Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition race
Halfling (Lightfoot)
Halfling (Lightfoot) is a race in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition: Small, nimble folk whose Lucky trait rerolls natural ones on attacks, checks, and saves.
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Key facts
- Speed
- 25
- Size
- Small
- Traits
- Lucky, Brave, Halfling Nimbleness, Naturally Stealthy
- Languages
- Common, Halfling
Overview
The lightfoot halfling is built around Lucky, which lets you reroll a 1 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw and take the new result. That removes the worst possible outcome from roughly one roll in twenty across your entire sheet, which over a campaign makes it one of the most valuable racial traits in the SRD. The rest is mobility and concealment. Being Small with Halfling Nimbleness means you can move through the space of any larger creature, so no ally or ogre ever blocks your route, and Naturally Stealthy lets you hide behind a creature at least one size larger than you, which turns any Medium party member into cover. Brave adds advantage on saves against being frightened.
How it works
Ability Score Increase: +2 Dexterity, +1 Charisma Size: Small Speed: 25 feet Lucky: When you roll a 1 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, reroll the die and use the new result. Brave: Advantage on saving throws against being frightened. Halfling Nimbleness: You can move through the space of any creature larger than you. Naturally Stealthy: You can attempt to hide even when obscured only by a creature at least one size larger than you.
Tips and playstyle
Best Classes: Rogue (Dexterity plus Naturally Stealthy), Bard (Charisma plus Lucky), Ranger and Monk (Dexterity plus the movement tricks). Character Concepts: Curious wanderer, reluctant hero, traveling cook, cunning thief, cheerful storyteller, scout who is never where the arrow expected. Why Choose Lightfoot Halfling: Lucky is the quiet best-in-class trait, because rerolling natural ones removes automatic misses from attacks and catastrophic results from saves. Combined with Naturally Stealthy it produces a rogue who can hide behind the party fighter and almost never fumbles.
Frequently asked questions
How good is Lucky, really?
It applies to attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws, which is nearly every d20 you roll. About 5 percent of your rolls get a second chance, and the ones it rescues are always the worst possible outcome, including failed death saving throws.
What is the downside of being Small?
You have disadvantage on attack rolls with heavy weapons, which rules out the heavy crossbow, greatsword, greataxe, maul, and pike. Halfling martial builds use finesse or light weapons and the shortbow instead, which lines up with Dexterity +2 anyway.
Can I hide behind an ally?
Yes. Naturally Stealthy lets you attempt to hide while obscured only by a creature at least one size larger, so any Medium ally works. It is why lightfoot halfling rogues can use Cunning Action to hide in the open far more reliably than anyone else.