Last Updated on January 22, 2023
Tieflings are one of the most popular races to play in Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition, and Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide introduced the Feral Trait for Tieflings that would later become the Feral Tiefling race.
But what makes the Feral and Variant Tiefling different from the original Tieflings? Read on and find out!
Table of Contents
Classic Tieflings: What We Know
Tieflings are the children of average mortals who are corrupted with Infernal bloodlines.
In some cases, these children may be the illegitimate sons and daughters of archdemons like Mammon and Asmodeus. In other cases, they may result from a curse or deal made with a demon.
The mechanical traits assigned to Tieflings are as follows:
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.
Variant Tiefling: Who Are They and What Makes Them Different?
The Variant Tiefling is a subrace of Tieflings and Feral Tieflings intended to account for the morphological differences that would occur due to non-shared Infernal heritage.
The original Tiefling race was written to be the sons and daughters of Asmodeus, but there’s no reason for Tieflings to be limited to Asmodeus’ bloodline.
Tieflings of other Infernal bloodlines may have morphological differences that set them apart, just as their demon brethren do. Variant Tieflings may display horns that look different from the Asmodeus Tieflings.
Since they have different physical traits, it’s only natural that their racial characteristics be amended to suit their physical differences.
The Variant Tiefling traits are as follows:
Since not all tieflings are of the blood of Asmodeus, some have traits that differ from those in the Player’s Handbook.
The Dungeon Master may permit the following variants for your tiefling character, although Devil’s Tongue, Hellfire, and Winged are mutually exclusive.
Appearance
Your tiefling might not look like other tieflings.
Rather than having the physical characteristics described in the Player’s Handbook, choose 1d4 + 1 of the following features:
- Small horns
- Fangs or sharp teeth
- A forked tongue
- Catlike eyes
- Six fingers on each hand
- Goat-like legs
- Cloven hoofs
- A forked tail
- Leathery or scaly skin
- Red or dark blue skin
- Cast no shadow or reflection
- Exude a smell of brimstone
Devil’s Tongue
You know the Vicious Mockery cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Charm Person spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait.
When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Enthrall spell once with this trait. You must finish a long rest to cast these spells once again with this trait.
Charisma is your spellcasting ability for them. This trait replaces the Infernal Legacy trait.
Hellfire
Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Burning Hands spell once per day as a 2nd-level spell. This trait replaces the Hellish Rebuke spell of the Infernal Legacy trait.
Winged
You have bat-like wings sprouting from your shoulder blades. You have a flying speed of 30 feet while you aren’t wearing heavy armor. This trait replaces the Infernal Legacy trait.
Feral Tieflings: Who Are They and What Makes Them Different?
Feral Tieflings were first introduced in the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide.
In this sourcebook, Feral was a trait that could be given to Tieflings much like the Variant Tiefling option. However, it was later transformed into its own standalone race with its own Variant option.
Feral Tieflings are ones who were not introduced to the finer points of mortal society.
Perhaps they were abandoned by their parents as children (as many Tieflings are), or maybe they were cast out from their community when they started to show signs of Infernal heritage.
Regardless of the original reasoning, these Tieflings were so removed from mortal society because of their heritage that they lack the social graces that come with a position in a mortal society.
As a result, they’re liable to take the Tiefling’s desire for independence to the extreme as they’ve been burned by their ties to other mortals before.
The racial traits of Feral Tieflings are as follows:
Tieflings share certain racial traits as a result of their infernal descent.
Ability Score Increase
Your Intelligence score increases by 1, and your Dexterity score increases by 2.
One of the first differences between Feral Tieflings and Classic Tieflings is that Feral Tieflings have a +2 to Dexterity rather than Charisma. They share the +1 Intelligence score with Classic Tieflings.
Age
Tieflings mature at the same rate as humans but live a few years longer.
Age is, as it always is, a very straightforward trait; Feral Tieflings age at the same rate as humans but live longer.
Alignment
Tieflings might not have an innate tendency toward evil, but many of them end up there. Evil or not, an independent nature inclines many tieflings toward a chaotic alignment.
Tieflings tend to be very independent because their heritage means they’re likely to grow up without the support systems and safety nets the rest of us take for granted.
This lack of support is also responsible for the Tiefling trend toward evil; Tieflings often turn to crime and other evil to put food on the table and roof over their heads without the support from parents that community mortals get.
