System Reference Document 5.2.1
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of size that you can choose whether your character 
is Small or Medium.
Speed
Your character’s species determines the character’s 
Speed.
Special Traits
Each species gives a character special traits—
unique characteristics based on the species’ physi -
ology or magical nature. When you choose a species, 
your character gets all the special traits listed for it. 
Some traits involve making a choice from a handful 
of options.
Species Descriptions
Dragonborn
Creature Type: Humanoid
Size: Medium (about 5–7 feet tall)
Speed: 30 feet
As a Dragonborn, you have these special traits.
 Draconic Ancestry. Your lineage stems from a 
dragon progenitor. Choose the kind of dragon from 
the Draconic Ancestors table. Your choice affects 
your Breath Weapon and Damage Resistance traits 
as well as your appearance.
Draconic Ancestors
Dragon Damage Type Dragon Damage Type
Black Acid Gold Fire
Blue Lightning Green Poison
Brass Fire Red Fire
Bronze Lightning Silver Cold
Copper Acid White Cold
 Breath Weapon. When you take the Attack action 
on your turn, you can replace one of your attacks 
with an exhalation of magical energy in either a 
15-foot Cone or a 30-foot Line that is 5 feet wide 
(choose the shape each time). Each creature in that 
area must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 8 plus 
your Constitution modifier and Proficiency Bonus). 
On a failed save, a creature takes 1d10 damage of 
the type determined by your Draconic Ancestry 
trait. On a successful save, a creature takes half as 
much damage. This damage increases by 1d10 when 
you reach character levels 5 (2d10), 11 (3d10), and 
17 (4d10). 
 You can use this Breath Weapon a number of 
times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, and you re -
gain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.
 Damage Resistance. You have Resistance to the 
damage type determined by your Draconic Ances -
try trait.
 Darkvision. You have Darkvision with a range of 
60 feet.
 Draconic Flight. When you reach character level 
5, you can channel draconic magic to give yourself 
temporary flight. As a Bonus Action, you sprout 
spectral wings on your back that last for 10 minutes 
or until you retract the wings (no action required) 
or have the Incapacitated condition. During that 
time, you have a Fly Speed equal to your Speed. Your 
wings appear to be made of the same energy as your 
Breath Weapon. Once you use this trait, you can’t 
use it again until you finish a Long Rest.
Dwarf
Creature Type: Humanoid
Size: Medium (about 4–5 feet tall)
Speed: 30 feet
As a Dwarf, you have these special traits.
 Darkvision. You have Darkvision with a range of 
120 feet.
 Dwarven Resilience. You have Resistance to 
Poison damage. You also have Advantage on sav -
ing throws you make to avoid or end the Poisoned 
condition.
 Dwarven Toughness. Your Hit Point maximum 
increases by 1, and it increases by 1 again whenever 
you gain a level.
 Stonecunning.  As a Bonus Action, you gain Trem -
orsense with a range of 60 feet for 10 minutes. You 
must be on a stone surface or touching a stone sur -
face to use this Tremorsense. The stone can be natu -
ral or worked. 
 You can use this Bonus Action a number of times 
equal to your Proficiency Bonus, and you regain all 
expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.
Elf
Creature Type: Humanoid
Size: Medium (about 5–6 feet tall)
Speed: 30 feet
As an Elf, you have these special traits.
 Darkvision. You have Darkvision with a range of 
60 feet.
 Elven Lineage. You are part of a lineage that 
grants you supernatural abilities. Choose a lineage 
from the Elven Lineages table. You gain the level 1 
benefit of that lineage.
 When you reach character levels 3 and 5, you 
learn a higher-level spell, as shown on the table. 
You always have that spell prepared. You can cast it 
once without a spell slot, and you regain the ability 
to cast it in that way when you finish a Long Rest. 
You can also cast the spell using any spell slots you 
have of the appropriate level.