations o f a single
hum an fam ily over the cou rse o f his or her long life.
G nome Names
G n om es love nam es, and m ost have h alf a d ozen or so.
A gnom e's mother, father, clan elder, aunts, and uncles
each give the gnom e a nam e, and various nick n am es
from ju st about everyone else m ight or m ight not stick
over time. G n om e n am es are typically variants on the
n am es o f an cestors or distant relatives, though som e
are purely n ew inventions. W h en dealing w ith hum ans
and others w h o are “stuffy” about nam es, a gnom e
learns to use no m ore than three nam es: a personal
nam e, a clan nam e, and a nicknam e, ch oosin g the on e in
each category that’s the m ost fun to say.
D eep G no m es
A third subrace o f gnomes, the deep gnomes (or svirfneblin),
live in small communities scattered in the Underdark. Unlike
the duergar and the drow, svirfneblin are as good as their
surface cousins. However, their humor and enthusiasm
are dampened by their oppressive environment, and their
inventive expertise is directed mostly toward stonework.
Male Nam es: Alston, Alvyn, B odd yn ock, B rocc, Burgell,
D im ble, Eldon, Erky, Fonkin, Frug, G erbo, G im ble,
Glim, Jebeddo, K ellen, N am foodle, Orryn, R oondar,
S ee b o , Sindri, W arryn, W renn, Z o o k
Female Names: B im pnottin, Breena, Caram ip, Carlin,
D onella, Duvam il, Ella, Ellyjobell, Ellyw ick, Lilli,
L oopm ottin, Lorilla, M ardnab, N issa, Nyx, Oda, Orla,
R oyw yn , Sham il, Tana, W ayw ocket, Zanna
Clan Names: Beren, D aergel, Folkor, G arrick, Nackle,
M urnig, Ningel, Raulnor, S ch ep p en , Tim bers, Turen
Nicknames: A leslosh, Ashhearth, Badger, Cloak,
D oublelock, Filchbatter, Fnipper, Ku, Nim , O neshoe,
P ock , Sparklegem , Stum bleduck
Seein g th e W orld
C urious and im pulsive, g n om es m ight take up
adventuring as a w ay to see the w orld or for the love
o f exploring. A s lovers o f gem s and other fine items,
som e g n om es take to adventuring as a quick, if
dangerous, path to wealth. R egardless o f w hat spurs
them to adventure, g n om es w h o adopt this w ay o f life
eke as m uch enjoym ent out o f it as they d o out o f any
other activity they undertake, som etim es to the great
annoyance o f their adventuring com pan ion s.
G n o m e T r aits
Y our gnom e character has certain characteristics in
co m m o n with all other gnom es.
Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence sco re
in creases by 2.
Age. G n om es m ature at the sam e rate hum ans do, and
m ost are expected to settle dow n into an adult life by
around age 40. Th ey ca n live 35 0 to alm ost 5 0 0 years.
Alignment. G n om es are m ost often g ood. T h ose w ho
tend tow ard law are sages, engineers, researchers,
sch olars, investigators, or inventors. T h o se w h o tend
tow ard ch a os are m instrels, tricksters, w anderers,
or fanciful jew elers. G n om es are good-hearted, and
 A lw ays A p p r e c ia t iv e Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution sco re
It’s rare for a gnome to be hostile or malicious unless he in creases by 1.
or she has suffered a grievous injury. Gnomes know that Artificer’s Lore. W h enever you m ake an Intelligence
most races don’t share their sense o f humor, but they enjoy (H istory) ch eck related to m agic item s, alchem ical
anyone's company just as they enjoy everything else they set objects, or tech n ological devices, you can add tw ice your
out to do. proficiency bonus, instead o f any p roficiency bon u s you
n orm ally apply.
even the tricksters am ong them are m ore playful Tinker. You have proficiency with artisan’s tools
than vicious. (tinker’s tools). U sing th ose tools, you can spend 1
Size. G n om es are betw een 3 and 4 feet tall and hour and 10 gp w orth o f m aterials to con stru ct a Tiny
average about 4 0 pou nds. Your size is Sm all. clock w ork device (AC 5, 1 hp). T h e device c e a se s
Speed. Your base w alkin g sp eed is 25 feet. to function after 24 h ours (unless you spend 1 hour
Darkvision. A ccu stom ed to life underground, you have repairing it to keep the device functioning), or w hen
su perior vision in dark and dim condition s. You can you use your action to dism antle it; at that tim e, you can
see in dim light w ithin 60 feet o f you as if it w ere bright reclaim the m aterials u sed to create it. You can have up
light, and in darkn ess as if it w ere dim light. You can't to three such devices active at a time.