Size
Tieflings are about the same size and build as humans. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Tieflings have the same base walking speed as humans.
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.
Like many races, Tieflings are blessed with Darkvision. This allows them to see in dim light as bright light and darkness as if it were dim light. They can’t perceive colour in darkness, though.
Hellish Resistance
You have resistance to fire damage.
Hellish Resistance is another relatively straightforward trait. When taking fire damage, Tieflings take half 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.
Infernal Legacy is what makes Tieflings … Tieflings. Without the Infernal Legacy trait, a character is just an average mortal with no demonic heritage. This trait is the bread and butter of the Tiefling race.
Infernal Legacy is intended to be modelled after the demon Asmodeus, but Legacies for Baalzebul, Dispater, Fierna, Glasya, Levistus, Mammon, Mephistopheles, and Zariel are also available in the Player’s Handbook (5e).
These Legacies can be substituted for Infernal Legacy , and their traits will overwrite that of Infernal Legacy if chosen.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and Infernal.
Languages spoken are another relatively straightforward trait. You can speak Common and Infernal fluently because of your heritage.
As we mentioned, Feral Tieflings have a unique variant system. Variant Feral Tieflings have the same traits as Variant Tieflings but are applied to the Feral Tiefling framework rather than the Classic Tiefling.
Variant Feral Tieflings have the following racial traits:
Devil’s Tongue
You know the vicious mockery cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Charm Person spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Enthrall spell once with this trait.
You must finish a long rest to cast these spells once again with this trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for them. This trait replaces the Infernal Legacy trait.
Devil’s Tongue replaces the Infernal Legacy trait when taking the Variant Feral Tiefling framework.
This changes the spells that you get access to through the trait and allows you to have the Vicious Mockery cantrip as well as the Charm Person and Enthrall spells at higher levels.
Like the Infernal Legacy trait, Devil’s Tongue spells use Charisma as their casting ability.
Hellfire
Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Burning Hands spell once per day as a 2nd-level spell. This trait replaces the Hellish Rebuke spell of the Infernal Legacy trait.
The Hellfire trait modifies the Hellish Rebuke portion of the Infernal Legacy trait and instead allows the player to cast Burning Hands with their racial trait.
Winged
You have bat-like wings sprouting from your shoulder blades. You have a flying speed of 30 feet while you aren’t wearing heavy armor. This trait replaces the Infernal Legacy trait.
The Winged trait will replace your Infernal Legacy trait and instead give you access to wings. These wings are powerful enough to pick you up off the ground and grant you the power of flight if you aren’t wearing any heavy armour.
What Other Options for Infernal Legacy Are There?
Baalzebul Tiefling
The crumbling realm of Maladomini is ruled by Baalzebul, who excels at corrupting those whose minor sins can be transformed into acts of damnation.
Tieflings linked to this archdevil can corrupt others both physically and psychically.
Ability Score Increase
Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Legacy of Maladomini
You know the Thaumaturgy cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Ray of Sickness 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 Crown of Madness 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.
Dispater Tiefling
The great city of Dis occupies most of Hell’s second layer. It is a place where secrets are uncovered and shared with the highest bidder, making tieflings tied to Dispater excellent spies and infiltrators.
Ability Score Increase
Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Legacy of Dis
You know the Thaumaturgy cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Disguise Self 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 Detect Thoughts 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.
Fierna Tiefling
A master manipulator, Fierna grants tieflings tied to her forceful personalities.
Ability Score Increase
Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Legacy of Phlegethos
You know the Friends cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Charm Person 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 Suggestion 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.
Glasya Tiefling
Glasya, Hell’s criminal mastermind, grants her tieflings magic that is useful for committing heists.
Ability Score Increase
Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Legacy of Malbolge
You know the Minor Illusion cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Disguise Self 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 Invisibility 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.
Levistus Tiefling
Frozen Stygia is ruled by Levistus, an archdevil known for offering bargains to those who face an inescapable doom.
Ability Score Increase
Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.
Legacy of Stygia
You know the Ray of Frost cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Armor of Agathys 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.
Mammon Tiefling
The great miser Mammon loves coins above all else. Tieflings tied to him excel at gathering and safeguarding wealth.
Ability Score Increase
Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Legacy of Minauros
You know the Mage Hand cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Tenser’s Floating Disk spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a short or long rest.
When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Arcane Lock spell once with this trait, requiring no material component, and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest.
Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Mephistopheles Tiefling
In the frozen realm of Cania, Mephistopheles offers arcane power to those who entreat with him. Tieflings linked to him master some arcane magic.
Ability Score Increase
Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Legacy of Cania
You know the Mage Hand cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Burning Hands 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 Flame Blade 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.
Zariel Tiefling
Tieflings with a blood tie to Zariel are stronger than the typical tiefling and receive magical abilities that aid them in battle.
Ability Score Increase
Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.
Legacy of Avernus
You know the Thaumaturgy cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Searing Smite 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 Branding Smite 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.
The different Infernal Legacy options for Tieflings changes how the Tiefling interacts with their world. Their Ability Scores will be different, as will the spells they receive from their Infernal Legacy trait.
Tiefling Roleplay
Roleplaying as a Tiefling is roughly the same as roleplaying as the most hated person in your town.
Tieflings don’t have a set culture because they’re generally born to mortal parents who either didn’t expect to have a Tiefling child or are ashamed of their Tiefling child.
Their names will generally reflect the mortal race that they’re from (Human, Elvish, etc.), and if they were raised in the community they were born in, their cultural norms will reflect that.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to races in D&D 5e, few offer as much customization as the Tiefling, and perhaps the Tiefling owes its popularity to that.
Understanding how to customize a character and what that customization affects can help you better serve your players as a Dungeon Master and help you be a better player for your Dungeon Master.
As always, the most important thing is that you and your table are having fun. So don’t be afraid to homebrew or make house rules that better suit your party and allow them to engage with the game freely!
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When I’m not writing about RPGs, I’m playing Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: the Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, X-Wing miniatures, and many other lovingly-crafted tabletop games with the people I love.
Tieflings are a popular race in Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition, known for their infernal heritage and unique traits. In this article, we will explore the concepts of Classic Tieflings, Variant Tieflings, and Feral Tieflings, as well as the different options for their Infernal Legacy.
Classic Tieflings: What We Know
Classic Tieflings are the original version of the race. They are the children of mortals who have been corrupted by Infernal bloodlines. Some Tieflings are the offspring of powerful archdemons, while others may result from curses or deals made with demons. Classic Tieflings have the following mechanical traits [[1]]:
- Ability Score Increase: Intelligence +1, Charisma +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 (Medium size).
- Speed: Base walking speed of 30 feet.
- Darkvision: Tieflings have superior vision in dark and dim conditions, able to see in dim light within 60 feet as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. They can only perceive shades of gray in darkness.
- Hellish Resistance: Tieflings have resistance to fire damage.
- Infernal Legacy: Tieflings know the thaumaturgy cantrip. At 3rd level, they can cast the Hellish Rebuke spell as a 2nd-level spell once per long rest. At 5th level, they can cast the Darkness spell once per long rest. Charisma is their spellcasting ability for these spells.
- Languages: Tieflings can speak, read, and write Common and Infernal.
Variant Tiefling: Who Are They and What Makes Them Different?
Variant Tieflings are a subrace of Tieflings that allow for more customization and represent different Infernal bloodlines. While the original Tieflings were tied to the archdemon Asmodeus, Variant Tieflings can have different morphological features and racial characteristics based on their non-shared Infernal heritage [[2]].
The traits of Variant Tieflings include the following:
- Appearance: Variant Tieflings can have different physical characteristics, such as small horns, fangs or sharp teeth, a forked tongue, catlike eyes, six fingers on each hand, goat-like legs, cloven hoofs, a forked tail, leathery or scaly skin, red or dark blue skin, the inability to cast a shadow or reflection, or exuding a smell of brimstone.
- Devil's Tongue: Variant Tieflings know the Vicious Mockery cantrip. At 3rd level, they can cast the Charm Person spell as a 2nd-level spell once per long rest. At 5th level, they can cast the Enthrall spell once per long rest. Charisma is their spellcasting ability for these spells. This trait replaces the Infernal Legacy trait.
- Hellfire: Variant Tieflings can cast the Burning Hands spell once per day as a 2nd-level spell. This trait replaces the Hellish Rebuke spell of the Infernal Legacy trait.
- Winged: Variant Tieflings have bat-like wings sprouting from their shoulder blades, granting them a flying speed of 30 feet while not wearing heavy armor. This trait replaces the Infernal Legacy trait.
