The upcoming Dungeons & Dragons campaign The Wild Beyond the Witchlight is taking players on a trip to the mysterious Feywild, where supernatural beings reside, including two new races. Players can take a bit of the Feywild with them into other adventures, as The Wild Beyond the Witchlight is adding the fairy and the harengon to the game.
There are some races in the Player's Handbook that have a connection to the Feywild, as the elves, half-elves, and their variants are descended from the fey folk. The Feywild consists of regions called Domains of Delight, which are ruled over by the all-powerful Archfey. There are many ways for residents of the Feywild to arrive in the Prime Material Plane, and vice versa, so it's feasible that some fey left a Domain of Delight to reside in one of the main D&D campaign worlds.
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight is adding two races to D&D. These races were available in an Unearthed Arcana article, but have since been revised for their debut in an official publication. The new versions of the fairy and harengon give players access to some amazing abilities, which will make them popular with people who prefer certain classes.
D&D Witchlight's Flying Faeries
It's fitting that an adventure set in the Feywild would officially add fairies to D&D. The fairy race are natives of the Feywild and they resemble small elves with wings. There are many different portals connecting the Feywild to the Prime Material Plane, so it should be easy for players to come up with a reason for their character to be present in one of the main campaign worlds. The Wild Beyond the Witchlight is also adding the Witchlight Hand background, giving the player an excuse to have a character who originates from the Feywild.
In terms of stats, a fairy player adds +2 to one stat and +1 to another. They are Small creatures that belong to the Fey creature type. A fairy player has access to Fairy Magic, which grants them the Druidcraft cantrip at level one, Faerie Fire at level 3, and Enlarge/Reduce Person at level 5. The player chooses a mental stat to be associated with the spells, with Faerie Fire and Enlarge/Reduce Person having one use per long rest. The most exciting aspect of the fairy race is their movement. Not only can they walk 30ft, but they have a flying speed of 30ft, so long as they aren't wearing medium or heavy armor. The fairy race is going to become a popular choice for arcane spellcasters, as the ability to take to the skies and stay out of harm's way is an appealing one.
D&D Witchlight's Hopping Harengon
Like fairies, the harengon are natives of the Feywild. It's possible for small communities of harengon to exist in the Prime Material Plane, with some living in bustling cities, and others choosing to reside in the wild. There isn't much lore around for the harengon, so players are free to come up with whatever they want. There are plenty of strange residents in worlds like Faerun and Oerth, so a humanoid rabbit isn't going to look too out of place in most campaigns.
In terms of stats, a harengon player adds +2 to one stat and +1 to another. They are classed as humanoids and players can choose between Small and Medium for their size. A harengon's Hare-Trigger ability lets them add their Proficiency bonus to their initiative rolls, allowing them to act faster in combat. Their Leporine Senses ability gives them proficiency in Perception. The Lucky Footwork ability allows them to add 1d4 to a failed Dexterity saving throw check, so long as they are able to move. The Rabbit Hop ability lets the harengon jump five times their proficiency bonus in feet as a bonus action, without provoking attacks of opportunity. Rabbit Hop can only be used a number of times a day equal to the harengon's proficiency bonus. The harengon race is all about swiftness, agility, and getting out of dodge when things are getting rough. Harengons have the ability to become some of the best Rogues in the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse, as few can outpace them on the battlefield.
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight will be released on September 21, 2021.