Warforged 5e – D&D 5th Edition Race

These race details for Warforged 5e include everything you need to know for your game. I also have a list of other DnD reference info available for you on related topics.


Warforged make for an interesting race for pretty much any RPG campaign. They have a mechanical/ magical body, but a living being's soul contained within.

 

Race details for Warforged 5e come from Eberron: Rising from the Last War (which, by the way, could make for an excellent DnD Gift!).


"Pierce was built by design, while you were built by accident,” Lakashai said.

“The soul is what matters, what the shape of the vessel.”

“What makes you think he has a soul?” Gerrion said.

“What makes you think you do?”

-Keith Baker, The Shattered Land

Behold Scyaroth, Warforged Barbarian.

Warforged 5e Traits

Your warforged character has the following traits. A few of the traits give you a choice; consider how your choice reflects the purpose for which your character was built.


Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score in­ creases by 2, and one other ability score of your choice increases by 1.


These stat increases may not seem incredibly significant, but they make for a terrific combination. Having the additional Constitution makes your warforged character more durable by providing additional hit points and increasing your Constitution Saving Throw.


Having an increased Constitution Saving Throw makes playing spell casting classes easier for warforged, at least so far as keeping us spell concentration goes, should you take damage.


Finally, warforged 5e provide an additional +1 to any other ability score of your choice. Obviously, you should put that point into whatever ability is most needed for your desired class. Though a +1 may not seem like a huge value, it does increase the number of classes you can realistically play by quite a bit.


Constructed Resilience

You were created to have remarkable fortitude, represented by the follow­ing benefits:

  • You have advantage on saving throws against being poisoned, and you have resistance to poison damage.
  • You don't need to eat, drink, or breathe.
  • You are immune to disease.
  • You don't need to sleep, and magic can't put you to sleep.


In my experience, most D&D groups don’t really track things like food, water, or even disease (unless it’s a sort of magical disease or curse, which is often central to the storyline). So, in my mind, the main benefits from “Constructed Resilience” are the other effects.


Having resistance and advantage against poisons and poison damage can be big in certain scenarios. Also, not being able to be put to sleep isn’t something you’ll benefit from very often, but it is extremely nice when you do get the benefit.


Overall, depending on your DM, I have to say that constructed resilience (along with the other perks to being a Warforged, which basically make it harder for you to die) can absolutely contribute to avoiding a DnD TPK.


Sentry's Rest

When you take a long rest, you must spend at least six hours in an inactive, motionless state, rather than sleeping. In this state, you appear inert, but it doesn't render you unconscious, and you can see and hear as normal.


Since warforged 5e don’t lose consciousness while taking long rests, you basically get the Alarm 5e spell going at all times, for free.


It should be just about impossible for anyone to ever sneak up on an adventuring party at night, with a warforged in the group. Short of someone casting a spell like invisibility or at least Silence 5e, the warforged should be able to notice anyone approaching.


Integrated Protection

Your body has built-in defen­sive layers, which can be enhanced with armor:

  • You gain a +l bonus to Armor Class.
  • You can don only armor with which you have profi­ciency. To don armor, you must incorporate it into your body over the course of 1 hour, during which you remain in contact with the armor. To doff armor, you must spend 1 hour removing it. You can rest while donning or doffing armor in this way.
  • While you live, your armor can't be removed from your body against your will.


Having a flat +1 bonus to AC is really valuable, no matter what character class you’re playing as a warforged. If you want to fight on the frontlines, that +1 AC keeps you alive. Meanwhile, if you want to cast spells from the back lines, that +1 AC further aids you with Constitution saves whenever you’re casting concentration spells.


Otherwise, I’d say that the 1-hour requirement to don or doff armor isn’t really a big deal – in probably 99% of cases. Additionally, since shields do not count as “armor” in D&D 5e, it doesn’t really matter that your armor can’t be removed against your will.



Best Classes for Warforged 5e

Realistically, because warforged get a +2 to Constitution, another +1 to any ability score of their choice, a flat +1 to AC, and proficiency in an additional skill of their choice, they can play as any class. Warforged 5e are a durable and flexible race.


That being said, there are some classes where warforged 5e truly excel. Here's the facts for Warforged class combinations, which can probably help you with some great DnD character ideas as well!


Warforged Artificer

The primary stat for Artificers is Intelligence, so make sure that you spend your extra +1 ability point there. Otherwise, Artificer offers so many different ways to play that you can certainly make a warforged artificer work.


Even between the artificer specialists of alchemist, artillerist, and battle smith, I wouldn’t say that any of the three stand out terribly, as a warforged.


If you choose Battle Smith though, you will get a “Steel Defender,” which can help to soak up some damage (not that you need it, already having +2 Constitution and +1 AC). Plus every 6th-level artificer also gets a “Homunculus,” so especially counting allied creatures, warforged artificers can be quite a lot to deal with.


Thematically, a warforged 5e artificer fits in perfectly. Since warforged need to visit an artificer to change their appearance anyways, you’ve got everything you need within your own tool kit. Artificer’s are natural tinkerers, and can imbue magic into items, which is basically exactly what you are as a warforged (one large, magical item).

 

Warforged 5e Barbarian

A warforged barbarian is basically a menace to everyone who stands against them. With your extra hit points from your +2 Constitution, bonus +1 that you can put towards Strength, and natural +1 AC, the warforged barbarian is super tough and deadly.


