Tiefling Guide 5e
Published on January 25, 2021, Last modified on May 5th, 2022
Josh Hass - Wizards of the Coast - Azra Oddsmaker
What is this guide?
This guide is meant to give you an idea of whether or not the tiefling 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 tiefling. 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 Tieflings in 5e?
Source: Player's Handbook
Tieflings are a race of humanoids, descended from demons and devils who had bred with humans long ago. While they are not inherently evil, their appearance likens that of their ancestors, with horns, tails, sharp teeth, and a wide array of eye colors and skin colors. Due to their ancestry, tieflings make great thieves and criminals, but are also strong leaders and are fiercely loyal.
Tiefling 5e Traits
Ability Score Increase: A CHA bonus is the bread and butter of several classes. Where tieflings really shine is the sheer number of different subraces available, all of which come with various secondary ASIs and abilities, making them a passable option for nearly any build.
Size: Medium size doesn’t come with any drawbacks or benefits.
Speed: The tiefling’s walking speed of 30 feet is standard.
Darkvision: Darkvision is always great, but its advantage can be ruined if your party members do not also have it.
Hellish Resistance: Fire damage is extremely common, whether from enemy spellcasters or monster abilities. Having fire resistance baked into the tiefling race works wonders for survivability.
Tiefling 5e Subraces
Bloodline of Asmodeus
The standard tiefling. ASIs are not synergistic but the Asmodeus tiefling comes with useful spells.
Ability Score Increase: Adding an INT bonus to the tiefling’s CHA isn’t very helpful. Most casters typically rely on one and dump the other.
Infernal Legacy:
- 1st level
- Thaumaturgy: Much worse than minor illusion or prestidigitation but can still be effective in roleplay scenarios.
- 3rd level
- Hellish Rebuke: Awesome use for your reaction. Scales with levels.
- 5th level
- Darkness: Good way to cut off an opponent’s visibility. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer much of a strategic advantage unless someone in your party can see through magical darkness.
Bloodline of Baalzebul
Very similar to the Asmodeus tiefling, but comes with less effective spells.
Ability Score Increase: Adding an INT bonus to the tiefling’s CHA isn’t very helpful. Most casters typically rely on one and dump the other.
Legacy of Maladomini:
- 1st level
- Thaumaturgy: Much worse than minor illusion or prestidigitation but can still be effective in roleplay scenarios.
- Ray of Sickness: Damage isn’t great but Poisoned is a nasty condition. Unfortunately, the save targets CON, a common proficient saving throw, and immunity to the Poisoned condition is also fairly common. Don’t try to cast this at Constructs, Fiends, or Undead at the very least.
- Crown of Madness: This spell has a lot of crippling limitations because of its powerful effect at such a low level.
Bloodline of Dispater
Bloodline of Dispater is a great choice for sneaky characters who want to infiltrate and deceive, but the Bloodline of Glasya comes with better spells for that purpose.
Ability Score Increase: While most CHA casters don’t have access to heavy armor, DEX is a natural option for an ASI to help boost AC, Stealthiness, and DEX saves.
Legacy of Dis:
- 1st level
- Thaumaturgy: Much worse than minor illusion or prestidigitation but can still be effective in roleplay scenarios.
- 3rd level
- Disguise Self: Great 1st level infiltration spell.
- 5th level
- Detect Thoughts: Useful spell for interrogations, or to determine if there are any hidden creatures near your location.
Bloodline of Fierna
The Fierna Tiefling is the only one that comes with a WIS bonus. The package of charm spells can be useful and work in tandem with the massive CHA boost for a very persuasive character.
Ability Score Increase: Most characters choose between WIS or CHA and then dump the other.
Legacy of Phlegethos:
- 1st level
- Friends: Give yourself advantage on CHA checks, but after a minute the target will become hostile. This certainly has its uses, like interrogation or doing a very quick deal with a shopkeeper. Otherwise, the cons outweigh the pros.
- 3rd level
- Charm Person: One of the better options for dealing with NPCs outside of combat. Good for quick interactions, but the biggest caveat to this spell is the target knows it was charmed by you once the effect ends.
- 5th level
- Suggestion: Never underestimate the power of suggesting a course of action to an NPC. Yes, Mr. Scary Guard, why don’t you give us the keys to your king’s treasure vault?
Bloodline of Glasya
The best choice for sneaky builds of all kinds with a fantastic set of spells.
Ability Score Increase: CHA and DEX is a great combination for sneaky builds, or CHA-based spellcasters that also fight with DEX melee weapons.
Legacy of Malbolge:
- 1st level
- Minor Illusion: If used creatively, this cantrip can be the most flexible tool in a spellcaster arsenal.
- 3rd level
- Disguise Self: Great 1st level infiltration spell.
- 5th level
- Invisibility: Great infiltration spell.
Bloodline of Levistus
The Bloodline of Levistus is the most defense-oriented of the tiefling subraces.
Ability Score Increase: Nearly any build is happy to see a CON bonus, outside of those that are heavily multi-ability dependent.