discern color in darkness, only sh ad es o f gray. W h en you create a device, c h o o s e on e o f the
Gnome Cunning. You have advantage on all follow in g options:
Intelligence, W isdom , and C harism a saving throw s
Clockwork Toy. T h is toy is a clock w ork anim al, monster,
against m agic.
or person , such as a frog, m ou se, bird, dragon, or
Languages. You can speak, read, and w rite C om m on
soldier. W h en placed on the ground, the toy m oves
and G nom ish. T h e G nom ish language, w hich u ses the
5 feet a cro ss the ground on each o f your turns in a
D w arvish script, is ren ow n ed for its technical treatises
random direction. It m akes n oises as appropriate
and its catalogs o f k n ow led ge about the natural world.
to the creature it represents.
Subrace. Tw o su braces o f g n om es are found am ong
Fire Starter. The device p rod u ces a m iniature
the w orlds o f D & D : forest g n om es and rock gnom es.
flame, w hich you can use to light a candle,
C h oose one o f these subraces.
torch, or cam pfire. U sing the device
Forest G nome requ ires your action.
A s a forest gnom e, you have a natural knack for illusion Music Box. W h en open ed, this m u sic box
and inherent qu ick n ess and stealth. In the w orlds of plays a single son g at a m oderate volum e.
D&D, forest g n om es are rare and secretive. Th ey gather The b ox stops playing w hen it
in hidden com m u n ities in sylvan forests, usin g illusions reach es the s o n g ’s end or
and trickery to co n ce a l them selves from threats or w hen it is closed.
to m ask their esca p e should they be detected. Forest
g n om es tend to be friendly with other good-spirited
w ood la n d folk, and they regard elves and g o o d fey as
their m ost im portant allies. T h ese g n om es also befriend
sm all forest anim als and rely on them for inform ation
about threats that might prow l their lands.
Ability Score Increase. Your D exterity s co re
in creases by 1.
Natural Illusionist. You k n ow the minor illusion
cantrip. Intelligence is your spellcastin g ability for it.
Speak with Small Beasts. T h rou gh sou n d s and
gestures, you can com m u n icate sim ple ideas w ith Sm all
or sm aller beasts. Forest g n om es love anim als and often
keep squirrels, badgers, rabbits, m oles, w ood p eck ers,
and other creatures as beloved pets.

Rock G nome
A s a rock gnom e, you have a natural inventiveness and
h ardin ess beyon d that o f other g n om es. M ost gn om es
in the w orld s o f D & D are rock gnom es, including the
tinker g n om es o f the D ragon lance setting.

H a l f - E lf
F l in t s q u in t e d in t o t h e s e t t in g s u n . H e t h o u g h t
he saw the figure of a man striding up the path. Standing,
Flint drew back into the shadow of a tall pine to see better.
The man's walk was marked by an easy grace—an elvish
grace, Flint would have said;yet the man’s body had the
thickness and tight muscles of a human, while thefacial
hair was definitely humankind’s. All the dwarf could see
of the man’sface beneath a green hood was tan skin and a
brownish-red beard. A longbow was slung over one shoulder
and a sword hung at his leftside. He was dressed in soft
leather, carefully tooled in the intricate designs the elves
loved. But no elf in the world o f Krynn could grow a beard
. . . no elf, but. . .
“Tanis?” said Flint hesitantly as the man neared.
“The same.” The newcomer’s beardedface split in a wide
grin. He held open his arms and, before the dwarf could
stop him, engulfed Flint in a hug that lifted him off the
ground. The dwarf clasped his old friend close for a brief
instant, then, remembering his dignity, squirmed and freed
himselffrom the half-elf’s embrace.
—M a rg a ret W eis a n d T ra cy H ick m a n ,
Dragons of Autumn Twilight
W alking in tw o w orld s but truly b elon gin g to neither,
half-elves com bin e w hat som e say are the best qualities
o f their elf and hum an parents: hum an curiosity,
inventiveness, and am bition tem pered by the refined
sen ses, love o f nature, and artistic tastes o f the elves.
