The Most Popular D&D Race, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the race you think is the most popular!
Updated on May 4, 2024 06:34
Deciding on the best D&D race can be a challenge with the array of choices available to players. Each race offers unique attributes and lore that can enhance gameplay, making the decision process integral to a player's success and enjoyment. A ranked list according to popularity helps provide clarity and insights into what other gamers are choosing and why.
By casting your vote, you contribute to a broader understanding of each race's appeal and functionality in the game. This dynamic compilation not only reflects current trends but also aids new and veteran players alike in making informed choices about their characters. Your input ensures that the list remains accurate and reflective of the community’s preferences.
What Is the Most Popular D&D Race?
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149votesHumans are the most popular D&D race because they are relatable and offer a wide range of customization options. They also have no inherent weaknesses, making them a versatile choice for any class.The Human is one of the most complex creations in the game of Little Alchemy. It represents a sentient being with a unique combination of biological and intellectual qualities.
- Genus: Homo
- Average Height (Adult): Around 1.7 meters
- Number of Limbs: 4 (2 arms, 2 legs)
- Life Span: 70-80 years on average
- Intelligence: High cognitive abilities
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233votesElves are a popular choice because of their graceful and magical nature. They have natural proficiency in archery and can see in the dark, making them a great choice for ranged combat.Elves are a commonly featured race in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. They are known for their longevity, grace, and ethereal beauty. Elves are humanoid creatures with pointed ears and slender frames. They have a deep connection with nature and are often proficient in magic and archery.
- Average Lifespan: 600-750 years
- Height Range: 5'0" - 6'5"
- Weight Range: 90 - 180 lbs
- Ability Score Increase: +2 Dexterity
- Size: Medium
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319votesDwarves are known for their hearty constitution and their dwarven resilience. They are skilled craftsmen and have natural proficiency with axes and hammers.The Dwarf is a fictional race in the popular tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Dwarves are known for their stout and sturdy physique, with an average height of around 4 to 5 feet. They have a strong affinity for underground dwelling and are renowned for their craftsmanship, particularly in metalworking and stonemasonry. Dwarves are typically depicted as having long beards and a keen sense of honor and loyalty. They have a deep-rooted culture that values tradition and the importance of family and community.
- Ability Scores: Increase Constitution by 2
- Size: Medium
- Speed: 25 feet
- Darkvision: Can see in dim light within 60 feet as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light
- Dwarven Resilience: Advantage on saving throws against poison, resistance against poison damage
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418votesHalf-Elves are a popular choice because they offer a balance between human and elven traits. They have natural charisma and are skilled negotiators, making them a great choice for social encounters.The Half-Elf is a hybrid race resulting from the union of elves and humans. They possess physical traits of both races, combining the grace and longevity of elves with the versatility and adaptability of humans.
- Ability Score Increase: They gain a +2 bonus to Charisma, and two other ability scores of their choice increase by 1.
- Size: Half-Elves are usually around 5 to 6 feet tall and have a similar build to humans.
- Speed: Their base walking speed is 30 feet.
- Darkvision: They can see in dim light within 60 feet as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light.
- Fey Ancestry: They have advantage on saving throws against being charmed and cannot be magically put to sleep.
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527votesTieflings are a popular choice because of their demonic heritage. They have natural proficiency in magic and can resist fire damage.The Tiefling is a popular race in Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) fantasy role-playing game. They are descendants of humans who made a pact with infernal powers, resulting in infernal lineage within their bloodline. Tieflings often exhibit demonic or devilish features and possess innate magical abilities.
- Physical Appearance: Tieflings have varying degrees of demonic or devilish traits, such as horns, fangs, forked tails, and unusual skin colors.
- Infernal Legacy: Tieflings possess innate magical abilities derived from their infernal heritage, often including spells like Thaumaturgy and Hellish Rebuke.
- Alignment: Tieflings can have a wide range of alignments, but due to their infernal blood, they are often associated with evil or chaotic alignments.
- Darkvision: Tieflings have the ability to see in darkness as if it were dim light, up to 60 feet.
- Resistance: Tieflings are innately resistant to fire damage.
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620votesDragonborn are a popular choice because of their dragon-like features and their breath weapon abilities. They have natural proficiency in combat and can resist certain types of damage.The Dragonborn is a prominent race in the world of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). They are humanoid beings that exhibit draconic traits, such as scales, reptilian eyes, and occasionally small horns or frills. Dragonborn are known for their incredible power and connection to dragon ancestry, which manifests in various ways. They possess an innate breath weapon related to the elemental type of their draconic heritage. Dragonborn are fiercely proud, often valuing honor and loyalty, and their origins can be traced back to the various metallic and chromatic dragons that exist in the D&D universe.
- Powerful Breath Weapon: Dragonborn can unleash a potent breath attack once per short or long rest.
- Dragon Ancestry: They have a connection to a specific type of dragon, which grants them resistance to a specific damage type and influences their breath weapon.
- Draconic Scales: Dragonborn have reptilian scales that offer natural armor protection.
- Languages: They can speak, read, and write Common and Draconic languages.
