Questions tagged [racial-traits]
For questions primarily about racial traits, the quantifiable capabilities or limitations specific to a race, such as Dwarves, Orcs, Romulans, et. al.
263
questions
2
votes
1answer
178 views
Does the target keep racial ability score bonuses after casting Reincarnate?
When casting the spell Reincarnate (PHB pg.271), does the target retain the ability score bonuses of their previous race?
6
votes
1answer
724 views
Does the Githyanki's racial spellcasting ignore all spell components, or only the material components?
The githyanki playable racial option has the Githyanki Psionics trait, which permits limited casting of a few spells. It is similar to the spellcasting granted to several other racial options, but ...
3
votes
1answer
147 views
Could a goliath grapple huge creatures because of his Powerful Build?
Goliaths have feature Powerful Build, which says
Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
Does it mean that ...
7
votes
1answer
223 views
Can a Firbolg using the Hidden Step trait remain invisible when casting a spell?
The Firbolg's Hidden Step trait (Volo's Guide to Monsters, p. 107) reads:
As a bonus action, you can magically turn invisible until the start of your next turn or until you attack, make a damage ...
4
votes
2answers
120 views
Do racial/feat/non-Spellcasting classes' spellcasting abilities count as a spellcasting ability for Staff of Power?
DMG p. 141 states the following (bolded for emphasis):
A magic item, such as certain staffs, may require you to use your own spellcasting ability when you cast spell from the item. If you have more ...
3
votes
1answer
277 views
Can racial spell slots work with Sorcerer's Font of Magic & Flexible Magic?
Can racial spell slots work with Sorcerer's Font of Magic & Flexible Magic?
EX: Can you use a tiefling's once a day Burning Hands Lv2 and convert it to 2 Sorcery Points? Can This work the other ...
1
vote
1answer
58 views
Can non-lycanthropes with specific alternate forms appear as hybrids?
Say a succubus from Savage Species chooses to look like a country's queen as her alternate form. But she also wants to use her demonic claws and wings. Can she just take the queen's appearance as her ...
11
votes
1answer
229 views
What spellcasting ability is used for the Githzerai race's version of the Detect Thoughts spell?
The Detect Thoughts spell states:
[...] the creature can use its action on its turn to make an Intelligence check contested by your Intelligence check if it succeeds, the spell ends.
This spell is ...
0
votes
2answers
258 views
Can Infernal Tiefling Always Fly?
Swords of The Coast lists the flying ability for the Winged Tiefling. One player in a group I DM created a "Tiefling (Infernal) Warlock (Undying)" which he has been very specific and detailed about ...
10
votes
3answers
325 views
How well can a Changeling copy voices?
A Changeling's shapechanger feature allows them to change their voice as an action. But unlike Kenku, the actor feat, and Rogue(Assassin)'s impostor feature, "mimicry" isn't mentioned.
Are ...
9
votes
1answer
213 views
Can a Kenku Swashbuckler use the Panache feature?
I am the DM for a player character that is a Kenku Swashbuckler that is currently level 8 and will be level 9 within the next few sessions. The player has been following the advice in the sidebar of ...
5
votes
1answer
235 views
Is it balanced to give a Simic Hybrid extra Animal Enhancements?
It's my turn to DM, and the previous DM wants to play a Simic Hybrid, but they want to use three of the animal enhancements available, instead of two. Specifically, they want Underwater Adaptation, ...
6
votes
2answers
182 views
Can a Changeling shift directly from one temporary form to another?
In the Eberron: Rising from the Last War book the Changeling "Shapechanger" ability (page 18) begins by stating that:
As an action, you can change your appearance and your voice.
However it ends ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
How do the different seasons work for Eladrin?
In Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, the Eladrin race has Winter, Summer, Spring, and Fall seasons. I know it affects the Fey Step, but how?
Also, could you make an eladrin without choosing a season?
8
votes
5answers
328 views
Can Forest Gnomes secretly converse (like Thieves' Cant) with other Forest Gnomes/Firbolgs/Speak with Animals users via Speak with Small Beasts?
My party has two Forest Gnomes and a Firbolg and they want to use their racial features to secretly communicate.
Forest Gnomes have
Speak with Small Beasts: Through sound and gestures, you may
...
3
votes
1answer
316 views
Can a changeling transform into races with a tail/horns?
I have read that a changeling can transform into any creature they have seen, unless it's larger/smaller then their size and they can't change into something that has a different body shape than them. ...
3
votes
0answers
90 views
Dealing with a minmaxer player - is this legal? [duplicate]
So, the main question is, can one create expertise through using proficiency and another proficiency?
