Choosing the Best Dungeons & Dragons Race: Pros and Cons of Each
What D&D race should you be? When building your character, you’ll need to consider a lot of factors, including the story you want to tell, how you want to roleplay, and the kind of gameplay effectiveness you’re aiming for. Of course, there’s also the question of what race you’re going to play as.
Each Dungeons & Dragons race offers unique bonuses and abilities, and your choice will have a big impact on your character’s effectiveness as you adventure through the fantasy realm of D&D. While you could just pick the “best” race for your class, it’s important to consider your overall goals as a player and your place in the story. Do you want to create the most compelling story you can, or do you want to be the most effective adventurer possible?
There’s no “best” D&D race to play as because it depends on your personal preferences and goals, but we’ve broken down every playable race in the 5e Dungeons & Dragons manual to help you find the perfect one.
The best D&D race is:
In many cases, your choice of race is based on the theme of your chosen adventure, the chosen class, and the desired approach to roleplay. For example, if an adventure revolves around the investigation of a series of murders, it’s unlikely your choice of race will have any bearing on the story.
Each of the following Dungeons & Dragons races offers unique benefits, but what matters most is your own personal preference. If you’re looking for a straightforward gameplay experience, for example, consider a Half-Elf or a Human. On the other hand, if you’re more interested in roleplay and character development, a Tiefling offers more complexity, as well as benefits for spellcasters.
Your choice of race may also depend on the theme of the adventure, the chosen class, and the desired approach to roleplay. For example, if you’re playing in a campaign set in the Forgotten Realms, you might want to consider whether you want your character to fit into the world or stand out. Will the Dungeon Master shape the story around your unique character, or will they try to make your character fit the world they’ve created? If you want your character to stand out, a Changeling or a Goliath might be a better choice than a Human or High Elf.
The best D&D races
Here are all of the playable Dungeons & Dragons races, along with a small explanation of their benefits and how they might fit into your gameplay.
The best Dungeons & Dragons race for you is likely the one that allows you to tell the most compelling story, fits your chosen class, and provides useful bonuses. While some races are better at certain things, it’s ultimately up to you to make them work if you don’t think they’re a good fit. We’ve listed most of the available options you have when creating a character in D&D 5e, but if you’re looking for something a little more out there, give our D&D subraces guide a read.
Even if a race doesn’t seem ideal at first, you can still make it work through creativity and adaptation. If nothing else, the Dungeon Master is responsible for whatever opposition your unique character may face, so if you can convince them of your race’s worth, you’ll find ways to use it to your advantage in the long run.
Barbarian
Dwarf
Elf
Folk Hero / Ranger
Gnome
Halfling
Half-Elf
Human
Mage
Paladin
Half-Orc
Rogue
Sorcerer
Tiefling
Wizard
Playing as yourself
New to tabletop? Don’t know your AC from your HP? Our Dungeons & Dragons guide has everything you need to get started.
While choosing a D&D race is important, it’s not the only part of character creation. In fact, many players choose to play as themselves, making decisions based on their own instincts rather than their character’s attributes. For example, if you’re a mage in real life, you might want to play as a mage in-game as well. In this case, your race becomes less important, though you may still want to consider which bonuses or weaknesses you want to bring to your character.
On the other hand, if you’re thinking about playing as yourself, you may need to consider your strengths and weaknesses as a person. If you’re a good-hearted, strong-willed warrior, it may not make sense to play as a Dragonborn with a disadvantage to persuasion. Similarly, if you’re timid and have a fear of spiders, you might not want to play as a Tiefling.
Here are some of the most popular D&D races for players who want to play as themselves:
Half-Elf
Human
Halfling
These races offer a straightforward gameplay experience, meaning you can focus on other aspects of your character.
Half-Elves are often used to represent people of mixed heritage, while Humans are the most populous and diverse race in the world, making them a popular choice.
Tiefling
The Tieflings are a race of humans with infernal blood, earning them a reputation as a cursed people. As such, they often struggle to fit in with society at large, making them a good choice for players looking to roleplay their character’s flaws and insecurities.
Tieflings often find they excel in magical disciplines, making them a great choice for spellcasters.
Changeling
The Changeling race is a fun option for players looking to roleplay the unknown, representing a character whose true identity is shrouded in mystery.
Changeling characters often have an unusual appearance, and this is a great way for players to explore their character’s flaws and insecurities. As changelings are a shapeshifter race, you could also use this to your advantage by roleplaying your character’s attempts at fitting in.
Goliath
The Goliath race is one of the more unusual options in the Player’s Handbook, representing a character with a strong connection to nature and the animal kingdom.
