Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse is a new Dungeons & Dragons book that features revised versions of many of the playable races that have already been published as part of the game. This also includes a change in the lore regarding many of the races, as well as sweeping changes to how character creation works.
Wizards of the Coast recently revealed that some of the races in Monsters of the Multiverse would be stronger than they were in the original printing. This is a result of hindsight and the game evolving over time. Volo's Guide to Monsters was released early in the lifespan of 5e, which is why a lot of the content in the book feels outdated, with the monstrous races coming off as weak compared to the choices in the Player's Handbook. As time went on, more and more playable races were added to D&D, sometimes at a rate of one per book, and the developers were able to see what elements of each playable race made them attractive to players.
There has been a gradual change regarding the playable races in D&D, with many of the new options being stronger than the existing ones, such as the revised dragonborn in Fizban's Treasury of Dragons. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Monsters of the Multiverse, as all but two of the thirty-three races have received upgraded abilities in the book. Some of these are minor changes, such as unarmed attacks using a stronger damage die, while some races have had their abilities overhauled, making them far more potent than they were before.
The Changes Made To All D&D Races In Monsters of the Multiverse
All of the races presented in Monsters of the Multiverse no longer have the set stat bonuses that they had in their original printed versions. Instead, the book uses the floating stat modifiers from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, where the player chooses a +2 and a +1 to add to any of their six stats. The average age of each race has been removed, with most assumed to live for around a century (save for the few that can live longer, who have their maximum age listed in their description), the suggested alignments have been removed, as have the base languages that players can choose based on their race. These changes are part of a larger push to make it easier for players to create the kind of characters they want, without needing to worry about the min-maxing aspect of creating a character that excels in their chosen profession.
Changes Made To Elemental & Nature D&D Races In Monsters of the Multiverse
These are the races that are connected to one of the four D&D elements:
- Aaracokra - Aarakockra's walking speed is now 30ft, but their flying speed has been dropped from 50ft to match it. The Talons feature now deals 1d6 damage instead of 1d4. Aarakockra have a new ability called Wind Caller, which lets them cast gust of wind using Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom as the spellcasting modifier. It can be used once per long rest and later by burning a second-level spell slot.
- Firbolg - Firbolg Magic can now use spell slots to cast detect magic and disguise self, and the character can select Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom for the modifier. Hidden Step can now be done a number of times equal to proficiency bonus, but it no longer restores on a short rest. Speech of Beast and Land now works on vegetation.
- Goliath - Natural Athletics and Powerful Build are now one ability, called Little Giant. Mountain Born now gives Goliath’s resistance to cold damage. Stone’s Endurance can now be used a number of times equal to proficiency bonus, but it doesn’t recharge on a short rest.
- Kenku - Kenku can either be Medium or Small. Kenku Training has been replaced with Kenku Recall, which lets them pick any two skills to have proficiency in. It also lets them have advantage on skill checks a number of times equal to proficiency bonus, which recharges on long rest.
- Tabaxi - Tabaxi now have a climbing speed equal to their walking speed instead of 20ft. Cat’s Claws now deal 1d6 damage instead of 1d4.
- Tortle - They can now be Medium or Small. Claws now deal 1d6 damage instead of 1d4. Survival Instinct has been replaced with Nature’s Intuition, which lets them choose a skill proficiency in Animal Handling, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Stealth, or Survival.
- Triton - They now have Darkvision. The Control Air and Water spells can be cast using spell slots the character may have. The character may choose Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom for the modifier. Emissary of the Sea now works on any Beast/Elemental/Monstrosity with a swimming speed.
Monsters of the Multiverse Changes To Dwarven, Elven, & Gnome D&D Races
These used to be subraces from existing base races in the Player's Handbook, which are now considered full races in Monsters of the Multiverse:
- Deep Gnome - They have Svirfneblin Camouflage instead of Stone Camouflage, which lets them take advantage on any (Dexterity Stealth) check. This can be used a number of times equal to the character's proficiency bonus and recharges on long rest. Gnomish Magic Resistance gives them advantage on any Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom saving throws for spells. Gift of the Svirfneblin lets them cast disguise self at third level and nondetection at fifth level. These can be cast with spell slots, can be used once per long rest, and have Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom as the modifier.
- Duergar - They no longer have Undercommon as a bonus language. Instead of Duergar Resilience, they have Dwarven Resilience, which gives resistance against poison damage and saves against the poison condition. They have Psionic Fortitude, which gives advantage on saves against the charmed condition The Duergar Magic spells are no longer affected by sunlight, can be cast with relevant spell slots, and can use Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom as the modifier.
- Eladrin - The Fey Step race feature can be used a number of times equal to proficiency bonus, but no longer recharges on short rest. The Summer variation now deals damage equal to proficiency bonus and not the Charisma modifier.
- Sea Elf - They no longer have Sea Elf Training, but Child of the Sea now gives cold resistance.
- Shadar-Kai - Blessing of the Raven Queen can now be used a number of times equal to proficiency bonus per long rest.
D&D Changes Made To The Monstrous Races In Monsters of the Multiverse
These are the monstrous races, many of which have new origins, such as the goblins hailing from the Feywild:
- Bugbear - They now have the Fey Ancestry ability. the Sneaky feature now lets them squeeze into small spaces, and Surprise Attack can be used outside of the character's first turn.
