Anything that gets a bonus to Charisma makes a good sorcerer, but I like half-elves for the ability to have 16 Charisma, 16 Dexterity, and 14 Constitution at 1st level.
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"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
I like half-elves best as sorcerers also, because they give you bonuses to Charisma, Constitution, and whatever else you'd like to be part of the character. Tieflings and drow also make really interesting characters.
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"Well met, adventurer. You seem like a curious sort who enjoys the finer things. Permit me to thrust upon you my latest masterwork, years in the making." Volothamp Geddarm
Half elves or humans. Half elves went from being a joke in 3.5 to being possibly the best/second best race in the game.
The charisma boost, the boost to any two other abilities.
ANY two skills you want, including the all important Perception
Alternatively, go for the SCAG variants, which can net you Drow Spellcasting, which will go off your Charisma. Faerie Fire is a decent debuff.
Humans, on the other hand, can get a free feat. If you're going Draconic Sorcerer, you'll almost certainly want to take Elemental Adapt sooner or later. This lets you take it sooner. The only downside to humans is that you need to take the Light cantrip, but thankfully, the Sorcerer class has the most cantrips known, so that won't be any loss.
Drow, of the campaigns I've played in, would be too likely to get screwed over by Sunlight Sensitivity at some point or another. Even Out of the Abyss, which should be great for them, hands your party a magic item which constantly sheds sunlight when in use. Tieflings are good, but they don't get the human's feat or the half elf's Constitution/another score boost.
This is all talking pure mechanics. The one Sorcerer I've played in 5e was a Dragonborn, and that was specifically because of something the DM told me about his campaign world prior to starting. The best race is whatever fits the character you want to play.
My initial reaction was to go for the dragonborn sorcerer for the draconic bloodline, then I realise the STR+2. A melee-orientated sorcerer may not last long unless someone can point out what I missed. Seems like the half-elf sorcerer is my best option, as the tiefling has a lower CHA bonus...
My initial reaction was to go for the dragonborn sorcerer for the draconic bloodline, then I realise the STR+2. A melee-orientated sorcerer may not last long unless someone can point out what I missed. Seems like the half-elf sorcerer is my best option, as the tiefling has a lower CHA bonus...
Cheers!
You could go Dragonborn if you wanted to multiclass with Paladin (say faith of Bahamut or something). Paladin Sorcerer is a pretty effective combo, but I still think Half Elf would be the most optimal choice here as well.
All in all, you can pick from any of the CHA boosting races for whatever reason you choose. And there would be a decent way to take advantage of even the more sub optimal looking ones.
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A Dragonborn sorcerer with the Draconic bloodline works thematically, but mechanically it's not worth it unless your bloodline from the subclass is different than the one from your race. At sixth level, you'll get resistance to your chosen element, so picking a race that already has it is kind of a waste. That being said, two resistances is nice, especially if you anticipate fighting lots of dragons, elementals, or magic users in your campaign.
Yeah, i made a mistake making a silver dragonborn sorcerer. Trying to make him a ice based sorcerer and didn't realize untill i finished making him and got him up a few levels that he would get cold resistance although he had it already. Anyway, he's one of my favorite characters and am using tons of the homebrew content here.
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"The hero sought to save the world.
"If I keep trying, I'll be able to win," the hero thought.
But the harder the hero fought, the further the world seemed to tumble away.
Drowning in doubt, the hero could not even save themselves.
Hero, if you still believe in a brighter future, hold in your heart a thorn that can pierce all doubt."
I find that red and gold dragonborn make great sorcerers. Fire-themed spells were almost MADE for the class.
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Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
My initial reaction was to go for the dragonborn sorcerer for the draconic bloodline, then I realise the STR+2. A melee-orientated sorcerer may not last long unless someone can point out what I missed. Seems like the half-elf sorcerer is my best option, as the tiefling has a lower CHA bonus...
Cheers!
A dragonborn Melee-based sorcerer can be fairly effective.
You can go made trying to make it STR based, but I found that dumping strength (the +2 boosts your mediocre strength saves when facing telekinesis using casters and grapples) and going Dex/Con/Cha works out fairly well.
A Dex or Str based melee dragonborn sorcerer would max Dex/Str asap and go with shield and unarmoured/Plate, giving AC of 20. With War Caster, Shield (spell) and Haste, AC tops out at 27 before Magic items. On the offensive side, you have SCAG cantrips like GFB and BB (of which BB can be twinned). So, you can hit up to two targets with your first attack, then quicken GFB and hit two more targets. Then with your Hasted action, you can hit a fifth target, disengage, dash, or down a potion. If you really want something to die, 2 levels into Fighter gives you Action Surge, which is essentially another two attacks or 2 levels into Paladin to gain access to Divine Smite and expend spell slots for damage.