As a Path of the Totem Warrior Barbarian, your warforged as a bear totem eventually gains the ability to give disadvantage on attack rolls to all enemies within 5-feet of you, who attack anyone but you.


Furthermore, while raging as a bear totem Barbarian, you also gain resistance to all damage types except for psychic.

Though all subclasses can work for warforged 5e, this combination is particularly brutal, as you’re already so hard to kill already. Then, you add damage resistance on top of that, and make it so that your allies are also harder to kill. Totally brutal.


Warforged Bard

A warforged bard may not maximize their advantages provided unless you put them right in the middle of the action, in combat. Since the bard’s most important ability is Charisma, you should use your +1 ability point for that purpose.


Otherwise, the bard’s “Bardic Inspiration” is basically their most valuable contribution to the party. If you have a high Charisma score as a bard, then you can use “Bardic Inspiration” more often, as a Bonus Action.


So long as you can stay in the middle of the fight, enemies should start to notice the value you bring with “Bardic Inspiration,” and then you can put your +2 Constitution and +1 AC to work.


Finally, the “College of Valor” Bard has the “Battle Magic” trait, which lets you make one weapon attack as a bonus action whenever you cast a bard spell. As a warforged who’s in the middle of combat, having that attack really makes the most out of your natural race traits.

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Warforged Cleric

Clerics can take many roles in D&D, including some that fit Warforged play style quite nicely. In particular, you may take a look at the “War Domain” cleric, which provides very useful Channel Divinity effects, such as “Guided Strike.”


Guided Strike: Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to strike with supernatural accuracy. When you make an attack roll, you can use your Channel Divinity to gain a +10 bonus to the roll. You make this choice after you see the roll, but before the DM says whether the attack hits or misses.


War Domain clerics provide options for the class to fight in close combat, which favor Warforged. Additionally, the extra Constitution from Warforged and +1 bonus to AC help create a somewhat tanky cleric character.


It’s also worth mentioning that in addition to providing additional HP at level-up, the bonus Constitution that Warforged receive also makes it easier for them to maintain concentration spells when taking damage. Since clerics have so, so many buff or debuff effects that they can use as concentration spells, the extra Constitution is a very nice bonus to have.


Just imagine casting cure wounds or bless 5e as a warforged who's so durable already that you basically can't die...


Warforged 5e Druid

There aren’t incredibly strong synergies between the Warforged 5e race and the druid class. Of course, every class benefits from having additional HP and AC, which Warforged naturally provides. However, the best case scenario for a Warforged 5e druid is to be in the middle of combat as probably a “Circle of the Moon” druid.


Circle of the Moon druids feature more physically powerful wild shape forms, providing the character with more healing options through “Combat Wild Shape,” higher CR wild shapes through “Circle Forms,” and even “Primal Strike” to overcome damage resistance.


Warforged Fighter

When it comes to D&D 5th edition, the Warforged Fighter has become a popular choice among players. The sentient constructs, forged for war, possess unique abilities that make them formidable on the battlefield, particularly in the role of fighters.

This is really a class where Warforged 5e truly excel.


A key strength of the Warforged Fighter is their versatility. With their proficiency in all martial weapons and their ability to choose from a wide range of fighting styles, Warforged Fighters can adapt to various combat situations.


Whether wielding a greatsword with unmatched strength or dual-wielding weapons with finesse, these mechanical warriors can excel in any combat role.


Furthermore, Warforged Fighters possess a unique ability called Integrated Protection. This feature allows them to embed armor into their bodies, granting additional protection without the need for external equipment. This not only enhances their durability but also frees them from the burden of carrying heavy armor, enabling them to move swiftly and strike with precision.


Combine the high Constitution and innate AC of a Warforged with the fighter’s ability to deal tremendous amounts of physical damage, and you can see why this combination is so powerful.


Warforged Fighter Playstyles

The Battle Master subclass is a popular choice for those seeking tactical prowess. With access to a variety of combat maneuvers, such as disarming foes or tripping them, Battle Masters excel at controlling the battlefield and providing strategic advantages to their allies.


Additionally, the Champion subclass is a straightforward yet reliable choice. With improved critical hit chances and increased durability, Champions become unstoppable forces on the battlefield. They are the epitome of a classic fighter, relying on sheer strength and resilience to overcome their foes.


Personally, I love the improved critical hit chance that a Champion provides. It’s so fun for to me, rolling lower numbers to deal huge damage. This subclass isn’t fancy, but it gets the job done.


Lastly, for those who prefer a more magical approach – not that you typically would, playing a Warforged –  the Eldritch Knight subclass is an excellent option. This subclass combines martial prowess with arcane spellcasting, allowing Warforged Fighters to cast spells and enhance their combat abilities.


With access to spells like Shield and Absorb Elements, Eldritch Knights can bolster their defenses and adapt to different damage types, weakness, resistances, and immunities. This could be a fun subclass to roleplay, though I have to say that it would likely not be as “strong” in combat as the other subclass options.  

Warforged 5e Classes

Haru here is actually a human nether knight, but his armor and weapons make him look like a perfect Warforged - just for some inspiration for you!

Warforged Monk

Warforged 5e monks have become a popular choice among players in Dungeons and Dragons. These unique characters combine the mechanical prowess of the warforged race with the disciplined combat techniques of a monk.


Warforged, as a race, possess several inherent advantages that make them formidable monks. Their integrated armor grants them additional AC, providing excellent protection in combat. Additionally, their composite plating ability allows them to add their proficiency bonus to Strength (Athletics) checks, making them highly skilled in grappling and other physical maneuvers.

