Vedalken Guide 5e

Published on June 2, 2021, Last modified on May 5th, 2022

Dan Scott - Wizards of the Coast - Vedalken Entrancer

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What is this guide?

This guide is meant to give you an idea of whether or not the vedalken 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 vedalken. 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 Vedalken in 5e?

Source: Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica

Vedalken are tall, blue-skinned humanoids found on the cityscape plane of Ravnica. Although they tend to be very private individuals, vedalken love to talk, especially when it means they can learn something new. Most vedalken are extremely passionate in their work, using every moment as an opportunity to move towards perfection. Due to their work ethic, curiosity, and intelligence, you can most often find vedalken in the Azorius Senate, the Simic Combine, or the Izzet League.

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

Vedalken 5e Traits

Ability Score Increase: 2 INT and 1 WIS is an awkward combination. There is no class that cares about both of these ability scores, outside of INT-based classes improving their WIS saving throws.

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

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

Vedalken Dispassion: INT and CHA saving throws are exceedingly rare, but WIS saving throws do occur with relative frequency. Most often these saving throws will occur when facing off against spellcasters. Advantage on saving throws is always useful.

Tireless Precision: There’s a lot packed into this racial feature. A free skill proficiency and tool proficiency is nice, but you can also add an additional d4 to the roll.

Partially Amphibious: Useful in a pinch, but only being able to breathe underwater for an hour every long rest is quite limiting. If you intend on doing extensive underwater adventuring with your party you will still probably need the water breathing spell.

Which 5e Classes Work With Vedalken?

Vedalken are clearly intended for caster classes as they lack STR, DEX, and CON. The INT casters are lukewarm on having WIS as a secondary stat, but WIS casters will likely never care about the INT boost. The vedalken racial traits do offer some good utility and won’t be wasted on any build. Vedalken Dispassion seems to be a sort of anti-spellcaster trait, so building a spellcaster that specializes in taking down other spellcasters looks like a pretty good direction for the vedalken.

Artificer: Artificers are happy as long as they see a +2 INT bonus. Vedalken Dispassion helps when fighting other spellcasters, and Tireless Protection offers you the chance to get some skill or tool proficiencies you may not normally have access to.

Barbarian: Barbarians need STR to be effective.

Bard: None of the vedalken’s ability score increases interest bards.

Cleric: WIS helps with the cleric’s spellcasting, Vedalken Dispassion helps with avoiding nasty effects, and the rest of the racial features compliment any build nicely.

Druid: WIS helps with the druid's spellcasting, Vedalken Dispassion helps with avoiding nasty effects, and the rest of the racial features compliment any build nicely.

Fighter: Vedalken don’t come with STR, DEX, or CON, rendering them a terrible choice for a fighter.

Monk: WIS is the saving grace, but monks really want to see DEX. Monks do come with some good defensive options so Vedalken Dispassion makes them even more durable. Once you get the monk’s Stillness of Mind you have proficiency and advantage on a bunch of saving throws.

Paladin: Paladins are very multi-ability dependent, so not seeing STR, DEX, CON, or CHA is bad news.

Ranger: Rangers do most of their damage with weapons, so the WIS doesn’t help too much in that regard. STR or DEX is very important for this class.

Rogue: Rogues are desperate for DEX which is sorely lacking here. However, Tireless Precision and Partially Amphibious would be great for all the sneaky things rogues get up to if you can stomach losing out on ability scores.

Sorcerer: Sorcerers need CHA to be effective.

Warlock: Warlocks need CHA to be effective.

Wizard: +2 INT is just about all you need for your average wizard build. Vedalken Dispassion helps when fighting other spellcasters, and Tireless Protection offers you the chance to get some skill or tool proficiencies you may not normally have access to.

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.