Also don't forget that you have Polymorph, which gives you a whole 'nother HP pool to work with.
My current build is a Finesse based Fighter/Sorcerer that uses twinned Polymorph to change into a Giant Ape, along with a party member and when that falls off, can still Haste 2 people and dish out good damage.
Also, it is funny to watch a creature get hit with 3 Booming Blades and then Hasted action to disengage, forcing it to move and take another 9d8 (currently level 11).
Other options include multiclass into Bard for healing spells or rogues (Swashbuckler) for the improved initiative and the ability to attack and move without having to disengage.
One of my favorites is a Half-Drow. They are the same as a half elf, but you trade the two skill proficiencies for Drow Magic. That's one cantrip and two spell slots. Plus you can cast the two learned spells using sorcerer spell slots.
One of my favorites is a Half-Drow. They are the same as a half elf, but you trade the two skill proficiencies for Drow Magic. That's one cantrip and two spell slots. Plus you can cast the two learned spells using sorcerer spell slots.
Many DMs will rule that racial spells are not spells known. They are innate spell-like abilities and cannot be cast using class spell slots.
Compare the verbiage of Magic Initiate which says you know the spell with the racial ability which just says you can cast the spell once.
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I feel like people are not respecting halfling's lucky ability enough. Its amazing, it makes rolling a 1 a .25% chance instead of a 5% chance. Not once per short/long rest, it always applies. Plus Cha and Dex Boost. The only down side is the move speed of 25 instead of 30. I am probably bias tho.
One of my favorites is a Half-Drow. They are the same as a half elf, but you trade the two skill proficiencies for Drow Magic. That's one cantrip and two spell slots. Plus you can cast the two learned spells using sorcerer spell slots.
Many DMs will rule that racial spells are not spells known. They are innate spell-like abilities and cannot be cast using class spell slots.
Compare the verbiage of Magic Initiate which says you know the spell with the racial ability which just says you can cast the spell once.
Oh, I hadn't thought of that. As always, ask your DM!
By RAW, if I were a wizard with magic initiate (bard) for Faerie Fire, would I be able to cast the bard spell with my wizard spell slots after I already used the free slot from magic initiate?
One of my favorites is a Half-Drow. They are the same as a half elf, but you trade the two skill proficiencies for Drow Magic. That's one cantrip and two spell slots. Plus you can cast the two learned spells using sorcerer spell slots.
Many DMs will rule that racial spells are not spells known. They are innate spell-like abilities and cannot be cast using class spell slots.
Compare the verbiage of Magic Initiate which says you know the spell with the racial ability which just says you can cast the spell once.
Oh, I hadn't thought of that. As always, ask your DM!
By RAW, if I were a wizard with magic initiate (bard) for Faerie Fire, would I be able to cast the bard spell with my wizard spell slots after I already used the free slot from magic initiate?
Yes, that would work.
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I just built a hill dwarf sorcerer of draconic origin using rolled stats and found that with decent stats placed in con, dex, and cha, the character can have a relatively high AC from draconic resilience and relatively high hit points because of the +1 to hp at each level from dwarven toughness and another +1 from the draconic resilience. He probably won’t charge to the front line, but he could almost tank, if needed. Hopefully the high con saves will keep his spells going.
I’m sure there are more optimal builds and a higher charisma would help, but that will get boosted later. But this hill dwarf might just survive to see higher levels.
I just need to sort out his backstory as a sailor on the high seas...
With the new Divine and Shadow Souls, Aasimar sorcerers are going to have a fair amount of mileage- charisma base, gish potential with fallen, strong flavor and etc. If i'm remembering correctly, it should be a really good way of playing an ascending angel type character- take subtle spell and stare at someone raining down holy fire from above with your angel wings (from divine soul) or be fallen and jaunt between shadows, a nefarious fallen angel.
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Your opinions please, good folks: the best race for a sorcerer - basic rules only - and why?
Cheers!
The Khangster
Anything that gets a bonus to Charisma makes a good sorcerer, but I like half-elves for the ability to have 16 Charisma, 16 Dexterity, and 14 Constitution at 1st level.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
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Good point.
Cheers!
The Khangster
I like half-elves best as sorcerers also, because they give you bonuses to Charisma, Constitution, and whatever else you'd like to be part of the character. Tieflings and drow also make really interesting characters.
"Well met, adventurer. You seem like a curious sort who enjoys the finer things. Permit me to thrust upon you my latest masterwork, years in the making." Volothamp Geddarm
I like Tieflings myself with a draconic origin, makes for a very cool visual look to the character plus I think it thematically works very well too.
