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For much of Dungeons & Dragons' history, bugbears were the boogeymen. Their long limbs would reach out from the shadows, revealing a monstrous visage that seemed apt to eat anything it managed to grasp in its fetid claws. But these days, bugbears are trying to rehabilitate their image. Some even want to be contributing members of an adventuring party.
Related:Dungeons & Dragons: Duergar Species Guide
Now, you can harness the powers of the bugbear to be a true adventurer, fighting for a cause! Or you can be a skulking assassin, using your fey ancestry to surprise opponents from the cover of darkness. However you want to play it, we’ve got tips on making a successful bugbear adventurer.
For this guide, we’re using the latest information fromMordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse.
History Of The Bugbears
They may not look it, but bugbears are actuallyrelated to goblins and hobgoblins, whoseroots can be traced back to the Feywild. Bugbears arrived on the Material Plane long ago thanks to the conquering god Maglubiyet, where bugbears served as the warrior god’s shock troops. Over time, however, many bugbears parted ways with their warlike ancestors as they stopped worshipping Maglubiyet, although some still hold to the old ways.
Bugbears can have a fearsome appearance, with theirlong limbs,coarse hair,long pointy ears, andlong pointy teeth. Bugbears are alsovery quietthanks to the lingering remnants of fey magic that conceals them despite their brutish size.
Bugbears aremedium-sized creatureswith a walkingspeed of 30 feet. They are considered bothhumanoidandgoblinoidfor any prerequisite effects or spells. When you choose bugbear for your character,increase one ability score by two pointsandanother by one point.
Bugbear Features
Darkvision
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 discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.
A common trait among goblinoids.Darkvision is always nice to have, whether you’re adventuring at night or in the bowels of a deep dungeon. It’ll save you a cantrip if you plan to play as a spellcaster, or it’ll save you the cost of a few torches throughout your campaign.
Fey Ancestry
You have advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the charmed condition on yourself.
Another common feature for any species that can trace its ancestry back to the Feywild, advantage against charm effects can be really helpfulif you decide to playas a Fighter or other martial-type classes.
Long-Limbed
When you make a melee attack on your turn, your reach for it is five feet greater than normal.
Another big advantage when playing as a bugbear is anadditional five feet of reach. This is an excellent trait to have for any class that utilizes melee weapons.
Arm your bugbear with a pike(or any other weapon withreach), and you’ll be able to strike enemies up to15 feet away!
Powerful Build
You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
Not having to worry about carrying a full backpack of lootcan be handy, although most parties will look at getting a Bag of Holding to solve this particular problem.
Sneaky
You are proficient in the Stealth skill. In addition, without squeezing, you can move through and stop in a space large enough for a Small creature.
Proficiency in Stealth is always nice to have, butparticularly useful for Rogues. This frees Rogues up to get proficiency in another skill.
Surprise Attack
If you hit a creature with an attack roll, the creature takes an extra 2d6 damage if it hasn’t taken a turn yet in the current combat.
Here’s where bugbears can be surprisingly potent. Anextra 2d6 of damage against any creature that hasn’t already gone in the turn orderis huge, especially at first level.
Combine this with any class that can gain advantage or bonuses to initiative rolls, and you’ve got a damage-dealing monster.
Related:Dungeons & Dragons: How To Use Pets And Familiars
Best Bugbear Class Options
Pretty muchany melee-based class will benefit from the bugbear’s Long-Limbed feature, but there are a few classes and subclasses that will synergize especially well.
Fighter - Battle Master or Gunslinger
Wizard - Chronurgy Magic or War Magic
