There are several different races a player can choose from when creating a Dungeons & Dragons character, depending on what rules, modules, and expansions a Dungeon Master decides to use. According to the 5th edition of the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Player’s Handbook, the basic game has nine races a player can choose from when they roll a character.
When a player is relatively new to the game, the variety can be intimidating. Some new players might be looking for a challenge while others would prefer an easier route until they fully understand the game mechanics. Others might be familiar with role-playing games or tabletop games already, and might be interested in a race somewhere in the middle to help them get used to the unique gameplay of D&D.
Updated December 25, 2021 by Kristy Ambrose: There are still a total of nine playable races in the regular D&D players’ handbook, including the most recent edition. That doesn’t mean that there are only nine playable races in existence, however. New modules and expansions intended for the D&D universe include different races that are specific to certain settings and environments. The growing popularity of supplemental materials and homebrew creations means that there are more races to choose from when it’s time to create your own unique character. Just because these suggestions are ideal for novices to tabletop games or D&D, that doesn’t mean that experienced players shouldn’t give them a try.
15 Tiefling
A deeply compelling race with some rich lore, beginners should steer away from the Tiefling unless they have some role-playing muscles that need flexing. The Tiefling race has an infernal bloodline that gives them horns and creepy eyes, making them a distinct minority and social outcasts despite the Charisma bonus.
A lot of Warlocks and Sorcerers have Tiefling blood. Their beneficial racial traits include a bonus to intelligence and charisma, which are ideal for spellcasters, so don’t let the challenge discourage a player who feels ambitious.
14 Genasi
This is a shout-out to the characters drawn to the Evil side of the alignment spectrum. The Genasi is a sophisticated race found in the Elemental Evil Player’s Companion, which is part of the Princes of the Apocolypse module. They have mixed human and genie ancestry, which leads to some interesting backstory ideas.
Given that conflicted characters are more difficult to master, the Genasi would normally be reserved for a more experienced player. However, anyone interested in the lore of the Elemental Planes and specializing in a spellcasting class should try role-playing this race.
13 Dragonborn
Similar to the Tiefling, Dragonborn characters have an obvious and otherwordly ancestry that makes them difficult to overlook. On the plus side, they combine the best traits of both dragons and humans and have special abilities depending on what type of dragon was in their family.
It sounds like a complicated race, and that’s the problem. These complex characters often take their actions and motives to extremes, so be ready for some intense gameplay with this race regardless of class or moral alignment.
12 Harengon
Players are showing more interest in the Feywild as of late, hence the popularity of the module The Wild Beyond the Witchlight. This is where Harengon lives, and it’s not the only D&D race with connections to that dangerous but compelling plane of existence. As the name implies, the agile Harengon has bonuses when it comes to mobility, stealth, and other handy adventuring abilities.
Those aren’t the only features that make the Harengon ideal for new players. Their connection to the Fey means they have extra spell resistance when it comes to charm or enchantment spells. There’s also a unique array player will appreciate when it comes to their ability scores. You can add +2 to one that you choose, and +1 to another, or add +1 to three of your choice.
11 Elf
They could be the most popular race among D&D players, in part thanks to racial bonuses like a higher Dexterity and abilities like Dark Vision. There are also several different kinds of Elves that exist, depending on the module or the expansion, such as Drow, High Elves, or Moon Elves.
A player has to commit to some research before they roll an elf. It presents a lot of choices when it comes to lore and character building, which is why this race might be a better choice for a more experienced player. On the other hand, a new player who’s interested in lore and immersion would also enjoy playing an elf.
10 Gnome
Gnomes have a number of handy racial bonuses that make them ideal for newer players, especially those interested in spellcasting, stealth, or tinkering. Gnomes have a +2 to their intelligence scores, with Deep Gnomes and Rock Gnomes getting bonuses to Dexterity and Constitution.
The race also has some interesting lore that’s deep and compelling without being pretentious or overwhelming. Rogues, Bards, and Artificers, common DPS classes which are easier to play than tanks or healers, are often Gnomes.
9 Tabaxi
A playable race found in Volo’s Guide to Monsters, the Tabaxi have all of the bonuses and special abilities that players would expect in a race of cat people. When it’s time to create a Tabaxi, they get a +2 to Dexterity and a +1 to Charisma, which is handy for a myriad of class builds and in-game situations.
