Tiefling, Variant Tiefling, and all Subraces
by Prince Phantom
Tieflings are an extremely popular choice just based on their flavor alone. I mean who doesn’t want to play a literally hot and sexy devil whose skin color can be whatever you want? The flavor here is unquestionably on point, so the real question is if the mechanics are good enough to back it up. There are a ton of Tiefling variants and Subraces, so let’s start with what all Tieflings get.
Base Tiefling Features
Ability Score Increase: +2 Charisma: We’re really leaning into that sexy devil archetype aren’t we? This works well with a lot of classes, but most just use the Tasha’s rule anyway.
Darkvision: Always nice to have.
Hellish Resistance: Fire damage is one of the better types to have resistance to, and in a campaign journeying into the Nine Hells this will be essential.
Bloodline of Asmodeus
(This is the standard subrace found in the PHB)
Ability Score Increase: +1 Intelligence : This doesn’t really help most builds that want Charisma, but thankfully most use the Tasha’s rule anyway.
Infernal Legacy: Thaumaturgy is a decent utility cantrip, Hellish Rebuke isn’t a spell I’m super high on, but getting it for free and upcast to 2nd level really just means you get some free reaction damage once per day, and I can’t really complain about that. Darkness is a build around spell, so getting it for free here could be great for your build.
As the base Tiefling that most people are familiar with, this isn’t a terrible choice. Fire resistance and a couple of spells is nice, though powercreep means that there are now some races that can do these things better.
Final Rating: 3/5
Feral Tiefling
Ability Score Increase (replaces base Tiefling scores): +2 Dexterity, +1 Intelligence: I suppose Arcane Trickers and Eldritch Knights might like this, but I’m not sure who else would. Just use the Tasha’s rule.
Please Note: The following options are mutually exclusive and replace either all of the Infernal Legacy trait or parts of it.
Devil’s Tongue: Vicious Mockery, Charm Person, and Enthrall are arguably worse spells than what the default Tiefling provides. Not impressed.
Final Rating: 1/5
Hellfire: Burning Hands upcast to level 2 for free once per day is fine in the low tiers, but will not stay fine for very long, where the damage from Hellish Rebuke won’t scale but isn’t really costing you any actions. Also note that this is still using your Charisma, so many characters won’t be able to get much out of this.
Final Rating: 2/5
Winged: Unlimited flight, and I get to wear light or medium armor?! To clarify, every other unlimited flight race is restricted to light armor while flying, so this is a big deal. This has a claim to be one of the best races in the game, potentially the best flying race at least. Flight is just that strong.
Final Rating: 5/5
Please Note: The following subraces are now considered legacy content, meaning they may not be available to play at all tables. Talk with your DM before selecting any of these subraces. That being said, unlike the revised races in Mordenkainen’s Monsters of the Multiverse, these subraces have not be reprinted and are still wholly unique, therefore I feel they should be available to play at the vast majority of tables.
Also, all of these offer a different ability score increase. For all of them, there are builds that can use them but most people use the Tasha’s rule so it doesn’t really matter anyway. Writing that here so I don’t have to repeat myself a dozen times.
Additionally, all of the spells given here use Charisma as their casting stat, meaning most of these subraces will only be effective on a Charisma based character.
Bloodline of Baalzebul
Legacy of Maladomini: We retain Thaumaturgy, and gain Ray of Sickness and Crown of Madness. These are two of the worst spells for their level and a strict downgrade from the standard Tiefling.
Final Rating: 1/5
Bloodline of Dispater
Legacy of Dis: We get Thaumaturgy, Disguise Self, and Detect Thoughts. Where the standard Tiefling gets combat spells, this one gets roleplay centric spells. In the right campaign this could be a big boon, and in others these will seem worthless. All and all I’d say it evens out to be around the same power as the default option.
Final Rating: 3/5
Bloodline of Fierna
Legacy of Phlegethos: We get Friends, Charm Person, and Suggestion. Friends and Charm Person aren’t fantastic, but Suggestion is one of the best 2nd level spells in the game. There are better races that give this spell though and also don’t force you to be a Charisma character.
Final Rating: 2/5
Bloodline of Glasya
Legacy of Malbolge: Minor Illusion, Disguise Self, and Invisibility are a pretty nice selection of spells. Minor Illusion is one of the best cantrips in the game, Disguise Self has a lot of utility potential, and Invisibility is one of the best 2nd level spells in the game. This is a really great list and any character would love to have it, especially in games where roleplay, stealth, and distractions are emphasized. Also note that basically none of these are very dependent on our Charisma, opening this up to more characters.
Final Rating: 4/5
Bloodline of Levistus
Legacy of Stygia: Ray of Frost is a decent attacking cantrip, but Armor of Agathys being stuck at level 2 really hampers it’s effectiveness. Still, it’s an extra 10hp per day with potentially some retaliatory damage, so it’s not worthless. We retain Darkness, and it’s still a decent build around option. Also, if you ignore Ray of Frost, the other two spells don’t require a high Charisma, allowing other classes to make use of them.
Final Rating: 2/5
Bloodline of Mammon
Legacy of Minauros: Mage Hand is a great cantrip, but Floating Disk and Arcane Lock are really strange picks. These are fine utility spells, but they won’t come up often enough to warrant them being a cornerstone of our whole race. It’s also funny how Floating Disk gets upcast to 2nd level, even though that does nothing for the spell. Same goes for the subraces that grant Disguise Self. Kinda feel like they got a bit lazy when writing these.
Final Rating: 1/5
Bloodline of Mephistopheles
Legacy of Cania: Mage Hand is nice, but Burning Hands looses its effectiveness around level 4-5, and we get it at level 3. Flame Blade is one of the worst spells in the game, so that’s certainly not doing this any favors.
Final Rating: 1/5
Bloodline of Zariel
Legacy of Avernus: Thaumaturgy is fine, but Searing Smite and Branding Smite are probably the two worst smite spells, and the smite spells are already very bad. This might be the worst option of them all.
Final Rating: 1/5
Tieflings come in about as many flavors as you can think of, and not all of them are made equal. We’ve got some real stinkers alongside one of the top races in the entire game in the Winged Tiefling, and just about everything in between. Of course, we all know the real reason you’re here. They always told me the devil would be attractive…
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