Tieflings have been updated for D&D 2024 and we’ve got everything you need to know to optimise these horny devils!
What are Tieflings?
Tieflings are the progeny of part mortal and part fiendish parents or the result of some kind fiendish magic or curse. These humanoids take on features of both aspects of their lineage. This can mean sprouting horns, a tail, forked tongue or some other devilish feature.
In D&D 2024, the nature of Tieflings has broadened. Previously, it was implied that their mortal half was Human, but this is no longer the case, giving you scope to flavour your Tiefling (in appearance and personality at least) after a Gnome, Dwarf or some other mortal being.
Likewise, the fiendish aspect of Tieflings leant heavily on devilish origins with many subraces based on different archdevils. There’s now justice for other fiends! Now Tieflings get a simplified set of 3 subraces based on the different types of fiends:
- Infernal: Descended from devils
- Abyssal: Descended from demons
- Chthonic: A catch all for those descended from other types of fiends such as a night hag or a yugoloth
As you might expect, Tieflings are often distrusted. This may be a natural response to beings of such infernal origins, but doesn’t necessarily reflect their nature. While Tieflings may inherit the evil persona of their fiendish lineage, they are also capable of goodness and any moral compass that fits between these aspects.
In the 2024 D&D Player’s Handbook, Tieflings remain a core species and get a bunch of changes. Below I’ve outlined how Tieflings work, how you can optimise them and how to play as this species.
Is a Tiefling the right species for me?
Choose a Tiefling if you like…
- Getting some innate spells
- Unnerving people with your fiendish origins
- Damage resistances
A Tiefling might not be for you if…
- You’re uninterested in casting spells
- Badly want to avoid the stereotypes of a literally “horny” bard
- Would rather not have to deal with the stereotypes of being a fiendish species
Tiefling traits
| Creature Type | Humanoid |
| Size | Small or medium |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Traits | Darkvision, innate spellcasting, fiendish legacy |
| Resistances | Fire, poison or necrotic |
| Proficiencies | No |
| Darkvision | Yes |
| Innate spellcasting | Thaumaturgy and 3 more based on your fiendish legacy |
| Book found in | Player’s Handbook 2024 |
Darkvision –You have darkvision up to 60ft.
Innate spellcasting –You can cast the thaumaturgy cantrip.
Fiendish legacy – You can choose one of the following types of fiends as your fiendish legacy and gain the associated traits from that legacy:
| Fiendish legacy | Resistance | Cantrip | Lv3 spell | Lv5 spell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infernal | Fire | Firebolt | Hellish rebuke | Darkness |
| Abyssal | Poison | Poison spray | Ray of sickness | Hold person |
| Chthonic | Necrotic | Chill touch | Chill touch | Ray of enfeeblement |
Where are the ability score increases?
You may have noticed that there are no ability score increases associated with your species any more. This is because these increases are now linked to your background. This gives you more flexibility to play the species you want and optimise more easily for a broader range of classes.
Check out our to find out more.
Tactics
The handy thing about Tieflings is you have a bunch of subrace options giving a fair bit of flexibility on the innate spells you can cast and the resistances you gain. Below are some tactics you can use with a Tiefling:
Top resistances: Your fiendish legacy gives you access to 3 of the most common damage types in the game. But some damage types are more common than others according to our research. The most common out of a Tiefling’s options in order are:
- Poison
- Necrotic
- Fire
This means Abyssal Tieflings have the best resistance while Infernal Tieflings have the worst. All 3 are pretty common damage types though, so whichever legacy you choose, you can expect to get mileage from your resistance.
Natural spellcasters: Tieflings get 4 innate spells known now. More than any other species! These will be best utilised if you play a spellcasting class for 2 reasons:
- You’ll have an ability score capable of being effective at casting these spells.
- You can repeat use these spells when you need them instead of being limited to 1 casting per long rest.
A spell for every occasion: Not all spells were made equally and you may want to consider your fiendish legacy based on the spells you’ll find most useful.
Cantrips: Firebolt and chill touch are solid, damage dealing, ranged cantrips. Firebolt deals more damage but chill touch is the better damage type and has a bit more function. Poison spray is difficult to recommend though due to it’s short range which is too close for most Spellcasters.
Level 3 spells: Hellish rebuke is a great way to use your reaction (which often goes underutilised). Ray of sickness deals decent damage and can poison your target. False life is a decent enough source of temporary hit points, and with a free casting each day, you might as well use it before a big fight, but does less than the other spell options at this level.
Level 5 spells: Darkness is great for battlefield control and hold person is a great save or suck spell to completely disable an opponent at low levels (and humanoids are common enough that you should get plenty of mileage from this). Ray of enfeeblement however, is subpar to hold person. The affected creature can still do a lot, its effects are limited to strength and relies on a common saving throw.
