The Sorcerer class has a mixed reputation in Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition. It’s infamous for being overly limited and difficult to build due to lacking the Wizards’ near-infinite spells known while keeping its total lack of durability.
However, many veteran D&D 5e players know that the Sorcerer can be one of the best specialist spellcasters in the game if it’s built right. This is a genuinely complex balance that needs top-tier choices on all fronts.
For the best Sorcerer builds in D&D 5e, it’s important to choose races that make up for its spellcasting limitations or other weaknesses. The class alone can provide strengths, so it’s important to patch shortfalls elsewhere when possible. Luckily, the best Sorcerer races in D&D 5e provide plenty of opportunities for this.
Variant Human and Custom Lineage Do Vital Work
Yes, we’re here again. Anyone who has read many Artificial Twenty build guides knows that the Variant Human (and very similar Custom Lineage) crop up time and time again. They’re not just among the best general races in D&D 5e, but some of the best for any specific role.
A free feat more than pulls its weight for the Sorcerer in D&D 5e. Limited spell and Metamagic choices are two of the class’s biggest limitations, both of which can be mitigated with feats. Metamagic Adept doubles a Sorcerer’s Metamagic choices with a small boost in Sorcery Points as well, contributing more than for any other class.
Alternatively, feats like Magic Initate, Fey Touched, or Strixhaven Initiate help bolster the D&D 5e Sorcerer’s small spell list. They’re often fine on cantrips (unless you want a high-power choice from another spell list, like Guidance), so Fey Touched’s vital all-rounder leveled spells often come out on top.
Durability is something else to focus on with a Variant Human Sorcerer build in D&D 5e. Tough certainly pays for itself. Alternatively, War Caster stacks with Constitution saving throw proficiency to make spells almost unbreakable. Its other features are less invaluable, but it’s still top-tier.
I’d personally go for a Custom Lineage D&D 5e Sorcerer with Darkvision, but there’s plenty to be said for a skill proficiency as well. This is doubly true if your party needs a face.
Autognome Has Something for Every Sorcerer
Many of the best Sorcerer races in D&D 5e provide some direct spellcasting assistance. This is because of the Sorcerer’s low spells known and need to prioritise its casting over everything.
The Autognome doesn’t directly boost a D&D 5e Sorcerer’s spell list. Instead, it makes one spell entirely obsolete. At base, the Autognome’s Armor Class equals 13 + Dexterity modifier. This is equal to Mage Armor, a spell that almost every other Sorcerer needs. One more free spell known plus a spell slot saved every day is a result.
The only exception is the Draconic Lineage D&D 5e Sorcerer subclass, which already gets this benefit and more. Even then, the Autognome’s other benefits might be worth considering. Just don’t ask how a dragon’s descendant ends up being a funky little robot.
Built for Success is excellent for any class that wants to make Concentration saving throws. Coupled with a Sorcerer’s innate Constitution proficiency, this makes it hard to lose a Concentration spell to anything other than extreme damage. It’s also useful for vital ability checks or even attack rolls.
Healing Machine also helps cement the Autognome as one of the best races for the Sorcerer in D&D 5e. Sorcerers get more than enough cantrips to take Mending, and this is a rare chance to heal themselves through magic. Divine Soul Sorcerers can still benefit from more conventional healing magic.
Mechanical Nature provides some boons against crowd control and resistance to one of D&D 5e‘s most common damage types, both of which are nice defensively. Tool proficiencies are far more situational, but that’s not the same as useless.
Githyanki Fills in Gaps in the Spell List
Githyanki are best associated with psionics over arcane magic, but they’re still an excellent race for any D&D 5e spellcaster. Several of their innate spells are invaluable for any character while being usable with Charisma.
Mage Hand is one of D&D 5e‘s best cantrips. A Sorcerer can load up on other top-tier choices with their many other cantrip slots. Likewise, Misty Step is invaluable for both utility and combat. Most D&D 5e Sorcerers would want to take it regardless of their role. Getting it via race leaves them free to take more on-theme spells.
Jump is the only Githyanki spell that isn’t a top-tier pick for a D&D 5e Sorcerer build. Even then, it’s situationally useful. Not having to burn a spell known or a spell slot on it could save the party’s lives at an unexpected moment.
Likewise, Psychic damage resistance doesn’t matter against many D&D 5e enemies. Those it does apply to, like mages, Mind Flayers, and Aboleths, are among the most threatening enemies in the game.
A free skill proficiency that changes every day continues this situational theme. A Githyanki Sorcerer in D&D 5e can pursue anything they want, including more niche social skills like Performance, without much opportunity cost. Give them time, and they can excel in any social situation.
The Githyanki’s spellcasting is the main reason it’s among the best D&D 5e Sorcerer races, but it’s far from the only valuable feature.
