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D&D 5e (2014) Race GuideGnome Guide: Subraces, Classes and Builds

Rock or Forest, the best classes for a gnome in the 2014 rules, and two builds that are very hard to beat with magic.

2024 RULES 2014 RULES
Thrain Mapcarver
Resident DM · Updated October 21, 2026

Overview

At a glance
Size
Small
Speed
25 ft
Darkvision
60 ft
Ability scores
+2 Int, plus +1 Con (Rock) or Dex (Forest)
Best subrace
Rock Gnome for wizards
CasterTricksterUtility

Under the 2014 rules your race sets your ability score increases, and every gnome gets +2 Intelligence. That makes it the natural wizard race, and a good fit for any class that uses Intelligence, such as the Arcane Trickster rogue and Eldritch Knight fighter from the Player's Handbook.

The trait that makes gnomes strong is Gnome Cunning: Advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma saving throws against magic. Those are the saves behind charm, fear, banishment and most of the spells that take a character out of a fight.

Thrain's take

Players pick gnomes for the tinkering and the jokes. They keep them because the enemy wizard keeps failing to charm them. Gnome Cunning is the best defensive trait in the Player's Handbook, and nobody notices until the rest of the party is fighting each other.

Strengths
  • +2 Intelligence: the strongest start for a wizard
  • Gnome Cunning: Advantage on mental saves against magic
  • Darkvision
  • Small size makes it easier to hide behind allies and cover
Weaknesses
  • 25-foot speed
  • Small: Disadvantage on attacks with heavy weapons
  • No Strength, Wisdom or Charisma bonus

Gnome Traits

Ability Score Increase

+2 Intelligence. Your subrace adds +1 Constitution (Rock) or +1 Dexterity (Forest).

Darkvision

60 feet. Dim light counts as bright and darkness as dim, in shades of gray.

Gnome Cunning

Advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma saving throws against magic. Charm, fear, Hold PersonHold Person2nd-level EnchantmentConcentrationCastingActionRange60 feetDuration1 minuteSaveWisdomChoose a humanoid that you can see within range. The target must succeed on a wisdom saving throw or be paralyzed for the duration. At the end of each of its turns, the target can make another wisdom saving throw. On a success, the spell ends on the target., BanishmentBanishment4th-level AbjurationConcentrationCastingActionRange60 feetDuration1 minuteSaveCharismaYou attempt to send one creature that you can see within range to another plane of existence. The target must succeed on a charisma saving throw or be banished. If the target is native to the plane of existence you're on, you banish the target to a harmless demiplane. and many more go through one of those three saves.

Gnome Subraces, Rated

Legendary: build around it Epic: excellent Rare: good Uncommon: works Common: weak fit
Rock Gnome
+1 Constitution for hit points and concentration saves. Tinker and Artificer's Lore are flavor, and good flavor. The best wizard start in the Player's Handbook.
Legendary
Forest Gnome
+1 Dexterity, Minor IllusionMinor IllusionIllusion cantripCastingActionRange30 feetDuration1 minuteYou create a sound or an image of an object within range that lasts for the duration. The illusion also ends if you dismiss it as an action or cast this spell again. If you create a sound, its volume can range from a whisper to a scream. as a free cantrip and the ability to talk to Small beasts. Better for an Arcane Trickster or a wizard who wants AC. Player's Handbook.
Epic

The Rock Gnome is in the SRD and its traits are below. The Forest Gnome comes from the Player's Handbook. Later books add the deep gnome (svirfneblin), with 120-foot Darkvision and a bonus to Stealth in rocky terrain; ask your DM before you plan around it.

The artificer from the Eberron books is a classic gnome class too. It is not part of the SRD, so it is not rated here.

Ability Score Increase

+1 Constitution, for 17 Intelligence and 14 Constitution on a wizard with the standard array.

Artificer's Lore

Double proficiency on History checks about magic items and devices. Handy for identifying loot.

Tinker

Tinker's tools and Tiny clockwork toys: a fire starter, a music box or a clockwork toy. Creative players use them as distractions.

