Homebrew Cinderhound Species Details

Cinderhounds are canines who have been marked, bargained for, or outright claimed by infernal power — some born already carrying a spark of it in their blood, most transformed later in life through a pact, a curse, or the attention of something that saw promise in an animal everyone else had overlooked. Whatever the origin, the result looks similar from the outside: a powerfully built dog or wolf whose eyes catch orange like banked coals, whose breath carries the faint tang of woodsmoke, and whose fur runs hot to the touch when their temper rises. Beneath the smoke and embers, a Cinderhound is still unmistakably a dog — the transformation changes what they can do, not fundamentally what they are.

A Cinderhound's abilities grow directly out of that dual nature. Their senses remain as sharp as any working hound's, trained or bred for tracking, guarding, and reading danger before it arrives. Their infernal spark manifests physically — resistance to flame, and the ability to call up a burst of fire from deep in their chest when provoked. What they lack is what every quadruped lacks: hands. A Cinderhound's paws can manage simple tasks, but wielding a weapon, turning a key, or holding a spell component steady are all things a Cinderhound must find another way around, whether that's a bonded weapon that answers to will rather than grip, a trusted companion's hands, or simply teeth.

Cinderhounds are not a single breed or bloodline — a Cinderhound might once have been a palace guard dog, a shepherd, a war hound, or a stray who happened to catch the wrong (or right) attention. What they share isn't ancestry so much as a turning point: a moment where loyalty, hunger, or fury opened a door that couldn't be closed again. Most Cinderhounds keep some version of whatever drove them before the change — a guard dog still guards something, even if it's no longer the master who discarded them; a hunter still hunts, even if the prey has changed. The fire is new. The instincts underneath it rarely are.

Cinderhound Traits

Cinderhounds are canines touched by infernal power.

Age

A Cinderhound's age may vary depending on the circumstances which caused them to become this creature. They live longer than most canines, but shorter than most humanoids. Cinderhounds born as such reach maturity around age 2 and live to 25-30 years. Cinderhounds created from a canine origin reach maturity at their origin rate and live to 20-25 years. Many carry a sense of urgency about their goals as a result of the shorter lifespan.

Size

Your size is medium. A Cinderhound stands roughly 3–4 feet at the shoulder and weighs 100–180 pounds — built more like a mastiff or wolfhound than a lean sighthound. (DMs who want a smaller variant for a different breed concept can rule Small instead.)

Speed

Cinderhounds have a walking speed of 35 feet.

Darkvision

Thanks to your fiendish touch, 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.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Wisdom (Perception) skill and advantage on checks made for sound or smell.

Fiendish Resilience

You have Resistance to Fire damage.

Ember Breath

You can use your action to exhale fire in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC = 8 + your Proficiency Bonus + your Constitution modifier), taking 2d6 fire damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one.

The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level. After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.You can use this trait a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, regaining all expended uses after a Long Rest.

Bite

Your bite is a natural weapon you're always proficient with, dealing 1d6 Piercing damage on a hit (using your weapon modifier for the attack). It counts as a Simple Melee weapon for the purpose of feats and features that require one.