Tiefling
Race Details
“But you do see the way people look at you, devil’s child.”
Those black eyes, cold as a winter storm, were staring right into her heart and the sudden seriousness in his voice jolted her.
“What is it they say?” he asked. “One’s a curiosity, two’s a conspiracy—”
“Three’s a curse,” she finished. “You think I haven’t heard that rubbish before?”
“I know you have.” When she glared at him, he added, “It’s not as if I’m plumbing the depths of your mind, dear girl. That is the burden of every tiefling. Some break under it, some make it the millstone around their neck, some revel in it.” He tilted his head again, scrutinizing her, with that wicked glint in his eyes. “You fight it, don’t you? Like a little wildcat, I wager. Every little jab and comment just sharpens your claws.”
To be greeted with stares and whispers, to suffer violence and insult on the street, to see mistrust and fear in every eye: this is the lot of the tiefling. And to twist the knife, tieflings know that this is because a pact struck generations ago infused the essence of Asmodeus—overlord of the Nine Hells—into their bloodline. Their appearance and their nature are not their fault but the result of an ancient sin, for which they and their children and their children’s children will always be held accountable.
Infernal Bloodline
Tieflings are derived from human bloodlines, and in the broadest possible sense, they still look human. However, their infernal heritage has left a clear imprint on their appearance. Tieflings have large horns that take any of a variety of shapes: some have curling horns like a ram, others have straight and tall horns like a gazelle’s, and some spiral upward like an antelopes’ horns. They have thick tails, four to five feet long, which lash or coil around their legs when they get upset or nervous. Their canine teeth are sharply pointed, and their eyes are solid colors—black, red, white, silver, or gold—with no visible sclera or pupil. Their skin tones cover the full range of human coloration, but also include various shades of red. Their hair, cascading down from behind their horns, is usually dark, from black or brown to dark red, blue, or purple.
Self-Reliant and Suspicious
Tieflings subsist in small minorities found mostly in human cities or towns, often in the roughest quarters of those places, where they grow up to be swindlers, thieves, or crime lords. Sometimes they live among other minority populations in enclaves where they are treated with more respect.
Lacking a homeland, tieflings know that they have to make their own way in the world and that they have to be strong to survive. They are not quick to trust anyone who claims to be a friend, but when a tiefling’s companions demonstrate that they trust him or her, the tiefling learns to extend the same trust to them. And once a tiefling gives someone loyalty, the tiefling is a firm friend or ally for life.
Tiefling Names
Tiefling names fall into three broad categories. Tieflings born into another culture typically have names reflective of that culture. Some have names derived from the Infernal language, passed down through generations, that reflect their fiendish heritage. And some younger tieflings, striving to find a place in the world, adopt a name that signifies a virtue or other concept and then try to embody that concept. For some, the chosen name is a noble quest. For others, it’s a grim destiny.
Male Infernal Names: Akmenos, Amnon, Barakas, Damakos, Ekemon, Iados, Kairon, Leucis, Melech, Mordai, Morthos, Pelaios, Skamos, Therai
Female Infernal Names: Akta, Anakis, Bryseis, Criella, Damaia, Ea, Kallista, Lerissa, Makaria, Nemeia, Orianna, Phelaia, Rieta
“Virtue” Names: Art, Carrion, Chant, Creed, Despair, Excellence, Fear, Glory, Hope, Ideal, Music, Nowhere, Open, Poetry, Quest, Random, Reverence, Sorrow, Temerity, Torment, Weary
MET WITH MISTRUST
Ignorant people tend to be suspicious of tieflings, assuming that their infernal heritage has left its mark on their personality and morality, not just their appearance. The reality is that a tiefling’s bloodline doesn’t affect their personality. They are gifted with magic from the infernal realms but chart their own course in life.
Tiefling Traits
Tieflings share certain racial traits as a result of their infernal descent.Ability Score Increase
Your Intelligence score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by 2.
Age
Tieflings mature at the same rate as humans but live a few years longer.
Size
Tieflings are about the same size and build as humans. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision
Thanks to your infernal heritage, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.
Hellish Resistance
You have resistance to fire damage.
Infernal Legacy
You know the thaumaturgy cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the hellish rebuke spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the darkness spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and Infernal.
