Changeling Guide 5e

Which 5e Classes Work With Changelings?

The absolute best options for changelings are classes that use CHA for their spellcasting ability. Every class will benefit from Shapechanger and bring some utility to their party, though multi-ability dependent builds that have no real use for CHA will struggle to make things work well.

Artificer: Artificers can use the free ability score increase for INT, though they would much rather see +2.

• Updated: Artificers can now grab +2 INT.

Barbarian: Barbarians can use the free ability score increase for STR, though they would much rather see +2. CHA isn't all that effective on Barbarians, though it may be quite funny to have one that is the face of the party.

• Updated: Barbarians can now get their +2 STR, though they don't have anything in their toolkit to synergize with the changeling's racial traits.

Bard: Bards are the perfect choice for changelings. The CHA is perfect for spellcasting, and bards are naturally the big talkers of the group so they will love the free CHA skill proficiencies.

• Updated: With the slight improvements to the changeling, bards are still a fantastic choice here.

Cleric: Depending on your build you can pick up STR, DEX, or WIS with the free ability score increase. The Trickery Domain or even the Knowledge Domain would be good choices if you want to play a character that is the face of the party. You could also use Guidance on yourself to make social interactions even more likely to succeed. Despite this interesting combination, a changeling cleric won't be as effective as a race that gets something more useful than CHA.

• Updated: Taking a combination of WIS and STR, DEX, and/or CON as a Trickery or Knowledge Domain cleric makes the updated changeling better than the original for this class.

Druid: Druids can use the free ability score increase for WIS, though they would much rather see +2. CHA isn't usually a focus for druids as they have terrible AC, so they would be much better served with DEX or even CON. On top of this, druids can already turn into beasts if they want to hide their true form.

• Updated: Free choice of ASIs doesn't really help the druid much here since they don't have anything to synergize with the changeling's traits.

Fighter: Fighters can use the free ability score increase for STR or DEX depending on their weapon of choice. CHA isn't the most useful stat for fighters, though the Battle Master and Purple Dragon Knight at least mention CHA-based skills in their traits.

• Updated: Free choice of ASIs doesn't really help the fighter much here since they don't have anything to synergize with the changeling's traits.

Monk: Monks just need +2 DEX or +2 WIS too badly for a Changeling to be a good choice.

• Updated: Free choice of ASIs doesn't really help the monk much here since they don't have anything to synergize with the changeling's traits, though they can at least pickup +2 DEX.

Paladin: CHA is perfect for spellcasting and combines nicely with the free skill proficiencies from Changeling Instincts.

• Updated: Not much changes for the paladin with the updated changeling as they will still likely take some combination of CHA, STR, and DEX.

Ranger: DEX is the only choice for the free ability score increase. The CHA is largely wasted and will just make your Ranger feel like a budget Rogue.

• Updated: This still isn't a great choice for rangers as they will likely not choose to take CHA, rendering the skill proficiencies less effective.

Rogue: Rogues are the best option for changelings. They are already the go-to class for deception and infiltration, and with the Shapechanger trait they will have just about every tool in their back pocket for that task. With the two free skill proficiencies a rogue changeling will be proficient in more skills than not. DEX is the best choice for the free ability score increase.

• Updated: Rogues still are the best option for changelings, with improved racial traits and more freedom when it comes to ASIs.

Sorcerer: +2 CHA is the best stat boost for a pure CHA caster, and the free ability score increase can be used on either DEX or CON depending on your needs. Since they have access to so many spells, a sorcerer could use Shapechanger in combination with a whole host of Illusion spells to make a pretty sly character.

• Updated: Not much changes for the changeling sorcerer as they will still take CHA. The racial traits are slightly improved, making the updated changeling an upgrade over the original.

Warlock: +2 CHA is the best stat boost for a pure CHA caster, and the free ability score increase can be used on either DEX or CON depending on your needs. Shapechanger is also a nice alternative for achieving goals without the use of magic as Warlocks have very few spell slots available to them.

• Updated: Not much changes for the changeling warlock as they will still take CHA. The racial traits are slightly improved, making the updated changeling an upgrade over the original.

Wizard: Wizards can use the free ability score increase for INT, though they would much rather see +2. Since they have access to so many spells, a wizard could use Shapechanger in combination with a whole host of Illusion spells to make a pretty sly character.

• Updated: This still isn't a great choice for wizards as they will likely not choose to take CHA, rendering the skill proficiencies less effective. At least they can cast Illusion spells to help their deceptiveness and take +2 INT.