Eladrin were first introduced to Dungeons & Dragons in the 2nd and 3rd editions. They were originally a Celestial from the plane of Arborea. 4th edition changed things up by introducing a playable race of fey Eladrin. This a versatile race with many benefits to players. Choosing this race gives you advantages over human characters as well as many other races. If you've never played an Eladrin and are interested to get to know the race more, read on. We've put together a list of 10 reasons why this might be the best race for your next character. Don't be afraid to play one of these impressive Fey creatures. You may find that this race is perfect for a concept you've had kicking around for a while.

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10 10. Surprise Enemies With Strength

The element of surprise is indispensable in combat. The Eladrin race takes after other races of Fey origin. They can develop impressive physical strength without becoming large and bulky. An extremely powerful Eladrin will merely appear fit when in reality they possess the strength of several humans. Standing at average human height this would make an Eladrin seem like an average foe. Once engaged in combat, enemies would quickly realize they were facing more power than they had anticipated. You could carefully use this to your advantage while playing this race.

9 9. Smarter Than The Average Bear

Intelligence is an invaluable ability score for some player classes. Wizards rely on their impressive depth and breadth of knowledge to power their characters. The Eladrin are incredibly intelligent people who value a sharp mind. This is represented in character creation with a +2 intelligence racial bonus. If you've got a character concept on your mind that's bookish, brainy or even nerdy, this may be a good choice for you. Wizard is a favored class for this wise race. Their cunning and dexterity make great rogues as well.

8 8. Otherworldy Youth And Vigor

An Eladrin child will develop and grow at the same rate as the average human child. Once they reach maturity an amazing difference emerges. Eladrin age at an incredibly slow rate. They enjoy vitality and health late into their lives which span hundreds of years. They often avoid all of the annoying ailments of old age such as dementia and arthritis. If you've always wanted to play a character with years of wisdom and decades of experience without the frailty of age, this is a great option.

7 7. Pick A Racial Bonus

Racial bonuses play a huge part in character creation. A perfect synergy between class requirements and racial traits can turn out an impressive character that players can get excited about. If you choose to play an Eladrin you get to choose which ability you'd like to enhance. You can pick between a +2 to either your charisma or your dexterity. This allows you to tailor your racial bonuses to the type of character you have in mind. Are you an adept lock pick who needs the dexterity of a cat? Maybe a charming bard or a handsome ranger is more your style? Either way, this race gives you an opportunity to choose a stat to boost to help you hone and shape your character.

6 6. World Class Education

The Eladrin are highly intelligent people. They believe in pushing themselves to be the best version of themselves that they can be. Eladrin characters are very well educated and gain additional training in any one skill of their choice. The training provides characters with a +5 to checks of that skill.

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This is where your character can really get interesting as the skill does not need to be associated with a character's class. Choose something wild that compliments a complex backstory or something practical that balances out your character. Have fun with this helpful boost.

5 5. No Need For Sleep

Eladrin in the Jungles of Chult DnD

One of the physical benefits Eladrin enjoy over other races is the ability to go without sleep. Periods of rest leave players (or even whole parties) at risk for an ambush. As their bodies are harmed they require rest to heal and carry on. This can set the entire party back after a particularly rough encounter. In place of sleep, the Eladrin enters a meditative trance. In this state, they are completely aware of their surroundings and can alert their party to approaching enemies. The same benefits are achieved with a 4-hour trance that humans and other sleeping races get from 6 hours of sleep.

4 4. Fey Origin

The Eladrin are of Fey origin. This is the source for most of their racial traits, many of which will feel familiar to those familiar with elves and related races in the game. The long lifespan, slow aging, and lack of need for sleep are all Fey characteristics. This gives the Eladrin many advantages over non-fey races. They can acquire Fey feats and traits. You can use these feats and traits to give your character an edge over others of the same class. If created carefully an Eladrin character can prove to be a powerful asset. As the Eladrin originates from the Feywild they are subject to all of the related racial effects. Keep that in mind as you play.

3 3. Exclusive Paragon Paths

There are several interesting Paragon Paths that list Eladrin race as a prerequisite. Shiere Knight provides the character with the ability to charm enemies with visions of the Feywild. he charmed person becomes so enamored with the images that they cannot bear to see the Eladrin harmed. Watcher of the Night is exclusively for Eladrin rogues who favor sneak attacks with blades like daggers. Blade Banshee favors Rangers and increases damage done by those who dual wield. Rangers can also choose Blade of Cendriane for teleportation powers. These are just a few examples of specialized characteristics Eladrin can take.

2 2. Eladrin Escape

Eladrin have the ability to Fey Step. This grants them the ability to teleport 5 squares in a single action. Many Fey characters can use this ability but Eladrin have the option to use this racial power as an immediate action when grabbed, immobilized, or restrained. This could spell the difference between life and death for a character or even a party. Imagine being able to vanish from your attacker's grasp and appear behind them, poised for the perfect attack. It's an invaluable power in close combat situations.

1 1. Exclusive Feats

Race-exclusive feats can often be the what draws a player to create a character of a specific race. Eladrin Soldier grants a player proficiency with all spears as well as +2 to damage with not just spars but longswords. For fighters, Eladrin's Challenge grants a -3 to adjacent enemy attack rolls. Eladrin Wizards have an impressive feat all their own. If they take Eladrin Sword Wizardry they can use their longsword as an implement when using wizard powers. That is a feat worth writing up an Eladrin for.

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