All the details on the revamped species for D&D 2024 plus all our guides for each species.
The new Player’s Handbook for D&D 2024 is here and with it comes a refresh of a bunch of the most common species we’ve come to know in the D&D multiverse. This includes the usual mainstays such as Humans, Elves and Dwarves as well slightly less common races like the celestial Aasimar, towering Goliaths and gnarly Orcs.
With some fairly substantial changes to the way each species works as well as broader changes to character creation at large, there’s a lot that’s new for species in D&D 2024. I’ve been hard at work putting together optimisation guides for each of the updated races which you can find below alongside summaries of each race.
I’ve also put together all the changes you can expect to species in D&D 2024 and provided a summary of the different features you can get from each race to help you decide what race to choose for your next character.
What’s changing for races in D&D 2024?
Wizards of the Coast have taken this opportunity to revamp how character creation works, and with that comes a swathe of changes to how races work in D&D 2024. These changes include:
- Races are now called species: This is to better distinguish that these are different creatures rather than a variation of a single creature type (which race implies).
- Ability scores: These are no longer tied to your species. Instead, they’re tied to your background.
- Half species: These no longer get a separate species entry. Instead, you take on the traits of one of the species you’re a half of and can take on a combination of physical traits related to either species.
- Small species speed: Small species no longer get a movement speed of 25ft, it’s now 30ft
- Species disadvantages: In fact, other disadvantages have been removed too, like a Drow’s sunlight sensitivity
- Innate spellcasting: You can use an ability score of your choice for innate spellcasting rather than one specified by the species
- Greater flexibility: More flexibility has been baked into the features allowing you to choose certain options whenever you use a feature instead of having to pick just one option at character creation. This is the case for an Aasimar’s celestial revelation for example.
- Updated features: Features have mostly been altered and improved to make them more useful and more in line with the flavour of that species
All of this means that species are much more flexible in D&D 2024. Some species remain more suited to certain classes over others, but ultimately, you can combine any class with any species and not feel particularly disadvantaged because of a lack of synergy between things like ability scores.
Species traits summarised
You may be looking for a species that has a certain ability or fills a certain role. If that’s the case, then you can check out my table below which summarises the various abilities and traits associated with different species so you can easily pick the species you’re looking for:
| Feature | Species |
|---|---|
| Climb speed | Dhampir |
| Darkvision | Aasimar, Dhampir, Dargonborn, Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Khoravar, Lorwyn Changeling, Orc, Shifter, Rimekin, Tiefling |
| Damage traits | Aasimar, Dragonborn, Goliath, Shifter |
| Durability increase | Dwarf, Goliath (Stone Giant), Orc, Shifter, Warforged |
| Flight | Aasimar (temporary), Dragonborn (temporary) |
| Increased movement speed | Dhampir, Goliath, Shifter |
| Innate spellcasting | Elf, Gnome, Khoravar, Rimekin, Tiefling |
| Resistances | Aasimar, Dhampir, Dragonborn, Dwarf, Kalashtar, Rimekin, Tiefling, Warforged |
| Saving throw advantage | Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Halfling, Kalashtar, Khoravar, Warforged |
| Skill proficiencies | Changeling, Elf, Human, Khoravar, Shifter, Warforged |
| Can be small | Aasimar, Changeling, Dhampir, Gnome, Halfling, Human, Lorwyn Changeling, Shifter, Tielfing, Warforged |
| Teleportation | Elf (High Elf through misty step), Goliath (Cloud Giant) |
All playable species in D&D 2024
Player’s Handbook species
Aasimar
| Feature | 2024 species |
|---|---|
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Medium or small |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Traits | Celestial Resistance, Darkvision, Healing Hands, Light Bearer, Celestial Revelation |
| Source Book | Player’s Handbook 2024 |
Description: Mortals with the blood of celestials coursing through them, Aasimars take on some of the traits of their angelic heritage with the ability to heal, scourge and even fly (temporarily).
Dragonborn
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Medium |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Traits | Draconic ancestry, breath weapon, damage resistance, darkvision, draconic flight |
| Source Book | Player’s Handbook 2024 |
Description: Dragonborn are related to true dragons, but are more humanoid in size and shape. They do however retain the scales, jaws, colouration and other features of their draconic progenitors.
Dwarves
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Medium |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Traits | Darkvision, Dwarven resilience, Dwarven toughness, stonecunning |
| Source Book | Player’s Handbook 2024 |
Description: Dwarves are short, stocky humanoids with profound beards and an affinity with the earth. They are diggers and often deep dwellers, seeking great riches wherever they can find it.
Elves
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Medium |
| Speed | 30ft (35ft for Wood Elves) |
| Traits | Darkvision, Elven lineages, Fey ancestry, keen senses, trance |
| Source Book | Player’s Handbook 2024 |
Description: With ancestors originating from the Feywild, Elves are humanoids with a natural affinity for nature and magic. They’re based on the elegant, intelligent and long-lived Elves of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, rather than the short, mischievous Elves of folk lore and fairytales.
Gnomes
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Small |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Traits | Darkvision, Gnomish cunning, Gnomish lineage |
| Source Book | Player’s Handbook 2024 |
Description: The creation of the gods of magic and invention, Gnomes are short, curious beings with an enthusiastic streak. They stand a little taller than Halflings, but a little shorter than Dwarves at 3-4ft. You can often recognise them from their short beards and pointed ears.
Goliath
| Feature | 2024 species |
|---|---|
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Medium |
| Speed | 35ft |
| Traits | Giant ancestry, large form, powerful build |
| Source Book | Player’s Handbook 2024 |
Description: Goliaths are the relatively diminutive cousins of giant-kin, though at 7-8ft tall, are hardly slouches in the size department. Like their giant cousins, Goliaths are big, strong and fiercely independent.
