Thirst for blood with this vampiric lineage
Some beings have their very nature transformed by some magic or event. It transforms them into something not quite like their original race. These are known as lineages and are a special subset of races found in Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft.
One of these lineages is the Dhampir. These are creatures that have been transformed by a vampiric influence. They inherit both the hungers and the capabilities that plague vampires, though to lesser extremes than full vampires. They thirst for blood, especially that of humanoids, and while this thirst isn’t as overwhelming as it is for true vampires, it still haunts a Dhampir.
While this thirst for blood is a definite drawback, there are also benefits to being a Dhampir. These come in the form of their quick movement, climbing ability, healing bite and their breathless nature.
If you want to play a Dhampir, then read on for advice on optimisation and tactics.
Is a Dhampir the right species for me?
Choose a Dhampir if you want to…
- Be able to climb
- Be quick
- Have a self-healing bite attack
- Want to drink blood
A Dhampir might not be for you if…
- You don’t need to be mobile much
- You don’t want to get into melee combat
Using a lineage
Lineages are a little different from standard races. They transform a character from their original race into something a fair bit different, though they also retain attributes of their original race.
If you’re creating a character that starts with a lineage, then this just replaces the traits your race would have given you. However, if you start as another race and then gain a lineage during the game, you do the following:
- Replace all your original racial traits with the traits from the new lineage.
- The exception is for the traits specified in the ancestral legacy trait of your new lineage. This states that you can retain any skill proficiencies from your original race and/or any climbing, flying or swimming speed you gained from your original race.
- If you choose not to keep these skill proficiencies and extra movement types, then you can instead choose any 2 skill proficiencies to gain instead.
And that’s it, you now have your lineage.
Dhampir traits
| Ability score increase | Increase 1 ability score by 2 and another by 1 or increase 3 ability scores by 1 |
| Languages | Common and 1 other |
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Small or medium |
| Speed | 35ft |
| Traits | Ancestral legacy, darkvision, deathless nature, spider climb, vampiric bite |
| Resistances | None |
| Proficiencies | Those from your race or 2 of your choice |
| Darkvision | Yes |
| Innate spellcasting | None |
| Book found in | Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft |
Tactics
Dhampirs are highly mobile and possess some interesting self healing through their vampiric bite attacks they can make. I’d consider the following tactics when playing one.
Vampiric healing: Vampires are great if you want to get some self-healing in while making attacks (no extra actions needed). It’s not loads per attack, but a character with a high constitution will get some solid healing here.
Improved attacks and ability checks: Alternatively, you can use your bite to increase an attack roll or ability check. This can be by a decent amount too making you a bit more reliable as a result. On top of this, if you’re bloodied, then you’ll have advantage on bite attacks too so an option best saved for when you’re a little lower on health. You might even want to use your bite in these situations when hampered by disadvantage to balance the odds.
High mobility: Dhampirs are not only faster than most races, they also have some of the best climbing around, being able to walk on walls and ceilings and still have their hands free. This makes them great as scouts as well as classes that need to move around a lot. Some classes may find they’re safe just lurking on walls and ceilings and launching ranged attacks and spells.
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
Dhampir are really about making melee attacks. You want to get the most use out of that bite attack and it’s subsequent healing and that means being a melee attacker. Sadly, this rarely suits a rogue as they can’t sneak attack with a vampiric bite (as it’s not a finesse or ranged weapon).
However, a bunch of other classes do benefit a lot, this includes:
One important thing to be aware of is that a vampiric bite does count as a monk weapon, making them the supreme biters of all the classes as their bites can exceed the D4 damage dice as it scales with their martial arts die.
All these classes benefit from more speed, climbing (as they can make decent scouts) and are comfortable making melee attacks and enjoying more healing as a result.
Worst Dhampir classes
Any classes that don’t like making melee attacks. This is especially the case for sorcerers and wizards who also lack much capability or need for speed or scouting. Druids also deserve a special mention here. The only druid that enjoys melee combat is the moon druid, but they lose the ability to use vampiric bite while in their wild shape. They can also easily accomplish climbing capabilities through wild shape.
About Dhampirs
Appearance
Dhampirs continue to look like their original race, but also take on some of the aspects of their new vampiric lineage. This includes things like pale skin and sharp fangs.
How can you become a Dhampir?
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft suggests several ways you might become a Dhampir:
- Reincarnation of a vampiric ancestor
- Pact with a predatory entity has granted this hunger upon you
- Survived a vampire attack that has left you changed
- A parasite within you urges you to feed a new hunger
- Tragedy interrupted your transformation into an immortal being
- A diminished form of an otherworldly being
- One of your parents was a vampire
- A radical experiment changed your body
How to roleplay a Dhampir
You’ll likely want to lean into the thirst you have for blood, flesh or whichever vice your Dhampir has obtained. Perhaps you embrace this and gladly feed on others, but this may also be an unwanted gift. You may fight it, choosing only to feed on those that are evil, on animals or just eschew your hunger entirely.
You might walk away following a bloody slaughter to clear your head or may avoid violence altogether as a result.
Many Dhampirs also harbour deep anger for their affliction. Some even seek vengeance and you may feel a sense of hatred towards your vampiric kin for the curse they’ve bestowed upon you.
Other D&D race guides
Not sure a Dhampir is the right race for you? Why not check out one of our other race guides for D&D 5e.