S o m e half-elves live am ong hum ans, set apart by their
em otion al and physical differences, w atching friends
and loved on es age w hile tim e barely tou ches them.
O thers live with the elves, g row in g restless as they
reach adulthood in the tim eless elven realm s, w hile
their peers continue to live as children. M any half-elves,
unable to fit into either society, c h o o s e lives o f solitary
w an dering or join w ith other misfits and ou tcasts in
the adventuring life.
O f Two W orlds
To hum ans, half-elves look like elves, and to elves, they
lo o k hum an. In height, they’re on par w ith both parents,
though they’re neither as slender as elves nor as broad
as hum ans. They range from under 5 feet to about 6 feet
tall, and from 100 to 180 pounds, w ith m en only slightly
taller and heavier than w om en . H alf-elf m en do have
facial hair, and som etim es g row b ea rd s to m ask their
elven ancestry. H alf-elven coloration and features lie
som ew h ere betw een their hum an and elf parents, and
thus sh ow a variety even m ore p ron ou n ced than that
found am ong either race. They tend to have the eyes
o f their elven parents.
 Exc ellen t A m bassad ors
Many half-elves learn at an early age to get along with
everyone, defusing hostility and finding common ground.
As a race, they have elven grace without elven aloofness and
human energy without human boorishness. They often make
excellent ambassadors and go-betweens (except between
elves and humans, since each side suspects the half-elf
o f favoring the other).

D iplo m ats or W an d er er s creative expression , dem onstrating neither love

H alf-elves have no lands o f their ow n, though they are
w elcom e in hum an cities and som ew h at less w elco m e
in elven forests. In large cities in region s w h ere elves
and hum ans interact often, half-elves are som etim es
n um erous en ough to form sm all com m u n ities o f their
ow n. T h ey enjoy the com pany o f other half-elves, the
only p eople w h o truly understand w hat it is to live
b etw een th ese tw o w orlds.
In m ost parts o f the w orld, though, half-elves are
u n com m on en ough that on e m ight live for years
w ithout m eetin g another. S o m e half-elves prefer to
avoid com pany altogether, w an dering the w ild s as
trappers, foresters, hunters, or adventurers and visiting
civilization only rarely. Like elves, they are driven by
the w anderlust that c o m e s o f their longevity. Others,
in contrast, th row th em selves into the thick o f society,
putting their charism a and socia l skills to great use
in diplom atic roles or as sw indlers.
o f leaders nor desire for follow ers. They chafe at
rules, resent oth ers’ dem ands, and som etim es prove
unreliable, or at least unpredictable.
Size. H alf-elves are about the sam e size as hum ans,
ranging from 5 to 6 feet tall. Your size is M edium .
Speed. Your base w alkin g sp eed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. T h an ks to your elf blood, you have
su perior vision in dark and dim condition s. You can
see in dim light within 60 feet o f you as if it w ere bright
light, and in darkn ess as if it w ere dim light. You ca n ’t
discern color in darkness, only sh ades o f gray.
Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throw s
against bein g charm ed, and m agic ca n ’t put you to sleep.
Skill Versatility. You gain proficiency in tw o skills
o f your choice.
Languages. You can speak, read, and w rite C om m on ,
Elvish, and on e extra language o f your ch oice.

H a l f -E lf N am es
H alf-elves use either hum an or elven nam ing
conventions. A s if to em phasize that they d on ’t really fit
in to either society, half-elves raised am ong hum ans are
often given elven nam es, and th ose raised am ong elves
often take hum an nam es.

H a l f -E lf T r a it s
Your half-elf character has som e qualities in com m on
w ith elves and som e that are unique to half-elves.
Ability Score Increase. Your C harism a score
in creases by 2, and tw o other ability s co re s o f your
ch oice in crease by 1.
Age. Half-elves m ature at the sam e rate hum ans
d o and reach adulthood around the age o f 20. They
live m uch longer than hum ans, however, often
ex ceed in g 180 years.
