[RPG] What flying races are there

dnd-5eflightraces

As we're getting to higher levels I think a flying race may no longer be as much of an issue, of course I'll double check with my DM before using one.

I was unable to find a list of the flying-capable races though.

So far I know about these:

  • Aarakocra
  • Fairy
  • Winged Tiefling
  • Owlin
  • Aasimar (limited)

Kobold has a note about Urds (Winged Kobolds) but there doesn't seem to be an actual variant racial trait. I guess the DM might allow it as a replacement for Pack Tactics maybe?

Is there any other race capable of flight?

Best Answer

The only one you missed is a Lineage character with a flying speed.

The Lineages (Dhampir, Hexblood, Reborn) from Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft can have a flying speed if their original race had a flying speed, i.e. was one of the races you listed in your question. They all have the Ancestral Legacy trait, which says:

Ancestral Legacy

If you replace a race with this lineage, you can keep the following elements of that race: any skill proficiencies you gained from it and any climbing, flying, or swimming speed you gained from it.

These are the only ones not included in your question. So the full list of races with a flying speed is:

  • Aarakocra (Elemental Evil Player's Companion, Explorer's Guide to Wildemount)
  • Owlin (Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos)
  • Fairy (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight)
  • Variant Tiefling (Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide)
  • Lineage (Dhampir, Hexblood, or Reborn), with one of the above as the original race (Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft)

With lineages, there is some ambiguity surrounding the armor restrictions that come with the flying speeds the original races have. This ambiguity is discussed in this Q&A: Can a former Aarakocra turned lineage fly while wearing armor?

Honorable Mentions

As you mentioned, Aasimar (Protector subrace only, doesn't transfer to a lineage) have an ability to provide limited flight. The Gem Dragonborn from Fizban's Treasury of Dragons have a limited flight ability similar to the Protector Aasimar. Air Genasi can cast levitate once per long rest, regardless of class. And finally, the Simic Hybrid race from Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica can take the Manta Glide ability, which states:

You have ray-like fins that you can use as wings to slow your fall or allow you to glide. When you fall and aren’t incapacitated, you can subtract up to 100 feet from the fall when calculating falling damage, and you can move up to 2 feet horizontally for every 1 foot you descend.

It isn't exactly flying, more like falling with style.

As for kobolds, there is unfortunately no official kobold variant with a flying speed.

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