Players that want a heavier, more “tanky” version of a Tabaxi should check out the Leonin. The name isn’t just an expression. This race inhabits the arid plains and deserts of the Mystic Odysseys of Theros adventuring module, and they are part-lion humanoids that have bonuses to Strength and Consitution.
8 Halfling
Halflings start with a definite advantage with their racial bonuses, which include an increase in their Dexterity and an ability known as Luck. A Dexterity bonus is handy for a variety of classes, and Luck is similar to a Cleric’s Bless spell. This allows a player to re-roll on a d20 for ability or attack.
If a player wants to be a Mage or Thief, they can be a Lightfoot Halfling. If they’d prefer a hardier character for a Ranger or Fighter class, then they can choose a Stout Halfling instead.
7 Warforged
This new race comes from the Eberron: Rising from the Last War supplement, and are essentially robots, making them a unique mix of class and race. The Warforged were built for combat, and are made of wood and metal, but they are sentient beings with emotions. Once the wars they were built for have concluded, what do they do next?
This is a race with a myriad of possibilities for a player that wants to RP a race with a high Constitution and another bonus +1 stat of your choosing. They fall in the middle for someone who wants to build a fighting character with some interesting backstory but would prefer a lighter learning curve. It’s also the basis for a lot of Iron Man builds if you happen to be a Marvel fan.
6 Half-Orc
Newer players who don’t want to roll a squishy character and are more concerned about basic survival as opposed to role play would prefer a half-orc. They retain the size of their Orcish ancestors and the intelligence of their human family tree. Half-orcs can be from a rural clan or a crowded city slum and can live with humans or orcs.
Half-orcs get a bonus to their Strength and Constitution scores and often end up as Fighters, Rangers, or Barbarians. The lore of this race is compelling without being complicated, united by a bond under the god Gruumsh, with moral alignments leaning towards chaotic or evil.
5 Revenant
What started as a homebrew race inspired by Unearthed Arcana, the Revenant is unique in the sense that it doesn’t have to be a new character. This can be the risen husk of another character that actually did die and rose again. It might be due to a gruesome or sudden death, or an important task left unfinished. For a player who is dealing with a character dying permanently, which can and does happen in D&D, this is one way to experiment with the various new Awakened Undead races.
A Revenant can have the same abilities as the race or class from which it arose, or the DM might decide to make some adjustments depending on the specific rules of the adventuring module. Either way, Revenants usually get Constitution bonuses and extra resistances against disease and frost damage. Those are handy abilities for any player regardless of their experience level.
4 Satyr
Players and Dungeon Masters can find the Satyr as a playable race in the Mythic Odysseys of Theros module, an ideal choice for those that like the ancient Greek aesthetic. This race is a bit less complex than other characters, with modest wants and loose morals that often lean towards Chaotic Good, an alignment favored by new players. The race has a Charisma bonus and is ideal for Bards and other spellcasting classes, which overlaps nicely with the most popular classes for beginners.
3 Dwarf
The half-orc might be hardy but often lives a short and violent life with little culture or craftsmanship. A better alternative would be the Dwarf, an old and wise race with the ability scores to back it up, especially when it comes to Constitution.
Dwarves are big believers in keeping a strict social order and are often of a Lawful alignment but not necessarily a Good one. Paladins and Clerics often choose this race along with any class that needs a hardy physique, like a Ranger or a Barbarian.
2 Human
In any role-playing game that involves the Human race, they’re always going to be the most popular. In D&D they start the game with the most bonuses, including a +1 to all of their abilities plus an additional language.
There is also a wide variety of ethnicities to choose from when it comes to Humans, so a player can customize virtually every aspect of a character. That includes the class, which can be anything within whatever D&D module, supplement, or rulebook you happen to be using.
1 Half-Elf
Players who are interested in dual or multi-class characters, which is pretty much everyone, gravitate towards the half-elf. They have the best qualities of both humans and elves, including some similar ability bonuses.
That means an extra +2 to Charisma and a +1 to two other attributes, along with the skills associated with Fey Ancestry, like resistance to magic. This makes them ideal as virtually any class, especially for characters leveling through more than one set of abilities.
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