Feral Tieflings: Who Are They and What Makes Them Different?
Feral Tieflings were first introduced in the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide as a trait that could be given to Tieflings, similar to the Variant Tiefling option. However, they were later transformed into their own standalone race with their own Variant option [[3]].
Feral Tieflings are Tieflings who were not introduced to the finer points of mortal society. They may have been abandoned by their parents or cast out from their community due to their Infernal heritage. As a result, they lack the social graces and ties to other mortals that Classic Tieflings may have. Feral Tieflings have the following racial traits:
- Ability Score Increase: Intelligence +1, Dexterity +2.
- Age: Feral Tieflings mature at the same rate as humans but live a few years longer.
- Alignment: Feral Tieflings have an independent nature that often inclines them toward a chaotic alignment.
- Size: Feral Tieflings are about the same size and build as humans (Medium size).
- Speed: Base walking speed of 30 feet.
- Darkvision: Feral Tieflings have superior vision in dark and dim conditions, similar to Classic Tieflings.
- Hellish Resistance: Feral Tieflings have resistance to fire damage, just like Classic Tieflings.
- Infernal Legacy: Feral Tieflings know the Thaumaturgy cantrip. At 3rd level, they can cast the Hellish Rebuke spell as a 2nd-level spell once per long rest. At 5th level, they can cast the Darkness spell once per long rest. Charisma is their spellcasting ability for these spells, similar to Classic Tieflings.
- Languages: Feral Tieflings can speak, read, and write Common and Infernal.
Feral Tieflings also have a unique variant system, similar to Variant Tieflings. The racial traits for Variant Feral Tieflings are the same as Variant Tieflings, but they are applied to the Feral Tiefling framework instead of the Classic Tiefling framework.
What Other Options for Infernal Legacy Are There?
In addition to the Infernal Legacy traits of Classic, Variant, and Feral Tieflings, there are other options available in the Player's Handbook for Tieflings tied to different archdevils. These options provide different Ability Score Increases and unique spells associated with each archdevil. Here are some examples [[4]]:
- Baalzebul Tiefling: Charisma +2, Intelligence +1. Legacy of Maladomini grants the Thaumaturgy cantrip, the Ray of Sickness spell, and the Crown of Madness spell.
- Dispater Tiefling: Charisma +2, Dexterity +1. Legacy of Dis grants the Thaumaturgy cantrip, the Disguise Self spell, and the Detect Thoughts spell.
- Fierna Tiefling: Charisma +2, Wisdom +1. Legacy of Phlegethos grants the Friends cantrip, the Charm Person spell, and the Suggestion spell.
- Glasya Tiefling: Charisma +2, Dexterity +1. Legacy of Malbolge grants the Minor Illusion cantrip, the Disguise Self spell, and the Invisibility spell.
- Levistus Tiefling: Charisma +2, Constitution +1. Legacy of Stygia grants the Ray of Frost cantrip, the Armor of Agathys spell, and the Darkness spell.
- Mammon Tiefling: Charisma +2, Intelligence +1. Legacy of Minauros grants the Mage Hand cantrip, the Tenser's Floating Disk spell, and the Arcane Lock spell.
- Mephistopheles Tiefling: Charisma +2, Intelligence +1. Legacy of Cania grants the Mage Hand cantrip, the Burning Hands spell, and the Flame Blade spell.
- Zariel Tiefling: Charisma +2, Strength +1. Legacy of Avernus grants the Thaumaturgy cantrip, the Searing Smite spell, and the Branding Smite spell.
These options allow players to further customize their Tiefling characters based on the archdevil they are tied to, providing different abilities and spells.
Tiefling Roleplay
Roleplaying as a Tiefling can be an interesting and challenging experience. Tieflings often face prejudice and mistrust due to their infernal heritage, which can shape their interactions with others. They may not have a set culture, as they are usually born to mortal parents who may be ashamed or unprepared for a Tiefling child. Tieflings' names often reflect the mortal race they are from, and their cultural norms may vary depending on their upbringing [[5]].
Final Thoughts
The Tiefling race in Dungeons & Dragons 5e offers a lot of customization options, allowing players to create unique characters with different infernal heritages and traits. Understanding the different types of Tieflings and their associated traits can enhance the roleplaying experience and provide more depth to the character. It's important to remember that the most important thing is to have fun and create a character that fits well within the game world and the group dynamics.