- Centaur - The Hooves feature now deals 1d6 damage.
- Goblin - They now have the Fey Ancestry ability. Fury of the Small’s damage now equals proficiency bonus, it can only be used once per round, can be used a number of times equal to Prof bonus, and doesn’t recharge on a short rest.
- Hobgoblin - They now have the Fey Ancestry ability. They no longer have Martial Training or Saving Face. They now have the Fey Gift ability, which lets them use Help as a bonus action. At level three, they can choose one of four bonuses when using Help, all of which were present in the Unearthed Arcana article for the new Hobgoblin. The only difference is that Fortune from the Many now has a maximum bonus of +3, instead of +5.
- Kobold - They no longer have the Grovel, Cower, and Beg ability. Instead, they have the similar Draconic Cry ability, which requires a bonus action to use, can be used a number of times equal to proficiency bonus, but no longer recharges on a short rest. They no longer have Pack Tactics or Sunlight Sensitivity. At third level, they choose from Craftiness (proficiency in Arcana, Investigation, Medicine, Sleight of Hand, or Survival); Defiance (advantage on saving throws against frightened condition), or Draconic Sorcery (they know a cantrip from the sorcerer list with Charisma as the modifier).
- Lizardfolk - They no longer have access to Cunning Artisan. Bite now deals slashing damage instead of piercing. Hungry Jaws now gives temporary hit points equal to proficiency bonus and can be used a number of times equal to proficiency bonus, but it no longer recharges on a short rest. Hunter’s Lore is now called Nature’s Intuition and has added Medicine to the line-up.
- Minotaur - They are now classed as Fey. They no longer have Imposing Presence. Instead, they have Labyrinthine Recall, where they always know which way is north and have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) tracking checks.
- Orc - They have now Adrenaline Rush instead of Aggressive. This now lets them Dash as a bonus action, it can be used a number of times equal to proficiency bonus, restores on a long rest, and grants temporary hit points equal to prof bonus. Orcs no longer have Menacing, but they have the Relentless Endurance Half-Orc ability instead.
- Satyr - The Ram feature now deals 1d6 damage instead of 1d4.
- Yuan-Ti - Poison Immunity has been replaced with Poison Resilience and is now weaker, as it only resists poison damage and the poison condition, rather than granting immunity. Innate Spellcasting is now called Serpentine Spellcasting, the player can choose Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom as the modifier, and suggestion can now be cast by expending a 2nd level spell slot.
Changes Made To Planar D&D Races In Monsters of the Multiverse
These are the races that either hail from the outer planes in D&D or are descended from extraplanar creatures. It should be noted that the Gith are now two separate races.
- Aasimar - The Healing Hands ability now uses a number of d4s equal to proficiency bonus for healing, rather than character level. There are no longer subtypes for Aasimars. Instead, they pick a Celestial Revelation at level 3, which only uses a bonus action to use. The player chooses from Necrotic Shroud (the former Fallen Aasimar ability), Radiant Consumption (the former Scourge Aasimar ability); or Radiant Soul (the former Protector Aasimar ability), all of which deal damage equal to the proficiency bonus instead of character level.
- Changeling - They are classed as Fey and can either be Medium or Small. The Changeling Instincts feature now has the Performance skill as an option. The Shapeshifter feature lets the character switch between Medium and Small.
- Fairy and Harengon from The Wild Beyond the Witchlight are unchanged.
- Genasi - All Genasi can now be Small or Medium and they all have Darkvision.
- Air Genasi - Their walking speed is now 35ft. Mingle with the Wind gives the shocking grasp cantrip, feather fall at third level, and levitate at fifth. They can be cast using spell slots and can use Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom for the modifier.
- Earth Genasi - Earth Walk can now be used on any floor (not just stone). Merge with Stone gives the blade ward cantrip, which can be cast as a bonus action a number of times equal to proficiency bonus per long rest. At fifth level, they get pass without trace once per long rest, with Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom for the modifier.
- Fire Genasi - Reach to the Blaze now gives flame blade at fifth level, with all of its spells using Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom for the modifier.
- Water Genasi - Call to the Wave now grants acid splash at first level and water walk at fifth level, with all of its spells using Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom for the modifier.
- Githyanki - They no longer have Decadent Mastery and Martial Prodigy. Instead, they have Astral Knowledge, which lets them choose one skill and one weapon/tool proficiency per long rest, which can be changed at the next long rest. They also have Psychic Resilience which gives resistance to Psychic damage. The Githyanki Psionics spells in D&D can now be cast with spell slots, with Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom for the modifier.
- Githzerai - They also have Psychic Resilience and their Githzerai Psionics spells can now be cast with spell slots, with Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom for the modifier.
- Shifter - They no longer have subraces. Instead, they choose their former subrace ability as part of Shifting at third level. Bestial Nature lets them pick their skill at level one, rather than getting one from their subrace (from Acrobatics, Athletics, Intimidation, or Survival).
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse is available now as part of the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Expansion Gift Set and will receive a standalone release on May 17, 2022.