Dwarf 5e: Traits, Stonecunning, Subraces and Best Builds (2024)
Dwarves in the 2024 rules are Medium humanoids with a 30-foot speed, 120-foot Darkvision, Resistance to Poison damage and Advantage on saves against being Poisoned. Dwarven Toughness adds 1 hit point per level, and Stonecunning grants 60-foot tremorsense on stone a few times per Long Rest. It is the sturdiest species in the Player's Handbook.
What traits does a dwarf get in 5e?
Dwarves are the "hard to kill" species. Nothing on the sheet is flashy, but extra hit points, poison resistance and the best darkvision in the Player's Handbook keep a dwarf standing when the rest of the party is rolling death saves. Need a clan name? The D&D name generator can roll dwarf names for you.
| Trait | 2024 rules (PHB 2024 / SRD 5.2) | 2014 rules (PHB 2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Creature type and size | Humanoid, Medium (about 4 to 5 feet) | Humanoid, Medium |
| Speed | 30 ft. | 25 ft., not reduced by heavy armor |
| Ability scores | From your background | +2 Constitution, plus subrace bonus |
| Darkvision | 120 ft. | 60 ft. |
| Dwarven Resilience | Resistance to Poison damage; Advantage on saves to avoid or end Poisoned | Resistance to poison damage; Advantage on saves against poison |
| Dwarven Toughness | +1 HP maximum per level (all dwarves) | Hill dwarf only |
| Stonecunning | Bonus Action: 60-ft. tremorsense on stone for 10 minutes; uses = Proficiency Bonus per Long Rest | Double proficiency on History checks about stonework |
| Combat and tool training | None (comes from class and background) | Battleaxe, handaxe, light hammer, warhammer; one artisan's tool |
| Subraces | None | Hill dwarf (+1 Wis, Toughness) or mountain dwarf (+2 Str, light and medium armor) |
In 2024, languages come from character creation (Common plus two of your choice). The 2014 dwarf knows Common and Dwarvish.
How much HP does Dwarven Toughness add?
Your hit point maximum goes up by 1 at level 1 and by 1 more every time you level up, so the bonus always equals your level. That sounds small until you add it up:
| Level | Bonus HP | Wizard, Con 14 (average HP) | Fighter, Con 16 (average HP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 | 8 → 9 | 13 → 14 |
| 5 | +5 | 32 → 37 | 49 → 54 |
| 10 | +10 | 62 → 72 | 94 → 104 |
| 20 | +20 | 122 → 142 | 184 → 204 |
Those totals use the fixed average hit points per level (4 for a d6, 6 for a d10) plus Constitution. A level 5 dwarf wizard has about 16% more hit points than a non-dwarf with the same scores, and it costs nothing. It works out to half the Tough feat (which gives +2 per level) for free. Plug in your own numbers with the HP calculator.
How good is poison resistance?
Poison is one of the most common damage types monsters deal at low levels: giant spiders, snakes, wyverns, assassins with poisoned blades, green dragon breath. Resistance halves all of it. When a giant spider bites you, the poison part of the damage is halved.
The second half matters even more. The Poisoned condition gives Disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks, and Dwarven Resilience gives you Advantage on the save to avoid or shake it off. With Advantage, a save that needs a 12 on the d20 goes from a 45% chance to about 70%. Run the numbers for your own DCs on the advantage and disadvantage page.
How does Stonecunning work in 2024?
The 2014 version was a History check bonus most tables forgot about. The 2024 version is a real tool. As a Bonus Action, while you are standing on or touching stone (natural cave rock or worked masonry both count), you gain tremorsense out to 60 feet for 10 minutes. You sense creatures moving or standing on the ground in that range even if they are invisible, hidden or around a corner.
You get uses equal to your Proficiency Bonus: 2 at level 1, 3 at level 5, and up to 6 at level 17. That is enough to switch it on at the start of most dungeon fights. Practical uses:
- Spotting an invisible or hidden ambusher in a stone corridor before the party walks into it.
