Deep dive on this vampiric species, including tactics and build advice.
Dhampirs are a form of minor vampire. They are not fully undead and not fully a vampire, but they have made a partial transformation towards both. They thirst for blood and similar nourishment while taking on the speed, fangs and climbing capabilities that vampires possess.
Originally published for D&D 5e in Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, the Dhampir has been refreshed for D&D 2024 in Astarion’s Book of Hungers, a digital DLC for the Forgotten Realms books. It’s actually the first new species for D&D 2024 beyond the original 10 featured in the Player’s Handbook.
If you want to play a Dhampir, then check out my guide below for advice on optimisation and tactics.
Is a Dhampir the right species for me?
Choose a Dhampir if you want to…
- Move quickly
- Climb walls and ceilings
- Make unarmed strikes
A Dhampir might not be for you if…
- You won’t be good at unarmed strikes
- Have no need for speed
- Don’t want to grapple with bloodlust and negative public opinions
What’s changed?
On a casual read, it appears that not a lot has changed, but a few subtle differences in how Dhampir traits work makes a fairly substantial difference. In particular, how their vampiric bite works as an unarmed strike now:
- You don’t retain aspects of your original species: Previously, the Dhampir might keep skill proficiencies and climb, fly and swim speeds from their previous species. This is no longer the case and may be due to the fact that this is now your designated species rather than being considered a lineage.
- No skill proficiencies: Even if you started as a Dhampir, the previous version let you choose 2 skill proficiencies. This is no longer the case.
- Dhampirs now need to breathe: This is not only removed as a trait, but also has minor lore implications too.
- No bite advantage when bloodied: You no longer have advantage on bite attacks while bloodied.
- Vampiric bite is now an unarmed strike: This has potentially interesting consequences. For example, if you have the grappler feat, you may be able to grapple as part of your bite attack or have other effects that coincide with unarmed strikes like a monk’s stunning strike.
- You now have necrotic resistance: You’re now a little more durable against necrotic attacks.
Dhampir traits
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Small or medium |
| Speed | 35ft |
| Traits | Darkvision, spider climb, trace of undeath, vampiric bite |
| Resistances | Necrotic |
| Proficiencies | No |
| Darkvision | Yes |
| Innate spellcasting | None |
| Book found in | Astarion’s Book of Hungers |
Tactics
Dhampirs lean into tactics that allow them to be fast, manoeuvre around the battlefield and make melee attacks (specifically unarmed strikes). You can use the following tactics for a Dhampir:
Highly mobile: Dhampirs are not only quite fast (with their 35ft move speed), they can also climb. They can even climb while using their hands for other things from level 3 onwards allowing them to hang somewhere relatively safe (like a ceiling) while shooting a crossbow or casting spells.
Unarmed specialists: Dhampirs can now use their vampiric bite as an unarmed strike. This is quite a big deal as it allows you to combine it with other unarmed strike options. For example, someone with the grappler feat can grapple while making a vampiric bite. A monk can use stunning strike while making a vampiric bite and so on.
The reason to use vampiric bite isn’t for the damage, it’s for one of the extra effects layered onto the damage. Healing or an enhanced attack roll/ability test are both great options. You’ll want to get your constitution high for this. You’ll also want ways to enhance this piercing damage. And there are a couple. For example, a barbarian will get a boost to this damage while raging, which will make these additional effects more potent too. The piercer feat will enhance this in a similar way.
Resilient: Necrotic resistance will keep you in the fight longer, while the drain option from your vampiric bite can heal you when you do take damage.
Choosing a class for your Dhampir
Below I’ve scored how well each class works with a Dhampir:
Artificer⭐⭐
Barbarian ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bard ⭐⭐
Cleric ⭐⭐
Druid ⭐⭐
Fighter ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Monk ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Paladin ⭐⭐⭐
Ranger ⭐⭐⭐
Rogue ⭐⭐
Sorcerer ⭐⭐
Warlock ⭐⭐
Wizard ⭐⭐
*Star ratings scored out of 5
Best classes for a Dhampir
The effectiveness of a Dhampir is highly reliant on how well they can utilise their climbing and their vampiric bite. Martials are the natural option for using vampiric bite, especially those that can make capable unarmed warriors and grapplers. Your best options here are:
An honourable mention should also got to the dance bard here too as they also do well as an unarmed attacker.
It’s also worth being aware that things like a ranger’s hunter’s mark and a paladin’s smite will also stack with unarmed attacks for damage, but won’t deal piercing damage, so can’t add to the healing or enhancements from vampiric bite. A vampire bite blasting someone with radiant damage from a smite is ridiculously cool though!
Worst Dhampir classes
There are no terrible options here. Even if you’re not biting people, there’s still plenty that’s useful here like the higher move speed, the climb speed and darkvision.
Even so, classes that rarely make melee attacks aren’t the best option, like sorcerers and wizards. It’s also worth mentioning rogues who are highly reliant on a single weapon attack. This means there’s no space for a vampiric bite and their sneak attack doesn’t work on unarmed strikes.
About Dhampirs
Appearance
Dhampirs aren’t really a species of their own. Instead, they are a transformed version of another species. This is even the case if you’re born a Dhampir; you’ll still possess the features of your parent’s species.
This means that primarily, you’ll have the physical appearance of your actual species, plus some changes according to your Dhampir influence. The changes will be subtle, but you’ll develop sharper teeth and probably paler skin. Beyond this though, you will likely look similar to your original species and should be able to pass as an ordinary member of that species.
Personality
Similarly, a Dhampir’s personality will be much influenced by their upbringing and their original species. However, with your Dhampir transformation comes a thirst for blood or other substance. This may represent a constant battle that must be overcome or a change in behaviour as the character succumbs to their urges.
As a result, many Dhampirs also develop more predatory urges too. This might manifest as sudden reactions to small noises, intense staring at potential enemies/food sources and similarly intense behaviours.
How to roleplay a Dhampir
The big thing for a Dhampir is working out how you respond to your bloodlust. Do you embrace it or fight it. This will determine much of how you roleplay your character.
Those that embrace it may choose to feed on enemies once they’ve been killed or disappear in the middle of the night to find an unsuspecting victim. Those that fight this urge may struggle on days where they’ve not been able to feed or may show their struggles at the end of a battle when the scent of blood is strongest. You may also seek to strike a balance. Perhaps you only drink the blood of the already fallen and therefore feed on your enemies at the end of a battle, but won’t seek out new victims.
Either way, you will need to contend with your bloodlust and the impressions others have of you. Do you proudly display your fangs, or do you hide your unholy transformation. These are the questions a Dhampir must contend with.
Other D&D 2024 playable species guides
Not sure a Dhampir is the right species for you? Why not check out one of our other species guides for D&D 2024.
