D&D 5e Races Tier List
D&D 5e races are the ancestry part of a character sheet: ability bonuses, darkvision, resistances, proficiencies and a handful of features that shape how a build comes together.
The board
D&D 5e Races starter board and community tiers
The starter board is dated and editorial. An item moves to its community tier after at least three votes; until then its starter tier stays visible.
The maker
Build your own D&D 5e Races tier list
Start from this roster, add your own items, and share a board that is yours. Saving here does not change the public vote.
Unranked (0)
Every roster item is ranked. Add your own below.
Community vote
Rank every item on the roster
One vote per item per network. Voting again replaces your previous choice. A community tier appears after three votes.
| Item | Starter | Community | Votes | Your vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human | S | — | 0 | |
| Half-Elf | S | — | 0 | |
| Elf | A | — | 0 | |
| Dwarf | A | — | 0 | |
| Halfling | A | — | 0 | |
| Tiefling | A | — | 0 | |
| Aasimar | A | — | 0 | |
| Goliath | B | — | 0 | |
| Firbolg | B | — | 0 | |
| Tabaxi | B | — | 0 | |
| Satyr | B | — | 0 | |
| Changeling | B | — | 0 | |
| Warforged | B | — | 0 | |
| Tortle | B | — | 0 | |
| Genasi | B | — | 0 | |
| Dragonborn | B | — | 0 | |
| Gnome | B | — | 0 | |
| Half-Orc | B | — | 0 | |
| Bugbear | C | — | 0 | |
| Goblin | C | — | 0 | |
| Kobold | C | — | 0 | |
| Orc | C | — | 0 | |
| Kenku | C | — | 0 | |
| Triton | C | — | 0 |
Top of the board
What the board currently rewards
No community votes yet. These are the starter picks from the editorial pass.
Method
How this page is built
01 · Starter board
One dated editorial pass
This board weighs build flexibility and table usefulness, not lore popularity. A race with a floating ability bonus and a broadly useful feature ranks above one that only fits a single class.
02 · Community vote
Three votes to move
Votes are hashed by network, not stored with an email. An item only gets a community tier after three votes, so one visitor cannot flip the board.
03 · Trend check
Daily, and logged
A daily job checks Google Trends related searches for “tier list” and records the last successful run. It changes the queue and the score, never the roster silently.
What is D&D 5e Races?
D&D 5e races are the ancestry part of a character sheet: ability bonuses, darkvision, resistances, proficiencies and a handful of features that shape how a build comes together.
This board weighs build flexibility and table usefulness, not lore popularity. A race with a floating ability bonus and a broadly useful feature ranks above one that only fits a single class.
This page is not an official ranking from a publisher or developer. It is a dated editorial board plus a public vote, and both are labelled. If a pick looks wrong, vote it down or publish a competing board with the maker.
Reference
What the tiers mean
| Tier | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| S | The best of the best | Reserve it for picks you would recommend without hesitation. |
| A | Excellent | Strong choices that just miss the top spot. |
| B | Solid | Dependable picks with a small catch. |
| C | Average | Works, but nothing stands out. |
| D | Below average | Only in specific cases. |
| F | The bottom band | Hard to recommend when alternatives exist. |
FAQ
D&D 5e Races tier list questions
Are floating ability bonuses the only thing that matters?
No. They are the main reason Human and Half-Elf sit at the top, but darkvision, resistances and features such as Halfling Lucky or Satyr Magic Resistance can matter more at a specific table.
Why is a race with strong lore ranked low?
Because this board scores mechanical flexibility in a typical campaign. A race can be a great story choice and still be a narrow fit for most builds.
What is the best D&D 5e Races tier list?
There is no single authority. This page shows a dated starter board and a separate community vote, so you can see where the editorial ranking and the readers disagree. The maker lets you publish a third opinion in a few minutes.
How is this D&D 5e Races tier list ranked?
This board weighs build flexibility and table usefulness, not lore popularity. A race with a floating ability bonus and a broadly useful feature ranks above one that only fits a single class. The starter board is editorial, the community tier appears after at least three votes on an item, and neither is presented as official publisher data.
How often is the D&D 5e Races tier list updated?
The site checks Google Trends every day for related searches and records the date of the last successful run. Editorial reviews are dated on the page. Community votes update immediately, so a stale starter board is still visibly separate from live opinion.
Can I make my own D&D 5e Races tier list?
Yes. Open the tier list maker, pick this roster or add your own items, drag them into S through F, then share a link or download a PNG. No account is required to export an image.
What do S, A, B, C, D and F mean?
S is the top band: the picks you would recommend without hesitation. A is excellent, B is solid, C is average, D is below average, and F is the bottom band. The letters are a convention, not a scientific scale.
Is this D&D 5e Races tier list free?
Yes. Browsing, voting and using the maker are free. There is no paywall on the board and no account wall on the PNG export.
Updates
Page history
Trend observations are recorded automatically. An editorial note appears here when the board is reviewed.
Go deeper
Guides for this board
How to Make a Tier List That People Actually Finish
Most tier lists fail before the first drag: too many items, no criterion, and no reason to share. A practical process for making a board that is fast to build and easy to argue with.
Read →Tier List vs Ranking: Which Format Fits Your Argument?
A tier list groups; a ranking orders. The difference decides how much precision you are claiming, how easy the board is to read, and what kind of disagreement you invite.
Read →7 Tier List Examples That Start Better Arguments
Seven boards with different criteria, from game patches to fruit. Each one shows how a clear roster and a stated lens turn a generic grid into a conversation.
Read →Site-wide
Trending elsewhere
Make your own D&D 5e Races tier list
Start from this roster, rearrange it the way you actually see it, then share a link or a PNG.