Moreover, Warforged monks benefit from their racial traits, such as the ability to resist poison and disease. This resilience can be crucial in battles where such afflictions are prevalent.


So, what makes a Warforged monk good? In short, it’s their combination of high AC, proficiency in various Skill checks, and resistance to poison and disease make them durable and versatile combatants.


Additionally, their racial traits synergize well with the monk's core features, such as Unarmored Defense and Martial Arts. This combination allows Warforged monks to excel in close-quarters combat, delivering powerful strikes while remaining agile and protected.


Warforged Monk Playstyles

Now, let's discuss the choice of subclass for a Warforged 5e monk. The subclass you choose will greatly influence your playstyle and abilities. Here are three popular options:


  1. Way of the Open Hand: this subclass focuses on unarmed combat and control. It offers abilities such as Open Hand Technique, which allows you to knock opponents prone or push them away with your strikes. The Quivering Palm feature is particularly potent, as it can deliver a lethal strike to your foes.
  2. Way of the Four Elements: this subclass taps into the elemental forces, granting you access to a variety of elemental disciplines. You can unleash powerful fireballs, summon walls of ice, or even control the flow of water. This subclass adds an extra layer of versatility to your Warforged monk.
  3. Way of the Shadow: this subclass emphasizes stealth and deception. It grants you abilities like Shadow Step, allowing you to teleport through shadows, and Cloak of Shadows, which grants you temporary invisibility. If you prefer a more subtle and mysterious approach, this subclass is an excellent choice.


Warforged 5e Paladin

In the vast world of Dungeons & Dragons, the Warforged 5e Paladin is a unique and formidable character choice. Also, for some reason that I have a little difficulty explaining, it’s actually a pretty common choice among players.


Note that Warforged in general aren’t played a whole lot, so I don’t mean to dissuade you from playing a Warforged 5e paladin if that’s what you really want. I just mean to point out that a number of players seem to enjoy playing a mechanical paladin.

First and foremost, as with every class that Warforged touch, Warforged Paladins possess exceptional durability and resilience. Their sturdy construction grants them a natural armor, making them a formidable force on the battlefield.


Additionally, their integrated protection ability allows them to enhance their armor class further, making them incredibly difficult to hit. This innate toughness makes them excellent front-line combatants, capable of absorbing blows and protecting their allies, which one could argue, is one of the paladin’s primary roles.


Furthermore, the Warforged's unique composition grants them several other advantages. They don't require food, water, or sleep, allowing them to remain vigilant and ready for battle at all times – another often-forgot value that Warforged bring to the table.


The Warforged’s ability to withstand extreme environments makes them ideal for adventuring in harsh terrains, as they hunt down and obliterate evil. Moreover, they have advantage on saving throws against being poisoned and resistance to poison damage, making them highly resilient against certain types of attacks, which they may often face in undead enemies, or when battling dark wizards.


Warforged Paladin Playstyles

When it comes to choosing a subclass for your Warforged Paladin, there are several excellent options to consider.


The Oath of Devotion is a classic choice, emphasizing the Paladin's commitment to justice, truth, and protecting the innocent. This subclass grants powerful abilities such as Sacred Weapon, which enhances the Paladin's attacks, and Aura of Devotion, which provides immunity to charm effects for themselves and nearby allies.


Alternatively, the Oath of Vengeance offers a more aggressive playstyle. This subclass focuses on hunting down and eliminating enemies of the Paladin's cause. Abilities such as Vow of Enmity, which grants advantage on attacks against a specific target, and Relentless Avenger, which allows the Paladin to pursue foes who try to escape, make the Oath of Vengeance an excellent choice for those seeking a relentless and determined warrior.


Lastly, the Oath of the Ancients is an intriguing option for Warforged Paladins who wish to embrace their connection to nature. This subclass emphasizes protecting the natural world and radiates an aura of resilience and hope.


With abilities like Nature's Wrath, which ensnares enemies in difficult terrain, and Elder Champion, which grants resistance to damage and increased spellcasting, the Oath of the Ancients offers a unique and versatile playstyle.

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Warforged Ranger

Warforged 5e Rangers have become a popular choice among players in Dungeons and Dragons.


These unique characters bring a blend of mechanical precision and natural prowess to the battlefield. But are they really good? And what sets them apart from other ranger options?


Their inherent traits, such as their high Constitution and proficiency with medium armor, make them durable and capable of withstanding heavy damage. Additionally, their unique ability to integrate magical items into their bodies allows them to enhance their combat abilities even further.


This means that a Warforged Ranger can be a force to be reckoned with, both in close-quarters combat and from a distance. One of the key factors that make Warforged Rangers stand out is their versatility.


Rangers are known for their affinity with nature and their ability to adapt to various environments. With their mechanical nature, Warforged Rangers can easily blend into any setting, whether it be a dense forest or an urban cityscape. This adaptability makes them excellent scouts and trackers, as they can navigate and survive in any terrain.


Furthermore, Warforged 5e Rangers have access to unique features that set them apart from other races. Their Integrated Protection ability allows them to add their proficiency bonus to their armor class, making them even more resilient in combat. Additionally, their Living Construct trait grants them immunity to disease and resistance to poison, further enhancing their survivability.


Warforged Ranger Playstyles

When choosing a Warforged 5e Ranger, it is important to consider your playstyle and the role you want to fulfill within your adventuring party.