Half elves or humans. Half elves went from being a joke in 3.5 to being possibly the best/second best race in the game.
Humans, on the other hand, can get a free feat. If you're going Draconic Sorcerer, you'll almost certainly want to take Elemental Adapt sooner or later. This lets you take it sooner. The only downside to humans is that you need to take the Light cantrip, but thankfully, the Sorcerer class has the most cantrips known, so that won't be any loss.
Drow, of the campaigns I've played in, would be too likely to get screwed over by Sunlight Sensitivity at some point or another. Even Out of the Abyss, which should be great for them, hands your party a magic item which constantly sheds sunlight when in use. Tieflings are good, but they don't get the human's feat or the half elf's Constitution/another score boost.
This is all talking pure mechanics. The one Sorcerer I've played in 5e was a Dragonborn, and that was specifically because of something the DM told me about his campaign world prior to starting. The best race is whatever fits the character you want to play.
Thank you for everyone's input.
My initial reaction was to go for the dragonborn sorcerer for the draconic bloodline, then I realise the STR+2. A melee-orientated sorcerer may not last long unless someone can point out what I missed. Seems like the half-elf sorcerer is my best option, as the tiefling has a lower CHA bonus...
Cheers!
The Khangster
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A Dragonborn sorcerer with the Draconic bloodline works thematically, but mechanically it's not worth it unless your bloodline from the subclass is different than the one from your race. At sixth level, you'll get resistance to your chosen element, so picking a race that already has it is kind of a waste. That being said, two resistances is nice, especially if you anticipate fighting lots of dragons, elementals, or magic users in your campaign.
Yeah, i made a mistake making a silver dragonborn sorcerer. Trying to make him a ice based sorcerer and didn't realize untill i finished making him and got him up a few levels that he would get cold resistance although he had it already. Anyway, he's one of my favorite characters and am using tons of the homebrew content here.
"The hero sought to save the world.
"If I keep trying, I'll be able to win," the hero thought.
But the harder the hero fought, the further the world seemed to tumble away.
Drowning in doubt, the hero could not even save themselves.
Hero, if you still believe in a brighter future, hold in your heart a thorn that can pierce all doubt."
~ Guild Wars 2
I find that red and gold dragonborn make great sorcerers. Fire-themed spells were almost MADE for the class.
Devious serpent folk devoid of compassion, yuan-ti manipulate other creatures by arousing their doubts, evoking their fears, and elevating and crushing their hopes. From remote temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts, the yuan-ti plot to supplant and dominate all other races and to make themselves gods.
Thanks Commandoclone87. Certainly food for thoughts there.
The Khangster
One of my favorites is a Half-Drow. They are the same as a half elf, but you trade the two skill proficiencies for Drow Magic. That's one cantrip and two spell slots. Plus you can cast the two learned spells using sorcerer spell slots.
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I feel like people are not respecting halfling's lucky ability enough. Its amazing, it makes rolling a 1 a .25% chance instead of a 5% chance. Not once per short/long rest, it always applies. Plus Cha and Dex Boost. The only down side is the move speed of 25 instead of 30. I am probably bias tho.
Oh, I hadn't thought of that. As always, ask your DM!
By RAW, if I were a wizard with magic initiate (bard) for Faerie Fire, would I be able to cast the bard spell with my wizard spell slots after I already used the free slot from magic initiate?
Feature Requests || Homebrew FAQ || Pricing FAQ || Hardcovers FAQ || Snippet Codes || Tooltips
DDB Guides & FAQs, Class Guides, Character Builds, Game Guides, Useful Websites, and WOTC Resources
I just built a hill dwarf sorcerer of draconic origin using rolled stats and found that with decent stats placed in con, dex, and cha, the character can have a relatively high AC from draconic resilience and relatively high hit points because of the +1 to hp at each level from dwarven toughness and another +1 from the draconic resilience. He probably won’t charge to the front line, but he could almost tank, if needed. Hopefully the high con saves will keep his spells going.
I’m sure there are more optimal builds and a higher charisma would help, but that will get boosted later. But this hill dwarf might just survive to see higher levels.
I just need to sort out his backstory as a sailor on the high seas...
With the new Divine and Shadow Souls, Aasimar sorcerers are going to have a fair amount of mileage- charisma base, gish potential with fallen, strong flavor and etc. If i'm remembering correctly, it should be a really good way of playing an ascending angel type character- take subtle spell and stare at someone raining down holy fire from above with your angel wings (from divine soul) or be fallen and jaunt between shadows, a nefarious fallen angel.