Alignment. H alf-elves share the chaotic bent o f their
elven heritage. Th ey value both person al freed om and

T h e w a r c h ie f M h u r r e n r o u s e d h im s e l f f r o m h is
sleeping-furs and his women and pulled a short hauberk
of heavy steel rings over his thick, well-muscled torso. He
usually rose before most of his warriors, since he had a
strong streak of human blood in him, and he found the
daylight less bothersome than most of his tribe did. Among
the Bloody Skulls, a warrior wasjudged by his strength, his
fierceness, and his wits. Human ancestry was no blemish
against a warrior—provided he was every bit as strong,
enduring, and bloodthirsty as hisfull-blooded kin. Half-
orcs who were weaker than their orc comrades didn't last
long among the Bloody Skulls or any other orc tribe for
that matter. But it was often true that a bit of human blood
gave a warriorjust the right mix of cunning, ambition, and
self-discipline to go far indeed, as Mhurren had. He was
master of a tribe that could muster two thousand spears,
and the strongest chief in Thar.
—R ich a r d Baker, Swordmage
W h eth er united under the leadership o f a m ighty
w arlock or having fought to a standstill after years
o f conflict, o r c and hum an tribes som etim es form
alliances, join in g forces into a larger horde to the terror
o f civilized lands nearby. W h en th ese alliances are
sea led by m arriages, h alf-orcs are born. S o m e h alf-orcs
rise to b e c o m e proud chiefs o f o rc tribes, their hum an
b lood giving them an edge over their fu ll-blooded o rc
rivals. S o m e venture into the w orld to prove their w orth
am ong hum ans and other m ore civilized races. M any o f
these b e c o m e adventurers, achieving greatness for their
m ighty d eed s and notoriety for their barbaric custom s
and savage fury.
S c a r r e d a n d St r o n g
H alf-orcs’ grayish pigm entation, slopin g foreheads,
jutting ja w s, prom inent teeth, and tow ering builds m ake
their orcish heritage plain for all to see. H alf-orcs stand
betw een 6 and 7 feet tall and usually w eigh betw een
180 and 2 5 0 pounds.
Orc s regard battle sca rs as tokens o f pride and
ornam ental sca rs as things o f beauty. Other scars,
though, m ark an orc or h alf-orc as a form er slave or
a disgraced exile. Any half-orc w h o has lived am ong
or near orc s has scars, w hether they are m arks o f
hum iliation or o f pride, recou ntin g their past exploits
and injuries. Such a half-orc living am ong hum ans might
display these scars proudly or hide them in sham e.
T he M a r k of G ruum sh
T h e on e-eyed god G ruum sh created the orc s, and even
th ose orc s w h o turn away from his w orsh ip ca n ’t fully
esca p e his influence. T h e sa m e is true o f half-orcs,
though their hum an b lood m od erates the im pact o f their
orcish heritage. S om e h alf-orcs hear the w h isp ers o f
G ruum sh in their dream s, calling them to unleash the
rage that sim m ers w ithin them . O thers feel G ru u m sh ’s

exultation w h en they join in m elee com bat—and either
exult along w ith him or shiver w ith fear and loathing.
H alf-orcs are not evil by nature, but evil d o e s lurk w ithin
them , w hether they em brace it or rebel against it.
B eyond the rage o f G ruum sh, h alf-orcs feel em otion
pow erfully. R a ge d oesn ’t ju st quicken their pulse, it
m akes their b od ies burn. A n insult stings like acid,
and sa d n ess saps their strength. But they laugh loudly
and heartily, and sim ple b od ily p lea su res—feasting,
drinking, w restling, drum m ing, and w ild dancing—fill
their hearts w ith joy. Th ey tend to be short-tem pered
and som etim es sullen, m ore in clined to action than
contem plation and to fighting than arguing. T h e m ost
accom p lish ed h alf-orcs are th ose w ith en ough self-
con trol to get by in a civilized land.
T ribes a n d Slu m s
H alf-orcs m ost often live a m on g orc s. O f the other races,
hum ans are m ost likely to a ccept half-orcs, and half-
orcs alm ost always live in hum an lands w hen not living
am ong orc tribes. W h eth er proving th em selves am ong
rough barbarian tribes or scrabblin g to survive in the
slum s o f larger cities, h alf-orcs get by on their physical
might, their endurance, and the sh eer determ ination
they inherit from their hum an ancestry.
H a l f - O rc N a m e s
H alf-orcs usually have n am es appropriate to the culture
in w h ich they w ere raised. A h alf-orc w h o w ants to fit in
am ong hum ans might trade an o r c nam e for a hum an
nam e. S o m e h alf-orcs w ith hum an n am es decide to
adopt a guttural o r c n am e b eca u se they think it m akes
them m ore intim idating.