- Ability Score Increase: They gain a bonus to their Strength and Charisma scores.
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717votesHalflings are a popular choice because of their small size and natural stealth. They are nimble and have a natural talent for thievery.Halflings are a small and nimble race in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. They stand about 3 to 4 feet tall, with round, cheerful faces and curly hair. Despite their small stature, Halflings possess a determined and adventurous spirit. They are known for their excellent stealth and dexterity, making them skilled rogues and capable archers. Halflings have a deep sense of community and value their simple and peaceful lives, but they are not afraid to defend their homes and loved ones.
- Height: 3-4 feet
- Appearance: Round faces, curly hair
- Traits: Stealthy, nimble
- Classes: Rogue, Archer
- Abilities: Lucky, Brave
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88votesGnomes are a popular choice because of their whimsical nature and natural proficiency in tinkering. They are also resistant to magic and have a natural talent for illusion spells.The Gnome is a fantasy race commonly found in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. They are small humanoid creatures known for their affinity for tinkering, magic, and mischief. Gnomes are typically about 3 to 4 feet tall and have a slender build. They have fair skin, often with a hint of ruddiness, and their hair comes in a wide range of vibrant colors. Their eyes are bright and glisten with curiosity. Gnomes have a lifespan of around 350 years.
- Size: Small
- Ability Score Increase: Gnomes have a natural aptitude for intellect, granting them an increase in Intelligence.
- Age: Gnomes mature at the same rate as humans, but they live much longer.
- Alignment: Gnomes tend to lean towards chaotic alignments, valuing their freedom and spontaneity.
- Gnomish Cunning: Gnomes have advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic.
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96votesOrcs are a popular choice because of their brute strength and natural proficiency in combat. They are also resistant to certain types of damage and have a natural talent for intimidation.Orcs, also known as Orsimer, are a fierce and tenacious race in Skyrim. They are renowned for their strength, stamina, and relentless combat skills. With a rich and unique culture, Orcs are known for their craftsmanship in blacksmithing and their expertise in heavy armor. They can be found throughout Skyrim, but their stronghold strongholds in the province serve as their primary settlements.
- Race Name: Orc
- Height: 6.5 - 7 feet
- Weight: 210 - 250 lbs
- Health: 50 points
- Stamina: 50 points
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1011votesAasimar are a popular choice because of their angelic heritage. They have natural proficiency in magic and can resist certain types of damage. They are also skilled healers and have a natural talent for persuasion.Aasimar is a race in Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) that is descended from celestial beings, giving them a divine heritage. They possess both mortal and angelic qualities, manifesting as brightly colored eyes, radiant skin, and sometimes even feathery wings.
- Luminous Soul (optional): They gain the ability to access their inner radiant power.
- Alignment: Typically tend towards a lawful good alignment, but can vary.
- Ability Score Increase: Charisma score increases by 2.
- Celestial Resistance: Resistance to necrotic and radiant damage.
- Healing Hands: They can use their healing touch to restore hit points to others.
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Ranking factors for popular race
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Player preferenceDetermine which races are commonly chosen by players when creating their characters. This can be gathered through surveys, online discussions, or observing groups of players.
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Official published materialConsider the prominence of the race within official Dungeons & Dragons books and adventures. Races that are featured heavily in published content might be more popular amongst players.
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VersatilityDetermine if a particular race has a wide range of class options, which would make it appealing to a larger number of players with different play styles.
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Racial traits and abilitiesAnalyze the racial traits, abilities, and bonuses that a race offers. Races with highly desired abilities or fitting a common character archetype may be more popular.
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Cultural impactConsider the visibility and notoriety of the race within the broader D&D community and popular culture. Races that have become iconic or have significant representation in other media (such as video games, novels, and movies) might be more popular amongst players.
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Balance and power levelAssess whether the race is considered balanced and powerful within the game, as races that are known to be over- or under-powered may affect their popularity.
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PlaystyleDetermine how well the race caters to different play styles, such as combat-heavy, roleplaying-focused, exploration-based, and so on.
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Artwork and aestheticsConsider the visual appeal of the race, as players might be drawn to a particular race based on its appearance in official artwork or miniatures.
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Lore and world-buildingConsider the depth and richness of the race's backstory, culture, and place within the world of Dungeons & Dragons. Races with compelling lore and history may be more popular among players who enjoy engaging with the game's story and setting.
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Accessibility and ease of useConsider how easily a new player can understand and play a particular race. Races that are more accessible and less complex may be more popular among casual players or those new to the game.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular D&D race. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or racing is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 2851 views
- 203 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each racing once every 24 hours. The rank of each racing is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular d&d race
Dungeons & Dragons, commonly known as D&D, is a tabletop role-playing game that has been entertaining players for over four decades. In the game, players create characters that belong to different races and classes, and then embark on quests and adventures in a fictional world. One of the most exciting aspects of the game is choosing the perfect race for your character, as each race offers unique abilities and traits that can greatly impact gameplay. With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to determine which D&D race is the most popular among players. In this article, we take a closer look at the top contenders and reveal the most popular D&D race of all time.
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