I love being a tiefling. My resistance to fire has come in handy countless times
Thanks this rally helped with my character building 😃👍
It actually says in the first sentence under description that they are derived from human bloodlines....just pointing it out.
i agree i said any pc race for the cursed side of tieflings
does thaumaturgy require a focus to use despite it being part of the race's traits?
Sadly the Feral Tiefling was moved to the Sword Coasts guide book my friend
demon/devil
Hi
Hello
What would be the stats for a tielfling tail? (Like if I was to whip an enemy using my tail) kinda like how centaurs have a stats for their hooves
It's not exactly part human part something else (would be devil if it was) but its that a group of humans many years ago made a contract with Asmodeus (leader of the nine hells) for something or another. Part of the contract was that they would end up looking like Asmodeus himself as would all their kin forever. So while tieflings are human from their thought perspective they just look like devils and this also changes the way many of them act when they mature from all the discrimination. Some just play into the evil stereotype.
Although Tieflings don't normally have tail attacks, I think that a pretty clever idea! So, looking through several things, here are a few suggestions for stats;
Natural weapon damage from the spell alter self, 1d6 slashing-- The stats for the Whip weapon, 1d4 slashing- and if you take time to browse through the creatures section, find those with tail attacks, within a reasonable range. Enjoy
Tieflings are one of my favorite races. I enjoy the idea that their personalities are not affected by their ancestors. I am planning on making a Tiefling Wizard. They are badass looking and have badass traits and stats. I sometimes feel like tieflings are the only races I play, just because of how cool they are! Anyways that is all I need to say :D
I’m surprised no-one has asked the question yet, so I shall ask it. What happened to abyssal Tieflings? Were they simply just retconned out of existence for 4.0ed?
If so, is there going to be a new plane touched race for demonic heritages in 5.0ed? As I noticed there’s now several and I mean several infernal sub races of Tieflings. And in the core book it only states they’re of infernal heritage, and makes no mention of abyssal heritage.
Never played a tiefling before, so have a few questions:
I see the Infernal Legacy ability gives the Thaumaturgy cantrip at base, with Hellish Rebuke and Darkness spells given at later levels. Now I see the the other Legacy flavors offer spells as well, e.g. Baalzebul Tieflings getting Ray of Sickness and Crown of Madness. Do the two sets of spells stack? For example, if I made a Baalzebul Tiefling, would I get Thaumaturgy, Hellish Rebuke, Darkness, Ray of Sickness, AND Crown of Madness? Also, the text states "able to cast x spell once with this trait...long rest". Does that mean I am able to cast each spell that falls under the Legacy ability spells once per long rest, or only one of those spells from the Legacy ability spell list per long rest?
Thanks in advance for any clarifications.
Edit: Had this answered in the main forums by David42. Link:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/rules-game-mechanics/33732-a-few-tiefling-questions
Copy/pasting answer here.
"The tiefling subraces appear to be from Mordenkainen's tome of foes where it states:
SUBRACE TRAITS
If your tiefling has a subrace, choose one of the following options- whichever one corresponds to the infernal being connected to the tiefling 's family. The traits of the chosen subrace replace the tiefling's Ability Score Increase and Infernal Legacy traits given in the Player's Handbook. There is one exception: tieflings connected to Asmodeus. Those tieflings use the
traits in the Player's Handbook.
1) The subrace traits from MToF REPLACE the ones in the PHB.
2) Each of the Legacy spells is specifically called out as being available at a certain level and then can be cast once each. The ability to cast the spell is restored after a long rest.
e.g.
Legacy of Maladomini: You know the thaumaturgy cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the ray of sickness spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the crown of madness spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest."
Also:
"yes... you can cast ray of sickness as a second level spell and crown of madness as a third level spell. They do not use spell slots but they can also not be cast using spell slots and they can't be upcast."
epic
This is my favorite because they have something to live up to or disprove. They are very powerful and SO cool looking. Probably one of the best characters!
what variant does davi(tiefling elf) fall under?
that tiefling dummy thicc
Mephistopheles Tiefling make absolutely no sense. The lord of the Cania gives his tieflings resistance to fire? Whoever wrote this was lazy or an idiot. An archdemon with legions of Ice Devils living in a world that is -50 degrees on a good day and endows his tieflings with nothing like resistance to cold? Mage Hand, Burning Hands, and Flame Blade as your magic. Your one chance to mix it up, make a tiefling that's all about the cold and you miss it by a mile.