Races: Monsters of the Underdark

This document provides racial traits for four monstrous player races native to the Underdark—the grimlock, the kuo-toa, the quaggoth, and the troglodyte. Refer to their entries in the Monster Manual for more information on the cultures and habits of these creatures.

These races are suitable for campaigns set primarily in the Underdark, such as the Out of the Abyss adventure, and may not be suitable for campaigns set elsewhere. Consult with your DM before creating a monstrous player character.

Grimlock Traits

Your grimlock character has the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Age. Grimlocks have lifespans equivalent to humans.

Alignment. Grimlocks are self-serving creatures that do whatever they must to survive in the Underdark, and are usually neutral evil.

Size. Grimlocks are shorter and stouter than humans, standing about 5 feet tall and weighing around 180 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Blindsight. Accustomed to life in a completely lightless realm, you can perceive your surroundings without relying on sight. You have blindsight out to a range of 30 feet. If you are deafened or cannot smell, the range of your blindsight decreases to 15 feet. You can't use your blindsight if you are both deafened and unable to smell.

Blinded Perception. Grimlocks don't have eyes, navigating entirely via blindsight. You are proficient in the Investigation and Perception skills, but you automatically fail any ability check that relies on sight.

Stone Camouflage. You have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in rocky terrain.

Blindness Immunity. You are immune to the blinded condition.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Undercommon.

Kuo-Toa Traits

Your kuo-toa character has the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1, and your Wisdom score increases by 2.

Age. Kuo-toa mature quickly, reaching adulthood at age 10, and can live to be 80 years old.

Alignment. The racial madness that affects kuo-toa makes them devoid of compassion or sympathy for others. They tend towards neutral evil as a result.

Size. Kuo-toa are between 4 and 5 feet tall and weigh between 120 and 180 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet, and you have a swim speed of 30 feet.

Superior Darkvision. Accustomed to life in the Underdark, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't see color in darkness, only shades of grey.

Amphibious. You can breathe both air and water.

Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks whenever you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.

Otherworldly Perception. You can use a bonus action to attune your senses to stimuli other creatures cannot perceive. When you do so, you can sense the presence of creatures within 30 feet of you that are invisible or on the Ethereal Plane. As normal, you can't interact with creatures on the Ethereal Plane, and attacks you and your allies make against invisible creatures still have disadvantage. This effect lasts for 1 minute or until you lose concentration on it (as if concentrating on a spell), after which you must finish a short or long rest before you can use this feature again.

Slippery. While you're not wearing armor, you have advantage on all ability checks and saving throws made to escape being grappled or restrained. You can be wielding a shield and still gain this benefit.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Undercommon.