If you enjoy being on the front lines, dealing damage up close, the Hunter archetype might be a good fit for you. This archetype focuses on dealing maximum damage to enemies, making use of abilities such as Colossus Slayer and Multiattack Defense.


On the other hand, if you prefer a more supportive role, the Beast Master archetype might be a better choice. This archetype allows you to form a bond with a companion, such as a wolf or a bear, and fight alongside them. This can provide additional utility and versatility to your party, as your animal companion can assist in combat or help with tracking and scouting.


Warforged 5e Rogue

One intriguing class choice for Warforged 5e is the rogue. But firstly, let's address the question of whether Warforged rogues are good.


The answer is a resounding yes. Warforged, with their unique mechanical composition and built-in enhancements, bring a range of advantages to the rogue class. Their natural armor plating grants them a higher base AC, making them more durable in combat compared to other rogues. This increased survivability can be a game-changer, especially when you find yourself in the thick of battle.


Additionally, Warforged have the Integrated Protection feature, allowing them to integrate armor or weapons directly into their bodies. This feature not only saves on carrying capacity but also grants the Warforged rogue the ability to surprise opponents by concealing weapons or armor until the perfect moment. This can be a significant advantage in both combat and stealth-based scenarios.


What truly sets a Warforged rogue apart, however, is their unique race traits. Warforged are immune to disease, do not require food, water, or sleep, and have advantage on saving throws against being poisoned. These traits can be incredibly useful for a rogue, allowing them to explore dangerous environments, go on extended missions, and remain alert at all times.


Furthermore, their Warforged Resilience feature grants them proficiency in Constitution saving throws, making them more resilient against harmful effects.


Warforged Rogue Playstyles

Now that we've established the strengths of a Warforged rogue, let's discuss what you should consider when choosing this subclass.


If you enjoy being in the thick of combat, a Warforged rogue's increased durability and armor proficiency will suit you well as an Assassination rogue.


On the other hand, if you prefer a stealthy approach, the ability to integrate weapons and armor seamlessly into your body can provide the element of surprise as a Thief, or perhaps – in some rare cases – even an Arcane Trickster rogue.


Consider your character's backstory as well. Warforged are constructs created for war, so think about how this background can shape your rogue's personality and motivations. Are they a relic from a bygone conflict seeking purpose in the world?


The bottom line though, is that if you're looking for a unique and powerful class for your Warforged, don’t hesitate to try out the rogue.

Warforged 5e Character

Back when HeroForge made steel custom minis, my wife and I purchased a few of them for our campaigns. Steel minis naturally have a great Warforged look about them.

Warforged Sorcerer

Another unique combination that has caught the attention of many adventurers is the Warforged 5e Sorcerer. This mechanical being infused with arcane powers brings a fresh and intriguing twist to the battlefield. As always, first and foremost, the question arises: are Warforged 5e Sorcerers good? The answer is a resounding... maybe!


The Warforged race itself brings a host of advantages to the table. Built for war, these sentient constructs of course possess natural armor that provides them with additional AC, and of course the extra Constitution gives them more HP and better concentration saves, making them incredibly durable.


Sorcerers, themselves, are always amazing. They have access to a wide range of spells, including damaging spells like Fireball or utility spells like Invisibility, allowing them to adapt to various situations, which is useful when playing a race that – yes, it’s true – doesn’t 100% fit the class to a tee.  


Of course, the Sorcerer does provide Ability Score Improvements of your choice at 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th levels, allowing even a Warforged to gain the necessary Charisma to become a powerful Sorcerer. This isn’t to say, basically, that a Warforged is a great fit for the sorcerer class, but rather that the sorcerer is basically a decent fit for just about any race.


Warforged Sorcerer Playstyles

When it comes to your subclass, I’d recommend taking a look at the Draconic Bloodline build, for both unique features and interesting roleplaying. Imagine, if you will, a sorcerer with a “bloodline,” when your race is actually... mechanical? Interesting thoughts, for sure.


But! The Draconic Bloodline sorcerer gains “Draconic Resilience,” giving you a base AC of 13+ your Dexterity modifier when you aren’t wearing armor, which stacks with your racial +1AC bonus.


Also, at 14th level you gain a pair of dragon wings, which sprout from your back. So, that’s obviously way cool.


Warforged Warlock

The sentient Warforged constructs, forged for war, possess a unique blend of mechanical prowess and, in a roleplaying sense, magical abilities. One intriguing class option for warforged is the warlock, offering a fascinating combination of mechanical resilience and eldritch power.


Are warforged warlocks good? Um, not necessarily, but they can be quite fun!


Warforged warlocks do have numerous advantages that make them formidable on the battlefield. Their inherent racial traits, such as their high Constitution and proficiency with armor, provide them with exceptional durability. This resilience allows them to withstand even the harshest of battles, making them a reliable front-line option for warlocks who choose the “Pact of the Blade,” or perhaps for those who choose “The Fiend” as their “Otherworldly Patron.”


Depending on your desired role, there are tons of invocations and spells available to warlocks that could conceivably complement your warlock playstyle. For example, if you want to be a tank, invocations like Armor of Shadows or Fiendish Vigor can boost your defenses, while spells like Armor of Agathys 5e can provide temporary hit points and damage reflection.


Also, if you cast spells like Hellish Rebuke 5e, with how defensive you already are as a Warlock, you can make it even less advantageous for enemies to attack you.


All of that being said, it isn’t like Warforged 5e get a bonus to Charisma, for warlock spell saves. The only real benefit that a Warforged gives to the warlock class is what they provide in the case of being any spell casting class – which is their bonus HP, concentration save from their high Constitution, and natural AC.