All in all, I’d say the infernal legacy has the best spell list, but all 3 legacy have a decent set of spells available.
Which fiendish legacy is best?
This largely depends on what you want to gain from your species. I’ve summarised their strengths below:
Infernal legacy: Best option for a pure damage dealing cantrip, a reaction spell option and a utility spell option. They have the weaker resistance, but only by a small margin.
Abyssal legacy: The worst option for a damage dealing cantrip but best for reducing the effectiveness of single targets.
Chthonic legacy: Has the best resistance, but probably the weakest set of spells.
Choosing a class for your Tiefling
Below I’ve scored how well each class works with a Tiefling:
Artificer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Barbarian ⭐
Bard ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cleric ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Druid ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fighter ⭐⭐
Monk ⭐⭐
Paladin ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ranger ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rogue ⭐⭐⭐
Sorcerer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Warlock ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wizard ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Star ratings scored out of 5
Best classes for a Tiefling
Tiefling traits are heavily tied to their innate spellcasting making spellcasting classes your best options. I’d recommend the following as top tier Tiefling classes:
- Artificer
- Bard
- Cleric
- Druid
- Sorcerer
- Warlock
Honourable mentions should go to the eldritch knight and arcane trickster subclasses too which also make good options for a Tiefling.
Tiefling resistances are a little more valuable for frontline spellcasters which is more likely to be the case for the likes of artificers, clerics and druids.
On the spellcasting front, all of these classes stand to gain from 4 extra spells known, but this is especially beneficial for warlocks and artificers who have more limited spells lists and spell slots.
Wizards don’t quite make the cut as they have such a wide range of spells known and the most spells to cast that they benefit less (but are still a good option.
Worst Tiefling classes
Barbarians make the worst option for a Tiefling in D&D 2024 (sorry Karlach)! While a damage resistance is good for a barbarian, innate spellcasting is practically useless for these rage machines.
Fighters (other than eldritch knights) and monks make poor options too. Chances are, your other class features are going to be far more effective. The exception here might be something like hellish rebuke which you can cast as a reaction but at one casting per day, isn’t worthwhile enough. A fighter with the blindfighting fighting style might gain from the darkness spell, but you’re better off getting a Spellcaster to cast this for you.
About Tieflings
Appearance
Tieflings can vary in appearance according to their lineage. This means you can choose any mortal species to partly base your appearance on.
When it comes to your fiendish legacy, the Player’s Handbook suggests the following features that might affect your appearance:
- Infernal: horns, spines, tails, golden eyes, and the smell of sulfur
- Abyssal: horns, fur, tusks, and “peculiar scents”.
- Chthonic: varied – you might appear corpselike, have the beauty of a succubus, or share features with a night-hag, yugoloth, or some other type of Neutral fiend.
Personality
As much as they may try to avoid it, Tieflings are influenced by their fiendish heritage. That’s not to say that all Tieflings are evil, they are as capable of being as good-natured as any other race, but I’d consider how your fiendish legacy affects your personality. For example, an Infernal Tiefling might choose to stick to the rules (even for evil purposes) while an Abyssal Tieflings might be more chaotic, choosing to completely disregard the rules altogether.
The main challenge for Tieflings is how they’re perceived by the world. People are generally distrustful towards them due to their fiendish ancestry. This behaviour typically leads Tieflings towards the fringes of society, often leaving them in poverty in the Human cities they often inhabit. Such a lifestyle often pushes Tieflings into a life of crime creating a harsh, self-fulfilling prophecy that can be difficult to escape.
Some Tieflings live outside of the cities in communities with other Tieflings or other species that are not often accepted in wider society. These Tieflings are generally treated much better than their city-dwelling peers.
How to roleplay as a Tiefling
While fiendish blood does not make you evil, it certainly will have an influence on who you are. Whether it genetically influences your personality or the reaction of others affects your worldview (or both), there’s no getting away from your heritage. You can use the following ideas when roleplaying a Tiefling:
- Fiendish cunning – Devils are innately cunning and while they tend to use that cunning to snare mortal souls, Tieflings can use that cunning in many other ways, whether they be nefarious or more benevolent.
- Bad reputation – Tieflings have a bad reputation. General society doesn’t trust them, expecting them to be as devious as their fiendish lineage. Chances are, this has affected you. Maybe it’s been hard to make trusted friendships, maybe you hide your true identity to avoid judgement or perhaps you’ve simply become cynical.
- A way with words – Most Tieflings have silver-tongues, capable of convincing even the biggest sceptic. Be compelling, persuasive and use your words to get into and out of all kinds of sticky situations.
Other D&D 2024 playable species guides
With the launch of D&D 2024, we’re covering off how you can optimise all the updated species. You can check these out below.
