D&D: Best Lineages For A Spellcaster
So you want to play a spellcaster in D&D, that’s great, but what lineage should you pick? Dwarf? Elf? Why not try one of these.
When it comes to playing D&D, there’s a lot that goes into making your character. Should you play a fighter, or a wizard? How exactly did your parents die and what past trauma has turned you into a murderous loner who goes around kicking in dungeon doors and stealing everything inside? How many pouches should be on your outfit?
Or should your outfit be entirely pouches?
These are all important questions. And today we’re here to help you answer some of them by looking at the best lineages to pick if you’re going to play a spellcaster of some kind. Let’s dive in.
First things first, the good news. After Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, any lineage can be any class moreso than ever before. Ability Score Increases aren’t tied to you being one of the few options that used to have an innate bonus to Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom, depending on what kind of caster you want to play.
What does that mean though? Well if you want to play a caster, it means figuring out what you need help rounding out. Playing a spellcaster who wants to get up close and personal, like a Hexblade Warlock or a Cleric, means filling in different gaps than a caster who wants to stay mobile. But you have to rethink mechanics a little in the post-TCoE D&D. That said, here are our favorites when picking a caster.
Mountain Dwarf
Ability score increases might be customizable now, which means they’re less important, but the Mountain Dwarf gets a mighty +2/+2 combo and gets darkvision, advantage on saves vs poison, and has a grand total of seven different proficiencies to pick from, six are weapons/armor, meaning you don’t need to rely on Mage Armor or a high Dex to protect you, and you can pick tools or weapons that make your character feel good. This is great for any caster.
Aarakocra
It’s hard to beat being a bird wizard. Or cleric. Or druid–you get the idea. Aarakocra have really spread their wings now that they’re not bound to a +2 Dex/+1 Wisdom. You can now make that +2 (your spellcasting ability) and then +1 whatever you feel the need to fill out. The biggest draw here is the Aarakocra’s innate flying speed of 50 feet, which means you can take to the air, stay out of reach of most things, and deliver fire bolts, magic missiles, and more from the skies.
Half-Elf
Half-elves got an unusual buff in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything. Their stat spread is a +2/+1/+1, meaning you can make a half-elf that could readily multiclass into just about anything. Or an incredible caster. You’ll also get darkvision and resistance to charm/sleep. This is a solid all-rounder.
Half Orc
With darkvision and Relentless Endurance, Half-Orcs are a supreme pick for players hoping to never fall unconscious. You get a once per long rest get-out-of zero HP free card, and with the half-orc’s critical hit buff, they could make for excellent hexblades.
Yuan-Ti Pureblood
They have long been considered the cream of the crop, but Yuan-Ti Pureblood and/or Satyrs both come with a singular powerful feature: Magic Resistance, which means automatic advantage on saves against spells and other magical effects. That, plus you get a +2/+1 spread to put in whatever you like, and you have the makings of an arch-wizard.