Warforged Wizard

With their unique abilities and versatility, Warforged can make for formidable wizards in your D&D game.


The Warforged’s high Constitution and Armor Class provide them with exceptional durability, making them difficult to take down in combat – which is really important for a wizard class, as the class itself is extremely fragile.


The innate resilience of a Warforged allows one who’s a wizard to focus on their magical abilities without worrying too much about their survivability. This, as you might imagine, is a big benefit.


Additionally, their integrated protection grants them proficiency with various armor types, further enhancing their survivability and versatility. Warforged also possess the Constructed Resilience trait, which grants them immunity to disease and resistance to poison damage.


Warforged 5e Wizard Playstyles

When it comes to choosing a subclass for a Warforged wizard, several options are available.


The School of Evocation is a popular choice, as it allows Warforged wizards to maximize their damage-dealing potential. With features like Empowered Evocation and Overchannel, they can unleash devastating spells that deal immense damage to their enemies.


This subclass is ideal for those who prefer a more offensive playstyle and enjoy obliterating foes with powerful magical abilities.

Alternatively, the School of Abjuration can be a great choice for Warforged wizards who want to focus on defense and protection. The Arcane Ward feature provides a protective barrier that absorbs damage, making the Warforged wizard even more resilient in combat. Or, consider having mage armor 5e on top of your natural Warforged AC bonus.


This subclass excels at protecting themselves and their allies, making them valuable assets in any adventuring party.

Lastly, the School of Transmutation offers Warforged wizards the ability to manipulate matter and transform objects and creatures. This subclass allows them to alter the properties of items, create temporary magical enhancements, and even transmute their own bodies.


With features like Transmuter's Stone and Shapechanger, Warforged wizards can adapt to various situations and overcome obstacles with ease.

Warforged 5e in a Campaign

Our gaming table before a big adventure towards the end of one of our year-long campaigns.

Warforged 5e Size and Other Characteristics

Warforged size is Medium.


As basically the “default” size in D&D, being medium doesn’t change any stats or add modifiers for attacks, weapons, AC, or anything else.


Speed

Warforged base walking speed is 30 feet.


Similarly, a base walking speed of 30 feet is also sort of the “default” value in D&D 5e. This simply means that warforged 5e are not particularly fast, nor slow.


Alignment

Most warforged take comfort in order and discipline, tending toward law and neutrality. But some have absorbed the morality, or lack thereof, of the beings with which they served.


Oftentimes, you see characters like fighters play towards lawful neutral. I personally find alignment to only be much help when I’m first creating a character, as a sort of guiding light for how I want to roleplay.


However, alignment can be quite helpful for your game, so it’s worth thinking about. Of course, as an organic-machine character, you could certainly make the case to play about any alignment you’d like.


Warforged 5e Specialized Design

You gain one skill proficiency and one tool proficiency of your choice.


Though having an extra tool proficiency probably doesn’t matter much (or at all), having an extra skill proficiency is pretty handy.


Also, it just feels good in D&D when your character has proficiency with something. Whether or not that extra bonus to your roll makes a difference on an individual basis, knowing that the odds are in your favor is a major mental perk.


Age

A typical warforged is between two and thirty years old. The maximum warforged lifespan remains a mystery; so far, warforged have shown no signs of deterioration due to age. You are immune to magical ag­ing effects.


Aging is another effect in D&D that most groups don’t pay much attention to. Unless you’re playing in a multi-year (or 40-year, plus) campaign, or your story is based around following a nation or group of people over decades of time, character age usually isn’t even a consideration.


Still, age can be a fun roleplaying component, and if you have something in mind for your warforged related to their age, this race leaves you with plenty of flexibility.


Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.


Having the option for fluency in any other language of your choice is very nice. In my experience, language is probably the final part of a campaign that’s often overlooked.


Perhaps you’ll occasionally run across some cryptic script in another language, where fluency would help advance the story. However, aside from roleplaying, having access to multiple languages most often isn’t a useful part of gameplay.

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Warforged 5e Lore

Need some DnD Quest Ideas or Campaign Ideas to go along with your new Warforged? Look no further.


The warforged were built to fight in the Last War. While the first warforged were mindless automatons, House Cannith devoted vast resources to improving these steel soldiers. An unexpected breakthrough produced sapient soldiers, giving rise to what some have only grudgingly accepted as a new species. Warforged are made from wood and metal, but they can feel pain and emotion. Built as weapons, they must now find a purpose beyond war. A warforged can be a steadfast ally, a cold-hearted killer, or a visionary in search of meaning.


Living Steel and Stone

Warforged are formed from a blend of organic and inor­ganic materials. Root-like cords infused with alchemical fluids serve as their muscles, wrapped around a frame­work of steel, darkwood, or stone. Armored plates form a protective outer shell and reinforce joints. Warforged share a common facial design, with a hinged jaw and crystal eyes embedded beneath a reinforced brow ridge. Beyond these common elements of warforged design, the precise materials and build of a warforged vary based on the purpose for which it was designed.


Although they were manufactured, warforged are living humanoids. Resting, healing magic, and the Medi­cine skill all provide the same benefits to warforged that they do to other humanoids.


Warforged Personality

The warforged were built to serve and to fight. For most of their existence, warforged had a clearly defined func­tion and were encouraged to focus purely on that role. The Treaty of Thronehold gave them freedom, but many still struggle both to find a place in the post-war world and to relate to the creatures who created them.


