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InDungeons & Dragons, half-elves have traditionally been good at basically everything. With lots of skills and ability score increases, half-elves have it all. They may not be the most interesting characters mechanically, but their versatility makes them better than average at almost every role in D&D.
Related:Dungeons & Dragons: The Best Feats For A Ranger
Of course, just because half-elves are good at everything doesn’t mean they can’t excel at some things, and there are some half-elf variants that offer interesting new choices for players to build characters. Read on to discover how to create your next half-elf adventurer.
The History Of The Half-Elves
When the elvestraveled from the Feywild to the Material Plane, they did what most invasive species do and they went native. Occasionally, an elf would partner with a human and produce offspring which inherited traits from both parents. Thoseoffspring are called half-elves.
At a distance, half-elves arealmost indistinguishable from humans. Slightly taller, slightly thinner, with pointed ears and the eyes of their elven parents, half-elves can have even more variety in skin tones and hairstyles than either elves or humans. They tend to be muchlonger-lived than humans, and owing to their fey ancestry, have an innateresistance to being magically charmed.
Half-elves aremedium-sizedhumanoid creatures with awalking speed of 30 feet. When choosing a half-elf as your character,increase your Charisma score by two pointsandtwo other ability scores by one point.
If using thecustom origins rulesoutlined in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything,increase one ability score by two pointsandtwo different ability scores by one point.
Half-Elf Features
Darkvision
Thanks to your elf blood, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Darkvision is always good to have. Being able to see in the dark means saving on the cost of torches or being able to re-assign a cantrip that would otherwise be required for seeing in a dark dungeon.
Fey Ancestry
You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
Immunity to sleepeffects andadvantage against being charmedis great for all characters, but is especially useful for the more melee-oriented classes that are often vulnerable to these effects.
Skill Versatility
You gain proficiency in two skills of your choice.
Two skill proficienciesin absolutely anything make half-elves the consummate jacks of all trades.
Half-Elf Variants
There are a lot of different types of elves out there, which means that there are just as many half-elf variants. These half-elves can eithertake the elf’s Keen Senses trait in place of Skill Versatility, or they canreplace it with one of the traitsbased on their specific elvish parentage.
Drow Magic
A half-elf of drow descent can forgo Skill Versatility and instead choose the drow’s Drow Magic: You know the dancing lights cantrip. When you reach third level, you can cast the faerie fire spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach fifth level, you can cast the darkness spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Half-elves of drow parentage boast a few innate spells.Dancing lightscan be a useful distraction,faerie fireis a fantastic support spell, anddarknessis the perfect accompaniment to a half-elf rogue.
High Elf Descent
A half-elf of moon elf or sun elf descent can forego Skill Versatility and instead choose the high elf’s Elf Weapon Training or Cantrip.
Elf Weapon Training can be useful if you want to play as a weapon-wielding class that doesn’t already know how to wield a longsword or a longbow. Thefree cantrip is likely to be more appealingto spell-wielding classes that lack damaging cantrips such as Druids and Bards.
Aquatic Heritage
A half-elf of aquatic heritage can forgo Skill Versatility and instead choose a swimming speed of 30 feet.
If the extra ability score doesn’t matter,you might as well play as a water genasiif all you’d like is a swimming speed. At least then you’d get a few free spells to go along with your webbed toes.
Wood Elf Descent
A half-elf of wood elf descent can forgo Skill Versatility and instead choose the wood elf’s Elf Weapon Training, Fleet of Foot, or Mask of the Wild.
Similar to aquatic half-elves, you might as well play as an air genasi if you just wanted an extra five feet of movement since you’d get three extra spells. Elf Weapon Training is fine for specific non-martial builds, butthe real draw here is Mask of the Wild. Being able to hide in light natural cover is perfect for Rogue characters.
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The Best Classes For Half-Elf Characters
Half-elves aretruly good at everything, so feel free to play any class as a half-elf secure in the knowledge you’re doing just fine. However, the half-elf offers just a little bit extra for these particular classes.
Paladin
Paladins need Charisma, but they also need Constitution and either Strength or Dexterity to function. Getting three ability score increases make Paladins an ideal choice for the half-elf.
Warlock
You might not necessarily need three ability score increases, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. Consider the drow half-elf variant for a few extra spells (always a plus as a Warlock).
