Quick Links
If you want to fight more than a sniveling tabaxi but still want claws, paws, and a tail, then leonin might be the species for you. These natural-born warriors are large and in charge, with a full mane and an inclination to fight over even the smallest transgression. You’ll enjoy making a leonin if you’re the sort ofDungeons & Dragonsplayer that likes to pick fights before finding diplomatic solutions.
Related:Dungeons & Dragons: Fire Genasi Species Guide
And if you’re looking for advice on how to build your leonin character, you’ve come to the right place. Read on for how to play a leonin in Dungeons & Dragons.
We’ll be using the custom origin rules outlined inXanathar’s Guide To Everything. Leonin features can be found inMythic Odysseys of Theros.
The History Of The Leonin
Hailing from the lands ofOreskos, the nomadic leonin are a prideful people.Quick-tempered and argumentative, the Leoninfight almost constantly, determining who rises to the head of the pack and who falls to the bottom of the pecking order.
Unlike the lithe and nimble tabaxi, leonin tends to betaller,larger, andgenerally more imposing. A tabaxi will quickly ingratiate themselves to a host and delight in scandalous conversation. Leonin will barge through the guards and roar in the face of the catering manager if their dietary needs aren’t met.
Leonin aremedium-sized creatureswith awalking speed of 35 feet. When choosing a Leonin for your character, you mayincrease one ability score by two pointsanda different ability score by one point.
Leonin 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 can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Cats are crepuscular creatures, and so it follows they have better night vision than your average humanoid.Darkvision is never a bad thing to have, and it’s particularly useful for Leonin who would rather be holding a sword than a torch.
Claws
Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you can deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Although not as sharp as a tabaxi,leonin claws are still deadlyto small, unarmored creatures. That said,you’ll almost always deal more damage with a real weapon.
Consider your claws auseful fallback optionif you’re ever forced into combat without your gear.
Hunter’s Instincts
You have proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Athletics, Intimidation, Perception, or Survival.
A new skill is always nice to have. Tabaxi get two skills, but leonin are able to choose one of four skills.
Daunting Roar
As a bonus action, you may let out an especially menacing roar. Creatures of your choice within 10 feet of you that can hear you must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you until the end of your next turn. The DC of the save equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Mechanically speaking, Daunting Roar is the only real reason to play a leonin over a particularly muscular tabaxi. Daunting Roar gives your leonin character a short-range crowd-control option based on your Constitution modifier.This feature strongly lends itself to melee characterswho will be in the thick of the fighting.
You’ll definitely want toincrease your Constitution by twowhen choosing your ability scores as a leonin.
Related:Dungeons & Dragons: Plasmoid Species Guide
Best Classes For Leonin Characters
As always, you’re able to play your leonin character as whichever class you like and still be effective. However, leonin features (most notably Daunting Roar) lend themselves tomelee-fighting characters with high Constitution scores.
Here aresome suggested classesfor your leonin character:
Fighter
Easily your best option for a leonin. Fighters often struggle with crowds of enemies, where Daunting Roar can shine. Fighters also prefer high Constitution scores to keep them alive in combat.
Barbarian
Although not as regal as leonin typically prefer to be portrayed,Barbarians are an equally good fit for leonin. An extra skill can also be very helpful to what is typically a skill-deprived class.
Paladin
Thematically the best leonin class, Paladins also prefer high Constitution scores and benefit from Daunting Roar’s crowd control. They also greatly benefit from the extra skill proficiency.
Oath of Conquest is particularly well-suited to leonin charactersas this subclass benefits from Daunting Roar’s fear effect.
Monk
Although your bonus action is often reserved for various ki-based effects,Daunting Roar is hardly useless. Monks also benefit from the extra skill and higher Constitution scores.
Ranger
Rangers are more often fighting at range, but amelee-focused Ranger can benefit from leonin featureslike Daunting Roar.
Warlock - Hexblade
Although less suited than classes higher in this list,Hexblades can still benefit from the occasional Daunting Roar–provided the player can find a free bonus action.
Artificer
Daunting Roarcan proveuseful when you’re out of spell slots(something that happens a lot as an Artificer), but you’re probably better off with more magic-based crowd-control options until then.