Let me try and explain, A level 9 mind flayer savant player character would regularly roll +13 to ...
11
votes
3answers
810 views
Can a Scourge Aasimar fly?
One of my players is a scourge aasimar. I see absolutely no indication anywhere that he can fly but he created the character thinking he could, indeed, fly. At this point, he's level one and hasn't ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
Does a UA envoy warforged have to choose a specific vehicle?
According to the accepted answer that was written by Dinomaster to this question, the envoy warforged from Unearthed Arcana: Eberron Races can choose a vehicle for their integrated tool. However, on ...
16
votes
3answers
2k views
Do natural weapons work with the Booming Blade spell?
As far as I can tell, there are three different ways that "natural weapons" are described:
Aarakocra:
Talons: You are proficient with your unarmed strikes, which deal 1d4 slashing damage on a hit.
...
5
votes
2answers
243 views
Does an NPC stat block get racial bonuses added to it?
Specifically, there is a character in the Curse of Strahd (p. 133):
Also, it's worth pointing out that (from p. 119):
The only example I know of (in Curse of Strahd, at least) of an NPC statblock ...
7
votes
2answers
238 views
Does a familiar count as an ally? [duplicate]
If a hobgoblin wizard had a familiar summoned, would that familiar count as an ally, thus boosting the Saving Face ability?
Saving Face:
Hobgoblins are careful not to show weakness in front of ...
1
vote
1answer
179 views
Is it feasible to play a Grung character in the Descent into Avernus adventure?
The Grung race has the Water Dependency aspect that requires they spend an hour each day immersed in water.
I don't know much about the Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus campaign but I get the ...
12
votes
2answers
1k views
How does the Powerful Build racial feature affect carrying capacity?
I came across the Powerful Build racial feature, which states:
You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
I couldn't find any ...
0
votes
1answer
152 views
Do monster races and player races have separate functions for a reason? [closed]
I'm trying to understand if player races and monster races with the same abilities function differently. I had this issue arise with player regarding a monster race and a player race not having the ...
6
votes
2answers
228 views
Do racial bonuses stack?
The SRD states (emphasis mine) that:
With the exception of dodge bonuses, most circumstance bonuses, and racial bonuses, only the better bonus works
This sentence seems to be missing the bolded ...
10
votes
1answer
508 views
Does the Warforged's Heavy Plating AC calculation have a minimum required Strength score?
I want to play a warforged fighter/wizard, and I was wondering because of the confusing armor explanation for warforged.
Do I have to have a strength of 15 or 13 for the Heavy Plating, since heavy ...
3
votes
1answer
110 views
Can the Warrior Born feat give more than one extra damage per hit?
For example, I made a monk of the Spiker race (Planar Handbook). A Spiker gets 1d8 extra damage added to all melee rolls for the spikes. Would Warrior Born (+1 racial damage to all weapon rolls) ...
8
votes
4answers
531 views
Are Warforged affected by a troglodyte's Stench or other poison-based effects?
In the Warforged's description, it states that they don't need to breathe. So one of my players told me he would shut down his smell sensors or something like that so he won't be affected by something ...
4
votes
2answers
641 views
Can this Warforged's integrated weapon from the Integrated Version trait be disarmed?
From dndguide.com, here is the ability:
Integrated Version–Warforged can integrate weapons into their bodies due to the constructed nature. Warforged can integrate one light weapon, melee or ranged....
3
votes
1answer
1k views
How does a changeling's Divergent Persona affect bard spells cast using musical instruments?
My character is a level 1 Changeling Bard. In my character's story, his Bard personality is what I'm using for his Divergent Persona racial feature. So it says under the description for divergent ...
7
votes
1answer
819 views
How to reconcile Tiefling's Infernal Legacy's Hellish Rebuke with melee warrior? [duplicate]
Infernal Legacy grants tieflings ability to cast Hellish Rebuke as a reaction at 3rd level, as if it was cast using a 2nd level spell slot. Hellish Rebuke as spell has Verbal and Somatic components.
...
7
votes
1answer
165 views
Does Pack Tactics work for a swallowed creature?
Assume, a Giant Toad swallowed kobold A.
Kobold B stands near this Giant Toad (inside 5 feets).
Both kobolds have Pack Tactics feature, which says
You have advantage on an attack roll against a ...
22
votes
2answers
2k views
How does the Athlete feat affect the Centaur playable race?
The Athlete feat (PHB, p. 165) has a point that says:
climbing doesn't halve your speed.