Best Classes for a Gnome

Wizard
+2 Intelligence, and Gnome Cunning protects the party member enemies most want to charm or banish. Rock for hit points, Forest for AC.
Legendary
Rogue (Forest Gnome)
Dexterity and Intelligence for the Player's Handbook Arcane Trickster, Small size for hiding, and a free Minor IllusionMinor IllusionIllusion cantripCastingActionRange30 feetDuration1 minuteYou create a sound or an image of an object within range that lasts for the duration. The illusion also ends if you dismiss it as an action or cast this spell again. If you create a sound, its volume can range from a whisper to a scream..
Epic
Fighter (Eldritch Knight)
Intelligence for the Player's Handbook Eldritch Knight's spells. Use a Forest Gnome with finesse weapons or a bow, since heavy weapons are out.
Rare
Warlock
No Charisma, but Gnome Cunning still shuts down the charms and fear aimed at you.
Uncommon
Sorcerer
Same as the warlock. Rock Gnome's Constitution helps concentration.
Uncommon
Bard
Fits the gnome's character perfectly and Forest Gnome adds Dexterity, but there is no Charisma.
Uncommon
Cleric
Gnome Cunning backs up the cleric's Wisdom saves. No Wisdom bonus, though.
Uncommon
Druid
Forest Gnome talking to small animals suits a druid. No Wisdom bonus.
Uncommon
Ranger
Forest Gnome gives +1 Dexterity, but rangers want more Dexterity and Wisdom than a gnome offers.
Uncommon
Monk
Monks avoid heavy weapons anyway, so being Small costs little. The ability scores still miss.
Uncommon
Paladin
No Strength or Charisma, and no greatsword for a Small paladin.
Common
Barbarian
No Strength or Constitution on the base race, and Disadvantage with the greataxe.
Common

Racial Feats for Gnomes

Xanathar's Guide to Everything adds feats only some races can take. If your table uses it:

  • Fade Away: +1 Dexterity or Intelligence. When you take damage, use your reaction to turn invisible until the end of your next turn, or until you attack, deal damage or force a save. Once per Short or Long Rest. Great on a wizard who just got hit.
  • Squat Nimbleness (dwarves and Small races): +1 Strength or Dexterity and 5 more feet of speed.

From the Player's Handbook, Resilient (Constitution) and War Caster both help a gnome wizard keep concentration.

Gnome Builds

Gnome wizard
CasterThe Rock Gnome Evoker
Race
Rock Gnome
Subclass
School of Evocation (level 2)
First spells
SleepSleep1st-level EnchantmentCastingActionRange90 feetDuration1 minuteThis spell sends creatures into a magical slumber. Roll 5d8; the total is how many hit points of creatures this spell can affect., ShieldShield1st-level AbjurationCastingReactionRangeSelfDuration1 roundAn invisible barrier of magical force appears and protects you. Until the start of your next turn, you have a +5 bonus to AC, including against the triggering attack, and you take no damage from magic missile., Mage ArmorMage Armor1st-level AbjurationCastingActionRangeTouchDuration8 hoursYou touch a willing creature who isn't wearing armor, and a protective magical force surrounds it until the spell ends. The target's base AC becomes 13 + its Dexterity modifier. The spell ends if the target dons armor or if you dismiss the spell as an action.
8STR
14DEX
14CON
17INT
12WIS
10CHA

The strongest wizard start in the 2014 rules. Shrugs off the enemy caster's charms and ends early fights with SleepSleep1st-level EnchantmentCastingActionRange90 feetDuration1 minuteThis spell sends creatures into a magical slumber. Roll 5d8; the total is how many hit points of creatures this spell can affect..

Build this gnome
Free to start. No card needed.
Gnome rogue
SkillsThe Gnome Investigator
Race
Rock Gnome
Subclass
Thief (level 3)
Expertise
Investigation, Perception
8STR
15DEX
14CON
16INT
12WIS
10CHA

A detective rogue: finds the trap, the secret door and the clue everyone missed. Small enough to hide behind the fighter. A Forest Gnome Arcane Trickster is the stronger version if your table uses the Player's Handbook.

Build this gnome
Free to start. No card needed.

Gnome FAQ

Is the gnome good in D&D 5e?

Yes, especially for wizards. Under the 2014 rules every gnome gets +2 Intelligence, Darkvision and Gnome Cunning, which gives Advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma saves against magic. Being Small means heavy weapons are a bad idea.

What is the best class for a gnome in 5e?

Wizard. A Rock Gnome starts with +2 Intelligence and +1 Constitution, and Gnome Cunning protects you from the spells that most often take a wizard out of a fight.

Rock Gnome or Forest Gnome: which is better?

Rock Gnome for wizards, because Constitution means more hit points and better concentration. Forest Gnome for Dexterity builds like the Arcane Trickster, and for a free Minor Illusion.

Can a gnome use a greatsword in 5e?

Yes, but with Disadvantage on the attack rolls, because gnomes are Small and greatswords are heavy weapons. Use finesse weapons, a bow or spells.

Keep reading

Gnome Guide: Lineages, Classes and BuildsD&D 2024 Species Guide
Wizard Guide: Build, Spells and RatingsD&D 5e (2014) Class Guide
Rogue Guide: Build, Feats and RatingsD&D 5e (2014) Class Guide
How to Build a TricksterD&D Build Guide

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This guide includes material from the System Reference Document 5.1 by Wizards of the Coast LLC, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. TableForge is not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast. Full licenses.