Summary
- Dungeon Masters should consider the vast array of species available for immersive storytelling in D&D campaigns.
- Homebrew campaigns can benefit from incorporating unique species like the Harengon, Astral Elves, and Eladrin.
- Players seeking diverse abilities and customization options should explore species like the Owlin, Giff, and Vedalken for varied gameplay.
The resources for Dungeons & Dragons, one of the world's most popular tabletop role-playing games, are vast and include rulebooks, extra homebrew materials, and campaign and adventuring guides. A big part of lore and immersion comes from the variety of different species that make up the cultures and nations that serve as a backdrop for most adventures.
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The earliest incarnation of D&D only had a mere four choices: humans, elves, dwarves, and halflings. Today, the choices for species when building a character are much more varied. These volumes contain a wealth of information about a variety of aspects of D&D, including additional playable species.
Updated August 14, 2024 by Kristy Ambrose: The choices for playable species in the Dungeons & Dragons universe are always getting more diverse. The popularity of D&D-based video games, such as Baldur's Gate 3, is encouraging interest in some of these unique and exotic lands and the species that populate them.
The expansions, in this case, simply refer to other sourcebooks, modules, and adventure guides other than the standard Player's Handbook. These unique locations include races, cultures, and exotic regions that can sometimes step out of their assigned realms and regions if the Dungeon Master deems it applicable.
1 Harengon
Wild Beyond The Witchlight
- Origin or Homeland: The Feywild, although they count as Humanoid creatures as opposed to Fey.
- Size: Medium to small, chosen during the character creation process.
- Bonuses: There are various choices for ability score increases depending on the exact build.
One of the newest additions to D&D is already getting some extra attention. New species that are connected to the Fey in some form or other are a growing trend, and those in animal form also seem to be growing in popularity. The Harengon embodies both concepts.
Players also love customization options, and the Harengon is one species that can compete with Humans in this regard. That could make it the best species in D&D 5e when it comes to choosing any species. When building a Harengon, it's possible to increase one ability score by 2 and increase another by 1 or to increase three different scores by 1. That means they are ideal for virtually any class, a major plus for gamers of any experience level.
2 Astral Elf
Astral Adventurer's Guide
- Origin or Homeland: Unknown exactly, but somewhere in the Astral Plane and the Silver Void
- Size: Medium
- Bonuses: Increase any ability score by 2 and another by one, or choose three to increase by 1.
D&D lore has evolved to include a variety of Elf species, and the Astral variety is yet another unique variation. In addition to the usual special abilities, such as Darkvision and Fey Ancestry, Astral Elves have skills like Starlight Step, which improves the character's movement speed, and Astral Trance, which negates their need to take rests as often as other races.
Astral Fire is the version of the usual cantrip that every Elven character is born with, but in this case, the spells they can choose from are Dancing Lights, Light, or Sacred Flame. These kinds of Elves also enjoy a long life span, being all but immortal in their home on the Astral Plane and living for about 750 years when they leave it.
3 Eladrin
Monsters Of The Multiverse
- Origin or Homeland: The Feywild, with some variation depending on the Season.
- Size: Medium
- Bonuses: Increase any two scores by 1 or 2, or any three stats by 1.
A summary of the Eldarin species is that they are simply elves that never left the Feywild, but there are a lot of other details that make them unique among different races in the D&D expansions. They also appear in Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes but are slightly different, and the Monsters of the Multiverse summary is considered to be the updated version.
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Their traits depend on their season, and players can choose between Spring, Summer, Winter, and Autumn for their specific abilities and even some unique personality traits. All Eladrin get the Fey Step spell, for example, but how exactly it functions depends on their season.
4 Githzerai
Mordenkainen's Tome Of Foes
- Origin or Homeland: Currently the Astral Plane and other locations, but the origin of the species is unknown.
- Size: Medium
- Bonuses: Strength +2
D&D lore describes the Githzerai as the "cousins" of the Githyanki, who are known for their warrior skills but possess some of the same arcane abilities, like the innate use of the Mage Hand cantrip. The abilities that come with the powers of Githzerai Psionics also include Detect Thoughts or Shield Thoughts and resistance to psychic damage.
According to the lore of Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, the Githzerai, and the Githyanki are not only at war with their former Illithid masters but also with each other. The history of this species includes a civil war between each faction, and the Githzerai use isolation, strict discipline, and a monastic lifestyle to hone their minds and survive.
