Loxodon Guide 5e

Published on April 29, 2021, Last modified on May 5th, 2022

Zack Stella - Wizards of the Coast - Venerated Loxodon

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What is this guide?

This guide is meant to give you an idea of whether or not the loxodon will be right for your 5e character build.

The color code below has been implemented to help you identify, at a glance, how good that option will be for your loxodon. This color coding isn’t a hard and fast rule; there are plenty of sub-optimized options out there that will be viable to your party and will be fun to play.

Black is a trait shared by many races and or will not impact the effectiveness of your character build
Red isn’t going to contribute to the effectiveness of your character build at all
Orange Situationally good, but a below-average option otherwise
Green is a good option
Blue is a great option, you should strongly consider this option for your character
Sky Blue is an amazing option. If you do not take this option your character would not be optimized

Tasha's Cauldron of Everything Update

Tasha's Cauldron of Everything has added the "Customizing Your Origin" option that may affect the ability score increases, languages, and proficiencies in this guide. To read more about this, visit our D&D Race Guide.

What are Loxodon in 5e?

Source: Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica

Loxodon are humanoid elephants native to the plane of Ravnica. These 7 foot tall elephants value wisdom and peace over everything, and do not consider their kind to reach adulthood before the age of 60.

Loxodon are extremely loyal and can be quite fearsome when they or their friends are threatened. Although they are very large and strong, they are known to be skilled artisans, especially when it comes to stonework.

Most loxodon are members of the Selesnya Conclave, although some have been known to join the Orzhov Syndicate and the Azorius Senate.

Loxodon are a playable race found in Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica.

Loxodon 5e Traits

Ability Score Increase: +2 CON and +1 WIS is only good for a select few builds.

Age: Loxodon live about 450 years, which is much longer than most playable races in D&D 5e. This means that aging magic is less devastating for them if they happen to be affected by it.

Size: Medium is the typical size of most races, and is neither good nor bad.

Speed: Loxodon have a standard walking speed of 30 feet.

Powerful Build: Not everyone plays with strict carrying capacity limits, but Powerful Build can let you get away with some nonsense if you are a hoarder. Being able to push, drag, or lift additional weight is more interesting and is likely to come up in a campaign.

Loxodon Serenity: Charmed and Frightened are annoying conditions when you are hit by them. Getting advantage on saving throws makes the chance of success much higher.

Natural Armor: Natural Armor is really great if you are running around without armor or are playing a class that has a difficult time pumping their AC. You can use a shield with Natural Armor so you should be able to get a sizeable AC score.

Trunk: Having a trunk opens up many possibilities to be creative and to do funny things, as long as your DM lets you. Simple tasks like using the trunk as a snorkel or using it to move light objects can be really useful in the right circumstances.

Keen Smell: This trait is great when a check relies on smell, but that is very situational.

Which 5e Classes Work With Loxodon?

Powerful Build, Loxodon Serenity, and Trunk are all very handy traits to have, regardless of what class you are playing. Natural Armor has its uses for squishier builds. Unfortunately, unless your build needs WIS, the loxodon has nothing else to offer.

Artificer: Artificers need INT to be effective.

Barbarian: Barbarians have Unarmored Defense, which is better than Natural Armor (the effects do not stack). Barbarians need to see a STR bonus to be at their best, but at least the loxodon comes with CON. Powerful Build, Loxodon Serenity, and Trunk are interesting enough to make this build possible, although it is not very potent.

Bard: Natural Armor lets bards get away with a low DEX score so they can focus on their CHA. CON further helps survivability.

Cleric: Loxodon come with great stat distribution for a cleric. They will likely forgo Natural Armor because most builds come with heavy armor proficiency. Loxodon Serenity makes clerics even tankier and is useful to stay ready when allies need healing.

Druid: The druid is probably the only class that is perfect for a loxodon. Druids struggle with getting a respectable AC, but Natural Armor fixes this issue and allows druids to focus solely on their WIS.

Fighter: Fighters want DEX or STR depending on their build, but CON and Loxodon Serenity make the build playable.

Monk: Like with the barbarian, the monk’s Unarmored Defense does not stack with Natural Armor, and Unarmored Defense is just better. At least monks benefit from both CON and WIS.

Paladin: Paladins need to focus on quite a few stats, and WIS isn’t one of them. However, a STR build could dump DEX and use Natural Armor, thereby freeing up enough stat points for STR and CHA.

Ranger: CON and WIS both are useful to a ranger, although most Rangers like to see DEX for their finesse or ranged weapons. With a high DEX score, you will likely wear armor and ignore Natural Armor. As a STR ranger, you can instead dump DEX and use Natural Armor.

Rogue: No DEX hurts, and nothing else the loxodon offers is exciting for a rogue outside of Loxodon Serenity and CON. Plus, it’s pretty hard to be stealthy when you’re a 7-foot tall elephant-man.

Sorcerer: Sorcerers need CHA to be effective.

Warlock: Warlocks need CHA to be effective.

Wizard: Wizards need INT to be effective.

Sources Used in This Guide

BR: Basic Rules
GotG: Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
SotDQ: Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
ERLW: Eberron: Rising from the Last War
EEPC: Elemental Evil Player’s Companion
EGtW: Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount
FToD: Fizban's Treasury of Dragon
GGtR: Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica
MotM: Monsters of the Multiverse
MToF: Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes
MOoT: Mythic Odyessys of Theros
PAitM: Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse
PHB: Player's Handbook
SAiS: Spelljammer: Adventures in Space
SCoC: Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
SCAG: Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
TCoE: Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
TTP: The Tortle Package
WBtW: The Wild Beyond The Witchlight
VRGtR: Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft
VGtM: Volo's Guide to Monsters
XGtE: Xanathar’s Guide to Everything

Roland Drews

Roland Drews is a content creator and editor at Arcane Eye. When he isn't watching basketball or noodling on his guitar, you can find Roland reading, writing, or playing D&D. He currently lives in Bonn, Germany with his girlfriend Jess.