The Centaur's Equine Build trait (GGtR, p. 16) says:
any climb that uses both hands and feet is ...
3
votes
2answers
238 views
If a dragon under my control uses Change Shape to turn into an Evoker, can I choose the Evoker's race, and benefit from its racial traits?
Nuanced questions about True Polymorph and spellcasting:
I have a wizard who has a simulacrum. Wizard TP's the sim into an adult bronze dragon, which can then Change Shape into a humanoid or beast of ...
6
votes
1answer
150 views
Does Resist Energy stack with racial traits granting energy resistances?
The Aasimar race has a trait that grants the following:
Celestial Resistance: Aasimars have acid resistance 5, cold resistance 5, and electricity resistance 5.
If I cast Resist Energy on an ...
9
votes
1answer
761 views
Can firbolgs cast their racial Detect Magic spell as a ritual?
Firbolgs get the Firbolg Magic trait (VGtM, p. 107), which lets them cast Detect Magic. Normally, Detect Magic is able to be cast as a ritual.
Can this version be cast by a Druid as a ritual, or can ...
5
votes
1answer
245 views
Does a PC cursed by Lycanthropy still retain racial bonuses to the same ability score?
This is mainly about a player who was bit by a Werebear recently. He wants to embrace being a Werebear and he's a Human Variant Fighter (GWM Feat) with 17 Strength. Being a Werebear he gains a ...
1
vote
0answers
602 views
How to use skill versatility? [closed]
I'm new to D&D and am making my first character. As she is a half-elf bard, I'm given 'skill versatility, which gives proficiency in any two skills. Where and when does this get added and how is ...
5
votes
1answer
367 views
Does Yuan-Ti Magic Resistance provide advantage for concentration saving throws, where spell damage was the cause?
The Yuan-ti Pureblood's Magic Resistance racial trait (VGtM, p. 120) provides:
advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects
I'm clear on that.
If I'm concentrating on a ...
6
votes
1answer
466 views
How does the Duergar Magic shrink/enlarge ability work with rage?
Is the Duergar's ability to shrink/enlarge considered a spell?
How does that combo off with the barbarian's "Rage" ability?
Am I able to do this after I go into a rage?
Does it cancel before I go ...
5
votes
1answer
454 views
Is this alternate Draconic Ancestry trait (that grants flight) a balanced replacement for the dragonborn's Breath Weapon trait? [closed]
A player with a Dragonborn PC recently requested that he be allowed to grow wings and gain a fly speed in our game. I didn't really like any of the alternate Dragonborn options that allow flight, so ...
9
votes
2answers
838 views
Can a Warforged suffer from magical exhaustion?
Can a Warforged suffer from magical exhaustion?
The Warforged Resilience trait (WGtE, p. 68) states:
You were created to have remarkable fortitude, represented by the following benefits.
...
13
votes
2answers
890 views
If a Variant Human is Reincarnated, would they lose the feat and skill proficiency they started with?
The reincarnate spell states that you lose racial traits, but do feats and skill proficiencies count as racial traits? For example, would a half-elf lose the skills they had when the character was ...
17
votes
1answer
847 views
Does Sunlight Sensitivity affect special melee attacks (such as grappling)?
I'm currently playing a Duergar Barbarian who I'm playing as a grappler, great fun, but neither me or the DM are entirely sure how the Duergar's sunlight sensitivity affects a special melee attack. It ...
10
votes
5answers
3k views
Can an Aarakocra use a shield while flying?
Another PC in a new campaign is an Aarakocra druid, with a (wooden) shield and a free hand for spellcasting (or throwing javelins). At first, the DM and some PCs (myself included) thought the wings ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
How do Human Traits Work?
I'm a relatively new player to the D&D scene. I'm creating a human ranger and was puzzled at the logistics of human traits, and I can't seem to find the answer anywhere, although I might just be ...
0
votes
0answers
50 views
What are the consequences of a player race not being humanoid? [duplicate]
Part of the reason I'm asking this is because the UA centuar and minotaur both have a feature that says the type is both humanoid and monstrosity. This implies that having a non-humanoid race would ...
28
votes
4answers
3k views
What is a Centaur Thief's climbing speed?
The Thief archetype Rogue's Second-Story Work (PHB, p. 97) feature states:
[...] you gain the ability to climb faster than normal; climbing no longer costs you extra movement.
However, the ...
4
votes
1answer
416 views
Does a disease trigger a saving throw vs. poison?
In What happened to disease in D&D 5e? we see that disease may not be a specific mechanic. However, it seems to be conflated quite a bit with poison, for example:
Here's an example of an ...
