Tiefling Race Guide: D&D 5e (2014)

Introduction

The Tiefling is D&D 5e 2014's most iconically thematic race, a lineage touched by infernal power that carries mechanical weight to match. The base Tiefling from the Player's Handbook delivers a +2 Charisma bonus, fire resistance, and a scaling suite of free spells that do not touch your class spell slots. For any class that runs on Charisma, that package is exceptional from level 1.

What separates the Tiefling from other Charisma races is the depth of its kit. Hellish Resistance is a passive, permanent damage mitigation. Infernal Legacy front-loads spell access (a cantrip at character creation, a 2nd-level spell, Hellish Rebuke, at level 3, and another 2nd-level spell, Darkness, at level 5) before you would otherwise unlock those tiers in many classes. And the Darkvision that comes standard means you operate in the dark without investing resources elsewhere.

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Disclaimer

Ratings in this guide use a four-color system:

• ● Blue - Excellent. A standout choice that consistently delivers.
• ● Green - Good. Solid and reliable. Worth taking; rarely a mistake.
• ● Orange - Situational. Useful in specific builds or campaign contexts.
• ● Red - Poor. Weak or outclassed. Avoid unless you have a specific reason.

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Racial Traits

● Ability Score Increase: Intelligence +1, Charisma +2

The +2 Charisma is the headline. For Warlocks, Sorcerers, and Paladins, Charisma directly governs spell attack rolls, spell save DCs, and class features. Starting with a racial +2 means you hit Charisma thresholds that matter faster. The +1 Intelligence is minor (occasionally helpful for skill checks and Arcana) but not the reason you play Tiefling.

● Darkvision (60 ft.)

Standard 60-foot Darkvision: dim light treated as bright light, darkness treated as dim light. Permanent, passive, never consumes spell slots or resources. Consistently valuable in exploration and dungeon environments.

● Hellish Resistance

You have resistance to fire damage, permanently, passively, with no activation required. Fire is among the most commonly dealt damage types in D&D: breath weapons, fire spells, fiends, traps, and environmental hazards all frequently deal fire damage. Half damage from all of it, forever, without spending a single action.

● Infernal Legacy

This trait delivers three spells across three levels:

● Thaumaturgy (cantrip): A utility cantrip that lets you create minor magical effects: your voice booming at three times its normal volume, flames flickering, your eyes turning black. Limited in hard combat utility but an exceptional roleplay tool for establishing presence and menace.

● Hellish Rebuke (1/long rest, 2nd-level spell): A reaction spell that triggers when a creature deals damage to you. The target must make a Dexterity saving throw or take 3d10 fire damage (half on success), because the racial version is cast as a 2nd-level spell. Costs nothing from your action economy, and averages 16.5 damage on a failed save at 3rd level, when a Warlock would need its only 2nd-level slot to match it.

● Darkness (1/long rest, 2nd-level spell): Creates a 15-foot radius sphere of magical darkness that blocks all vision including Darkvision. Tactically powerful when you can see through it (e.g., Warlock's Devil's Sight invocation). Without that setup, Darkness is a double-edged tool that harms allies as well as enemies, and it needs your concentration. The Warlock pairing of Darkness and Devil's Sight is one of the most effective tactical setups in 2014 D&D.

● Languages: Common and Infernal

Common is universal. Infernal is thematic and occasionally relevant in campaigns featuring devils, the Nine Hells, or fiend-adjacent factions.

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Subraces and Variants

The base Tiefling in the 2014 Player's Handbook has no subraces. You play the standard infernal-touched lineage and receive the full racial package described above.

The Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide (SCAG) introduces several variant Tiefling options:

● Feral Tiefling (SCAG): Changes the ASI to +2 DEX / +1 INT instead of +1 INT / +2 CHA. Infernal Legacy stays, still using Charisma, so the spells get weaker on a low-Charisma build, but you gain Dexterity, making it better for Dexterity-based Hexblade Warlocks or Rogues. The most commonly used variant.

