Even though the original 5e Player's Handbook only features nine species, after over five years of published supplementary content, you can now choose from up to 40 different species. While each species has its own unique benefits, some species offer more to work with, in a general sense, when viewing 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Dungeons & Dragons from a purely mechanics-based perspective.
But what species stand to offer the greatest boon to your character? The following list will answer that question, diving into the specific benefits each species possesses as well as why these bonuses are so powerful. The specific ability score bonuses each species offers won't be our main focus, but it is an important part of choosing a species appropriate for your character's class. In other words, don't forget to look at ability score bonuses if you're looking to optimize your build.
Updated August 9, 2023 by Chris Stomberg: Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse as well as other additional supplements have been published since the original writing of this article, providing you with updated versions of already existing species as well as entirely new species options to choose from. Consequently, it's well past time we revisited the best playable species in fifth edition. It should be noted that some of the options here exist as legacy versions (original printings) in addition to their current iterations published in Monsters of the Multiverse. In other words, you often have multiple options within a single species to choose from. Always check with your dungeon master on whether a given species is available for their setting.
16 Triton
Triton Shorestalker by Svetlin Velinov
Tritons are a species that were completely reworked in Monsters of the Multiverse. These military sea-dwellers originally hail from the Elemental Plane of Water, where they've fought against evil elemental forces and other evil seagoing species for millenia. They have a swim speed equal to their walking speed and the ability to cast Fog Cloud, Gust of Wind, and Water Walk once per day.
In addition, Tritons have darkvision, resistance to cold damage, and the ability to communicate simple ideas to Beasts, Monstrosities, and Elementals that have a swimming speed. If it wasn't abundantly clear, this is an ideal species for a seafaring campaign.
15 Half-Orc
Where the Tabaxi excel at running away from fights, Half-orcs revel in standing on the front lines. First off, their savage attacks feature makes critical hits they score even more devastating. This ability allows you to roll the weapon's damage dice an additional time, turning a 2d12 greataxe critical hit into a 3d12 damage roll.
Along with their improved damage output, Half-orcs also bring improved survivability. Relentless endurance makes it so that when you are reduced to zero hit point🅷s and not killed outright, you instead drop to one hit point. That gives your character one last turn to deliver a f༒atal blow to your enemies or be a bulwark of defense for your allies.
14 Shifter
Shifters are a type of werehuman. Unlike most🌸 werepeople who are consumed by their affliction, Shifters have control of the curse thanks to the blood curse being diluted over many🍨 generations. Shifters have darkvision as well as proficiency in one skill of your choice from among Athletics, Acrobatics, Intimidation, or Survival.
Naturally, the most iconic feature of this species is their ability to shift as a bonus action. This involves your character taking on a more bestial apperance, gaining 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:temporary hit points 🍸equal to two times your proficiency bonus, and gaining🥃 one additional benefit of your choice.
Additional benefits include more temporary hit points and a +1 to your Armor Class, a bonus action bite attack, additional movement speed, and advantage on Wisdom checks as well as immunity to advantage from attackers within 30 feet of 🃏you.
13 Tabaxi
The cat-like Tabaxi are just as quick as their feline counterparts. It's this inborn agility that earns them their title as one of the best species choices in 5e. The feline agility feature allows Tabaxi to double their speed at no cost. They also have a climbing speed which means they maintain their great alacrity in just about every situation.
Feline agility refreshes after moving zero feet on one of your turns, so you'll have access to this feature once in every combat. Needless to say, your enemies are going to have a hard time keeping up. Lastly, Tabaxi also have a feature called cat's talent that gives them a proficiency in two of the most common skill checks in the game: Perception and Stealth.
12 Aarakocra
The Aarakocra share more than just a predatorial appearance with other, less intelligent birds. Namely, it's the Aarakocra's wings that make this species a somewhat controversial choice at more than a handful of Dungeons & Dragons tables. The flight feature gives Aarakocra a flying speed equal to your walking speed, allowing them to rain down death on their enemies.
