Character Races

Heroes come in many shapes and sizes. This chapter presents character races that are some of the more distinctive race options in the D&D multiverse. They supplement the options in the Player’s Handbook and are more rare in the worlds of D&D than the races in that book are.

If you’re a player, consult with your DM before using any of the races here. Many DMs like to consider the implications for their world before adding a new race. Your DM may say yes or no to you using a race or may modify it in some way.

The following races are detailed in this chapter: Aasimar are humanoids with an angelic spark in their souls, which grants them supernatural power. Firbolgs are forest guardians who prefer peaceful methods to protect their homes but take up arms if they must. Goliaths are hulking wanderers who dwell at the highest mountain reaches. Kenku are cursed bird folk, who still pay the price for an ancient betrayal. Dwelling in human cities, they have a sinister reputation for working as criminals. Lizardfolk sometimes venture from their swamp homes in search of treasure and glory. Inscrutable to their mammalian companions, they prove to be stout allies. Tabaxi are curious cat folk, who have journeyed from their distant homeland in search of interesting treasures and lore. Tritons are guardians of the ocean depths, who sometimes join people on land in the battle against evil.

The chapter also includes a section of monstrous character options that a DM can add to a campaign: **bugbear, goblin, hobgoblin, kobold, orc, and ** yuan-ti pureblood, the stories of which are explored in chapter 1.

At the end of the chapter is a section that you can use to determine the height and weight of a character who is a member of one of the races in this chapter.

If you’re the DM, including any of these races in your campaign is a storytelling opportunity, a chance for you to decide the roles that different peoples play in the tales you weave. You might decide that a race in this chapter is common in your world, that only a few members of it still live, or that it doesn’t exist at all. Whatever you decide about the races, consider how they can enhance your stories.

• Aasimar (Fallen)
• Aasimar (Protector)
• Aasimar (Scourge)
• Bugbear
• Firbolg
• Goblin
• Goliath
• Hobgoblin
• Kenku
• Kobold
• Lizardfolk
• Orc
• Tabaxi
• Triton
• Yuan-ti Pureblood

Height and Weight

You may roll for your character’s height and weight on the Random Height and Weight table. The roll in the Height Modifier column adds a number (in inches) to the character’s base height. To get a weight, multiply the number you rolled for height by the roll in the Weight Modifier column and add the result (in pounds) to the base weight.