● Devil's Tongue Tiefling (SCAG): Replaces all of Infernal Legacy with Vicious Mockery (cantrip), Charm Person cast as a 2nd-level spell at 3rd level, and Enthrall at 5th, each once per long rest. Better for social-heavy campaigns; worse in combat.

● Hellfire Tiefling (SCAG): Replaces Hellish Rebuke with Burning Hands, cast as a 2nd-level spell once per day from 3rd level. You keep Thaumaturgy and Darkness. More area damage, but it costs your action instead of your reaction.

● Winged Tiefling (SCAG): Replaces Infernal Legacy entirely with a flying speed of 30 feet. Flight is one of the most powerful mobility features in the game. At higher levels, trading spell access for permanent flight is a strong option depending on your class and GM's allowance.

Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes adds a second layer of variants: bloodline subraces tied to a specific archdevil, each of the Lords of the Nine Hells. At the DM's discretion, a Tiefling can choose one of these bloodlines instead of the PHB base package. Every bloodline keeps the +2 Charisma but swaps the secondary ability score and replaces Infernal Legacy's cantrip and two bonus spells (still cast once per long rest, still using Charisma) with a different thematic set. The Asmodeus-linked bloodline is mechanically identical to the PHB base Tiefling above; the rest change your secondary stat and free spells outright.

A few stand out for build purposes: Dispater and Glasya trade INT for DEX, useful for a Dexterity-based Hexblade or Rogue in the same way Feral (SCAG) does, but with spy- and heist-flavored spells instead of a stat-only swap. Zariel is the only bloodline with a Strength bonus, useful for a Charisma-Strength hybrid like a Paladin who wants a small martial boost alongside spellcasting. Fierna is the only Wisdom-secondary option, a niche fit for a multiclass dip into a Wisdom class. The rest mostly reflavor Infernal Legacy's spell selection without changing your stat priorities.

All ratings and the example build use the PHB base Tiefling. SCAG and MToF variants are GM-permissioned.

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Ability Scores

Charisma (primary): Your racial +2 makes Charisma your natural primary stat. Push this to 20 as quickly as possible through Ability Score Improvements. Your spell save DC (8 + proficiency + CHA modifier) directly determines how threatening you are.

Constitution (secondary): No racial bonus, but Constitution governs hit points and Concentration saving throws. If you are a spellcaster relying on Concentration spells, a minimum of 14 is recommended.

Intelligence (+1 racial): The minor racial bonus goes here. Knowledge-intensive classes slightly benefit. For pure Charisma casters, the +1 INT adds marginal value to Arcana and Investigation.

Dexterity: For unarmored builds, 14 Dexterity gives you AC 15 with Mage Armor, a baseline acceptable score. Medium armor Paladins want 14 for the cap. Dump to 10 if you are wearing heavy armor.

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Best Classes for Tieflings

● Warlock

The premier Tiefling class. Warlock runs off Charisma for spell attack rolls and Agonizing Blast damage. The Darkness + Devil's Sight combination (the racial Darkness spell paired with the Devil's Sight Eldritch Invocation) creates a powerful tactical setup: you cast Darkness, you see perfectly through it, enemies are blinded inside it and grant you advantage on attacks while they attack you with disadvantage. One of the most reliable consistent-advantage setups available to any class in 5e 2014. Hellish Resistance pairs well with the Fiend patron, whose Dark One's Blessing temp HP triggers on kills.

● Sorcerer

Sorcerers use Charisma for everything. The Tiefling's +2 CHA gives you the stat you want and Hellish Resistance to fire damage, which interacts with Draconic Bloodline: with a fire dragon ancestor (brass, gold or red), Elemental Affinity at 6th level adds your Charisma modifier to fire spell damage, but its option to spend a sorcery point for fire resistance is wasted, since you already have it. Infernal Legacy provides free spells that stretch a Sorcerer's short list of known spells.