- Counting how many creatures are in the next room before you open the door.
- Pinpointing a creature inside a magical darkness cloud, as long as it is on the ground.
Tremorsense can't detect flying creatures, and it does nothing on a wooden ship or in a forest. It shines in caves, castles and classic dungeons.
What happened to hill dwarf and mountain dwarf?
The 2024 Player's Handbook dropped dwarf subraces. In practice, every 2024 dwarf is a hill dwarf: Dwarven Toughness is now standard. The mountain dwarf's selling point was +2 Strength on top of +2 Constitution, plus light and medium armor. That made it the top 2014 pick for armored wizards and sorcerers. In 2024 ability score increases come from your background, so the reason to pick "mountain dwarf" no longer exists. If your table still uses 2014 rules, mountain dwarf is the stronger choice for Strength builds and armored casters; hill dwarf is better for clerics and anyone who wants the extra hit points.
One more 2014 quirk: dwarves had a 25-foot speed but heavy armor never slowed them. In 2024 the speed is a normal 30 feet. Heavy armor only reduces speed when you lack the required Strength score, so the old exemption mostly stopped mattering.
What are the best classes for a dwarf?
Dwarves are good at everything that involves taking hits. The traits are defensive, so they suit front-line characters and the casters who need to stay alive to keep their spells running.
- Cleric: the iconic pick. Extra hit points help you hold concentration on spells like Spiritual Weapon in the middle of the fight, and you're often in melee anyway.
- Fighter and barbarian: more hit points on the biggest hit dice, plus poison resistance. A dwarf barbarian with Rage resists most physical damage and poison at once.
- Paladin: Advantage against Poisoned plus your Aura of Protection makes you very hard to shut down.
- Wizard: the lowest-HP class gains the most from +1 per level, in proportion. Tremorsense also catches the invisible enemies wizards fear most.
- Rogue: 120-foot darkvision and tremorsense make a dwarf an excellent dungeon scout, even without a Dexterity bonus from the species.
Quick build: dwarf cleric (level 1)
- Background: Acolyte, putting +2 Wisdom and +1 Intelligence (Acolyte also gives Magic Initiate (Cleric)). If you want more Constitution, the Farmer background offers Strength, Constitution and Wisdom.
- Scores (standard array plus background): Strength 13, Dexterity 10, Constitution 14, Intelligence 9, Wisdom 17, Charisma 12.
- Divine Order: Protector, for heavy armor and martial weapons.
- Hit points: 8 (d8) + 2 (Constitution) + 1 (Dwarven Toughness) = 11.
- Opening spells: Bless, Cure Wounds and Guiding Bolt.
Want to roll your scores instead? Use the stat roller, or let the character generator build the whole sheet.
Is the dwarf a good species in 5e?
Yes. The 2024 dwarf lost its weapon training and armor proficiency but gained a faster speed, double the darkvision range, free hit points for everyone and a genuinely useful tremorsense. It is one of the safest choices for a new player, because the traits work in the background and you don't have to remember to use them. Compare it with the other options on the species page, or look at the goliath for a more aggressive tough-guy species.
FAQ
What is the dwarf speed in 5e 2024?
Dwarves have a 30-foot speed in the 2024 Player's Handbook. In the 2014 rules their speed was 25 feet, but heavy armor never slowed them down.
Are hill dwarf and mountain dwarf still in 2024?
No. The 2024 dwarf has no subraces. Every dwarf gets Dwarven Toughness, the old hill dwarf trait, and the armor training of the 2014 mountain dwarf is gone because ability scores and proficiencies now come from class and background.
How does Stonecunning work in 2024?
As a Bonus Action you gain tremorsense out to 60 feet for 10 minutes while you are on or touching stone. You can do this a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus per Long Rest.
What is the best class for a dwarf in 5e?
Cleric, fighter, paladin and barbarian get the most out of extra hit points and poison resistance. Because 2024 ability scores come from your background, a dwarf can play any class well.
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