Species and backgrounds

Together, your species and background are your character's origin: where they come from and what they did before adventuring. In the 2024 rules the two do different jobs. Your species gives physical traits, and your background gives ability score increases, skills, a tool, and an Origin feat.

Open the generator to build a character in a minute, or keep reading to understand each step.

Species

Dragonborn

Descendants of dragons who can exhale a breath weapon and resist one damage type. A good fit for any class that spends time in melee.

Size Medium · Speed 30 feet · Darkvision 60 feet · Traits: Breath Weapon, Damage Resistance, Darkvision, Draconic Flight

Dwarf

Hardy and resistant to poison, with long-range Darkvision and extra Hit Points every level. Excellent for any front-line character.

Size Medium · Speed 30 feet · Darkvision 120 feet · Traits: Darkvision, Dwarven Resilience, Dwarven Toughness, Stonecunning

Elf

Graceful and perceptive, with a lineage (Drow, High Elf, or Wood Elf) that grants a cantrip and later spells. Wood Elves are faster than most.

Size Medium · Speed 30 feet · Darkvision 60 feet · Traits: Darkvision, Fey Ancestry, Keen Senses, Trance

Gnome

Small and quick-witted, with Advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saves, which protects against many dangerous spells.

Size Small · Speed 30 feet · Darkvision 60 feet · Traits: Darkvision, Gnomish Cunning

Goliath

Descendants of giants with a boon from their ancestry and the ability to grow to Large size at level 5. Faster than most species.

Size Medium · Speed 35 feet · Traits: Giant Ancestry, Large Form, Powerful Build

Halfling

Small and lucky: whenever you roll a 1 on a d20 test, you can reroll it. Brave and good at hiding behind larger allies.

Size Small · Speed 30 feet · Traits: Brave, Halfling Nimbleness, Luck, Naturally Stealthy

Human

Adaptable, with an extra skill, an extra Origin feat, and Heroic Inspiration every day. A strong choice for any class.

Size Medium or Small · Speed 30 feet · Traits: Resourceful, Skillful, Versatile

Orc

Tough and relentless, with long-range Darkvision, a burst of speed that grants temporary Hit Points, and the ability to stay up once when knocked to 0.

Size Medium · Speed 30 feet · Darkvision 120 feet · Traits: Adrenaline Rush, Darkvision, Relentless Endurance

Tiefling

Touched by fiendish power, with a legacy that grants resistance to one damage type, a cantrip, and later spells.

Size Medium or Small · Speed 30 feet · Darkvision 60 feet · Traits: Darkvision, Otherworldly Presence

Backgrounds

Each background raises three abilities, grants an Origin feat, two skills, one tool, and starting equipment.

Acolyte

• Ability scores: Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma
• Origin feat: Magic Initiate (Cleric spells). Learn two cantrips and one level 1 spell from one spell list. You always have the level 1 spell prepared and can cast it once per Long Rest without a slot.
• Skills: Insight and Religion
• Tool: Calligrapher's Supplies

Criminal

• Ability scores: Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence
• Origin feat: Alert. Add your Proficiency Bonus to Initiative rolls. Right after rolling Initiative, you can swap results with a willing ally.
• Skills: Sleight of Hand and Stealth
• Tool: Thieves' Tools

Sage

• Ability scores: Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom
• Origin feat: Magic Initiate (Wizard spells). Learn two cantrips and one level 1 spell from one spell list. You always have the level 1 spell prepared and can cast it once per Long Rest without a slot.
• Skills: Arcana and History
• Tool: Calligrapher's Supplies

Soldier

• Ability scores: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution
• Origin feat: Savage Attacker. Once per turn when you hit with a weapon, roll its damage dice twice and use either result.
• Skills: Athletics and Intimidation
• Tool: Gaming Set

Matching a background to your class

• Strength or Dexterity classes (Barbarian, Fighter, Monk, Ranger, Rogue): Soldier or Criminal.
• Intelligence classes (Wizard): Sage, or Acolyte or Criminal.
• Wisdom classes (Cleric, Druid): Acolyte or Sage.
• Charisma classes (Bard, Paladin, Sorcerer, Warlock): Acolyte.

These pairings help your numbers, but a mismatched background can make a more interesting character. A Sage who became a Barbarian has a story worth telling.