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In the Humblewood setting for Dungeons & Dragons, one of the playable races is the birdfolk. These beings take on various forms inspired by different birds, showcasing a multitude of sizes and colors. They live in both communities and high perches throughout Humblewood, embodying strength and diversity.
If you’re diving into the Humblewood campaign for the first time, considering a birdfolk character might be a great choice. You may have questions about how these creatures function and which builds work best. Here’s a comprehensive overview of birdfolk in Dungeons & Dragons.
What Are Birdfolk?
Humblewood features two main creature groups: the birdfolk and the humblefolk. Birdfolk symbolize the region’s winged inhabitants, resembling everything from crows to doves.
Beyond their appearances, the birdfolk have established themselves as the dominant political influence in Humblewood and founded their capital in the great tree known as Alderheart.
They also maintain a governing council that oversees all of Humblewood.
Here’s a brief overview of the different birdfolk types you can choose from:
| Birdfolk | Ability Score Improvement | Bird Inspiration | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corvum | Intelligence +2 | Crows, Ravens | Ability to evaluate the value and potential uses of objects, usable once per rest. |
| Gallus | Wisdom +2 | Chickens, Turkeys | Proficiency with simple weapons and an additional artisan tool. |
| Luma | Charisma +2 | Doves, Pigeons | Ability to reroll any attack, skill check, or saving throw once per long rest. |
| Raptor | Dexterity +2 | Hawks, Eagles | Can treat three-quarters cover as half, and half cover as none. |
| Strig | Strength +2 | Owls | Advantage on Stealth checks while hiding in forested areas. |
Furthermore, each birdfolk species has two subspecies that provide unique abilities and enhancements to help customize your character build.
Importantly, none of the base birdfolk species offer a Constitution ability score boost.
Nonetheless, two birdfolk subspecies do provide Constitution bonuses, such as the Sable Luma and the Stout Strig.
How Birdfolk Flight Works
Despite their variations, all birdfolk share one common trait: the ability to glide.
While other races in Dungeons & Dragons may have standard flight, birdfolk possess a glide ability to maintain balance in gameplay. This glide ability consists of two main aspects:
- Slow Fall: When falling, you can use your reaction to glide at a speed of 60 feet per round, landing without taking fall damage.
- Flight Speed: If you fall at least 10 feet while gliding, you may fly up to your movement speed, but you cannot gain altitude.
Note that you cannot glide while carrying heavy weapons, wearing heavy armor, wielding a shield, or if encumbered.
Which Birdfolk Should You Play?
When selecting a birdfolk race, it’s crucial to consider the class you wish to play.
Unlike the 2024 Player’s Handbook, the Humblewood setting uses ‘Legacy Content.’
This means that ability score bonuses are assigned based on species rather than backgrounds. Check with your DM if they plan to include any content from the 2024 PHB or later in their campaign.
Different birdfolk and their subspecies excel in various areas. Here’s a quick overview of some of the top birdfolk/race-class combinations:
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Gemini AI
Grok AI