5 Owlin
Strixhaven: A Curriculum Of Chaos
- Origin or Homeland: Descended from the giant Owls from the Feywild, but are classified as humanoid.
- Size: Small to medium
- Bonuses: Either a +2 and +1 increase to two stats or three +1 increases to three stats.
Another option for those players who are interested in building a character with convenient flight abilities, the Owlin was introduced as one of the many races attending the prestigious and popular Strixhaven University. They are one of the most versatile characters to build with their choices when it comes to bonuses, with only the Human or Human Variant being fair comparisons.
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Along with flight, the Owlin has enhanced Stealth abilities, making it an ideal choice for any class that needs to move unseen which is virtually all of them. Darkvision is also a nice perk, and all of these combined make exceptional Rogues, Bards, and Rangers.
6 Goliath
Elemental Evil Player's Companion
- Origin or Homeland: Above the treeline in the high mountains throughout Faerûn.
- Size: Medium
- Bonuses: Strength +2, Constitution +1
As a species, the Goliath people tend to be quiet, mysterious, and reclusive. That's one of the reasons they've chosen the harsh, grassless mountains as their home. Given a Goliath's talents for athleticism and survival and the importance of a fair fight in their culture, this is one of the best species to add to a D&D party.
The player must write a believable story that would bring them down from their stark homeland to a campaign setting, which is part of the adventure. This is one of those moments when you sit down with the DM to create a believable backstory.
7 Duergar
Dungeon Master's Guide
- Origin or Homeland: The Underdark
- Size: Medium
- Bonuses: +4 to hit, +2 to Constitution, +1 to Strength
Also known as grey dwarves or "under dwarves," the Duergar are part of the Underdark population along with Drow, Deep Gnomes, and other creatures. Their culture is unforgiving and hardy, leans more into Evil alignments, and they also tend to be cynical people who use curse words a lot.
Some D&D players will recognize the Duergar as slavers and looters, and this isn't far from the truth. Their fortresses in the Underdark are some of the most impressive in either the surface world or the Underdark, and some scholars opine that this species could one day rule the whole subterranean region.
8 Satyr
Mythic Odysseys Of Theros
- Origin or Homeland: The Feywild and the Cloak Wood of West Faerûn.
- Size: Medium to Small
- Bonuses: Dexterity +1, Charisma +2
Playing a Satyr is a unique experience in part because of their connection with the Fey, or the Fairy Folk of the D&D universe. Their reputation for debauchery and good dirty fun is well-earned, and although they can be any alignment they're often Chaotic or Neutral.
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This is one of the best 5e species for classes that require any kind of persuasion, entertainment, or covert activities. With a generous Charisma bonus and the ability to use a pan flute as a weapon, Satyrs make natural Bards. Their connection with the wilderness makes Druids and Rangers equally viable, depending on the dice rolls for different stats.
9 Yuan-Ti Pureblood
Elemental Evil Player's Companion
- Origin or Homeland: Various locations throughout Faerûn.
- Size: Medium
- Bonuses: Charisma +2, Intelligence +1
The Yuan-ti Purebloods are the most human-looking of all the Yuan-ti variations. The other two, half-bloods and abominations, are often cast as monsters or enemies in a D&D campaign. The Yuan-Ti Pureblood aren't the only species on this list that's prone to Neutral Evil, but they're the most notorious for being cast in the role of the villain.
The Yuan-Ti Pureblood is one of the best D&D species for a magic user because it's a natural choice if you're looking for an Intelligence bonus. Any class that requires a bit of extra Charisma is also a good choice, except the perpetually good-aligned Paladin, but a creative player could make it work.
10 Loxodon
Guildmasters' Guide To Ravnica
- Origin or Homeland: Native of Ravnica
- Size: Medium to large
- Bonuses: +2 Consitution, +1 Wisdom
There are a lot of advantages to playing the Loxodon character when it comes to handy abilities and physical advantages, and that goes well beyond a higher-than-average carrying capacity and being able to use a trunk as a snorkel. Loxodon have additional armor abilities that scale with their Consitution, and an increased resistance to being charmed or frightened.
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These traits make them ideal healers and party leaders. There are a lot of Loxodon Clerics and Paladins, as this is one of the best 5e species for these tasks. However, one feature that players might find limiting is their stubborn adherence to Lawful, and often Good, alignments.