In the Dungeons And Dragons Player’s Handbook there are nine base races to choose from. Each race comes with its own racial traits and abilities as well as a few sub-races that offer even more variety. There’s a lot more new races in new books that helps you personalize your play with exclusive perks. However, I’m just gonna talk about the basics of 9 core races so you can easily pick a right one for yourself as a brand new player.

What Is D&D Race?

Race is a rule in DnD referring to the fantasy species or ancestry of a character. Unlike the modern real-world use of the word, “race” in DnD does not refer to a character’s ethnic background. For example, Human in DnD is a single race, and players are generally free to choose their character’s skin tone, hair color and other details of physical appearance as they like. Popular races include Human, Elf, Dwarf and Halfling.

What Is The Best Race For A New Player?

Picking a race can be one of the biggest decisions for D&D players. Some newcomers might be looking for a challenge while others would prefer an easier route until they fully understand the game mechanics. So I would say Human is the easiest race to start with for new players. It’s easy to role-play as Human, because the player is also one. If you look for a more interesting race to play with, I’m here to help you go through the 9 basic races for you to choose your perfect one.

D&D Races:

1- Human:

So far Human is the most versatile, adaptable and ambitious of the common races, granting +1 to all Ability Scores. As for classes, Human is exceptional malleable. Choosing two Ability Scores to focus on is particularly helpful for classes that utilize spell-casting alongside martial attacks, such as battle Wizard, Cleric, or Paladin. There is also a wide variety of ethnicities to choose from when when you play as Human race, so you can customize virtually every aspect of your character. Last but not least, Human is a pretty good choice if you’re still unsure of what you’d like your character to be, as choosing them won’t have any negative impact on what you choose class-wise.

Ability Scores	+1 in All Ability Scores
Subraces	—
Traits	—
Suggested Classes	Wizard, Cleric, Paladin, anything

2- Elf:

Elf is a graceful, tall, pointy-eared, otherworldly humanoid. This race could be the most popular one among D&D races, in part thanks to racial bonuses like a higher Dexterity and Dark Vision. Culturally, Elves are known to be extremely calm, with the perspective of centuries-long studies to fall back on. As an Elf, you are deceptively good at sword fighting and archery. Also you don’t sleep like other races; you usually enter a meditative trance for four hours a day to get the effects of a long rest. This means you have resistance to any magic that would charm you and you’re immune to magical Sleep effects. Playing as an Elf, you’re very long-lived, you can enjoy centuries of exploration and discovery, take up adventuring out of wanderlust. Elves are considered children until you declare yourselves adults, some time after the hundredth birthday, and before that you are called by child names.

Ability Scores	+2 Dexterity
Subraces	High Elf, Wood Elf, Dark Elf
Traits	Dark Vision, Keen Senses, Fey Ancestry
Suggested Classes	Wizard, Rogue, Ranger, Warlock

3- Half-elf:

This race is for players who are interested in dual or multi-class characters. Born of Elf and Human parents, Half-elves have the best qualities from both of their ancestral lines. They are attractive, fast outgrowing, slow-to-age, less pointy-eared; have normal heights and weights. To Humans, Half-elves look like Elves, and to Elves, they look Human. They mature at the same rate Humans do and become adults around the age of 20. They live much longer than Humans, however, often exceeding 180 years. Being a Half-elf, you get +2 Charisma and can add +1 to 2 other stats of your choice. You get the Elven Dark Vision and resistance to effects of Charm and Sleep magics. You also get proficiency in any two skills of your choice representing your Human flexibility. 

Ability Scores	+2 Charisma, +1 to any Ability Score
Subraces	—
Traits	Dark Vision, Skill Versatility, Fey Ancestry
Suggested Classes	Sorcerer, Monk, Warlock

4- Gnome:

Gnome is the happiest race in D&D. Gnomes are generally short, intelligent and fast talking. They are excitable, bombastic and loud, known for trying anything and everything they can to sate their inquisitiveness. Living in small burrows in forests and hillsides, they’re also known as a curious race that enjoys the thrill of adventure, and the prospect of a reward, unlike cave-loving Dwarves and pastoral Halflings. Playing as a Gnome, you can see in the dark just like an Elf which give you +2 Intelligence and advantage on Wisdom, and Charisma throws against magic. These aren’t hugely beneficial but can be combined with the Gnome sub-races for more effective builds. Although Gnomes’ effective class options are few compared to other races, when Gnomes excel, they really excel.