Male Orc Names: D ench, Feng, Gell, Henk, H olg, Imsh,
Keth, K rusk, M hurren, Ront, Shum p, T h ok k
Female O rc Names: Baggi, Em en, Engong, Kansif,
Myev, N eega, Ovak, O w nka, Shautha, Sutha, Vola,
Volen, Yevelda
H a l f - O rc T r a it s
Y our h alf-orc character has certain traits deriving from
your ore ancestry.
hate orcs. Some are reserved, trying not to draw attention to
themselves. A few demonstrate piety and good-heartedness
as publicly as they can (whether or not such demonstrations
are genuine). And some simply try to be so tough that others
just avoid them.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score
in creases by 2, and your Constitution sco re
in creases by 1.
Age. H alf-orcs m ature a little faster than hum ans,
reachin g adulthood around age 14. Th ey age
noticeably faster and rarely live longer than 75 years.
Alignment. H alf-orcs inherit a tendency toward ch a os
from their orc parents and are not strongly inclined
tow ard g ood. H alf-orcs raised am ong ores and w illing
to live out their lives am ong them are usually evil.
Size. H alf-orcs are som ew h at larger and bulkier than
hum ans, and they range from 5 to w ell over 6 feet tall.
Your size is M edium .
Speed. Your base w alk in g sp eed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. T h an ks to your o r c blood, you have
su perior vision in dark and dim condition s. You can
see in dim light w ithin 60 feet o f you as if it w ere bright
light, and in darkn ess as if it w ere dim light. You can't
discern color in darkness, only sh ades o f gray.
Menacing. You gain proficiency in the
Intim idation skill.
Relentless Endurance. W h en you are redu ced to
0 hit points but n ot k illed outright, you can drop to 1 hit
point instead. You ca n ’t use this feature again until you
finish a lon g rest.
Savage Attacks. W h en you sco re a critical hit with
a m elee w eapon attack, you can roll one o f the w eapon ’s
dam age dice on e additional tim e and add it to the extra
dam age o f the critical hit.
Languages. You can speak, read, and
w rite C om m on and O rc . O rc is a
harsh, grating language with
hard consonants. It has
no script o f its ow n
but is w ritten in the
D w arvish script.

“ B u t y o u d o see t h e w a y p e o p l e l o o k a t y o u ,
devil’s child."
Those black eyes, cold as a winter storm, were staring
right into her heart and the sudden seriousness in his
voice jolted her.
“What is it they say?" he asked. “One’s a curiosity, two’s
a conspiracy—”
“Three's a curse,” she finished. “You think I haven’t heard
that rubbish before?”
“I knowy o u have.” When she glared at him, he added,
“It’s not as if I ’m plumbing the depths of your mind, dear
girl. That is the burden of every tiefling. Some break under
it, some make it the millstone around their neck, some
revel in it.” He tilted his head again, scrutinizing her, with
that wicked glint in his eyes. “Youfight it, don’tyou ? Like
a little wildcat, I wager. Every littlejab and comment just
sharpensyour claws.”
—E rin M . Evans, Brimstone Angels
To be greeted with stares and w h ispers, to suffer
violen ce and insult on the street, to see m istrust and
fear in every eye: this is the lot o f the tiefling. And to
tw ist the knife, tieflings kn ow that this is b eca u se a
pact stru ck generations ago in fused the e ss e n ce o f
A s m od eu s—overlord o f the Nine H ells—into their
bloodlin e. Th eir appearan ce and their nature are not
their fault but the result o f an ancient sin, for w hich
they and their children and their children ’s children
w ill always b e held accountable.
In fer n a l B lo o d lin e
Tieflings are derived from hum an blood lin es, and in the
broadest p ossib le sen se, they still look hum an. However,
their infernal heritage has left a clear im print on their
appearan ce. T ieflings have large h orns that take any
o f a variety o f shapes: som e have curling h orn s like a
ram, others have straight and tall h orn s like a g azelle’s,
and som e spiral upw ard like an an telopes’ horns. They
have thick tails, four to five feet long, w hich lash or coil
around their legs w hen they get upset or n ervous. Their
can in e teeth are sharply pointed, and their eyes are
solid c o lo r s —black, red, white, silver, or gold—w ith no
visible sclera or pupil. Th eir skin tones cover the full
range o f hum an coloration, but also include various
sh ades o f red. Their hair, ca sca d in g dow n from behind
their h orns, is usually dark, from black o r brow n to dark
red, blue, or purple.