Halflings
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Small |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Traits | Brave, Halflings nimbleness, luck, naturally stealthy |
| Source Book | Player’s Handbook 2024 |
Description: The D&D version of Hobbits, Halflings are like short looking Humans. In fact, they’re short enough to pass as a child, standing at just 2-3ft. This makes them shorter than Dwarves and a fraction of the height of Goliaths.
Human
| Feature | 2024 species |
|---|---|
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Medium |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Traits | Resourceful, skilled, versatile |
| Source Book | Player’s Handbook 2024 |
Description: Humans are the most adaptable of all the races. They are known for being innovators and pioneers, capable of excelling in whatever pursuit they take. Human cities and settlements are some of the most accepting in all the realms, welcoming all sorts of races into their boundaries, as long as they can contribute and don’t cause trouble.
Orc
| Feature | 2024 species |
|---|---|
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Medium |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Traits | Adrenaline rush, darkvision, relentless endurance |
| Source Book | Player’s Handbook 2024 |
Description: Built for brawn, Orcs are naturally muscular, standing a little taller than the average Human (though still shorter than a Goliath). Orcs are fairly imposing beings; especially with their tusks and a fairly combative culture.
Tiefling
| Features | 2024 species |
|---|---|
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Small or medium |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Traits | Darkvision, innate spellcasting, fiendish legacy |
| Source Book | Player’s Handbook 2024 |
Description: Tieflings are part mortal and part fiend. This fiendish blooded grants them features of devils, demons and other lower planes creatures such as horns, tails or colourful skin. They also inherit abilities from whichever fiendish bloodline they’ve been influenced by. Of course, this is often a cause for distrust from the other races, and while not all Tieflings are evil, they often do have a tendency towards trouble.
Eberron: Forge of the Artificer species
Changeling
| Features | 2024 species |
|---|---|
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Small or medium |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Traits | Changeling instincts, Shape-shifter |
| Source Book | Eberron: Forge of the Artificer |
Description: Changelings originated from the Feywild, but like many species, have spread to the mortal plane. Eberron, along with other settings, are inhabited by Changelings, though they are difficult to identify as they are shapeshifters, possessing the ability to look like any other creature that is similarly sized and proportioned to a Human.
Kalashtar
| Features | 2024 species |
|---|---|
| Creature Type | Aberration |
| Size | Medium |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Traits | Dual mind, mental discipline, mind link, severed from dreams |
| Source Book | Eberron: Forge of the Artificer |
Description: Kalashtar appear mostly Human, but with sometimes glowing eyes. They share their mind with the Quori, beings from the plane of dreams that can influence their thoughts and capabilities.
Khoravar
| Features | 2024 species |
|---|---|
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Small or medium |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Traits | Darkvision, fey ancestry, fey gift, lethargy resilience, skill versatility |
| Source Book | Eberron: Forge of the Artificer |
Description: Born of both Humans and Elves, Khoravar are essentially the Half Elves of the Eberron setting. Many of the Khoravar choose to serve as diplomats between communities while others seek to connect more deeply with their fey ancestry.
Shifter
| Features | 2024 species |
|---|---|
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Small or medium |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Traits | Beastial instincts, darkvision, shifting |
| Source Book | Eberron: Forge of the Artificer |
Description: Shifters are sometimes known as weretouched as their ancestors were infected with lycanthropy. Shifters are not fully lycanthropes, but they possess some of their capabilities, allowing them to partially transform, enhancing their bodies in a variety of ways. Shifters mostly looks like Humans, but do possess some beastial aspects like fur, canine teeth or pointed ears.
Warforged
| Features | 2024 species |
|---|---|
| Creature Type | Construct |
| Size | Small or medium |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Traits | Construct resilience, integrated protection, sentry’s rest, specialzed design, tireless |
| Source Book | Eberron: Forge of the Artificer |
Description: Mechanical beings created to fight a war that has now ended, Warforged are sentient and can feel emotions and pain, much like other species.
Astarion’s Book of Hungers species
Dhampir
| Features | 2024 species |
|---|---|
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Small or medium |
| Speed | 35ft |
| Traits | Darkvision, spider climb, trace of undeath, vampiric bite |
| Source Book | Astarion’s Book of Hungers |
Description: Dhampirs are individuals that have received a partial vampiric transformation due to some kind of exposure to vampiric powers. This causes them to develop some of the traits of a vampire, including a bloodlust, sharp fangs and the ability to climb walls.
Lorwyn: First Light species
Lorwyn Changeling
| Features | 2024 species |
|---|---|
| Creature Type | Fey |
| Size | Small or medium |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Traits | Shape self, darkvision, delightful imitator, unpredictable movement |
| Source Book | Lorwyn: First Light |
Description: Whimsical, blue-green shapeshifters whose transformations are more charming than convincing, producing bug eyed beasts, lumpy fake trees, and other endearingly obvious imitations. They roam the land looking for belonging and sating their curiosity through exploration.
Rimekin
| Features | 2024 species |
|---|---|
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Small or medium |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Traits | Cold fire magic, cold resistance, darkvision |
| Source Book | Lorwyn: First Light |
Description: A Rimekin is a cold-forged cousin of the flamekin, born when fiery elementals embraced chilling logic during the Phyrexian invasion, their inner blaze turning blue and frosty. Their magic crackles with icy flame, sheathing their bodies and gear in ice, and they carry themselves with a cool intensity that sets them apart from their passionate flamekin origins.