5e24:Species

< SRD 5.2
< 5e24

Species exists in other D&D editions see:

Species (disambiguation).

D&D 5.5e SRD 5.2 CC-BY  ˢ 

 SRD 5.2 

Character Species

When you choose your character’s species, you determine whether your character is a human or a member of a fantastical species, such as dragonborn or gnome.

The peoples of the multiverse hail from different worlds and include many kinds of sapient life forms. A player character’s species is the set of game traits that an adventurer gains from being one of those life forms.

Some species can trace their origin to a single world, plane of existence, or god, while other species first appeared in multiple realms at once. Whatever a species’ genesis, its members have spread across the multiverse and contribute to many different cultures.

Members of most species live for about 80 years, with exceptions noted in the text about the species in “Character Origins.” Regardless of life span, members of all species reach physical maturity at about the same age. Your character can be any age that isn’t beyond their species’ normal life span.

Parts of a Species

A species includes the following parts.

Creature Type

A character’s species determines the character’s creature type, which is described in “Rules Glossary.” Every species in “Character Origins” is Humanoid; playable non-Humanoid species appear in other books.

Size

Your character’s species determines the character’s size. Individuals within a species cover a wide range of heights, and some species include such diversity of size that you can choose whether your character is Small or Medium.

Speed

Your character’s species determines the character’s Speed.

Special Traits

Each species gives a character special traits — unique characteristics based on the species’ physiology or magical nature. When you choose a species, your character gets all the special traits listed for it. Some traits involve making a choice from a handful of options.

End of the SRD 5.2 material

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Species List

9 species for 5th ed. (2024), official and unofficial.

Species	Creature Type	Size	Speeds	Traits	Notes	Sources
Dragonborn	Humanoid	Medium	30 feet	Draconic Ancestry, Breath Weapon, Damage Resistance, Darkvision, Draconic Flight	Canon	SRD 5.2
Dwarf	Humanoid	Medium	30 ft.	Darkvision, Dwarven Resilience, Dwarven Toughness, Stonecunning	Canon	SRD 5.2
Elf	Humanoid	Medium	30 ft.	Darkvision, Elven Lineage, Keen Senses, Trance	Canon	SRD 5.2
Gnome	Humanoid	Small	30 ft.	Darkvision, Gnomish Cunning, Gnomish Lineage	Canon	SRD 5.2
Goliath	Humanoid	Medium	35 ft.	Giant Ancestry, Large Form, Powerful Build	Canon	SRD 5.2
Halfling	Humanoid	Small	30 ft.	Brave, Halfling Nimbleness, Luck, Naturally Stealthy	Canon	SRD 5.2
Human	Humanoid	Small or Medium	30 ft.	Resourceful, Skillful, Versatile	Canon	SRD 5.2
Orc	Humanoid	Medium	30 ft.	Adrenaline Rush, Darkvision, Relentless Endurance	Canon	SRD 5.2
Tiefling	Humaniod	Small or Medium	30 ft.	Darkvision, Fiendish Legacy, Otherworldly Presence	Canon	SRD 5.2

Subspecies

8 subspecies.

Subspecies	Species	Level 1	Level 3	Level 5	Notes	Sources
Drow	Elf	The range of your Darkvision increases to 120 feet. You also know the Dancing Lights cantrip.	Faerie Fire	Darkness	Noncanon	SRD 5.2, FRAiF, PHB5e24
High Elf	Elf	You know the Prestidigitation cantrip. Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can replace that cantrip with a different cantrip from the Wizard spell list.	Detect Magic	Misty Step	Canon	SRD 5.2, FRAiF, PHB5e24
Wood Elf	Elf	Your Speed increases to 35 feet. You also know the Druidcraft cantrip.	Longstrider	Pass without Trace	Canon	SRD 5.2, FRAiF, PHB5e24
Forest Gnome	Gnome	You know the Minor Illusion cantrip. You also always have the Speak with Animals spell prepared. You can cast it without a spell slot a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest. You can also use any spell slots you have to cast the spell.	n/a	n/a	Canon	SRD 5.2, PHB5e24
Rock Gnome	Gnome	You know the Mending and Prestidigitation cantrips. In addition, you can spend 10 minutes casting Prestidigitation to create a Tiny clockwork device (AC 5, 1 HP), such as a toy, fire starter, or music box. When you create the device, you determine its function by choosing one effect from Prestidigitation; the device produces that effect whenever you or another creature takes a Bonus Action to activate it with a touch. If the chosen effect has options within it, you choose one of those options for the device when you create it. For example, if you choose the spell’s ignite-extinguish effect, you determine whether the device ignites or extinguishes fire; the device doesn’t do both. You can have three such devices in existence at a time, and each falls apart 8 hours after its creation or when you dismantle it with a touch as a Utilize action.	n/a	n/a	Canon	SRD 5.2
Abyssal Tiefling	Tiefling	You have Resistance to Poison damage. You also know the Poison Spray cantrip.	Ray of Sickness	Hold Person	Canon	SRD 5.2
Chthonic Tiefling	Tiefling	You have Resistance to Necrotic damage. You also know the Chill Touch cantrip.	False Life	Ray of Enfeeblement	Canon	SRD 5.2
Infernal Tiefling	Tiefling	You have Resistance to Fire damage. You also know the Fire Bolt cantrip.	Hellish Rebuke	Darkness	Canon	SRD 5.2

Sources and Notes

see individual entries for source

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