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- Creating NPCs from Scratch; NPC Features
created: 2026-03-09T12:15:34.408-04:00
modified: 2026-03-09T12:15:34.408-04:00
published: 2026-03-09T12:15:34.408-04:00
tags: - ttrpg-cli/compendium/src/5e/dmg
cssclasses: - json5e-note
obsidianUIMode: preview
Creating NPCs from Scratch; NPC Features
Source: Dungeon Master’s Guide p. 282
NPC Features
| Race | Ability Modifiers | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Aarakocra | +2 Dex, +2 Wis | Dive Attack: talon attack action, speed 20 ft., fly 50 ft., speaks Auran |
| Bullywug | -2 Int, -2 Cha | Amphibious, Speak with Frogs and Toads, Swamp Camouflage, Standing Leap: speed 20 ft., swim 40 ft.: speaks Bullywug |
| Dragonborn* | +2 Str, +1 Cha | Breath Weapon (use challenge rating instead of level to determine damage), Damage Resistance, Draconic Ancestry, speaks Common and Draconic |
| Drow* | +2 Dex, +1 Cha | Fey Ancestry, Innate Spellcasting feature of the drow, Sunlight Sensitivity, darkvision 120 ft., speaks Elvish and Undercommon |
| Dwarf* | +2 Str or Wis, +2 Con | Dwarven Resilience, Stonecunning, speed 25 ft., darkvision 60 ft., speaks Common and Dwarvish |
| Elf* | +2 Dex, +1 Int or Wis | Fey Ancestry, Trance, darkvision 60 ft., proficiency in the Perception skill, speaks Common and Elvish |
| Gnoll | +2 Str, -2 Int | Rampage, darkvision 60 ft. |
| Gnome* | +2 Int, +2 Dex or Con | Gnome Cunning, Small size: speed 25 ft., darkvision 60 ft., speaks Common and Gnomish |
| Gnome, deep | +1 Str, +2 Dex | Gnome Cunning, Innate Spellcasting, Stone Camouflage, Small size, speed 20 ft., darkvision 120 ft., speaks Gnomish, Terran, and Undercommon |
| Goblin | -2 Str, +2 Dex | Nimble Escape, Small size, darkvision 60 ft., speaks Common and Goblin |
| Grimlock | +2 Str, -2 Cha | Blind Senses, Keen Hearing and Smell, Stone Camouflage, can’t be blinded, blindsight 30 ft., or 10 ft. while deafened (blind beyond this radius), speaks Undercommon |
| Half-elf* | +1 Dex, +1 Int, +2 Cha | Fey Ancestry, darkvision 60 ft., proficiency in two skills, speaks Common and Elvish |
| Half-orc* | +2 Str, +1 Con | Relentless Endurance, darkvision 60 ft., proficiency in the Intimidation skill, speaks Common and Orc |
| Halfling* | +2 Dex, +1 Con or Cha | Brave, Halfling Nimbleness, Lucky, Small size, speed 25 ft., speaks Common and Halfling |
| Hobgoblin | None | Martial Advantage, darkvision 60 ft., speaks Common and Goblin |
| Kenku | +2 Dex | Ambusher, Mimicry, understands Auran and Common but speaks only through the use of its Mimicry trait |
| Kobold | -4 Str, +2 Dex | Pack Tactics, Sunlight Sensitivity, Small size, darkvision 60 ft., speaks Common and Draconic |
| Kuo-toa | None | Amphibious, Otherworldly Perception, Slippery, Sunlight Sensitivity, speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft., darkvision 120 ft., speaks Undercommon |
| Lizardfolk | +2 Str, -2 Int | Hold Breath (15 min.), +3 natural armor bonus to AC, speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft., speaks Draconic |
| Merfolk | None | Amphibious, speed 10 ft., swim 40 ft., speaks Aquan and Common |
| Orc | +2 Str, -2 Int | Aggressive, darkvision 60 ft., speaks Common and Orc |
| Skeleton | +2 Dex, -4 Int, -4 Cha | Vulnerable to bludgeoning damage, immune to poison damage and exhaustion, can’t be poisoned, darkvision 60 ft., can’t speak but understands the languages it knew in life |
| Tiefling* | +1 Int, +2 Cha | Infernal Legacy (use challenge rating instead of level to determine spells), resistance to fire damage, darkvision 60 ft., speaks Common and Infernal |
| Troglodyte | +2 Str, +2 Con, -4 Int, -4 Cha | Chameleon Skin, Stench, Sunlight Sensitivity, +1 natural armor bonus to AC, darkvision 60 ft., speaks Troglodyte |
| Zombie | +1 Str, +2 Con, -6 Int, -4 Wis, -4 Cha | Undead Fortitude, immune to poison damage, can’t be poisoned, darkvision 60 ft., can’t speak but understands the languages it knew in life |
| ^npc-features |
- See the Player’s Handbook for descriptions of this race’s features, none of which alter the NPC’s challenge rating.