Despite the amount of danger that flight allows an aarokocra to avoid though, this ability can just as easily lead to their quite literal downfall. In this way, the Aarakocra's greatest asset is a double-edged sword. Aaracokra also have a built-in Talons attack and can cast Gust of Wind once per day. Depending on your dungeon master, you may be able to use Gust of Wind alongside your flight in pretty intereseting ways.
11 ℱ Dragonborn (Metallic) ♐
Distant cousins of dragonkind, the Dragonborn were completely reworked in Monsters of the Multiverse to bring them up to par with other species choices. In short, don't play the Dragonborn listed in the original Player's Handbook unless you want to nerf your character. There are many types of Dragonborn to choose from, including Chromatic, Gem, Draconblood, Ravenite, and Metallic.
While each type has its place in certain builds, the best overall for any character build is Metallic. This is thanks to their fifth level Metallic Breath Weapon feature that all♑ows you to use your breath weapon for effects other than damage. Repulsion breath requires all creatures caught in the 15-foot cone of your breath to make a Strength saving throw or be pushed 20 feet back and knocked prone.
Meanwhile, enervating breath requires a Constitution saving throw from creatures in the same area or else they become incapacitated until the start of your next turn. Seeing as forced movement is incredibly useful and incapacitated creatures can't take actions or reactions, this is a very powerful featureℱ indeed. Metallic Dragonborn also gain resistance to one damage type from among fire, lightning, acid, and cold: all incredibly common damage types to run up against.
10 Aasimar
These rumored descendants of the angels carry two species benefits that make them a powerful selection. First off is their Celestial Resistance. This feature gives the Aasimar resไ🗹istance to both necrotic and radiant damage. Resistance to a damage type is one of the strongest benefits your species choice can bestow on your character.
In the case of the Aasimar, they happen to get two. Unfortunately, Radiant Damage isn't something you encounter very often. On the other hand, Necrotic Damage is incredibly common. The second species feature that makes Aasimar a great choice is a built-in heal. As an action, the Healing Hands ability allows you to heal a creature for a rolled number of d4s equal to your proficiency bonus. While this may not amount to much, it's still capable of bringing an ally back from the brink of death.
Lastly, the light cantrip and your celestial revelatio♛n ability unlocked at third level lets you choose between frightening nearby foes, dealing additional damage, or gaining a temporary flying speed as a bonus action. No matter which revelation your choose, while your revelation is active, you also deal additional damage once per turn equal to yo﷽ur proficiency bonus.
9 Tiefling
On the other end of the spectrum, Tieflings have the blood of the overlords of the Nine Hells running through their corrupted veins. Accordingly, they have resistance to fire damage. Fire is one of the most standard damage types in the game, and you'll find this trait comes in handy in a bevy of situations.
The other species feature that makes Tieflings so good is also fire-related. Infernal legacy gives Tieflings the ability to cast spells like Hellish Rebuke a🍃t second level and Darkness once per long rest. Reactions are incredibly powerful so having one built into your species is a huge help.
There are a number of variant legacy Tieflings available to choose from which modify the innate spells you receive. There's also a variant that gives you bat-like wings if your dungeon master allows flying species choices.
8 Gith
The Gith😼, also known as the Githyanki, is a unique species that is often cast as villains in the D&D universe. They escaped the captivity of the mind flayers and after a while of living in close quarters, they developed similar species traits. Specifically, psio♐nic powers that let you cast Mage Hand, Jump, and Misty Step. That blends nicely with the Intelligence bonus and Darkvision.
They often appear as pirates or aggressive warriors and have been getting more attention since their appearance in Baldur's Gate 3. Gith have resistance to psychic damage, which will very rarely come up, but they also gain rotating proficiencies in a skill and weapon or tool of your choice every long rest. This is a nice bit of versatility especially alongside their invisible Mage Hand.
7 Gnome
Gnomes are granted more protection than you might think at first glance. While sharp steel and monsters with brutish strength will find no trouble felling your average Gnome, it's a different story as far as magical abilities are concerned.
The feature gnome cunning provides gnom🧸es with an advantage on all intelligence, wisdom, and charisma saving throws against magic. While most characters have a lot to fear from a spell such as Hold Person, gnomes see such magic as trifling at best. Furthermore, the small size category of gnome characters is helpful in a number of situations.