The typical warforged shows little emotion. Many warforged embrace a concrete purpose-such as protecting allies, completing a contract, or exploring a land-and embrace this task as they once did war. However, there are warforged who delight in exploring their feelings, their freedom, and their relationships with others. Most warforged have no interest in reli­gion, but some embrace faith and mysticism, seeking higher purpose and deeper meaning.


The typical warforged has a sexless body shape.


Some warforged ignore the concept of gender entirely, while others adopt a gender identity.


The more a warforged develops its individuality, the more likely it is to modify its body, seeking out an artifi­cer to customize the look of its face, limbs, and plating.


Warforged 5e Quirks

Warforged often display an odd personality trait or two, given how new they are to the world. The Warforged Quirks table contains example quirks.


Roll 1d8:

  1. You analyze-out loud-the potential threat posed by every creature you meet.
  2. You often misread emotional cues.
  3. You are fiercely protective of your friends.
  4. You try to apply wartime discipline to every situation.
  5. You don't know how to filter your feelings and are prone to dramatic emotional outbursts.
  6. You don't understand clothing beyond its utility and assume it denotes a person's function.
  7. You are obsessed with your appearance and con­stantly polish and buff yourself.
  8. War is the only thing that makes sense to you, and you're always looking for a fight.


Warforged Names

Most warforged were assigned numerical designations for use in military service. Many of them adopted nick­names, often given to them by their comrades. As inde­pendent individuals, some have chosen new names as a way to express their path in life. A few take on human names, often the name of a fallen friend or mentor.


Warforged Names: Anchor, Banner, Bastion, Blade, Blue, Bow, Cart, Church, Crunch, Crystal, Dagger, Dent, Five, Glaive, Hammer, Iron, Lucky, Mace, Oak, Onyx, Pants, Pierce, Red, Rod, Rusty, Scout, Seven, Shield, Slash, Smith, Spike, Temple, Vault, Wall.


Warforged in Games Like D&D

As you no doubt already know, there are many games like DnD out there. With all the drama that's happened with Wizards of the Coast, and with D&D's shift to a more digital platform (and higher prices), many people have been looking for other TTRPGs to try out.


Eternity TTRPG has our own tabletop RPG that we've independently published. Check out the PDF download here, and let us know what you think!

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Jacob Tegtman Eternity TTRPG Creator

Author - Jacob Tegtman

Dear reader, I hope you enjoyed this article. Tabletop gaming has been a passion of mine since I was 6 years old. I've played just about every game from Dungeons and Dragons to video games like Final Fantasy. These games have inspired me, made me laugh, made me cry, and brought me endless hours of enjoyment.


I started Eternity TTRPG - and the indie tabletop game that goes along with it (Eternity Shop) - to share my love of gaming with others. I believe that in our technology-driven age, tabletop games help bring a sense of magic and community back into our world.


If you love the site, please share it with others! I have lots of gaming-related material for you to peruse and use in your own gaming sessions. If you have any questions about the site or want to contribute, just send me a message using the "Contact" page, which you can find in the site's footer.

