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D&D 2024 Species GuideTiefling Guide: Legacies, Classes and Builds

Which fiendish legacy to pick, the best classes for a tiefling in the 2024 rules, and two builds ready to play.

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

Overview

At a glance
Size
Medium or Small
Speed
30 ft
Darkvision
60 ft
Best legacy
Infernal
CasterFaceController

The 2024 tiefling chooses a fiendish legacy: Abyssal, Chthonic or Infernal. Each gives a damage resistance and a cantrip at level 1, then a free spell at levels 3 and 5. Every tiefling also knows ThaumaturgyThaumaturgyTransmutation cantripCastingActionRange30 feetDuration1 minuteYou manifest a minor wonder within range. You create one of the effects below within range. If you cast this spell multiple times, you can have up to three of its 1-minute effects active at a time. Altered Eyes. You alter the appearance of your eyes for 1 minute. Booming Voice. and has Darkvision.

Your background sets your ability scores, and your legacy spells use Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma, whichever you pick. That makes the tiefling a strong choice for any caster, not only the Charisma ones.

Thrain's take

Every tiefling I have met has a story about their grandmother and a contract. Do not sign anything they hand you. Do let them come along: a resistance, two free spells and a cantrip is a lot of help for one ancestor's bad decision. Infernal for most, Abyssal if you want Hold Person.

Strengths
  • A damage resistance: Poison, Necrotic or Fire
  • A cantrip at level 1 and free spells at levels 3 and 5, cast once per Long Rest without a slot
  • Legacy spells use Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma
  • ThaumaturgyThaumaturgyTransmutation cantripCastingActionRange30 feetDuration1 minuteYou manifest a minor wonder within range. You create one of the effects below within range. If you cast this spell multiple times, you can have up to three of its 1-minute effects active at a time. Altered Eyes. You alter the appearance of your eyes for 1 minute. Booming Voice. for free, and Medium or Small size
Weaknesses
  • Legacy spells are once per Long Rest unless you have slots
  • Non-casters get little from the spells
  • 60-foot Darkvision, not 120

Tiefling Traits

Darkvision

60 feet.

Fiendish Legacy

Choose Abyssal, Chthonic or Infernal. You gain its resistance and cantrip at level 1, and a spell at levels 3 and 5. Cast each leveled spell once per Long Rest without a slot, or with your own slots. Pick Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma as the spellcasting ability.

Otherworldly Presence

You know ThaumaturgyThaumaturgyTransmutation cantripCastingActionRange30 feetDuration1 minuteYou manifest a minor wonder within range. You create one of the effects below within range. If you cast this spell multiple times, you can have up to three of its 1-minute effects active at a time. Altered Eyes. You alter the appearance of your eyes for 1 minute. Booming Voice.: a booming voice, flickering flames, tremors. It uses your legacy's spellcasting ability.

Fiendish Legacies, Rated

Legendary: build around it Epic: excellent Rare: good Uncommon: works Common: weak fit
Infernal
Fire resistance, the most useful resistance to have, plus Fire BoltFire BoltEvocation cantripCastingActionRange120 feetDurationInstantaneousDamage1d10 FireYou hurl a mote of fire at a creature or an object within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 Fire damage. A flammable object hit by this spell starts burning if it isn't being worn or carried.. Then Hellish RebukeHellish Rebuke1st-level EvocationCastingReactionRange60 feetDurationInstantaneousSaveDexterityDamage2d10 FireThe creature that damaged you is momentarily surrounded by green flames. It makes a Dexterity saving throw, taking 2d10 Fire damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. at 3 and DarknessDarkness2nd-level EvocationConcentrationCastingActionRange60 feetDuration10 minutesFor the duration, magical Darkness spreads from a point within range and fills a 15-foot-radius Sphere. Darkvision can't see through it, and nonmagical light can't illuminate it. at 5. Darkness with the Devil's Sight invocation is a classic warlock combo.
Legendary
Abyssal
Poison resistance and Poison SprayPoison SprayNecromancy cantripCastingActionRange30 feetDurationInstantaneousDamage1d12 PoisonYou spray toxic mist at a creature within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d12 Poison damage., then Ray of SicknessRay of Sickness1st-level NecromancyCastingActionRange60 feetDurationInstantaneousDamage2d8 PoisonYou shoot a greenish ray at a creature within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 2d8 Poison damage and has the Poisoned condition until the end of your next turn. at 3 and 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 have the Paralyzed condition for the duration. At the end of each of its turns, the target repeats the save, ending the spell on itself on a success. at 5. Hold Person is the strongest legacy spell: a Paralyzed humanoid takes critical hits from anyone next to it.
Epic
Chthonic
Necrotic resistance and Chill TouchChill TouchNecromancy cantripCastingActionRangeTouchDurationInstantaneousDamage1d10 NecroticChanneling the chill of the grave, make a melee spell attack against a target within reach. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 Necrotic damage, and it can't regain Hit Points until the end of your next turn., then False LifeFalse Life1st-level NecromancyCastingActionRangeSelfDurationInstantaneousDamage2d4 + 4You gain 2d4 + 4 Temporary Hit Points. at 3 and Ray of EnfeeblementRay of Enfeeblement2nd-level NecromancyConcentrationCastingActionRange60 feetDuration1 minuteSaveConstitutionDamage1d8A beam of enervating energy shoots from you toward a creature within range. The target must make a Constitution saving throw. On a successful save, the target has Disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes until the start of your next turn. at 5. Good against undead-heavy campaigns, weaker elsewhere.
Rare