Legacy of Stygia:
- 1st level
- Ray of Frost: Solid damage cantrip. The speed reduction can help with kiting enemies.
- 3rd level
- 5th level
- Darkness: Good way to cut off an opponent’s visibility. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer much of a strategic advantage unless someone in your party can see through magical darkness.
Bloodline of Mammon
Another subrace that comes with an INT bonus. The spells of the Bloodline of Mammon tiefling are very underwhelming compared to the other similar subraces.
Ability Score Increase: Adding an INT bonus to the tiefling’s CHA isn’t very helpful. Most casters typically rely on one and dump the other.
Legacy of Minauros:
- 1st level
- Mage Hand: Mage hand provides a lot of utility for a caster, allowing them to extend the range they can grab or interact with objects, with little combat benefit.
- 3rd level
- Tenser’s Floating Disk: Being able to carry 500lbs is typically out of the question for most player characters not being buffed by enlarge/reduce or something similar. Getting this ability for an hour at the cost of a 1st-level provides a lot of utility, especially if you need to carry treasure out of a dragon’s horde.
- 5th level
- Arcane Lock: Surprisingly, a useful little utility spell. The effect lasts until dispelled so it’s a good thing to use on a home base when you have the spell slots to spare. Of course, the lock can be bypassed with knock but you’ll be able to hear someone using knock while you’re within 300ft. Overall, you don’t want this stocked unless you’re really paranoid or need to lock down an area.
Bloodline of Mephistopheles
Yet another subrace that comes with an INT bonus, and the most damage oriented of those subraces. Flame blade is not great though, so consider the Bloodline of Zariel if you want to make weapon attacks.
Ability Score Increase: Adding an INT bonus to the tiefling’s CHA isn’t very helpful. Most casters typically rely on one and dump the other.
Legacy of Cania:
- 1st level
- Mage Hand: Mage hand provides a lot of utility for a caster, allowing them to extend the range they can grab or interact with objects, with little combat benefit.
- 3rd level
- Burning Hands: One of the better AoE damage spells you can get at 1st-level but there are better direct damage spells and better mass effect spells. This filler spell can be great if you catch a group of enemies close together.
- 5th level
- Flame Blade: This does slightly more damage than flaming sphere on hit, but has a lot of caveats. First, you have to be within melee range to you can be attacked and lose concentration. Second, it takes your action to attack using flame blade whereas you are able to cast spells on subsequent turns after casting flaming sphere. Yes, flame blade has a longer duration, but that rarely comes up in 5e combat. If I were playing a druid, I would take flaming sphere over flame blade most times.
Bloodline of Zariel
The only tiefling subrace that comes with a STR bonus. Combined with the spells the Bloodline of Zariel is perhaps the best choice for a melee tiefling.
Ability Score Increase: STR and CHA is an interesting combination that is primarily intended, and ideal for, paladins. Other classes likely won’t want this combination.
Legacy of Avernus:
- 1st level
- Thaumaturgy: Much worse than minor illusion or prestidigitation but can still be effective in roleplay scenarios.
- 3rd level
- Searing Smite: Could provide better damage than a Divine Smite as it causes fire damage turn after turn until the target succeeds in a CON save, but it’s a gamble.
- 5th level
- Branding Smite: You need to be able to hit an invisible creature for this spell to be worth it. Really only effective for Oath of the Watchers as they gain access to see invisibility.
Variant – Devil’s Tongue
Tiefling Variant – Devil’s Tongue:
- 1st level
- Vicious Mockery: This is THE bard cantrip. It deals psychic damage and provides a strong debuff on a failed save.
- 3rd level
- Charm Person: One of the better options for dealing with NPCs outside of combat. Good for quick interactions, but the biggest caveat to this spell is the target knows it was charmed by you once the effect ends.
- 5th level
- Enthrall: This is not a good spell.
Variant – Feral
Ability Score Increase (Feral): Good if you want DEX and INT as an ASI instead of the usual CHA. Feral tieflings can be combined with the other subraces and variants.
- 1st level
- Vicious Mockery: This is THE bard cantrip. It deals psychic damage and provides a strong debuff on a failed save.
- 3rd level
- Charm Person: One of the better options for dealing with NPCs outside of combat. Good for quick interactions, but the biggest caveat to this spell is the target knows it was charmed by you once the effect ends.
- 5th level
- Enthrall: This is not a good spell.
Variant – Hellfire
Tiefling Variant – Hellfire: Replacing hellish rebuke with burning hands for the Asmodeus tiefling is mostly a matter of personal preference as they are about on par with each other.
Variant – Winged
Tiefling Variant – Winged: While you lose the free cantrip and spells, gaining fly speed is incredibly powerful. If playing a character that likes INT and DEX, such as a Bladesinger wizard, choosing this subrace is amongst the best options available. Even if your character doesn’t need both stats, having a fly speed is good enough to be worth it.
Sources Used in This Guide
- : 2024 Player's Handbook
- 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