Species FAQ
What abilities do D&D species give you?
Species can grant passive traits, proficiencies, senses, movement options, resistances, languages, innate magic, limited-use actions, and source-specific ability-score increases. The exact package varies by species and publication. For example, the 2014 Human increases every ability score by 1 and gains an extra language; the 2014 Elf gains Dexterity, Darkvision, Keen Senses, Fey Ancestry, Trance and subrace traits; Astral Elf instead uses its Spelljammer trait package including Astral Fire, Starlight Step and Astral Trance.
Ability scores depend on the publication
The 2014 Basic Rules give fixed racial ability-score increases.
For example, the 2014 Human increases all six ability scores by 1, while the 2014 Elf increases Dexterity by 2 before applying its subrace's additional increase.
Later Fifth Edition species often use a flexible ability-score approach.
Do not apply one era's method automatically to another era's species.
Movement and size
Species commonly specifies size and walking speed.
Some options also provide climbing, swimming, flying, teleportation or another movement feature.
Senses
Darkvision and special perception traits can alter how a character handles darkness and exploration.
Keen Senses on Elf and Astral Elf grants Perception proficiency in their relevant versions.
Defensive traits
A species can provide resistance, advantage on particular saving throws, immunity to a narrow effect, or another defensive rule.
Fey Ancestry is a recurring elven example, but its precise wording differs across publications and should be read from the correct source.
Skills, weapons, tools and flexible proficiency
Species traits can grant permanent or temporary proficiency.
The Astral Elf's Astral Trance, for example, allows the character to change a skill proficiency and a weapon or tool proficiency after the qualifying trance according to the published feature.
Innate magic and active abilities
Some species grants cantrips, spells or spell-like actions.
Astral Fire provides one of a small set of cantrips, while Starlight Step is a bonus-action teleport rather than a spell.
Languages
Language rules vary by source and character-creation system.
The 2014 Human explicitly knows Common and one additional language. A campaign may also alter language availability through a clearly labelled campaign rule.