Ancestry: Genasi
Tracing their ancestry to the genies of the Elemental Planes, each genasi can tap into the power of one of the elements. Air, earth, fire, and water — these are the four pillars of the Material Plane and the four types of genasi. Some genasi are direct descendants of a genie, while others were born to non-genasi parents who lived near a place suffused by a genie’s magic.
Genasi generally appear as a humanoid with pointed ears and elemental features, such as hair that appears like glowing charcoal or skin that seems to always glisten with water.
Genasi Traits
Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 2, and another by 1, to a maximum of 20.
Age. Genasi mature at about the same rate as humans and reach adulthood in their late teens. They live somewhat longer than humans do, up to 120 years.
Alignment. Independent and self-reliant, genasi tend toward a neutral alignment.
Creature Type. You are a Humanoid. You are also considered an Elemental for any prerequisite or effect that requires you to be an Elemental.
Size. Genasi are as varied as their mortal parents but are generally built like humans, standing anywhere from 5 feet to over 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Absorb Elements. When you take Bludgeoning, Cold, Fire, or Force damage from a spell or other magical effect, you can use your reaction to half that damage, as you absorb some of the elemental power from the magic.
Once you use this feature, you must complete a short or long rest to do so again.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Primordial. Primordial is a guttural language, filled with harsh syllables and hard consonants.
Heritage: Air Genasi
Air genasi are descended from a creature of elemental air, likely a djinn. As changeable as the weather, your moods shift from calm to wild and violent with little warning, but these storms rarely last long.
Air genasi typically have light blue skin, hair, and eyes. A faint but constant breeze accompanies them, tousling the hair and stirring the clothing. Some air genasi speak with breathy voices, marked by a faint echo.
Air Resistance. You are resistant to Force damage.
Unending Breath. Channeling the power of elemental air, you don't need to breathe.
Elemental Power (Air). You know the Thaumaturgy cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Feather Fall spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Gust of Wind spell once and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Heritage: Dust Genasi
Dust Genasi are descended from a creature of both elemental earth and air. They are a fickle people, always moving from place to place and never focusing on a single thing- always multiple.
A dust genasi's skin appears perpetually dusty or sand-like. Their hair is typically black, white, or a mix of the two, and their eyes are yellow.
Dust Resistance. You are resistant to either Force or Bludgeoning damage. You choose your resistance when you choose this heritage.
Sand Blast. As an action, you blast sand in a 15 foot cone. Creatures within this zone must succeed a Constitution saving throw, where the DC equals 8 + your Proficiency Bonus + your Constitution modifier. On a failed save, creatures are Blinded for 1 minute. Creatures can repeat this save at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect on themselves on a success.
You can use this feature a number of times per day equal to your Proficiency Bonus, regaining all expended uses after a long rest.
Heritage: Earth Genasi
Earth genasi are descended from a creature of elemental earth, likely a dao. Earth genasi inherit steadfast strength and control over earth, tending to be stubborn and enduring.
An earth genasi’s skin can be the colors of stone and earth or a human skin tone with glittering sparkles like gem dust. Some earth genasi have lines marking their skin like cracks, either showing glimmering gemlike veins or a dim, yellowish glow. Earth genasi hair can appear carved of stone or crystal or resemble strands of spun metal.
Earth Resistance. You are resistant to Bludgeoning damage.
Earth Walk. You can move across nonmagical difficult terrain without expending extra movement if you are using your walking speed on the ground or a floor.
Elemental Power (Earth). You know the Mold Earth cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Ensnaring Strike spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Spike Growth spell once and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Heritage: Fire Genasi
Fire genasi are descended from a creature of elemental fire, likely a efreet. Fire genasi tend toward impatience and making snap judgments.
Nearly all fire genasi are feverishly hot as if burning inside, an impression reinforced by flaming red, coal- black, or ash-gray skin tones, sometimes embellished by lava-like crackles on the skin. The more human-looking have fiery red hair that writhes under extreme emotion, while even rarer are those who sport actual flames dancing on their heads.
Fire Resistance. You have resistance to Fire damage.
Elemental Power (Fire). You know the Fire Bolt cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Burning Hands spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Scorching Ray spell once and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Heritage: Mud Genasi
Mud genasi are descended from a creature of both elemental earth and water. They are described as open minded but slow to change, independent and enduring.
Mud genasi have skin that resembles slick, wet mud in shades of brown, typically a pale brown or deep brown. Their hair is a shade of brown that contrasts their skin. Their eyes are a yellow-black color.
Mud Resistance. You are resistant to either Cold or Bludgeoning damage. You choose your resistance when you choose this heritage.
Mud Sport. As an action, you can throw a glob of mud, which explodes in a 5 foot radius centered on a point within 30 feet of you. This zone is difficult terrain. It lasts for 1 minute.
Heritage: Water Genasi
Water genasi are descended from a creature of elemental water, likely a marids. Water genasi are perfectly suited to life underwater and carry the power of the waves inside themselves. They tend to wander freely and take pride in their independence, though others sometimes consider them selfish.
Most water genasi look as if they just walked out of the ocean, with beads of moisture collecting on their skin and hair, smelling of fresh rain and clean water. Blue or green skin is common, and most have somewhat overlarge eyes, blue-black in color. A water genasi’s hair might float freely, swaying and waving as if underwater.
Cold Resistance. You are resistant to Cold damage.
Amphibious. You can breathe air and water.
Elemental Power (Water). You know the Shape Water cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Create or Destroy Water spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Darkness spell once and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.