Stealth and spells, learn how to optimise your Deep Gnome character
What are Deep Gnomes?
Also known as Svirfneblin, Deep Gnomes are gnomes that live, well, deep underground in the recesses of the Underdark. The Underdark is a terrifying place home to all sorts of nasty creatures from murderous drow to demons that have found a portal into the material plane. Deep Gnomes on the other hand, are not terrifying creatures (though not necessarily a push over either). They have managed to survive though by being masters of stealth as well as developing a natural affinity with the stone and earth around them. This means the the Svirfneblin tend to be master miners and craftsmen too.
Deep Gnomes were originally introduced as a playable race in D&D 5e in the Elemental Evil Player’s Companion, were republished in Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes and have since been updated in Monsters of the Multiverse. Our guide below focuses on the version of the race found in Monsters of the Multiverse and tells you everything you need to know to play as one of these stealthy characters.
At a glance
Dungeons and Dragons lets you take a flexible approach to building a character, but if you’re going to stick to typical culture and the best-optimised build for a Deep Gnome you might consider the following:
Choose a Deep Gnome if you like…
- Being sneaky
- Having innate spellcasting
- Being highly resistant to magical effects
A Deep Gnome might not be for you if…
- Prefer punching over sneaking
- Are not interested in spellcasting
- Don’t like Gnomes
If you think a Deep Gnome isn’t for you, not to worry, there are dozens of playable races for you to pick from, just check out our races guide to find out about all of them. For an alternative stealth based race, you could consider a Bugbear or a Wood Elf.
Deep Gnome racial traits
| Ability Scores | +2 to one ability score and +1 to another or +1 to 3 different ability scores |
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Small |
| Lifespan | About 500 years |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Languages | Common and 1 other |
| Traits | Darkvision, Gift of the Svirfneblin, Gnomish Magic Resistance, Svirfneblin Camouflage |
| Proficiencies | None |
| Resistances | Advantages on intelligence, wisdom and charisma saving throws against spells |
| Darkvision | Yes |
| Innate Spellcasting | Disguise Self, Nondetection |
| Book found in | Monsters of the Multiverse, Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes, Elemental Evil Player’s Companion |
Tactics
Deep Gnomes are an interesting combination of stealth and durability meaning tactics tend to revolve around these attributes.
Mage Hunters: With advantage on saving throws against a lot of spells, Deep Gnomes make great mage hunters. So target those spellcasters and absorb some of their magical attacks.
Undetectable: Deep Gnomes are stealth masters. They aren’t actually proficient in stealth, instead, they get advantage on stealth checks a few times a day. What this means is that you can combine this with stealth proficiency to become incredibly difficult to spot. This becomes even more powerful when you add in the expertise that a rogue or bard might have. A Deep Gnome’s innate spellcasting only serves to make you even more difficult to spot. If you’re playing a Deep Gnome, you can take advantage of this in combat using a rogue’s cunning action to hide and then strike from the shadows with incredible reliability. Outside of combat, simply use your stealth to sneak into all those places you’re not supposed to be in.
Which classes work well for Deep Gnomes?
Deep gnomes are naturally stealthy creatures meaning they play well for classes that require the use of stealth. They also have great spell resistance. This is becoming less useful as monster stat blocks become less about spells and more about abilities, but still one of the best resistances available.
Below I’ve put together a score for how well each class works with a Deep based on how well the racial traits work with each class:
Artificer⭐⭐
Barbarian ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bard ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cleric ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Druid ⭐⭐⭐
Fighter ⭐⭐⭐
Monk ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Paladin ⭐⭐⭐
Ranger ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rogue ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sorcerer ⭐⭐⭐
Warlock ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wizard ⭐⭐
*Star ratings scored out of 5
Best classes for Deep Gnomes
With the above in mind, the best classes for a Deep Gnome are:
- Bard
- Ranger
- Rogue
Bards and rogues get a lot of skill proficiencies and as long as you ensure one of those is in stealth, you become nearly impossible to detect, especially at high levels. As natural scouts, you’ll likely want your ranger proficient in stealth too. Add to this spells around stealth like disguise self and non-detection and you become the ideal scout and infiltrator.
