Half-Elf

Note

In order to make the existing 5e ancestries balanced with the ones presented in these rules, we’ve made adjustments to the existing 5e ancestries. You can play with the original ancestries as originally presented, but if you want to utilize the Major/Minor Feature system, we’ve redesigned them here.

These ancestries replace the official 5e races. Some have been rolled up into larger categories, like the reptilian category capturing kobolds, lizardfolk, and snakefolk.

The easiest way to represent a half-elf is to take one major and minor feature from the elf ancestry, and another major and minor feature from another ancestry.

Traditional depictions of half-elves show them as versatile jack-of-all-trades. If you are looking for a more traditional take on half-elves, we’ve included a few half-elf specific options below.

Half-Elf Traits

• Ability Score Increase. You gain a +2 and +1 bonus to two different ability scores of your choice, or +1 to three different ones.
• Age. Half-elves age at the same rate as one of their ancestries but often experience a lifespan longer than their non-elf ancestry.
• Size. Half-elves have the same size as one of their ancestries. Your size is Medium.
• Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
• Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and either Elvish or another language of their choice.

Major Features

Choose one elf major feature and another major feature from another ancestry or from the list below.

• Be Successful. As a reaction, when a creature you can see within 30 feet makes an attack roll, saving throw, or ability check, you can grant them advantage on the roll. After you use this ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
• Skill Versatility. You gain proficiency in two skills of your choice.

Minor Features

Choose one elf minor feature and another minor feature from another ancestry or from the list below.

• Cantrip. You know one cantrip of your choice. Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for it, your choice.
• Diplomatic. You have proficiency in the Persuasion skill.
• Fluent. You can speak, read, and write two additional languages of your choice.
• Trained Tools. You have proficiency in two tools of your choice.