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.
Mephistopheles rules an icy layer, but he personally is very into fire. He is the inventor of hellfire, in fact.
[Deleted]
YEAT
They are either half demon or half devil, depending on which one you want your character to be, they are different. Devils are usually more orderly, while demons aren't very organized and are more like anarchists.
Do you think that there could be a half tiefling? Like part human, part tiefling?
Do you think there could be a half tiefling? Like part tiefling, part human.
Or maybe like a tiefling/elf.
Most probably , I've heard of all sorts of hybrid races in D&D.
Ask your DM ?
Can't some tiefling's fly if so cool, if not why?
The other half is part demon, I'm pretty sure.
"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."
So you wanna explain why they have a +2 in charisma then?
BC they freaky If you don't know whether their evil or not
Hey everyone new to d&d building a tiefling bard any help and input appreciated
Mephistopheles is the demon of fire and rules the ice layer in the abyss. He knows mostly fire magic and a little bit of ice magic. So they are right... But so are you.
+2 to charisma and +1 to intelligence? if only there were a class that has infernal ties and has charisma and intelligence as it's first and second most important stats? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? cough*warlock*cough
they are not a half breed, they descended from a human empire that made a pact with demons
Where can I find info on the descendant stuff? The discord server I'm on requires to know the character's descendant information.
I really really like this race! I've seen some things done better in other systems where the flavour is a little more flexible, but the D&D Tiefling has the unique trait of being totally and completely normal to play, and that's incredibly neat. Plus, it's 5e, we didn't come here for the most nuanced mechanics ever (though it is totally possible if you allow some of the more esoteric Unearthed Arcana that didn't manage to be quite "on-brand"). My point is, I love these demon kids and I've got a Tiefling Artificer with a runic guitar and a Heavy Metal attitude ready to rock. With a background I wrote (and will refine) in the style of Apocalypse World, because more settings need that.
...That said... "Tieflings subsist in small minorities found mostly in human cities or towns [...] 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."
I know it was probably just tone-deaf and almost certainly not intentional, but this doesn't come off amazingly well. I know that it's not real life and they are literal demon kids with dark magic from birth after all. Still, there's something a little unfortunate about implying that in-setting minorities are destined for crime unless they group up with others. It's just sort of awkward. Not a huge issue for most probably, just really took me aback.
In the real world many minorities are also destined for crime, not because they have a criminal nature but because they don't get a chance at any kind of "normal" way of life.
If everyone says every Tiefling is a criminal, you might just as well fulfill their expectations....
Besides the great thing about D&D is that you can change these things in a way they suit you :)
Oh, I know where it came from, but thank you. I understand that it's trying to be somewhat realistic, but... Even though the later Mutual Mistrust sidebar does say that Tieflings aren't any more likely to follow a darker path because of their heritage, it doesn't change the fact that the only life paths actually given as examples are "swindlers, thieves, or crime lord" or being separated with "other minorities" as the alternative. Obviously these things do happen to minorities who feel that they have no other option, but being presented with exactly two life paths is sort of the problem. There's no "destined" involved, merely what is expected. You don't have to present those expectations as fact, especially in a system that is supposedly designed around writing your own story.
I know, I'm reading too much into it. This whole "says one thing, gives examples of another" thing is an issue I have with 5e more generally, and usually not in such a personal way. For example, it's a system known for diversity but it isn't too loud about that when it doesn't have to be, in contrast to certain other [begins-with-a-P-and-began-with-3.5] companies who make it their mission to apologise and improve on mistakes. Not saying I don't appreciate 5e though! They do put effort in, just not as much as I feel they're known for because of the lovely people like CR who make communities like these possible. That said, make no mistake, I have had amazing experiences with 5e and I'm very grateful for the wonders it has done as for the tabletop community and none of this is very relevant to Tieflings anymore, sorry haha.
Also I am more than happy to play a Tiefling that's different from the ones in the book; everyone does! I just took a bit of issue with the wording is all, was very surprised.