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What is a Tiefling in D&D 5E?
What is a Tiefling in D&D 5E? What do you get when you mix infernal bloodlines, blazing eyes, and a past steeped in prejudice and power? You get a tiefling—a mysterious and misunderstood playable race in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. Tieflings offer rich roleplaying potential in D&D. It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-time adventurer wondering why your party’s warlock has horns or a seasoned player weaving a backstory steeped with shadow and flame. In this guide, we’ll explore tieflings, their origins, and what makes them unique in 5E. And how to bring your horned hero/villain to life. When you’re finished here, check out the tiefling character build.
Would a tiefling druid work for you?
What is a Tiefling in D&D 5E?
Tieflings are the descendants of humans who made a pact with infernal powers. Or they were cursed. While they are descended from devils, they are not inherently evil. In Dungeons & Dragons 5E, their lineage is most commonly tied to Asmodeus. The Lord of the Nine Hells assuredly left a lasting mark on their appearance and innate magic.
This infernal heritage manifests physically—tieflings often have horns curling from their brows, eyes that glow like embers, and skin that you don’t typically see among other humanoids. They can have barbed tails or sharp teeth, or any number of devilish traits that vary from bloodline to bloodline. They aren’t devils themselves, but they are often regarded with suspicion, fear, or outright hostility. This kind of tension normally makes them natural outsiders. As the player, you get to choose whether to lean into that role or fight against it a la Drizz’t Do’Urden. That’s where the tiefling shines: a character between worlds, defined not by their heritage, but by the choices they make.
Tiefling Traits in D&D 5E
Tieflings have a distinctive mix of traits that set them apart from other playable races. Here are the standard racial traits as presented in the Player’s Handbook.
- Ability Score Increase: +2 Charisma, +1 Intelligence
- If you like this feature of ASIs specific to playable races, check out this Racial Stat Bonus Chart I posted several years ago.
- Darkvision: 60 feet
- Hellish Resistance: You have resistance to fire damage.
- Infernal Legacy: You know the thaumaturgy cantrip. At 3rd level, you can cast hellish rebuke once per day. At 5th level, you can cast darkness once per day. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
- Languages: Common and Infernal
These traits make Teiflings especially well-suited for Charisma-based classes like the Warlock, Sorcerer, and Bard. With Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, you can customize your ability score increases to suit any class.
Several tiefling subraces/variants are also available, allowing you to customize your character further to suit your desired style of roleplaying. I encourage you to explore them if you’re looking to create a character for more than just a one-shot.
Roleplaying a Tiefling: Outsider, Survivor, or Antihero?
Choosing a tiefling is fertile ground for rich character development. That infernal heritage we talked about doesn’t have to define who your character is, but it may define how others react to you. This can create immediate built-in tension, especially in lawful or religious societies. So, is your tiefling one who:
- seeks redemption and tries to prove their worth?
- embraces the darkness, playing with fire both figuratively and literally?
- rejects their lineage and tries to live quietly?
- leverages fear to intimidate or lead others?
Whether you’re crafting a wandering warlock cursed by their bloodline or a druid who found peace in the wilderness, Tieflings bring an edge of drama to every class and campaign.
Final Thoughts: Why Play a Tiefling?
If you enjoy morally complex characters, dark backstories, and innate magical flavor, Tieflings deliver. They’re stylish, powerful, and misunderstood. This makes them a rewarding race to roleplay.
Ready to build one? Check out Kallista Hope, a neutral tiefling druid I created—complete with a downloadable PDF character sheet.
Note: The term race is used throughout this article per the 2014 Player’s Handbook. Newer materials refer to playable peoples as species, a terminology shift I fully support.
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