Everything you need to know about aasimar in Dungeons & Dragons
Want to know more about aasimar? These characters from Dungeons & Dragons are part-celestial, part-human with a fascinating history that has evolved over the years. They resemble their celestial parents, and many aasimar choose to serve deities.
The first aasimar were created as a celestial counterpart to the infernal tieflings, and their creation was controversial due to racial tensions with tieflings. Aasimar have since become a core part of D&D lore and are available to play as characters in 5E and other editions. Devas, divine incarnations, are closely linked to aasimar and often guide them. Here’s everything you need to know about aasimar in Dungeons & Dragons, including their alignment, appearance, and their role in the multiverse.
Descendants of champions to the gods
Aasimar are descendants of humans born to serve as champions to the gods. They can also have other races in their ancestry, such as fey, which determines their physical traits. Aasimar mature at the same rate as humans but live longer and do not age as quickly. They cannot reproduce like humans or tieflings and are manifested later in a child’s development.
Aasimar do not have a definitive culture and often travel alone, hiding their visage to avoid suspicion. They are more common in Mulhorand, but there are other places where they can be found, including other planes. Aasimar are driven by their deity service but are generally good-aligned. There are two main subspecies of aasimar: protectors and scourges.
Aasimar subspecies
Aasimar subspecies are known as either protectors or scourges. This is determined by whether they manifest their celestial heritage as a protective force or a devastating one.
Protectors have feathery wing remnants and can grow wings, fly, and glow. Scourges emit a searing light from within, have an ability that burns creatures, and can become a pillar of flame.
Aasimar alignment
Aasimar can become fallen if touched by evil or turn to evil in early adulthood. Fallen aasimar have physical changes. They can redeem themselves through good deeds, but if they turn to evil again, the transformation becomes permanent.
Aasimar who are not fallen are typically good-aligned. Their alignment is determined by their ancestry and the plane they are born on. For example, aasimar born on the plane of Mount Celestia are typically lawful good.
Aasimar culture
Aasimar do not have a set culture or a home plane. They are often driven by their deity service and generally have good alignments. There are always exceptions, however, and there are some evil aasimar.
Aasimar can worship any pantheon of gods, depending on their ancestry and location. They generally prefer the company of other mixed species and may avoid tieflings.
Aasimar look
Aasimar have the appearance of their celestial parents, which is why there are so many different variations of these humanoid creatures. Their ancestry can include other races, such as fey, which determines their physical traits.
Aasimar wings
Aasimar can grow wings if they are protectors, but this requires great effort. They can fly for short periods of time, but this leaves them fatigued.
Aasimar light
Aasimar light is a defining characteristic of these creatures, and their ability to emit this light is a sign of their celestial heritage.
Aasimar abilities
Aasimar have the ability to manifest their celestial heritage as a force for good or evil. This determines their subspecies, and they can become a pillar of flame or grow wings.