Tiefling 5e: Traits and Fiendish Legacies Explained (2024 Rules)

Horns, a tail and a family tree with a fiend somewhere in it: tieflings are one of the most played species in D&D. The 2024 rules turned them from a "Charisma caster only" pick into a flexible species with three distinct legacies. This guide covers every trait, all three legacies, the 2014 differences and which classes make the most of them. Compare other options on the species hub, and for virtue names like Hope or Torment (or something more infernal), try the D&D name generator.

What are the tiefling traits in 5e (2024)?

These are the traits from the 2024 Player's Handbook and SRD 5.2. Ability score increases now come from your background.

The level 3 and level 5 spells are always prepared. You can cast each once per Long Rest without using a spell slot, and you can also cast them with any spell slots of the right level you have.

What are the tiefling Fiendish Legacies?

Your legacy is the big decision. It fixes your damage resistance and three spells for the whole campaign.

Abyssal tiefling

Poison is one of the most common monster damage types, from giant spiders to green dragons, so this resistance pays off often. Poison Spray is a 30-foot ranged spell attack for 1d12 (6.5 average), the highest-die cantrip here, but plenty of undead, constructs and fiends are immune to poison. Ray of Sickness adds 2d8 (9 average) and the Poisoned condition on a hit. The prize is Hold Person at level 5: a Humanoid that fails its Wisdom save is Paralyzed, and every melee hit against it within 5 feet is a critical hit. Against a bandit captain or a cult leader, one cast can end the fight.

Chthonic tiefling

Necrotic resistance helps against undead, which show up in a lot of campaigns. Chill Touch deals 1d10 (5.5 average) on a melee spell attack and stops the target from regaining HP until the end of your next turn, which shuts down a troll's regeneration or an enemy healer for a round. False Life gives 2d4 + 4 temporary HP (9 average), a great pre-fight buff with no Concentration. Ray of Enfeeblement makes a Strength-based brute weaker: on a failed Constitution save it has Disadvantage on Strength-based D20 Tests and subtracts 1d8 from its damage.

Infernal tiefling

The classic tiefling and the safest pick. Fire is one of the most common damage types in the game, and Fire Bolt hits from 120 feet for 1d10 (5.5 average), scaling to 2d10 at level 5, 3d10 at level 11 and 4d10 at level 17. Hellish Rebuke is a Reaction when something damages you: it makes a Dexterity save and takes 2d10 fire (11 average), half on a success. Darkness creates a 15-foot-radius sphere that even Darkvision can't see through, which is either brilliant or a disaster depending on your party.

Which tiefling legacy should you choose?

• Pick Infernal if you want a reliable ranged cantrip on a non-caster, or you're playing a warlock with the Devil's Sight invocation, which lets you see through your own Darkness.
• Pick Abyssal if you want control. Hold Person is the best spell any legacy gives, and your choice of Wisdom or Intelligence means a cleric or wizard tiefling uses its main stat for it.
• Pick Chthonic if you're a front-liner. False Life's free temporary HP each day and Chill Touch's anti-healing work well in melee.

Match your spellcasting ability to your class's main stat. A tiefling cleric picks Wisdom, a wizard picks Intelligence, and a warlock, sorcerer, bard or paladin picks Charisma. A fighter or rogue with no spellcasting usually picks whichever mental stat is highest.

How is the 2024 tiefling different from the 2014 tiefling?

• Ability scores: 2014 tieflings got +2 Charisma and +1 Intelligence. In 2024 your background gives the bonuses, so tiefling barbarians and monks are no longer handicapped.
• Legacies: 2014 had one package, Infernal Legacy: Thaumaturgy, Hellish Rebuke at level 3 and Darkness at level 5, each once per Long Rest. 2024 offers three legacies and adds a damage cantrip at level 1.
• Resistance: 2014 tieflings always resisted fire (Hellish Resistance). In 2024 it depends on your legacy.
• Spellcasting: Charisma only in 2014; Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma in 2024. The 2024 legacy spells can also be cast with your own spell slots.
• Size: Medium only in 2014; Medium or Small in 2024.
• Hellish Rebuke: The 2014 trait cast it as a 2nd-level spell, for 3d10 damage. The 2024 trait doesn't mention a higher level, so the free casting is the base 2d10 version unless you spend a higher slot.

Later 2014 supplements added more tiefling bloodlines tied to specific archdevils. If your table mixes books, ask your DM which version is in play.

What is the best class for a tiefling?

• Warlock: The iconic pairing. A fiend patron fits the story, Charisma powers everything, and Infernal plus Devil's Sight turns Darkness into a weapon.
• Sorcerer: Sorcerers have a short spell list, so free legacy spells add real options. Abyssal brings Hold Person without costing a preparation slot.
• Paladin: Charisma legacy, Chthonic False Life before the charge, and a resistance for the front line.
• Cleric or druid: Possible now that Wisdom works as your legacy ability. Abyssal's Hold Person is a strong addition.
• Rogue or fighter: Infernal gives a 120-foot attack cantrip and a punishing Reaction for a class that otherwise has no magic.

Quick build: Infernal tiefling warlock (2024)

1. Assign scores with the standard array or the stat roller: Charisma 15, Constitution 14, Dexterity 13, Wisdom 12, Intelligence 10, Strength 8.
2. Choose a background that raises Charisma, such as Charlatan, for Charisma 17.
3. Pick the Infernal legacy with Charisma as your spellcasting ability. Take Eldritch Blast as a class cantrip; Fire Bolt and Thaumaturgy come free from your species.
4. At level 3, keep Hellish Rebuke for the enemy that keeps hitting you; at level 5, add Darkness.
5. Take the Devil's Sight invocation (available from warlock level 2), then cast Darkness on a point next to you so you stand inside it. You can see out; enemies can't see in, so your Eldritch Blasts have Advantage against them.

FAQ

What are the three tiefling legacies in 2024?

Abyssal gives poison resistance, Poison Spray, Ray of Sickness and Hold Person. Chthonic gives necrotic resistance, Chill Touch, False Life and Ray of Enfeeblement. Infernal gives fire resistance, Fire Bolt, Hellish Rebuke and Darkness.

Which tiefling legacy is best?

Infernal is the safest pick thanks to fire resistance and a 120-foot Fire Bolt. Abyssal has the strongest level 5 spell in Hold Person. Chthonic suits melee characters who want False Life temporary hit points.

What spellcasting ability do tieflings use?

In the 2024 rules you choose Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma when you pick your legacy, and Thaumaturgy uses the same ability. In the 2014 rules tiefling spells always used Charisma.

Can tieflings cast their legacy spells more than once a day?

Each level 3 and level 5 legacy spell can be cast once without a spell slot per Long Rest. In the 2024 rules you can also cast them again using any spell slots of the right level you have.

Do tieflings still get +2 Charisma?

Only in the 2014 rules, where tieflings got +2 Charisma and +1 Intelligence. In the 2024 rules no species gives ability score increases; your background provides them instead.

Related

• DnD Name Generator
• D&D Species (Races) in 5e
• Warlock 5e: Class Guide for the 2024 Rules
• Hellish Rebuke 5e