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Satyr is a Mobile, Defensive, Social Powerhouse
The Satyr is one of the few top-tier Sorcerer races in D&D 5e that has almost no interaction with spellcasting at all. A Satyr Sorcerer still has to grapple with their limited spells known and Metamagic. However, everything else they get is worth it.
The Sorcerer’s high Charisma means it can easily make for a party face with the right skills. The Satyr provides two of these off the bat. In particular, Persuasion is one of , for free.
High mobility is helpful for a class that wants to stay away from enemies, and very few D&D 5e Sorcerers are comfortable in melee. Bonus movement speed is always a plus, and even improved jumping can pay for itself on occasion.
However, Magic Resistance is the main reason Satyr is among the best races for Sorcerer in D&D 5e. Advantage on saving throws against all spells is almost unmatched by any other race feature in the game.
A Satyr Sorcerer is hard to pin down with any magical spell, and almost completely immune to effects like Possession and Banishment that target Charisma.
Just don’t expect to routinely headbutt people for damage.
Eladrin’s Teleport Rewards High Charisma
Any spellcaster who can take Misty Step in D&D 5e probably will. However, this is more punishing for the Sorcerer than almost any other class. Any alternative is welcome, and Eladrin provides a particularly powerful one.
The Eladrin’s Fey Step has the same basic functionality as Misty Step, except it’s not a spell. It doesn’t use slots and it doesn’t conflict with other spellcasting. This makes it invaluable for a D&D 5e Sorcerer who wants to focus their spell list on other things.
On top of that, Fey Step’s rider effects reward high Charisma. The effects that require being near enemies are risky for a Sorcerer, but still usable. Teleporting an ally in place of yourself has a great many benefits. Fey Step can’t be spammed constantly, but it has more than enough uses to fill an adventuring day.
Fey Ancestry provides some protection against certain Wisdom-targeting effects, many of which a D&D 5e Sorcerer is weak to. Likewise, while Sorcerers lack the Wisdom for top-tier Perception, Keen Senses is hardly a wasted ability.
Few D&D 5e Sorcerer builds use weapons or tools to much effect, so Trance is less helpful. Nonetheless, the Eladrin’s other benefits help it stand out as a D&D 5e Sorcerer race.
Githzerai Gives Vital Spellcasting
Both flavours of Gith are equally good Sorcerer races in D&D 5e. Most of the spells they provide are already available to the Sorcerer, but free spell choices and casts never hurt.
In the Githzerai’s case, it gives Shield as a free first-level spell. This is the bread-and-butter of defensive casting in D&D 5e. It can save a Sorcerer’s life should a battle plan go awry and they end up being focused down by foes. It’s even more helpful to have at least one free cast a day.
Detect Thoughts may not suit more combat-focused D&D 5e Sorcerer builds, but it’s still a valuable spell. In particular, it pairs well with a Sorcerer’s tendency toward social skills.
In addition to Shield, the Githzerai gives other defensive benefits. It doesn’t just come with resistance to Psychic damage, but advantage on saving throws against Charm and Frighten effects. These aren’t as devastating for the Sorcerer as other classes (particularly Frightened), but it’s much better to pass than fail a saving throw against them.
With how few innate durability boosts most D&D 5e Sorcerers get, every single one should be treasured. Especially the Shield spell, but that’s far from the only thing making Githzerai one of the D&D 5e Sorcerer’s best race choices.
Fairy Provides Flight and Peerless Spellcasting
The Fairy is , full stop. However, its unique benefits are even better for Sorcerers than almost any other class.
The main benefit Fairy gives is innate Flight. This is a hugely powerful tool in and of itself. It helps a character avoid enemies and natural hazards, pursue almost anyone in any direction, and in general trivialise vast amounts of Dungeon Master prep time. It also saves a Sorcerer having to learn or cast Fly, something that is more problematic for them than most others.
The only limitation on the Fairy’s flight in D&D 5e is that the character can’t wear anything heavier than light armour. Seeing as a Sorcerer can wear exactly zero armour, this isn’t a problem. Likewise, the class’ lack of weaponry or grappling makes the Fairy’s small size almost irrelevant.
On top of flight, the Fairy also gives powerful spellcasting. Druidcraft is a more situational cantrip, but the other two options are excellent. Faerie Fire provides a significant accuracy and damage boost to the entire party, while Enlarge/Reduce is a mediocre combat buff and excellent utility spell.
The Fairy only gives two features. However, these two are enough to give it a good claim to being the best Sorcerer race in D&D 5e.
These have been seven races that patch some of the Sorcerer class’s holes in D&D 5e and help it unlock its potential as a magical specialist. If you’ve enjoyed this article, share it with your friends and check out other content, such as the suggestions below.
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