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D&D 2024 Species GuideOrc Guide: Traits, Classes and Builds

What the 2024 orc is good at, the best classes for one, and two builds ready to play.

2024 RULES

Overview

At a glance
Size
Medium
Speed
30 ft
Darkvision
120 ft
Best at
Getting there first, getting back up
FrontlinerSkirmisherSurvivor

The 2024 orc is a full species in the Player's Handbook, replacing the half-orc. It keeps the half-orc's best trait, Relentless Endurance, adds a Bonus Action Dash that hands out Temporary Hit Points, and sees 120 feet in the dark.

Your background sets your ability scores, so an orc can play any class. In practice the traits reward characters who need to cross the battlefield and stay standing once they arrive.

Thrain's take

The orc gets to the fight before anyone else, and then refuses to leave it. Relentless Endurance has turned more of my planned funerals into awkward toasts than any healing spell. If your character's plan is to run at the problem, this is your species.

Strengths
  • Adrenaline Rush: Dash as a Bonus Action and gain Temporary Hit Points, several times per rest
  • Relentless Endurance: drop to 1 hit point instead of 0, once per Long Rest
  • 120-foot Darkvision
  • Adrenaline Rush recharges on a Short Rest
Weaknesses
  • No skill proficiency, spells or resistances
  • Classes that already Dash as a Bonus Action get less from the rush
  • Temporary Hit Points do not stack with other sources

Orc Traits

Adrenaline Rush

Take the Dash action as a Bonus Action and gain Temporary Hit Points equal to your Proficiency Bonus. Uses equal to your Proficiency Bonus, regained on a Short or Long Rest. Move 60 feet and still take your action.

Darkvision

120 feet, double most species.

Relentless Endurance

When you drop to 0 hit points and are not killed outright, drop to 1 instead. Once per Long Rest. It works before any death saves, so you never go down in the first place.

Best Classes for an Orc

Legendary: build around it Epic: excellent Rare: good Uncommon: works Common: weak fit
Barbarian
Adrenaline Rush gets you to the fight on turn one and the Temporary Hit Points soak the first hits. Relentless Endurance on a d12 class buys one more round of swinging.
Legendary
Paladin
The paladin has to reach the target to smite and has no movement tricks of its own. A Bonus Action Dash closes the gap on turn one.
Epic
Fighter
Dash and attack in the same turn, plus a free second chance at 0 hit points. The fighter in the heaviest armor stops being the last one to arrive.
Epic
Cleric
A Dash to reach a downed ally, then your action for Cure WoundsCure Wounds1st-level AbjurationCastingActionRangeTouchDurationInstantaneousDamage2d8A creature you touch regains a number of Hit Points equal to 2d8 plus your spellcasting ability modifier.. Relentless Endurance keeps the healer up.
Rare
Monk
Step of the Wind already lets a monk Dash as a Bonus Action, so the rush mostly adds Temporary Hit Points.
Rare
Ranger
Darkvision and mobility suit a scout. The Temporary Hit Points help a melee ranger more than an archer.
Rare
Warlock
Dash out of reach and still cast. A warlock who wades in with a pact weapon gets the most from it.
Rare
Rogue
Cunning Action already gives a Bonus Action Dash. You only gain the Temporary Hit Points, and Relentless Endurance.
Uncommon
Sorcerer
Escape plus a small shield of Temporary Hit Points. Useful, but it competes with Bonus Action spells and Quickened Spell.
Uncommon
Wizard
A wizard who can sprint away and survive a lethal hit once a day is a better wizard. A species with spells helps more.
Uncommon
Druid
Relentless Endurance and Darkvision are fine. Wild Shape and Bonus Action spells compete with the rush.
Uncommon
Bard
Fine, and Bardic Inspiration competes for the Bonus Action. Little in the traits helps a bard's job.
Uncommon

Orc Builds

Orc barbarian
DamageThe Charge
Class
Barbarian (Path of the Berserker)
Background
Soldier (Savage AttackerSavage AttackerOrigin featYou've trained to deal particularly damaging strikes. Once per turn when you hit a target with a weapon, you can roll the weapon's damage dice twice and use either roll against the target.)
17STR
13DEX
15CON
8INT
12WIS
10CHA

Turn one: Rage. Turn two: Adrenaline Rush across the room and swing. Savage Attacker and Frenzy make every hit count, and Relentless Endurance gives you one more turn when it goes wrong.

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Orc paladin
FrontlineThe Iron Zealot
Class
Paladin (Oath of Devotion)
Background
Noble (Skilled)
17STR
10DEX
13CON
8INT
12WIS
15CHA

Heavy armor and a Bonus Action Dash, so you arrive first and arrive armored. Get there, Divine SmiteDivine Smite1st-level EvocationCastingBonus ActionRangeSelfDurationInstantaneousDamage2d8 RadiantThe target takes an extra 2d8 Radiant damage from the attack. The damage increases by 1d8 if the target is a Fiend or an Undead. the leader, and stand over your allies when it goes badly.

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Orc FAQ

Is the orc good in D&D 2024?

Yes, especially for barbarians, paladins and fighters. Adrenaline Rush gives a Bonus Action Dash with Temporary Hit Points, Relentless Endurance drops you to 1 hit point instead of 0 once per Long Rest, and Darkvision reaches 120 feet.

Is there a half-orc in D&D 2024?

No. The 2024 Player's Handbook replaces the half-orc with the orc. Relentless Endurance carries over, and Adrenaline Rush is new.

How does Adrenaline Rush work?

As a Bonus Action you take the Dash action and gain Temporary Hit Points equal to your Proficiency Bonus. You can do it a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, and you regain all uses on a Short or Long Rest.

What is the best class for an orc?

Barbarian. Rage, a Bonus Action Dash and Relentless Endurance make an orc barbarian very hard to keep away and very hard to put down. Paladin and fighter are close behind.

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This guide includes material from the System Reference Document 5.2 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.