Completing the Ultimate Oni Bloodline Sorcerer in DND

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The oni bloodline sorcerer subclass in Dungeons & Dragons showcases a group of sorcerers who inherit powers from oni and is detailed in the Obojima campaign setting supplement for 5e. While the concept may seem ominous, it actually carries a whimsical flair, typical of this campaign setting. When you play as this subclass, using your sorcery points will cause your character to increasingly take on a demonic appearance.

If you’re interested in playing this subclass, either in the Obojima setting or at your usual gaming table, this guide will assist you in creating your oni bloodline sorcerer.

Overview of the Oni Bloodline Sorcerer

Friends & Foes by Alexander Cloos

As previously mentioned, oni bloodline sorcerers visually evolve into oni the more sorcery points they use. This transformation grants both aesthetic and magical enhancements.

Subclass Feature ADVERTISEMENT	Character Level	Details
Arcane Prison & Oni Traits	1	As you use up your sorcery points, your character will physically show oni-like features such as horns and unusual eye colors. These traits allow you to acquire various magical abilities that can enhance your damage output, help you recover hit points, and boost your armor class.
Ogre Manipulation	6	You can exhibit one of your oni traits even if your sorcery points don’t cover it. As a bonus action, you can choose one of these traits to activate for one minute.
Boiling Power	14	Your oni traits become even more potent, giving you added abilities like enhancing your horn damage, being able to use the Zone of Truth spell, and decreasing enemy AC.
Transformation	18	You can fully manifest the form of an oni, bringing out all your oni traits simultaneously. You also gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks and cannot be charmed or frightened for one minute.

For more information regarding oni physical traits, refer to the Obojima campaign materials.

In summary, oni bloodline sorcerers not only excel as spellcasters, but they also possess enhanced resilience due to their oni characteristics, which can aid in healing, improve armor class, or mitigate damage, offering them versatility in combat.

Optimal Ability Scores for an Oni Bloodline Sorcerer

A minor demon and a player character in the Obojima Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting. — Minor Demon by Alexander Cloos

For sorcerers, it’s crucial to allocate most of your Ability Score points to Charisma, which serves as your primary spellcasting ability. Besides Charisma, there are a few other stats worth focusing on.

Ability Score	Details
Charisma	Since Charisma is your main spellcasting ability, you’ll want to make this your highest Ability Score.
Constitution	As Constitution affects your Hit Points and sorcerers generally have lower health with a d6 hit die, you should make this your second-highest stat.
Dexterity	Sorcerers can wield some finesse weapons requiring Dexterity, and Dexterity also influences your armor class, so prioritize this next.
Intelligence	Intelligence is beneficial for arcane casters for making Arcana checks, making it a useful stat.
Wisdom	Wisdom aids against various spell effects, but it isn’t a major concern for sorcerers.
Strength	Strength is the least important for you, so feel free to assign your lowest Ability Score here.

Unlike other sorcerer subclasses from the 2024 Player’s Handbook, you can choose the oni bloodline subclass at first level. Discuss with your DM about potential balancing if you plan to use this subclass in a regular campaign.

Optimal Species for an Oni Bloodline Sorcerer

Giant koi fish flying in the sky in the Obojima Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting. — Giant Koi by Alexander Cloos

Given that the Obojima campaign setting emphasizes roleplaying, and the oni bloodline subclass highlights the physical manifestation of oni features, you should select a species that appears more mundane to enhance your roleplay experience.

There are two species available in the supplement that suit this approach:

Human – Humans are a straightforward choice in the Obojima campaign. While they provide no significant bonuses, they fit perfectly for the roleplay aspect of this subclass.
Elf – Choosing elf can optimize your gameplay while offering rich roleplaying opportunities and additional spellcasting based on your lineage choice.

Top Backgrounds for an Oni Bloodline Sorcerer

A player character rides a Hammer Gull in the Obojima Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting. — Hammer Gull by Alexander Cloos

While you can pick a background from the 2024 Player’s Handbook, the Obojima supplement features two backgrounds that align well with this subclass:

Apprentice Witch – This background is excellent for both roleplaying a sorcerer and grants proficiency in Arcana, which is incredibly useful for spellcasters.
Apprentice of AHA – This background provides skill proficiencies in History and Investigation, both of which are intelligence-based and support the image of a knowledgeable sorcerer.

Keep in mind that backgrounds in the Obojima supplement and those in the 2024 Player’s Handbook function differently. Collaborate with your DM to ensure a good fit if you want to incorporate this subclass into a standard 5e campaign.