“New Path of the Lich”
By Jacob Tegtman April 29, 2026
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an8LlwVXGns Transcription Becoming a lich in D&D has – usually – been something reserved for villains. But in one of the latest Unearthed Arcana from early April, that line gets a little blurrier.  Really cool way that they approached this: there’s now a feat-based system that allows players to work toward lichdom for their characters, over time. So today, we’re going to walk through what becoming a Lich officially looks like—and whether it’s something you’d realistically use in a campaign. Because... you know... with the new D&D seasons releases, and Spring time being about the “horror genre,” nothing says “become a lich” like green trees and budding flowers. So, here we are! Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG—your go-to place for Dungeons & Dragons content, news, games, and updates. Today we’re looking at the Path of the Lich from the new Villainous Options playtest. To understand the system, it helps to start with the lore. A lich in D&D is a spellcaster who avoids death by binding their soul to an object—commonly called a phylactery, or in this case, a spirit jar. The process is intentionally grim. It involves creating that phylactery vessel, performing a ritual, and effectively dying—only to return as an undead being sustained by magic. Mechanically and narratively, liches are defined by two things: Their detachment from mortality And their dependence on that external object . Kind of like a horcrux, from Harry Potter. That phylactery is what makes a Lich difficult to destroy, and why they’ve historically been used as long-term antagonists, such as during one of my personal favorite adventures of all times: the original Tomb of Horrors. The Path of the Lich is part of a broader Unearthed Arcana release focused on “villainous” character options. Instead of a subclass, as a very interesting take on things, this is structured as a sequence of feats. Keeping the Lich path separate from any class means that no matter what you play as, you can make a Lich out of it! This means that your fighter, for example, could be a Lich, or your rogue (not that you’d ever play a rogue), and you can have that “undead character” without tying yourself to the traditional “Lich-as-a-spellcaster” archetype. The Lich progression looks like this: You begin by defining a Lich Rite , at any level, which is mostly narrative At level 4, you take Lich Initiate Between levels 5 and 11, you select at least one additional related feat, from the options of arcane restoration, transfer life, or undead grasp And then at level 12 or higher, you take Lich Ascension , to officially become a Lich So rather than a single transformation, your character goes through a gradual shift in both mechanics and tone, which is very based in D&D lore. The Lich Rite feat is worth discussing in some detail, even though it doesn’t have strict mechanical weight. This first feat in the Lich chain sets the narrative expectation for becoming a full-blown Lich, by providing the character with a sort of quest they must first complete, such as: Consuming a large number of souls Using magic to conceal yourself from the gods of death Brewing potions from slain foes Or severing your connection to any afterlife, entirely These aren’t small story beats. They really do imply a campaign where moral boundaries are actively being crossed—or at the very least, being questioned. So, before mechanics even come into play, there’s already a conversation to have at the table. Next, is the Lich Initiate feat. This is the foundation. You create your spirit jar , which functions as your anchor, the basis for your phylactery. You also gain Soul Siphon , allowing you to consume the soul of a defeated humanoid for a small damage boost. There’s also a risk component—if your spirit jar is destroyed, you suffer penalties until it’s replaced. You then choose how to build on your lich path with a third feat that improves soul siphon: Arcane Restoration lets you convert soul siphon uses into spell slot recovery Transfer Life turns soul siphon uses into temporary hit point bonuses for allies Undead Grasp adds a control option through paralysis These are fairly modular feats. They don’t radically change your role, such as by forcing you into becoming a full-fledged Lich spell caster, but they do add magical efficiency and utility depending on your build. Finally, at level 12, the transformation to Lichdom completes. You: Become Undead Gain resistance to necrotic and poison damage Get access to Fear without expending spell slots And gain a form of rejuvenation tied to your spirit jar That last point is the most significant mechanically. It introduces a conditional form of returning after death, assuming your phylactery remains intact. So, is the Path of the Lich actually worth taking? Mechanically, it’s solid. You’re getting: Incremental power increases Some resource flexibility And a strong late-game feature tied to survival But the bigger consideration isn’t mechanical—it’s contextual. This kind of progression assumes: A campaign that supports darker character arcs A group that’s comfortable with those themes And a DM willing to integrate the consequences of these morally very-dark-gray life choices In a more traditional heroic campaign, it may not fit at all. The path of the Lich feels less like a standard player option, and more like a tool for specific types of stories. If used carefully, it could support a long-term character arc focused on ambition, cost, and transformation. It allows players to experience some really interesting game mechanics that have long been reserved mainly for monsters or main campaign villains. If this feat path is used casually, it does risk feeling out of place—or undercutting the tone of the game. And let’s just remember, since it’s still Unearthed Arcana, parts of this entire path are also likely to change based on feedback. So the real question is: are you going to play a lich in your next campaign? Or do you think lichdom works better as something players confront… rather than become? Let me know in the comments. And if you want more D&D news and breakdowns like this, consider liking and subscribing. Thanks for watching!
“New Dark D&D Subclasses: for Bard, Druid, & Warlock” Blog
By Jacob Tegtman April 28, 2026
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_DQ3rc0Xes Transcription Wizards of the Coast has released three new subclasses in their latest Unearthed Arcana, focusing on darker themes like death magic and corruption mechanics. They’re free to access and already generating a lot of discussion in the community. Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG—your go-to source for D&D and tabletop RPG news. Let’s take a look at what’s included in this latest release, and how these classes might fit into your game. If you aren’t familiar, Unearthed Arcana is Wizards of the Coast’s official playtest material, where new subclasses, rules, or mechanics are released for public feedback before possible full publication. New Unearthed Arcana releases don’t follow a strict schedule of new subclass releases, but they tend to appear a few times a year depending on development cycles. There’s also no fixed order for which classes get new subclasses—design choices are usually driven by current design goals, themes, or upcoming products rather than a rotation system. This could in part be driven by the “D&D Seasons” that we’re now seeing from Wizards of the Coast with their planned product release schedule, this year. Getting right into things though, the subclasses this round are: College of Mourning (Bard) Circle of the Primeval (Druid) A revised Fiend Patron (Warlock) The College of Mourning focuses on death-related magic. Instead of traditional inspiration, it blends necrotic damage with support abilities, allowing bards to deal damage while also healing allies. Community reactions have noted the strong thematic direction. One Reddit user described it as a good fit for darker character concepts, though some DMs may need to consider how it fits their campaign tone. Mechanically, early impressions suggest it’s relatively balanced, with its healing and damage requiring positioning and timing. The Circle of the Primeval explores a more ancient and unfamiliar side of nature. Instead of typical beasts, their Wild Shape options include more unusual, sometimes unsettling forms—drawing on prehistoric or aberrant inspirations. At 6th level, their “Primordial Awakening” feature allows additional effects like resistance to psychic damage and abilities that can disrupt enemies mentally. Some players like the new, darker style of this subclass as a change of pace, while others worry it might not fit the tone or gameplay balance of more classic, heroic D&D campaigns. This subclass may work best in settings where the implied, dark themes of the subclass are already established and agreed upon by the group. The updated Fiend Patron introduces a more structured approach to corruption mechanics. The new “Infernal Bargain” system allows warlocks to gain temporary power in exchange for accumulating “Corruption Points.” As corruption points increase, characters gain benefits—but also drawbacks, including possible DM influence over certain decisions at higher levels. To be clear, Corruption Points are gained each time the warlock uses their Infernal Bargain feature to gain their temporary power increases. This system has sparked discussion around player agency. Some players appreciate the mechanical representation of risk and consequence, while others are cautious about how it might be implemented at the table. Overall, it adds a clearer framework for storytelling, but likely requires strong communication between players and DMs. Community discussion around these subclasses has been active, particularly among DMs considering how to integrate them. Some concerns focus on tone—especially in campaigns that already have a defined setting or theme. Others are more mechanical, particularly around balance and player agency. Wizards of the Coast has included guidance in the document, including suggestions for implementation and reminders to use session zero discussions and safety tools when introducing darker themes. If you’d like to play these subclasses at your table, You can download and learn more about them for free on D&D Beyond or through official Wizards of the Coast Unearthed Arcana posts. I’ll include links in this video’s notes, below. Quick episode today, but that about wraps things up! So, what are your thoughts on these new subclasses? Would you include them in your campaign, or do they feel too specific in tone? Let me know in the comments. And if you enjoyed this breakdown, consider liking the video and subscribing for more weekly D&D news. Until next time my friends—keep rolling those 20’s.
Gargoyles in armor stand on a stone roof at night under a blue moon
By Jacob Tegtman April 13, 2026
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMnHDV9p7hk Transcription What if your next D&D character was carved instead of being born? And what if their entire purpose was decided the moment they were made? Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG. Today, we’re returning to Crooked Moon to explore the playable monstrous races that this awesome campaign setting provides. Next on list are the Stoneborn from Pholsense – I hope you’re ready, as this race is really fun.  Stoneborn are carved from – well, from stone – by the ruler of their land—and they’re brought to life through a divine force called the Silver Path. In Pholsense, Stoneborn don’t come from families. They literally start as blocks of stone. The ruler of the province, Archbishop Danton Alexandre Renault (a name you may have heard from some of my other Crooked Moon videos – particularly the ones based on specific adventures), oversees their creation. A body is carefully carved into shape—usually with wings and a humanoid form. So, think gargoyle statue. At some point during this process, the Silver Path—a divine power—brings that body to life. Based on the lore of Crooked Moon, we don’t really know exactly what “the Silver Path” is. It’s not like buried somewhere obscure, later on in the campaign book. I think it’s left open-ended so your group, or DM, can sort of play it up as they’d like. Mystery is, after all, a big part of the Crooked Moon setting. It’s worth starting here with the Stoneborn though because the Silver Path is the process of how this carved statue of stone awakens. The Silver Path is clearly stated in the lore as A divine force or guiding power associated with order, light, and purpose. In the Crooked Moon setting, whether you’re playing a Stoneborn or want to highlight them as a DM, the Silver Path functions as: A religious belief system (what people worship) – as the whole process of Stoneborn creation is either overseen, or even performed, directly by the Archbishop A real source of power (it actually does things, like awaken inanimate stone) And is a standard for morality (what’s considered “good” and “right” in the lands of Crooked Moon) In short, the Silver Path is the god-like force that defines “order and good” specifically within the lands of Pholsense. It’s also worth noting that the Silver Path is not described as a spell, and it’s clearly not some form of hidden technology. It is like a divine power. So, moving on, the Stoneborn are made of whatever stone they were carved from. That determines their color and texture. Their shapes can vary a lot, depending on their creator’s artistic choices. This means that your Stoneborn could be a gargoyle, like I mentioned before. But, they could also have features similar to animals, dragons, or angels. You can also have a lot of fun with it and mix different traits rather than having just one clear form. All Stoneborn do have wings, but they’re heavy. And they can fly—but just not quickly or easily. When it comes to the land of Pholsense it’s a strict and orderly place. Rules are taken seriously, and roles are clearly defined. Stoneborn are usually created to actually serve a very specific function within their society. Common roles include: Guards Enforcers of the law Or protectors of important places, such as religious buildings (perhaps even locations where the Silver Path takes place) Because they are created rather than raised, many Stoneborn strongly believe in following their assigned purpose. But – and this makes for great roleplay opportunities – not all of them agree with their assigned paths, forever. Some eventually start to question: Why they were made Whether their role in life is fair And whether the Archbishop—or the Silver Path—is always right Mechanically, Stoneborn are durable and flexible. They’re classified as Constructs. You can choose to be Small or Medium-sized. They also have a flying speed equal to half their normal movement. When it comes to abilities, Stoneborn come with: Argent Gleam Once per long rest, you can use a bonus action to choose one of two effects: 1) Path’s Grace You cast Bless without needing components. 2) Zealous Charge You take the Dash action, and your next attack deals an extra 2d6 radiant damage—even if the attack misses. Next, they have Silver Bulwark When you take bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage, You can use your reaction to gain resistance to those damage types until your next turn. And then lastly, Watchful Senses gives you proficiency in either: Insight Perception or Survival When it comes to roleplaying, Stoneborn characters are mainly about purpose. You might think about: Why your character was created Whether they still believe in their assigned purpose now And how they feel about the person who made them Some Stoneborn fully trust the system they come from. Others might not. You can also explore their relationship with the Silver Path: Do they see it as a real guiding force? Or just something they were told to believe in? Finally, Stoneborn don’t die of old age, in quite the same way as most creatures. After a long life—around 300 years—they physically break down and return to rubble. Personally, I think it would be kind of cool if they just permanently petrified, returning to their state before the Silver Path – almost like every Stoneborn graveyard isn’t just filled with creepy gargoyle statues like in most fantasy games... but the graveyard is the gargoyles... providing a glimpse into each stoneborn’s life, and what mattered to them. So what do you think? Would you play a Stoneborn, or have you played one already? And more importantly—Would you follow the Silver Path… no matter where it leads, or what it asks of you? Or would you be a black sheep among the gargoyles? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. I think next up I have planned to cover the Plagueborn. But if you have another Crooked Moon race on your mind that you want me to dive into, let me know. See you guys next time!
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