Se l f -R e l ia n t a n d Su spicio u s
Tieflings subsist in sm all m inorities found m ostly in
hum an cities or tow ns, often in the roughest quarters
o f th ose places, w here they g row up to be sw indlers,

thieves, or crim e lords. S om etim es they live am ong
other m inority populations in en claves w h ere they are
treated w ith m ore respect.
L ackin g a hom eland, tieflings k n ow that they have
to m ake their ow n w ay in the w orld and that they have
to b e strong to survive. They are not quick to trust
anyone w h o claim s to b e a friend, but w hen a tiefling’s
com p a n ion s dem onstrate that they trust him or her,
the tiefling learns to extend the sam e trust to them.
A n d on ce a tiefling gives som eon e loyalty, the tiefling
is a firm friend or ally for life.
T ieflin g N am es
Tiefling n am es fall into three broad categories. Tieflings
b orn into another culture typically have n am es reflective
o f that culture. S o m e have n am es derived from the
Infernal language, p a ssed dow n through generations,
that reflect their fiendish heritage. A n d som e younger
tieflings, striving to find a place in the w orld, adopt a
nam e that signifies a virtue or other con cep t and then
try to em b od y that con cept. For som e, the ch osen nam e
is a noble quest. For others, it’s a grim destiny.
Male Infernal Names: A k m en os, A m non , Barakas,
D am akos, E kem on, Iados, K airon, Leu cis, M elech,
M ordai, M orthos, P elaios, S k a m os, Therai
Female Infernal Names: Akta, A nakis, B ryseis, Criella,
D am aia, Ea, Kallista, Lerissa, M akaria, Nem eia,
O rianna, Phelaia, Rieta
“Virtue” Nam es: Art, Carrion, Chant, Creed, D espair,
E xcellen ce, Fear, Glory, H ope, Ideal, M usic, N ow here,
O pen, Poetry, Quest, R andom , R everen ce, Sorrow ,
Temerity, Torment, W eary
M u tu a l M is t r u s t
People tend to be suspicious of tieflings, assuming that
their infernal heritage has left its mark on their personality
and morality, not just their appearance. Shopkeepers keep
a close eye on their goods when tieflings enter their stores,
the town watch might follow a tiefling around for a while,
and demagogues blame tieflings for strange happenings.
The reality, though, is that a tiefling’s bloodline doesn’t affect
his or her personality to any great degree. Years o f dealing
with mistrust does leave its mark on most tieflings, and they
respond to it in different ways. Some choose to live up to the
wicked stereotype, but others are virtuous. Most are simply
very aware of how people respond to them. After dealing with
this mistrust throughout youth, a tiefling often develops the
ability to overcome prejudice through charm or intimidation.
T ieflin g T r aits
T ieflings share certain racial traits as a result o f their
infernal descent.
Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score
in creases by 1, and your C harism a sc o r e in crea ses by 2.
Age. Tieflings m ature at the sam e rate as hum ans but
live a few years longer.
Alignment. Tieflings m ight not have an innate
ten den cy tow ard evil, but m any o f them end up there.
Evil or not, an independent nature inclines m any
tieflings tow ard a chaotic alignment.
Size. Tieflings are about the sam e size and build as
hum ans. Your size is M edium .
Speed. Your base w alkin g sp eed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. T h an ks to your infernal heritage, you
have su perior vision in dark and dim condition s. You
can see in dim light w ithin 60 feet o f you as if it w ere
bright light, and in darkn ess as if it w ere dim light. You
c a n ’t discern color in darkness, only sh ades o f gray.
Hellish Resistance. You have resistan ce
to fire dam age.
Infernal Legacy. You k n ow the thaumaturgy cantrip.
O nce you reach 3rd level, you can cast the hellish
rebuke spell on ce per day as a 2nd-level spell. O n ce you
reach 5th level, you can also cast the darkness spell
o n ce per day. C harism a is your sp ellcastin g ability for
these spells.
Languages. You can speak, read, and w rite C om m on
and Infernal.