10 Underplayed Races You Should Try In Dungeons And Dragons

Dungeons and Dragons is home to so many varied races of creatures. This number has gone up and down through different editions, but there has always been a wide and often strange selection to choose from.

Why, then, are the same few races chosen by a majority of the player base? Humans are, of course, always popular, this is understandable. Being a human in a fantastical world and going on to become a powerful adventurer can feel great. Others choose the Tolkien favourites of Dwarfs and Elves. If you want a gruff warrior then a Dwarf is perfect. Maybe you want to be a long-lived powerful magic user? Then, of course, you pick an elf. There is a reason these are the favourites after all.

It is a shame to limit yourself to these races though, when there is such a large number of different creatures out there, all with their own interesting lore or powerful abilities. Here are ten of the least played. Maybe your perfect race has been there all along?

Seen by many other races as pinnacles of calm and inner strength, these humanoid elephants are one the most mysterious races on this list. They often work as artisans with a particular interest in masonry and other stonework.

However, behind this peaceful demeanour beats the heart of brave and fearless being. With a height of around 6-7 feet and weighing between 300 and 400 pounds, when angered, a Loxodon is a force to be reckoned with. Even if you do bite the bullet and engage them in combat, their thick leathery hide is resistant to most conventional weapons.

Maybe lore isn’t your thing and you’re just trying to build a strong character? Well, the Loxodon has some pretty good stats too. They are given a +2 in constitution, which is good for any class, and a +1 to wisdom which helps casters such as Clerics, Druids, and Rangers. A nice bonus is the extra appendage that they have. I am of course talking about their trunk. It can’t do anything too complex and unfortunately, you cannot wield a weapon with it, but I can think of a lot of scenarios where and extra arm would come in handy.