● Paladin

Paladins use Charisma for Aura of Protection (CHA modifier to all saving throws within 10 feet at level 6), spell save DCs, and spellcasting. Divine Smite itself uses spell slots, not Charisma. The Tiefling's +2 CHA directly scales the Aura. Hellish Resistance makes a front-line Paladin much more durable in fire-heavy encounters. Oathbreaker or Oath of Vengeance Paladins lean particularly hard into the thematic identity.

● Bard

Bards run off Charisma for Bardic Inspiration, spell DCs, and spellcasting. The Tiefling's +2 CHA fits naturally, Hellish Resistance covers a common damage type, and Thaumaturgy provides social theatrical flair Bards can use.

● Sorcerer / Warlock Multiclass (Sorclock)

The "Sorclock" multiclass runs entirely off Charisma and benefits from every Tiefling trait. The Darkness + Devil's Sight setup works here too. A complex but very powerful build where the Tiefling's racial package multiplies in value.

● Rogue

An Arcane Trickster Rogue gets marginal use from the +1 Intelligence, all Rogues appreciate Darkvision, and Hellish Rebuke gives a reaction damage tool. However, +2 CHA is largely wasted, since Rogues do not cast from Charisma. A Feral Tiefling (SCAG) with +2 DEX is strictly better for this class if allowed.

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Worst Classes for Tieflings

● Barbarian

Barbarians want Strength and Constitution. The Tiefling gives +2 CHA and +1 INT, and neither stat matters for Barbarian. Hellish Resistance is nice passive mitigation, but you are leaving most of the racial kit unused. A Half-Orc or Mountain Dwarf will consistently outperform.

● Fighter

Fighters need Strength (or Dexterity) and Constitution. Unless you are building an Eldritch Knight (who benefits from +1 INT modestly), the Tiefling's primary stat spread misses the Fighter's needs entirely.

● Druid

Druids want Wisdom above everything else. The Tiefling has no Wisdom bonus. Hellish Resistance is passive value, Darkvision is always good, but the class and race work in opposite stat directions.

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Best Feats for Tieflings

● War Caster

Advantage on Concentration saving throws, ability to cast spells as opportunity attacks, and the ability to perform somatic components while holding a weapon and shield. For a Tiefling Sorcerer or Warlock concentrating on Hypnotic Pattern or Hunger of Hadar, War Caster is the difference between maintaining control and losing it to the first hit. Essential for concentration-dependent spellcasters.

● Elemental Adept (Fire)

Your fire damage spells ignore fire resistance, and rolls of 1 on fire damage dice are treated as 2. For a Sorcerer or Warlock relying on Fireball, Scorching Ray, or Fire Bolt, this removes the most common damage-resistance roadblock. Pairs thematically and mechanically with your Tiefling fire identity.

● Alert

+5 to initiative, you can't be surprised while conscious, and creatures don't gain advantage on attacks against you from being unseen by you. For a Warlock who wants to use Darkness before enemies act, or for a Sorcerer who needs to control the battlefield from the first round, initiative matters.

● Spell Sniper

Doubles the range of spells that require attack rolls, ignores half cover and three-quarters cover for spell attacks, and teaches you one attack-roll cantrip from the bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, warlock or wizard list. For a Warlock who wants to Eldritch Blast from extreme range while operating in Darkness, Spell Sniper extends the kill zone significantly.

● Actor

+1 CHA (turns a 17 into an 18), advantage on Deception and Performance checks when impersonating someone, and the ability to mimic sounds and voices. Situational but thematically rich for a Tiefling trying to blend in with mortal society.

● Infernal Constitution

A Tiefling-only racial feat: +1 CON, resistance to cold and poison damage, and advantage on saves against being poisoned. Unconditional survivability that works for any build, no fire-spell dependency required.

● Flames of Phlegethos

A Tiefling-only racial feat: +1 Intelligence or Charisma, reroll 1s on fire spell damage dice, and wreathe yourself in flames after casting a fire spell, burning creatures that hit you in melee. Strong for a Sorcerer or Warlock leaning into fire; close to dead weight for a Tiefling whose spell list skips fire damage entirely.

