Small in size, big in bravery: dive into epic adventures with Lightfoot Halflings
What are Lightfoot Halflings?
Lightfoot Halflings are the most common sub race of halflings and tend to be friendly, jovial and curious, with a talent for hiding in plain sight. Their small nature and approachable nature lead them to make friends easily, but don’t be fooled, they are capable of becoming formidable fighters.
Lightfoot Halflings can often be found exploring and sating their wanderlust, as a result a Lightfoot Halfling is a common sight in almost any settlement of forgotten realms. Lightfoot’s also have an appreciation for home comforts and are equally happy living in home communities or in the settlements of other races.
Their unique talents can be a boon to any party, find out more below.
Is a Lightfoot Halfling the right character for me?
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 Lightfoot Halfling you might consider the following:
Choose a Lightfoot Halfling if you like…
- Small, stealthy characters
- Want to have incredible fortune
- Want to play a fearless underdog
A Lightfoot Halfling might not be for you if…
- You like a character that can move quickly
- Don’t want to play someone diminutive in size
If you think a Lightfoot Halfling 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 stealthy race, you could consider a Bugbear or a Wood Elf.
Racial traits
| Ability Scores | +2 Dexterity; +1 Charisma |
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Small |
| Speed | 25ft |
| Languages | Common and Halfling |
| Traits | Lucky, Brave, Halfling Nimbleness, Naturally Stealthy |
| Resistances | Frightened |
| Proficiencies | None |
| Darkvision | No |
| Innate Spellcasting | None |
| Book found in | Player’s Handbook |
If you want to play as a Lightfoot Halfling, your character will have the following traits and abilities (as found in the SRD for D&D 5e):
Lucky – When you roll a 1 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die. You must use the new result, even if it is a 1.
Brave – You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.
Nimble – You can move through the space of any creature that is of a size larger than yours.
Naturally Stealthy – You can attempt to hide even when you are only obscured by a creature that is at least one size larger than you.
Tactics
Fearless engagement: Utilise your Halfling’s Brave trait to face down fear-inducing enemies. With advantage on saving throws against being frightened, you can position yourself strategically between more vulnerable allies and enemies.
Reliable: Your lucky trait is very powerful, it has no limit to its number of uses, allowing you to roll 1s for attack rolls, saving throws and ability checks. This makes you an even greater master of skills (almost guaranteeing no critical fails), is great for frontline warriors that will likely need more saving throws than others and works nicely for attacks too, especially something like a rogue where you only get one attack and desperately want to land that sneak attack (especially if you’ve jumped out from the shadows of a large ally).
Take advantage of nimbleness: Leverage your Nimble trait to navigate the battlefield with ease. Move through the spaces of larger creatures to position yourself for attacks or to reach key objectives. Its uses are a bit situational, but can be handy when facing off against large foes.
Stealthy ambushes and retreats: Capitalise on the Naturally Stealthy trait to surprise your enemies with ambushes. Hide behind larger creatures or use terrain to your advantage. While for most characters, this would still take a whole action, rogues can hide as a bonus action, and because you’re small, you can use your allies to hide then strike from the shadows.
Which classes are good for a Lightfoot Halfling?
A Lightfoot Halflings racial traits can be quite adaptable across multiple classes, almost any could benefit from being better at stealth and passing ability checks. However, classes that might rely on being sneakier, are skills masters or end up in high risk situations will benefit the most.
Below I’ve put together a score for how well each class works with a Water Genasi based on how well the ability score increases and 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 a Lightfoot Halfling
- Rogue: The Lucky trait complements the Rogue’s sneakiness, the consequences of being spotted can often be dire, so a chance at a reroll is welcome. As a skill master, you’ll likely get a lot of use out of the lucky trait. Nimble enhances your Rogue’s ability to manoeuvre around the battlefield and score with a crucial sneak attack. Naturally Stealthy is also a perfect fit for blending into a crowd once a crime has been committed and suspicions aroused or simply performing hit and run tactics in combat!
- Monk: Monks already emphasise agility, and the combination of Nimble and Naturally Stealthy makes for a highly mobile, clandestine character, who can be relied upon to get to where they are needed and make an impact. Add to this the high number of attacks available to a monk and you significantly increase your usage of the lucky trait.
- Bard: The Lucky trait is ideal for increasing the chances of passing a skill check. Bards tend to have plenty of skills at their disposal and sit in a role where they undertake a lot of checks for the party. Lightfoot Halflings also get a boost in Dexterity and Charisma which are the most important ability scores for a bard.
- Fighter: While a race so small in stature might not initially summon images of the party’s fighter, Lightfoot Halflings could fit the bill. A melee fighter could certainly get stuck into battle with extra confidence knowing they are harder to frighten and can reroll a crucial attack roll if it fails. Add in the high number of attacks available to a fighter and lucky gets even more mileage. You’ll need to go with a dexterity based fighter so finesse or ranged weapons and two-handed weapons won’t be any good, but it’s easy enough to build an effective Lightfoot Halfling fighter.
Worst classes for a Lightfoot Halfling
Lightfoot Halflings generally lean towards stealthy, nimble classes because of the natural stat bonuses they traits that lend well to sneaking around. Their traits and abilities will generally be useful for most classes, but the classes above will make the best use of them. Strength based classes like a barbarian or intelligence based spell casters (like the wizard) will be the least optimised choices. Clerics also tend to value dexterity a little less too making them a poorer option. However, Lightfoot Halflings are one of the more flexible races and there aren’t many bad class choices.
About Lightfoot Halflings
Appearance
Lightfoot Halflings generally stand at an average height of 3 feet, their compact frames boasting a subtle athleticism. With warm, expressive eyes and rosy cheeks, they possess an inherent charm that complements their overall amiable demeanor. Their hair, ranges from auburn to sandy brown, and is often wavy or curly.
Personality
Lightfoot Halflings radiate a cheerful and inquisitive spirit and are known for their love of simple pleasures and close-knit communities. They generally have an infectious optimism and place great value on friendship, laughter, and storytelling. Despite their mischievous tendencies, their actions are rarely malicious, and they find joy in bringing levity to tough situations. Their sense of adventure and resilience make them a boon to any party.
Roleplaying a Lightfoot Halfling
As with all D&D 5e races, Lightfoot Halflings come with all kinds of personalities and it’s not unusual to see some break from the norm. You can use the below ideas to form your character or can consider how and why your Halfling might deviate from the norm:
- Embrace Your Size: As a halfling, you are small and nimble. Use this to your advantage in both combat and non-combat situations. Consider creative ways to navigate and interact with the environment due to your size. For example when entering a crowded tavern, describe how your halfling deftly weaves through the legs of larger folk to reach the bar.
- Friendly and Cheerful: Lightfoot halflings are generally affable and easygoing. Approach interactions with a friendly demeanor and a positive attitude. Your character is likely to be well-liked by others. You could share a light joke or humorous anecdote during moments of tension to lighten the mood
- Curiosity and Wanderlust: Halflings are known for their curiosity and wanderlust. Be inquisitive about the world around you, and express a desire to explore and experience new things. Ask the DM about interesting rumors or places to visit in the campaign world.
- Stealthy Nature: Take advantage of your natural stealth abilities. Use your small stature to your advantage, both in combat and when trying to avoid notice. Consider using your skills to eavesdrop or gather information unnoticed. Sneak ahead to scout dangerous areas before the party enters.
- Loyalty and Friendship: Halflings value loyalty and friendship. Be a team player, and emphasize your character’s commitment to their companions. Form close bonds with party members and NPCs. Express concern for party members’ well-being and offer assistance whenever they need it.