Ability Scores	+2 Intelligence
Subraces	Forest Gnome, Rock Gnome
Traits	Dark Vision, Gnome Cunning
Suggested Classes	Wizard, Rogue

5- Dwarf:

Stout cave dwellers, with an obsession for gold and all things shiny, they live long and deeply loyal to their clans. Dwarves are shorter than human but stout and hardy, also known for skilled warriors, miners, workers of stone and metal. They can live more than 400 years, maturing after about 50. Dwarves are big believers in keeping a strict social order and are often of a Lawful alignment but not necessarily a good one. The great thing about Dwarves is that they’re super hearty. Choosing to be a Dwarf, you get a bonus to Constitution and are resistant to poisons; you have Dark Vision as well. While you’re a little slower than other races, you can wear the heaviest armor without it slowing you down any further.

Ability Scores	+2 Constitution
Subraces	Hill Dwarf, Mountain Dwarf
Traits	Resilience, Dark Vision, Combat Training, Stone Cutting
Suggested Classes	Barbarian, Cleric, Druid, Fighter

6- Halfling:

If you watch Lords Of The Rings, Hobbits are Halflings, though without thick foot hair and round front doors. They are short, not particularly fast but nimble, with a natural ability to move through the space of any creature one size larger than they are. They survive in a world full of bigger creatures by avoiding notice and offense or barring that. So Halfling is a peaceful, cheerful and curious type of race. Many of them live over a hundred years and reach maturity at age 20. As a Halfling, you start with a definite advantage with racial bonuses, which include an increase in your Dexterity and an ability known as Luck. Halflings have 2 sub-races: Lightfoot and Stout. Lightfoot are stealthy by nature which means you can hide easily behind larger creatures (for mechanical bonuses) and Stouts are naturally resilient which means you gain Advantage on saves against poison and Resistance to poison damage.

Ability Scores	+2 Dexterity
Subraces	Lightfoot, Stout
Traits	Brave, Nimbleness, Lucky
Suggested Classes	Bard, Rogue, Ranger

7- Half-orc:

Brand new players who don’t want to roll a squishy character and are more concerned about basic survival as opposed to role play would prefer a half-orc. With Orc and Human blood, Half-Orc is the classic fantasy creature, and probably the most racially problematic player race in D&D. They are big, strong, and dangerous to have as enemies. Most of them are often raised among the Orcs, a tribal and culturally violent race, but it doesn’t have to be your story if you don’t want it to be. Your Half-Orc can just easily be the result of a perfectly happy union if that’s what you like. The most interesting thing is this race has something called Relentless Endurance, which lets them save themselves from an otherwise fatal blow once per long rest. By picking this race to play with, you get +2 to your Strength score, a +1 to your Constitution score, as well as Dark Vision.

Ability Scores	+2 Strength, +1 Constitution
Subraces	—
Traits	Dark Vision, Relentless Endurance Savage Attacks, Menacing
Suggested Classes	Fighter, Barbarian

8- Tiefling:

This is possibly the most popular mixed race to think of as Humans crossed with Devils. Tieflings’s portraits generally are horns protrude from their forehead, a tail from their back, and sharp teeth fill their mouths. Because of these obvious signs of the Abyss, they are frequently mistrusted, feared and disliked by wider society. Remember, it does not mean your character has to be evil. This race tends to be smart and learn how to deal with people that gives them a +1 to Intelligence and a +2 to Charisma. As a Tiefling, your Dark Vision and resistance to fire damage keep you functioning in difficult combat encounters, while Infernal Legacy provides an easy mean of dealing 2d10 fire damage when you’re in a pinch.

Ability Scores	+2 Charisma, +1 Intelligence
Subraces	—
Traits	Infernal Legacy, Hellish Resistance, Dark Vision
Suggested Classes	Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard

9- Dragonborn:

This race looks pretty much like dragons that stand erect in humanoid form without wings or a tail. if you really love Dragons, and want some of that flavor of playing a Dragon, the Dragonborn race is here to bring you tantalizingly closer to that basic concept. They’re rare, massive and powerful; their coloration determines their powers. Similar to the Tiefling, this race characters have an obvious and otherworldly ancestry that makes them difficult to overlook. All Dragonborn have a breath weapon similar to a Dragons and a resistance to the same kind of damage. Unfortunately, this cool race is one of the shortest-lived creature, with lives ranging around 80 years. They mature much quicker than other races, reaching adulthood at 15. Playing as a Dragonborn, you get  +2 to Strength and a +1 to Charisma. Be ready for some intense gameplay with this race regardless of Class or moral Alignment.

Ability Scores	+2 Strength, +1 Charisma
Subraces	Draconic Ancestry
Traits	Damage Resistance, Breath Weapon
Suggested Classes	Warlock, Barbarian, Paladin

Those are 9 base D&D races for you to choose from. Do you know what you will get already? If you are not very keen on any of those, no worries, check out this bigger list of D&D races, and do not forget to check out the following video for more details. Cheers.