These horned and tailed humanoids are infamous for their connection to the hells, with a touch of infernal blood somewhere in their heritage marking them for life. The tiefling race was first published in the Player’s Handbook (PHB), and variants were later published in the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide (SCAG) and Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes (MTF). These variants present ways of portraying tieflings of other infernal lineages than Asmodeus, with different design conventions between books.
Infernal-touched folk
Tieflings are humans with a hint of infernal influence somewhere in their bloodline, often from a family member making a deal with a devil. Due to the nature of their creation, tieflings can be born to two human parents, although a tiefling may end up having a tiefling child. This devilish influence manifests in their appearance, with horns of different types, tails, sharpened teeth, solid-colored eyes, and skin tones that can go from a typical human range to shades of red. The same devil blood in their veins grants a tiefling an unusually high tolerance for flames and a bevy of magical spells that they can innately cast.
The nature of the devil’s responsible in some way for their creation, combined with their very noticeable physical traits means that tieflings are often treated with trepidation and suspicion. This usually comes from fear and ignorance, assuming that a tiefling is an agent of hell despite the fact that tieflings are creatures of free will and complete independence, although some tieflings choosing to align with devils certainly doesn’t help this reputation. Due to this, tieflings frequently form their own tight knit communities or gravitate to communities that are either very accepting or so large that they have a good chance of blending in. The need to make their own way in the world pushes many tieflings to become thieves, con artists, or crime lords, whilst some choose to forge their own destiny by becoming adventurers.
Like a bat outta hell: Playing a tiefling
Playing a tiefling gives you the following traits:
Ability Scores – Cha +2 Int +1
Size – Medium
Creature Type – Humanoid
Speed – 30 ft.
Age – Tieflings live slightly longer than humans but mature at the same rate.
Darkvision – 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 are resistant to fire damage.
Infernal Legacy – You can cast the Thaumaturgy spell, from 3rd level you can cast Hellish Rebuke as if you used a 2nd level spell slot, and from 5th level you can cast Darkness. Your spellcasting modifier for these spells is Charisma and you can only cast Hellish Rebuke and Darkness this way once per long rest each.
Languages – You can speak, read, and write Common and Infernal.
To the skies: SCAG variant tieflings
The SCAG presents several variant options that replace certain features in the tiefling race, any variants marked with an * cannot be used together:
Feral – Your ability score increase is + 2 Dex and + 1 Int, rather than +2 Cha and +1
Devil’s Tongue* – Instead of the spells granted by Infernal Legacy, you learn Vicious Mockery, with Charm Person as a 2nd level spell at 3rd level and Enthrall at 5th level. The latter two spells can only be cast once per long rest.
Hellfire* – Instead of the casting of Hellish Rebuke granted by Infernal Legacy, you gain a 2nd level casting of Burning Hands at 3rd level.
Winged* – You gain a 30 feet fly speed from 1st level thanks to bat-like wings, these wings replace the Infernal Legacy trait. You can not use this fly speed if you are wearing heavy armor.
Nine ancestries: MTF variant tieflings
MTF presents a variant for each lord of the nine hells, with the PHB version being known as the Asmodeus tiefling. The only features these variants replace are Ability Score Increase and Infernal Legacy:
Baalzebul
Ability Score Increase – Cha +2 Int +1
Legacy of Maladomini – You can cast the Thaumaturgy spell, from 3rd level you can cast Ray of Sickness as if you used a 2nd level spell slot, and from 5th level you can cast Crown of Madness. Your spellcasting modifier for these spells is Charisma and you can only cast Ray of Sickness and Crown of Madness this way once per long rest each.
Dispater
Ability Score Increase – Cha +2 Dex +1
Legacy of Dis – You can cast the Thaumaturgy spell, from 3rd level you can cast Disguise Self, and from 5th level you can cast Detect Thoughts. Your spellcasting modifier for these spells is Charisma and you can only cast Disguise Self and Detect Thoughts this way once per long rest each.
Fierna
Ability Score Increase – Cha +2 Wis +1
Legacy of Phlegethos – You can cast the Friends spell, from 3rd level you can cast Charm Person as if you used a 2nd level spell slot, and from 5th level you can cast Suggestion. Your spellcasting modifier for these spells is Charisma and you can only cast Charm Person and Suggestion this way once per long rest each.
Glasya
Ability Score Increase – Cha +2 Dex +1
Legacy of Malbolge – You can cast the Minor Illusion spell, from 3rd level you can cast Disguise Self, and from 5th level you can cast Invisibility. Your spellcasting modifier for these spells is Charisma and you can only cast Disguise Self and Invisibility this way once per long rest each.
Levistus
Ability Score Increase – Cha +2 Con +1
Legacy of Stygia – You can cast the Ray of Frost spell, from 3rd level you can cast Armor of Agathys as if you used a 2nd level spell slot, and from 5th level you can cast Darkness. Your spellcasting modifier for these spells is Charisma and you can only cast Armor of Agathys and Darkness this way once per long rest each.
Mammon
Ability Score Increase – Cha +2 Int +1
Legacy of Minauros – You can cast the Mage Hand spell, from 3rd level you can cast Tenser’s Floating Disk, and from 5th level you can cast Arcane Lock. Your spellcasting modifier for these spells is Charisma and you can only cast Tenser’s Floating Disk and Arcane Lock this way once per long rest each.
Mephistopheles
Ability Score Increase – Cha +2 Int +1
Legacy of Cania – You can cast the Mage Hand spell, from 3rd level you can cast Burning Hands as if you used a 2nd level spell slot, and from 5th level you can cast Flame Blade. Your spellcasting modifier for these spells is Charisma and you can only cast Burning Hands and Flame Blade this way once per long rest each.
Zariel
Ability Score Increase – Cha +2 Str +1
Legacy of Avernus – You can cast the Thaumaturgy spell, from 3rd level you can cast Searing Smite as if you used a 2nd level spell slot, and from 5th level you can cast Branding Smite. Your spellcasting modifier for these spells is Charisma and you can only cast Searing Smite and Branding Smite this way once per long rest each.
We hope that you’ve enjoyed your time harnessing the infernal powers you have been gifted with. Have you played a tiefling? Are you planning to? If you want to learn more about other race options, check out our races section, or if you want to understand the world’s greatest roleplaying game better, then check out our how to play section. Good luck out there adventurers and until next time, your blood does not define you!
What are Tieflings in DnD 5e?
Tieflings are a race of humanoids with fiendish ancestry in Dungeons & Dragons (DnD) 5th edition. They are often portrayed as having horns, tails, and other demonic features, and are known for their cunning, intelligence, and infernal magic.
What classes are best for Tieflings in DnD 5e?
Tieflings are well-suited for classes that rely on Charisma and Intelligence, such as Bards, Warlocks, and Wizards.
How do Tieflings fit into the world of DnD 5e?
Tieflings are often portrayed as outcasts and villains in the world of DnD 5e, due to their fiendish ancestry and their reputation for cunning and deceit. However, this reputation is not always deserved, and many Tieflings are heroic and virtuous individuals. The exact role that Tieflings play in the world will depend on the setting, the story, and the preferences of the player.
