The missing playable aquatic race

[Millstone85]

In a thread on Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, this comment was made:

Sea Elves... we just need one more aquatic race for a fully differentiated underwater party

Playable aquatic races currently include the water genasi (EEPC), the sea elf (MToF) and the triton (VGtM).


I agree we need a fourth. But what should it be?

[Tectorman]

I'm hoping for merfolk, and specifically merfolk that can do Daryl Hannah's Splash trick of being able to grow legs when they're not wet.

[Naanomi]

I mean... mechanically we are lacking a +INT race... and a small race would be nice... but lore wise nothing really fits that.

Lore wise (from past editions), reasonable choice... Kuo-Toa, Hengeyokai (crab, carp); Spirit Folk (river, sea), Locathah, several Lizardman Variants

[Beechgnome]

Zoveri are aquatic half humanoid, half octopus creatures in Celestia. Perhaps a material plane version? They can take on legs for walking, but prefer the water. They are medium not small and lorewise they are really another Charisma-based race. (Maybe +1 Con, +2 Cha.) Unique ability would be their once a long rest ink cloud, and maybe some sort of grappling advantage?

[Unoriginal]

Lobster-folk.

[the_brazenburn]

I agree with kuo-toa. That would be really cool, especially if they got Int buffs.

We could have some interesting RP that way, as well. What about a kuo-toa warlock that's convinced itself that it's a cleric?

[Naanomi]

For FR, Shalarin also I guess.

Kuo-Toa, Shalarin, and Locathah seem the most reasonable outside of an ‘Oriental Adventures’ type book

[Requilac]

I believe you are forgetting the lizardfolk which also have a swimming speed.

Hmm, so all the monsters currently in 5e which are humanoid, bipedal and have a swimming speed are Bullywugs, Lizard folk, Kuo-Toa, Sahuagin, Deep Scions and Sea Spawn. Almost all of those are specifically pointed out as being evil though and are thus unlikely to become player races. But I mean they did create those monstrous races in Volo's so it is quite possible that these might become playable races. I wouldn't bet on any of them though.

Also what needs to be kept in mind is that the rogue surrogate from ToA is a grung, which also has a swimming speed. Perhaps it may become a PC race too. I doubt it is just going to be for that single character after all.

[HolyDraconus]

Air Genasi. Seriously. Even in 5e with the gimped version, air genasi can still rock this.

[Naanomi]

Lizardman and half-sea-Elf can swim but not breathe underwater

Air Genasi and warforged don’t need to breathe, but lack swim speeds

In my mind, you need both to be a really aquatic adventurer

(Note a few class options give one or both, but not at first level)

[Regitnui]

Sahuagin, anyone? I know their Limited Amphibiousness makes them poor long-term overland adventurers, but they've made bigger changes adapting player races, and if you're playing an aquatic race, you're going to expect an abundance of water.

[thoroughlyS]

The obvious answer is the koalinth, or aquatic hobgoblin. You could also port over the Aventi (water humans) or Darfellan (orca people) from 3.5.

[GreatWyrmGold]

We could have some interesting RP that way, as well. What about a kuo-toa warlock that's convinced itself that it's a cleric?

Lore-wise, what's the difference? How popular your cult is?


A lot of the things mentioned here sound neat. The sahuagin and kuo-toa have the most D&D cred, and the merfolk have the most traditional-fantasy cred...but a clever little cephalopod-person would be fun. Or selkies, I don't think anyone's suggested those yet.

[vicente408]

The obvious answer is the koalinth, or aquatic hobgoblin. You could also port over the Aventi (water humans) or Darfellan (orca people) from 3.5.

I was going to mention Darfellans but realized they don’t actually breathe water but hold their breath for long periods of time, as actual aquatic mammals like whales do. So you would have to surface periodically (by 3.5 stats it was roughly ten minutes max, depending on your Con score).

I’m going to second the idea of a cephalopod-based race, though. That sounds cool as heck. Int bonus, maybe a natural camouflage to give you a bonus to stealth? Or an ink spray/cloud? Grapple bonus??