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Multiclassing Considerations

Warlock / Sorcerer (Sorclock): Take 2-3 levels of Warlock (for Devil's Sight + Agonizing Blast invocations and Pact Magic slots), then go primarily Sorcerer for Metamagic and higher-level spells. Use Warlock slots to generate Sorcery Points to power Metamagic. Tiefling's Darkness + Devil's Sight is at its best here.

Paladin / Warlock (Padlock): Take 6 levels of Paladin (Aura of Protection applies your Charisma modifier to all nearby saves, which is extraordinary), then shift to Warlock for Eldritch Blast + short-rest spell slots to fuel Divine Smite. The Tiefling's +2 CHA directly scales both classes and the Aura. One of the most powerful multiclass combinations in 5e 2014.

Sorcerer / Paladin: Paladin 2 (for Divine Smite + Fighting Style) into Sorcerer levels. The Tiefling's CHA bonus is extremely well used when every class feature scales from the same stat.

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Example Build: Tiefling Warlock (Levels 1-10)

Race: Tiefling (PHB base) | Class: Warlock, Fiend Patron, Pact of the Tome | Background: Charlatan

Stats (Point Buy, 27 points): STR 8, DEX 14, CON 14, INT 8 (+1=9), WIS 12, CHA 15 (+2=17)

Core Loop: Darkness and Hex both need concentration, so pick one per fight. In a fight you can take alone or with ranged allies outside the sphere, cast Darkness and fire Eldritch Blast at advantage with Devil's Sight while enemies inside attack you at disadvantage. Otherwise, Hex and blast. Hellish Rebuke punishes the first attacker who damages you, Dark One's Blessing converts kills into temp HP, and Pact Magic slots refresh on a short rest.

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FAQ

Is the base Tiefling better than variant Tieflings from SCAG?

For most Charisma-primary builds, yes. The PHB base Tiefling gets +2 CHA, which directly improves your spell save DC. The SCAG Feral variant trades that +2 CHA for +2 DEX, which suits a Rogue or Dexterity martial, and the other SCAG variants swap spells or add wings without changing your stats.

Do Tiefling racial spells from Infernal Legacy use my class spell slots?

No. Thaumaturgy is a cantrip and costs no slots. Hellish Rebuke and Darkness are each usable once per long rest as racial abilities. They do not expend class spell slots.

What ability score does Hellish Rebuke use?

Hellish Rebuke uses your Charisma modifier for its spell save DC (8 + proficiency bonus + CHA modifier). The DC scales well with the Tiefling's racial +2 CHA.

Is Darkness a good spell for Tieflings?

Darkness is situationally strong. It blocks all vision in a 15-foot sphere, exploitable if you have a way to see through it (Devil's Sight). Without that setup, Darkness blocks your allies too.

Can Tieflings be good martial classes?

Tieflings are best as Charisma-based martials, specifically Paladin, who uses CHA for Aura of Protection and spellcasting. Pure Strength-based martials like Barbarian get minimal value from the Tiefling kit.

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Final Notes

Hot Take: The famous Darkness plus Devil's Sight combo is a solo trick. Inside the sphere, an ally can't see its target and the target can't see it, so its attacks roll with advantage and disadvantage at once, a straight roll, and the same goes for enemies attacking it. Only the Warlock comes out ahead. It also eats your concentration, so no Hex. Use the racial Darkness to block an archer's line of sight or cover a retreat, and save the full combo for fights where you are alone in the dark.

The Tiefling is the complete Charisma caster package in 5e 2014. No race matches the combination of +2 CHA, permanent fire resistance, Darkvision, and three free spells that scale across early levels. For Warlock in particular, the racial kit is almost tailor-made: Darkness + Devil's Sight is one of the strongest tactical setups in the game, and Hellish Rebuke gives you a reaction damage tool that most classes would pay a feat slot to access.

The stigma and social friction Tieflings encounter in roleplaying are features, not bugs. They create narrative tension, give your character a reason to push harder, and make victories feel earned. The best Tiefling characters lean into that identity rather than explaining it away.

Pick your subclass, max your Charisma, and let them fear what they do not understand.