Sorcerer
Skill Versatility can provide Sorcerer half-elves with the extra conversation skills to truly shine as the face of the party.
Bard
Bards don’t really need the extra skills provided by Skill Versatility, but they can make great use of High Elf Descent’s wizard cantrip. Firebolt is probably your best option here.
Monk
Monks desperately need attribute points, and half-elves provide them. Extra skills are nice to have, but it’s the attribute points you’re after here.
Ranger
Same as Monks and Paladins, Rangers are desperate for attributes. Using Tasha’s custom origin rules, increase Wisdom, Constitution, and then either Dexterity or Strength.
Rogue
With Skill Versatility, you can have eight skill proficiencies to start with as a Rogue. However, you’re probably better off taking Woof Elf Descent for Mask of the Wild in order to be better at hiding.
Mark of Detection Half-Elf
Introduced inEberron - Rising from the Last War, Mark of Detection half-elves are natural investigators owing to their powers of observation along with a few magical enhancements. Rather than increase three ability scores, Mark of Detection half-elvesincrease their Wisdom score by twoandone other ability score by one.
Mark of Detection Half-Elf Features
Deductive Intuition
When you make an Intelligence (Investigation) or Wisdom (Insight) check, you can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the ability check.
As a Mark of Detection half-elf, youforego versatility for specialization in Investigation and Insight. These are useful skills for a detective and a perfect fit for a campaign all about intrigue.
Magical Detection
you’re able to cast the detect magic and detect poison and disease spells with this trait. Starting at third level, you can also cast the see invisibility spell with it. Once you cast any of these spells with this trait, you can’t cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells, and you don’t require material components for them.
Nothing escapes the Mark of Detection half-elf. These spells aretailor-made to find the murder weaponor even the murderer if they think invisibility means safety.
Spells of the Mark
If you have the Spellcasting or the Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Mark of Detection Spells table are added to the spell list of your spellcasting class.
detect evil and good, detect poison and disease
detect thoughts, find traps
clairvoyance, nondetection
arcane eye, divination
Fifth
legend lore
Extra spells are a big deal for Warlock characters and arealways nice for other magic-casting classes. Note that each of these spells is intended to glean information.
Best Classes For Mark Of Detection Half-Elves
Druid
There are no rules preventing a Druid from also being a detective. Wisdom score increases, two skills, and a bunch of extra spells are all great for a Druid.
Cleric
Same with Druids, Clerics benefit greatly from the extra spells, skills, and Wisdom score increase.
You’re probably better off playing as a regular half-elf for the ability score increases, but Rangers can still benefit from an increase in spells.
Rogues are less concerned with Wisdom than they are typically with Dexterity, but the Inquisitive subclass seems tailor-made to work with Mark of Detection’s innate magics.
Related:Dungeons & Dragons: Tiefling Species Guide
Mark of Storm Half-Elf
Another addition fromEberron - Rising from the Last War, Mark of the Storm half-elves are at one with the sea and air making them natural sailors. Instead of increasing three ability scores, Mark of Storm half-elvesincrease their Charisma by twoandDexterity by one.
Mark of Storm Half-Elf Features
Windwright’s Intuition
When you make a Dexterity (Acrobatics) check or any ability check involving navigator’s tools, you can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the ability check.
As a sailor, being able tobalance on high ropes and navigating the seasare essential. An extra d4 is a nice addition.
Storm’s Boon
You have resistance to lightning damage.
Damage resistances are always welcome, even if lightning isn’t the most common damage type.
Headwinds
You know the gust cantrip. Starting at 3rd level, you can cast the gust of wind spell once with this trait, and you regain the ability to cast it when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Keeping your sails full is all part of this class’s appeal.
If you have the Spellcasting or the Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Mark of Storm Spells table are added to the spell list of your spellcasting class.
feather fall, fog cloud
gust of wind, levitate
sleet storm, wind wall
conjure minor elementals, control water
conjure elemental
Best Classes For Mark Of Storm Half-Elves
Extra spells and skills are big bonuses for Paladins as they’re typically limited in both.
Control of the elements is very on-brand for a Storm Sorcery Sorcerer, but Charisma and extra spells works for any Sorcerer.
Like Paladins, Warlocks benefit greatly from having access to more spells and a bit of innate spellcasting, even if it is just control of the weather.
There’s nothing like a Bard as captain of a ship, and a Bard that can ensure a ship’s sails never falter is doubly impressive.