Best Classes for a Tiefling

Warlock (Infernal)
Warlocks have few spell slots, so free casts of Hellish RebukeHellish Rebuke1st-level EvocationCastingReactionRange60 feetDurationInstantaneousSaveDexterityDamage2d10 FireThe creature that damaged you is momentarily surrounded by green flames. It makes a Dexterity saving throw, taking 2d10 Fire damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. and DarknessDarkness2nd-level EvocationConcentrationCastingActionRange60 feetDuration10 minutesFor the duration, magical Darkness spreads from a point within range and fills a 15-foot-radius Sphere. Darkvision can't see through it, and nonmagical light can't illuminate it. matter more here than anywhere. Darkness plus Devil's Sight lets you see while enemies cannot.
Legendary
Sorcerer
Sorcerers prepare few spells, so extra ones help. Infernal adds Hellish Rebuke, which is not on the sorcerer list.
Epic
Bard (Abyssal)
A free 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 have the Paralyzed condition for the duration. At the end of each of its turns, the target repeats the save, ending the spell on itself on a success. every day on a support caster who would cast it anyway. Thaumaturgy suits a performer.
Epic
Paladin (Abyssal)
Paladins cannot normally cast 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 have the Paralyzed condition for the duration. At the end of each of its turns, the target repeats the save, ending the spell on itself on a success.. Paralyze a humanoid, then every hit from within 5 feet is a critical hit, smite dice included.
Epic
Wizard
Intelligence-cast legacy spells and a resistance. Abyssal and Chthonic spells are already wizard spells, so you mostly gain free casts. Infernal adds Hellish Rebuke, which wizards cannot normally cast.
Rare
Cleric
Wisdom-cast legacy spells, and Abyssal adds Hold Person, which clerics already have. A solid pick, not special.
Rare
Rogue (Infernal)
Darkness at level 5 covers an escape, and Fire Bolt is a ranged attack in a pinch. Rogues get little else.
Rare
Druid
Wisdom-cast extra spells. Abyssal's Poison Spray is already a druid cantrip, so another legacy adds more.
Rare
Fighter
The resistance is the main benefit. You can cast the legacy spells, but with a low casting stat they rarely land.
Uncommon
Ranger
Wisdom-cast legacy spells help a little. A species with more speed or senses helps more.
Uncommon
Monk
Wisdom-cast spells on a class that wants its action for attacks. Darkness can cover a retreat.
Uncommon
Barbarian
You cannot cast spells while Raging, which leaves you with a resistance and Thaumaturgy.
Common

Tiefling Builds

Tiefling warlock
BlasterThe Hellfire Pact
Legacy
Infernal
Class
Warlock (Fiend Patron)
Background
Acolyte (Magic InitiateMagic InitiateOrigin featChoose a level 1 spell from the same list you selected for this feat's cantrips. You always have that spell prepared. You can cast it once without a spell slot, and you regain the ability to cast it in that way when you finish a Long Rest.)
8STR
13DEX
14CON
10INT
13WIS
17CHA

Eldritch BlastEldritch BlastEvocation cantripCastingActionRange120 feetDurationInstantaneousDamage1d10 ForceYou hurl a beam of crackling energy. Make a ranged spell attack against one creature or object in range. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 Force damage. every turn, a free Hellish RebukeHellish Rebuke1st-level EvocationCastingReactionRange60 feetDurationInstantaneousSaveDexterityDamage2d10 FireThe creature that damaged you is momentarily surrounded by green flames. It makes a Dexterity saving throw, taking 2d10 Fire damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. when someone hits you, and from level 5 a free DarknessDarkness2nd-level EvocationConcentrationCastingActionRange60 feetDuration10 minutesFor the duration, magical Darkness spreads from a point within range and fills a 15-foot-radius Sphere. Darkvision can't see through it, and nonmagical light can't illuminate it. to fight inside with Devil's Sight.

Build this tiefling
Free to start. No card needed.
Tiefling bard
SupportThe Silver Tongue
Legacy
Abyssal
Class
Bard (College of Lore)
Background
Acolyte (Magic InitiateMagic InitiateOrigin featChoose a level 1 spell from the same list you selected for this feat's cantrips. You always have that spell prepared. You can cast it once without a spell slot, and you regain the ability to cast it in that way when you finish a Long Rest.)
8STR
14DEX
13CON
10INT
13WIS
17CHA

Talk your way in, and when talking fails, cast a free 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 have the Paralyzed condition for the duration. At the end of each of its turns, the target repeats the save, ending the spell on itself on a success. and let the fighter land the critical hits. Cutting Words keeps enemies from rolling their way out.

Build this tiefling
Free to start. No card needed.

Tiefling FAQ

Is the tiefling good in D&D 2024?

Yes, especially for casters. Each fiendish legacy gives a damage resistance, a cantrip and two free spells by level 5, and the spells use Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma. It is one of the best species for warlocks, sorcerers and bards.

What is the best tiefling legacy in D&D 2024?

Infernal for most characters, for fire resistance and a free Darkness. Abyssal is best if you want Hold Person, especially on a paladin or bard. Chthonic is the weakest outside undead-heavy campaigns.

Do tieflings get a Charisma bonus in D&D 2024?

No. In the 2024 rules ability score increases come from your background, and legacy spells can use Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma. A tiefling can be any class without falling behind.

What is the best class for a tiefling?

Warlock, with the Infernal legacy. Warlocks have few spell slots, so free casts of Hellish Rebuke and Darkness add a lot, and Darkness pairs with the Devil's Sight invocation.

Keep reading

Warlock Guide: Build, Invocations and RatingsD&D 2024 Class Guide
Bard Guide: Build, Spells and RatingsD&D 2024 Class Guide
How to Build a Party FaceD&D Build Guide

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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.