While quite a lot remains the same in the 2024 Player's Handbook, some big changes have also come to 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Dungeons & Dragons by way of the species included in t🙈he tome or rules. And o🐻rcs are certainly no exception. From the name change to lore and traits, playing an orc is different in the 2024 sourcebook, which is overall for the better.

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But what exactly has changed? How do the𓆉 new orcs play versus the half-orcs of the 2014 ruleset? This guide will cover that, along with some class recommendations, what their traits are now, and th♔e lore behind the orcs of the 2024 rules.

What Is An Orc?

Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Player's Handbook artwork of orcs together in the desert.
Artwork by Mike Pape via Wizards of the Coast

Orcs follow in the footsteps of the god who created them, Gruumsh, who was a wanderer themselves and wanted the orcs he blessed to do the same. This is reflected in the natural skills that he gave them🤪, whether they followed 𒁏his teachings or not.

These heavenly gifts made orcs determined and gave them the endurance and stamina needed to make long treks or set off on never-ending journeys. He also threw in a dash of Darkvision, because everything is better🌺 🌊when you can see in the dark, but we'll get to that.

Many young orcs grow up with the stories of heroism and strength that excite them to follow their ancestors' trails,ꦦ counting the days until they too can set out on their own and make a name and some 🎃stories about themselves.

Orc Traits

Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Player's Handbook art of an orc fey wanderer ranger by John Grello.
Artwork by John Grello via Wizards of the Coast

Orcs only have three traits, one of them being the aforementioned Darkvision, which many species receive. And yes, your Dungeon Master (DM) knows you can see in the dark, no reminde💎ღr needed.

That means that they only get two traits that are all their own. 🔯But, given their powerful nature, maybe that's okay. Their traits are as follows:

Trait Names

Descriptions

Adrenaline Rush

You take the Dash🍰 action as a bon⛄us action instead.

When you do so, gain temporary hit points.

Darkvision

You can see in dim light and darkness🌳 for 120 fe🤪et.

Relentless Endurance

When you would 🍌be knocked unconscious but don't die, you can instead fall to one hit poi🧸nt.

The first of the traits is Adrenaline Rush, which you can use as many times as your proficiency bonus allows. So, if you are at first level, you have a proficiency bonus of two, letting you use this ability twice before needing either a long or short rest.

You activate this trait when you Dash as a bonus action. Once it activates, you gain some temporary hit points. These are also equal to your proficiency bonus. So, using the same example of 🐽being level one again, you would gain two temporary poi🐭nts of health.

As your orc character levels up, and their proficiency bonus increases, the number of times you use this and the number of hit points you get will also continue to improve.

Then 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:you have Darkvision, but not just any Darkvision. This is advanced or equal to other species that gain Superior Darkvision. Most species can only see for 60 feet in the dark, but orcs can see twice beyond that distance. This makes them great for dungeon diving and exploring dark and scary places and planes.

Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Player's Handbook art of an orc circle of the moon druid by John Grello.
Artwork by John Grello via Wizards of the Coast

Last but not least, you have Relentless Endurance. When an attack doesn't kill you but would instead drop you to zero hit points, you can decide to push through the attack and keep a tight hold of one hit point, keeping you conscious and on your feet.

While you might be pressed to think of a time when you wouldn't want to be brought back to one hit point, it still stands that this is a powerful trait and can not just keep you in combat but can be enough to turn the tide in battle.

168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Now for size and speed. You are a medium-sized humanoid when it comes to those classifications. You also have 30 feet of movement, which would be 60 feet when you Dash.

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Which Class Should You Consider?

Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Player's Handbook art of an orc paladin with glowing sword and eyes by Michael Broussard.
Artwork by Michael Broussard via Wizards of the Coast

Naturally, some of the best options when it comes to your class are going to be the martial ones. Barbarian, cleric, fighter, monk, paladins. You will ideally want to pick anyone who is going to be in front, charging ahead of everyone else in the fight.

However, there are some classes that get overlooked. Druid is one of them.

Every class will be thankful to have not one but two traits that extend your time in combat, but a druid can take the Adrenaline Rush a🌃nd Relentless Endurance and run with them.

Are you and the party in a battle to the death with whatever foes you've been sent to or have decided to track down? You can transform into a creature and have those temporary hit points at your disposal. Then, when you Dash forward to attack, you gain more temporary hit points.

Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Player's Handbook art of a beast master ranger by Alditha Siregar.
Artwork by Alditha Siregar via Wizards of the Coast

Are they dealing more damage than you can take? No worries. Even after you lose your beast shape, you can use your Relentless Endurance and then Wild Shape again to get more temporary hit points.

That could be just what you need to end a fight or, because the foe isn't catching any breaks, it gives your team time to aid you with healing in any shape or form.

Druids can use their Wild Shape ability twice and gain additional uses based on their level, unlike other skills that are based purely on a character's🌳 proficiency bonus.

And, with healing on the mind, any class that grants you access to healing can make sure you stay a problem for anyone you take on. This makes the paladin and cleric classes very desirable, but even bards and rangers168澳洲幸运5开奖网:have a bit of healing.

It makes it so that if you're in a bad situation, you can bail yourself out instead of being reliant on your party members, who may be struggling themselves. So, while you may feel like brute force is all you need, having some spells or healing abilities in your back pocket can make yo💖u a threat to anyone who w🃏ants to try you or your allies.

Differences In The 2024 Player's Handbook

Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Player's Handbook art of the spell hero's feast bringing a party of adventurers together by Raluca Marinescu.
Artwork by Raluca Marinescu via Wizards of the Coast

Well, they're called orcs in the 2024 Player's Handbook. This is much different than in the 2014 Player's Handbook only focusing on half-orcs. Even in describing their lin👍k to Gruumsh, it is said that "their human blood moderates the impact of theiꦦr orcish heritage."

That's not the only thing different about their lore. Before, it was said that these half-orcs lived in tribes and slums. It also made it out 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:that only humans were willing to accept half-orcs.

Though they are orcs, you🙈 can still roleplay them as half-orcs if you so choose.

Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Player's Handbook art of a ranger in the distance as deer watch them use magic by Mike Pape.
Artwork by Mike Pape via Wizards of the Coast

There are some differences between traits as well. One is to Darkvision. Remember that 60 feet is more standard? Well the half-orcs only had 60 feet of Darkvision versus the 120 feet of the orcs.

Instead of Adrenaline Rush, half-orcs had Savage Attacks. This would allow you to roll one extra damage dice whenever you rolled a critical hit against a foe. It was a good trait, but depending on how your dice rolls went, you may not have been able to use it often. This makes Adrenaline Rush a much more active trait.

The last change to traits, aside from no longer having ability score increases and learned languages, is that orcs no longer get the Menacing trait, which gave them proficiency with Intimidation checks. This probably has a lot to do with the lore change which made orcs less monstrous and more in line with the other humanoids.

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Graceful and elegant, but deadly, Elves had a be𝐆efing up for Dungeons & D🌃ragons' 2024 Player's Handbook.