When creating a character in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, players often face the choice between selecting the Variant Human or the Custom Lineage options for their character’s race. Both options offer a unique level of customization compared to the standard races, but each brings different strengths, flexibilities, and considerations. Understanding the distinctions between Variant Human and Custom Lineage can greatly impact character optimization, roleplaying potential, and how a character fits within a party or campaign. This comparison delves into the core mechanics, benefits, and potential drawbacks of each option, providing clarity for players and Dungeon Masters alike.
What Is Variant Human?
Variant Human was introduced in the Player’s Handbook as an alternative to the standard Human race, allowing players more customization at the start of their character creation. Unlike the classic Human, which grants +1 to all ability scores, Variant Human offers a more focused set of bonuses and features that encourage specialization.
Key Features of Variant Human
- Ability Score Increase: +1 to two different ability scores of your choice.
- Skills: Gain proficiency in one skill of your choice.
- Feat: Gain one feat at 1st level, providing a powerful edge or unique capability.
This combination makes Variant Human popular among players who want a strong mechanical start with immediate access to feats, which can significantly influence early gameplay. The ability to pick two ability scores for a +1 boost also allows for tailoring the character’s strengths toward desired class features.
What Is Custom Lineage?
Custom Lineage is a more recent option introduced in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything. It aims to provide even greater freedom in race creation, encouraging players to craft characters that fit unique concepts without the constraints of traditional race abilities or traits.
Key Features of Custom Lineage
- Ability Score Increase: +2 to one ability score of your choice.
- Size: Choose Small or Medium size.
- Speed: Base walking speed is 30 feet.
- Feat: Gain one feat at 1st level.
- Flexible Trait: Choose one free skill proficiency, tool proficiency, or language.
Custom Lineage is intended for players who want a streamlined, flexible race without any set lore or restrictive traits. Its emphasis on a single +2 ability score increase can be especially appealing for optimizing key stats, and the option to select size adds an additional layer of customization.
Ability Score Increases: +1/+1 vs +2
The most notable difference between Variant Human and Custom Lineage lies in how ability scores are distributed. Variant Human offers +1 to two different ability scores, while Custom Lineage grants a +2 to a single ability score.
Choosing Variant Human allows players to slightly improve two separate attributes, which is beneficial for classes or builds requiring balanced stats for example, a Paladin benefiting from Strength and Charisma, or a Ranger focusing on Dexterity and Wisdom. Conversely, Custom Lineage’s +2 to one ability score is advantageous for classes that rely heavily on one key ability, like a Wizard focusing on Intelligence or a Barbarian emphasizing Strength or Constitution.
Feat Selection and Early Power Spike
Both Variant Human and Custom Lineage grant a feat at 1st level, which can significantly shape early gameplay by granting access to unique abilities or mechanical bonuses. This immediate feat selection can provide characters with a power spike compared to standard races, which normally gain feats only through the ability score improvement mechanic at later levels.
- Variant Human: Feats can complement the two +1 ability scores, enhancing versatility or focusing on combat, utility, or defense.
- Custom Lineage: The +2 ability score synergizes well with feats that require high prerequisites or boost a core ability.
Since feats can drastically alter gameplay style, players choosing either race can tailor their character from the start to fit niche roles or optimize common archetypes.
Customization and Flexibility
Custom Lineage excels in flexibility by allowing players to choose their size Small or Medium something not available to Variant Human. Size can affect gameplay by influencing stealth, combat, and environmental interactions. Small characters might excel in stealth or fit into tight spaces, while Medium characters have standard combat advantages.
Furthermore, Custom Lineage grants a free skill, tool proficiency, or language, giving players more versatility to tailor their characters to unique concepts or campaign needs. Variant Human, on the other hand, offers proficiency in only one skill but no tool or language options as part of the race.
Roleplaying and Narrative Considerations
Variant Human is often easier to slot into traditional D&D settings since it closely resembles a standard human with slight modifications. It carries no particular lore or narrative baggage beyond human norms, making it suitable for straightforward storytelling.
Custom Lineage, however, encourages more creative freedom. Because it’s not tied to a specific lore or background, it allows Dungeon Masters and players to craft characters that break traditional racial molds. This makes it ideal for campaigns with unconventional settings or when players want to explore unique racial identities without mechanical or narrative restrictions.
When to Choose Variant Human
- If you want balanced ability score increases for a versatile character build.
- If your concept requires early access to a powerful feat combined with two skill proficiencies.
- If you prefer a traditional human background and easy integration into classic fantasy worlds.
- If your character needs a combination of two key abilities that benefit from the +1 boosts.
When to Choose Custom Lineage
- If you want a significant +2 boost to a single key ability score for optimization.
- If you want to customize your character’s size, adding tactical or roleplaying variety.
- If you desire flexible proficiency choices beyond skills, including tools or languages.
- If you’re building a character with an unconventional backstory or for a non-traditional campaign setting.
Potential Drawbacks
Variant Human’s distributed +1 ability score bonuses may not always be ideal if your class relies heavily on one primary ability. This can lead to less optimized characters compared to a focused +2 from Custom Lineage.
Custom Lineage’s single +2 score might leave other ability scores underdeveloped if not carefully balanced, potentially leading to weaknesses in secondary stats.
Both options provide only one feat, which may limit early character development compared to multi-race or multiclass builds that gain additional proficiencies or abilities.
The choice between Variant Human and Custom Lineage ultimately comes down to playstyle preference, character concept, and campaign context. Variant Human offers a balanced, classic approach with two +1 ability score increases, a skill proficiency, and an early feat that fits well in traditional settings. Custom Lineage provides deeper customization options with a focused +2 ability boost, choice of size, and flexible proficiencies, ideal for players seeking to push boundaries in character creation.
Both choices grant an early feat, providing a crucial edge in gameplay and allowing for diverse builds right from the start. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each can help players craft characters that feel unique, optimized, and aligned with their vision for their role in the game world.