[Millstone85]

Lots of creatures I have never heard of. I will be sure to read on them.

And yeah, the race must neither be among the drowning or slow-swimming ones. It probably needs to work for regular land adventures as well.

Lore-wise, what's the difference? How popular your cult is?

According to the PHB p205, the warlock is considered an arcane spellcaster, which means a direct access to the Weave as opposed to one mediated by divine power.

From this we can assume a warlock is taught secrets and/or durably imbued with power by their patron, unlike the ongoing connection between a cleric and their god.

But to one not interested in such magobabble, it does make little difference.

[Naanomi]

Also, from a ‘greater Cosmology’ standpoint... a God and it’s ability to form a connection with a Cleric (and worshipers as a whole) is a unique sort of thing that other beings (even those with cults and religions) may emulate but never fully reproduce

[Mortis_Elrod]

If your counting plane shift , we already had plenty of Merfolk. And I would still count Lizardfolk since they have hold breath. You just need to come up every now and then. Unless you are playing complete underwater adventure.

[GreatWyrmGold]

...Where else would people be looking specifically for aquatic races?

[Naanomi]

Yeah, Lizardmen (and to an even lesser degree Tortles) get an ‘honorable mention’ at best... in line with Air Genasi and Warforged for being ‘half way there’

Starting at higher levels, a Warlock or Storm Barbarian can also get the goods... but not from 1st

[sambojin]

Lizardman and half-sea-Elf can swim but not breathe underwater

Air Genasi and warforged don’t need to breathe, but lack swim speeds

In my mind, you need both to be a really aquatic adventurer

(Note a few class options give one or both, but not at first level)

The Mariner fighting style from the Waterborne Adventures UA can give a swimming speed to either, but only when lightly or unarmoured. Since Minotaurs are now official, it's a pity that didn't make it in too.

(also gives a climbing speed, and can get silly with druid wildshape if your DM allows fighting styles to carry over. Still a good addition to the system though)

[Naanomi]

Yes, I suppose if UA is fully available, a Warforged or Air Genasi Fighter would meet my qualifications

[Klaus Teufel]

Here is a write-up for the Grung.

[Kadesh]

Water Genasi; +2 Con, +1 Wis; Resist Acid, Shape Water Cantrip, Create/Destroy Water 1/day.
Sea Elves; +2 Dex, +1 Con, Communicate with creatures with Swimming Speed
Triton; +1 Str, Con, Cha, Gust of Wind Cantrip, Wall of Water Cantrip

Given the trend, a +2 Con, and a +Int race seems fitting, although that then becomes Wizards, the race.

[Ogun]

Selkies are seal people?
I like the idea of a squid person with a shell on it's head, pointy or curled, dark vision, Int and Con boost, and Con bonus per day aquatic Dash/Inkcloud.

[the_brazenburn]

Also what needs to be kept in mind is that the rogue surrogate from ToA is a grung, which also has a swimming speed. Perhaps it may become a PC race too. I doubt it is just going to be for that single character after all.

There was an assassin in PotA that was a sahuagin. It had a specific stat block, so maybe we can expect those as a race too.

[Asmotherion]

Sahuagin, anyone? I know their Limited Amphibiousness makes them poor long-term overland adventurers, but they've made bigger changes adapting player races, and if you're playing an aquatic race, you're going to expect an abundance of water.

I could see myself playing a Sahuagin Warlock of the Kraken.

[Particle_Man]

Does Hasbro have the rights to Sea Monkeys?

[Sigreid]

Yes, I suppose if UA is fully available, a Warforged or Air Genasi Fighter would meet my qualifications

They have all kinds of attachments for warforged. Any reason they couldn't have a ballast and outboard motor attachment?

[mephnick]

Those pictires just make me question the inclusion of Sea Elves even more. We already had Triton, why the hell did we need Sea Elves?

[Kadesh]

Those pictires just make me question the inclusion of Sea Elves even more. We already had Triton, why the hell did we need Sea Elves?

Why did we need Bugbears when we had Orcs?