It’s worth noting too that bards and rangers are spellcasters (as is the arcane trickster rogue) so these spells can be used multiple times in a day if required.
While most classes work reasonably well for Deep Gnomes, it’s also worth calling out barbarians and monks that typically have a decent dexterity and no armour allowing them to specialise in stealth in the absence of stealthier characters. This means a Deep Gnome can be a pretty good fit for these classes too.
Worst classes for Deep Gnomes
No class is a terrible choice for a deep gnome as things like darkvision, camouflage, magic resistance and disguise self are often useful for any class. Where these things become less useful is for classes that can already do some of these things and gain little extra benefit from having them. This primarily affects the artificer and the wizard. The wizard especially because you rarely want to be sending them into danger on a stealth mission and they can do everything a deep gnome can do with their own spells. Artificers that want to be stealthy will likely take the armorer subclass and use the infiltrator armour which makes the deep gnome’s camouflage redundant.
About Deep Gnomes
Appearance
Like the Duergar and Drow, Deep Gnomes have developed dark skin from centuries living underground typically having brown or grey skin and dark grey eyes. Like other Gnomes, they stand about 3-3.5ft tall and weigh about 40-45 pounds. Unlike other Gnomes, males tend to be bald and beardless though females do tend to have hair on their heads.
Other Gnome subspecies
Personality
Most Gnomes are intrinsically curious but for Deep Gnomes, much of that curiosity has been removed from them through centuries of conditioning. A curious nature in the Underdark typically leads to a short life. This doesn’t mean that Deep Gnomes don’t have a curious streak at all and within the right, safe circumstances, can show almost equally curiosity to their surface cousins.
Because of the dangers of the Underdark, Deep Gnomes have developed a strong ability to work stealthily, through practice, biology and magic. The Svirfneblin are not the toughest creatures in the Underdark so survive by not being noticed and utilising technology and magic to keep themselves safe. Thankfully, the harshness of the Underdark has not made the Svirfneblin cruel like the Drow and Duergar, even if it has taken their zeal for life.
The constant threat of danger has also fostered in them a far more serious outlook on life than surface dwelling Gnomes. Svirfneblin are rarely frivolous and instead, work hard and master their crafts (which often involve magic or stonecraft).
Names
Svirfneblin love names and often have dozens of them. When born, they’ll be given a name by parents, clan elders and other relatives. Deep Gnomes will also accumulate nicknames over time, but many of the names a Deep Gnome receives won’t always stick around and they’ll tend to pick a few favourites that persist. Other races struggle with this lackadaisical approach to naming conventions and most Svirfneblin have worked out to stick with 3 names when dealing with other races; a personal name, a clan name and a nickname.
Male Deep Gnome names: Alston, Alvyn, Boddynock, Brocc, Burgell, Dimble, Eldon, Erky, Fonkin, Frug, Gerbo, Gimble, Glim, Jebeddo, Kellen, Namfoodle, Orryn, Roondar, Seebo, Sindri, Warryn, Wrenn, Zook
Female Deep Gnome names: Bimpnottin, Breena, Caramip, Carlin, Donella, Duvamil, Ella, Ellyjobell, Ellywick, Lilli, Loopmottin, Lorilla, Mardnab, Nissa, Nyx, Oda, Orla, Roywyn, Shamil, Tana, Waywocket, Zanna
Deep Gnome Clan Names: Beren, Daergel, Folkor, Garrick, Nackle, Murnig, Ningel, Raulnor, Scheppen, Timbers, Turen
How to roleplay as a Deep Gnome
Cautious, careful and stoic are typical traits of Deep Gnomes. You’ll rarely want to confront a threat head on and will typically use negotiation and stealth above other methods. Most Svirfneblin that do leave their homes though, do so because their gnomish curiosity simply can’t be contained and are willing to accept the risks of the outside world. You may find your character also possesses this intense curiosity, even if life has taught them to temper this with caution.
