Introduction

This guide is for the updated version of the Eladrin published in Monsters of the Multiverse. For previous versions of the Eladrin, see our Elf Handbook.

The Eladrin is arguably the “original” version of the elf in DnD lore, reflecting elves who never left the Feywild. Mechanically, their history in 5th edition has been long and complex, but the current version of the Eladrin is a lot of fun.

The updated version of the Eladrin published in Monsters of the Multiverse is very similar to the version in Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes. Fey Ancestry and Trance were both updated to the new versions, and Fey Step was updated to not lock you into Charisma, but their theme and defining traits weren’t changed conceptually.

The Eladrin’s defining trait is Fey Step, which provides teleportation similar to Misty Step several times per day. It also provides a rider effect based on your chosen season, which you can change every long rest. The Autumn and Winter options both call for a saving throws, and since the DC is based on your mental ability scores, those options will naturally appeal more to spellcasters. Summer is the go-to option for melee martial characters. Spring allows you to give your teleportation to someone else, but you likely aren’t playing an eladrin so that other people can teleport.

Fey Step is notably not a spell, which means that it can’t be counterspelled, works for characters who have trouble casting spells like barbarians, and won’t prevent you from casting a leveled spell as an action.

Table of Contents

Disclaimer

RPGBOT uses the color coding scheme which has become common among Pathfinder build handbooks, which is simple to understand and easy to read at a glance.

  • Red: Bad, useless options, or options which are extremely situational. Nearly never useful.
  • Orange: OK options, or useful options that only apply in rare circumstances. Useful sometimes.
  • Green: Good options. Useful often.
  • Blue: Fantastic options, often essential to the function of your character. Useful very frequently.

We will not include 3rd-party content, including content from DMs Guild, in handbooks for official content because we can’t assume that your game will allow 3rd-party content or homebrew. We also won’t cover Unearthed Arcana content because it’s not finalized, and we can’t guarantee that it will be available to you in your games.

The advice offered below is based on the current State of the Character Optimization Meta as of when the article was last updated. Keep in mind that the state of the meta periodically changes as new source materials are released, and the article will be updated accordingly as time allows.

Eladrin Classes

Artificer

Artificers can’t cast Misty Step, so access to teleportation is very helpful. But artificers also tend to lean heavily on their Bonus Action, so any turn in which you use Fey Step means giving up whatever you normally do with your Bonus Action (command your homunculus, etc.) for that turn. Trance also gets you an extra tool, which is great for artificers.

Barbarian

Teleportation is a huge asset for front-line martial characters like the Barbarian. Some barbarian subclasses use their Bonus Action every round while raging, but many don’t, so it’s easy to find a build that makes Fey Step easy to use without cutting into your normal activities. Summer is likely your best season option, but consider the Shadar-Kai if you plan to repeatedly teleport into crowds of enemies.

Fey Ancestry’s provides Advantage on saves against common charm effects which can often take barbarians out of a fighter, and Perception is one of the Barbarian’s best skill options.

Bard

Bards don’t have Misty Step on their spell list, so ythe Eladrin’s teleportation is fantastic. Trance can get you a better weapon option if you need a weapon, but more likely you’ll use it to get proficiency in something like Thieves’ Tools.

Cleric

Clerics don’t have access to short-range teleportation, and they have a lot of good spells with touch range. You won’t be able to use Spiritual Weapon the same turn that you teleport, but sometimes that’s a sacrifice that you need to make. Trance can get you a martial weapon if you insist on using them for some reason, and Perception is a great skill for the Cleric.

Druid

Druids don’t get access to short-range teleportation, but can often rely on Wild Shape to solve the same problems. Trance offers access to more weapons, but druids basically never use weapons, so you’ll probably use a tool instead. Perception is a great skill for the Druid.

For Circle of the Moon, the Eladrin’s traits are very appealing since Fey Step works while using Wild Shape.

Fighter

Most fighters don’t have a use for their Bonus Action every round, so Fey Step is easy to add to their collection of options which you can sometimes use your Bonus Action to activate. Fey Ancestry protects you from common charm effects which can often take the Fighter out of a fight, and free proficiency in Perception is always nice.

Monk

Monks lean heavily on their Bonus Action, and options like Step of the Wind make Fey Step’s short-range teleportation less useful. Charm effects are less threatening for the Monk than for most martial characters due to the Monk’s unusually high Wisdom, so Fey Ancestry isn’t huge. Trance offers access to a weapon, but since it won’t be a monk weapon you’ll want to pick a tool instead. That means that the most impactful things that the Eladrin brings to the Monk are proficiency in Perception and in one tool, and that’s just not enough.

Paladin

Most paladins don’t get access to Misty Step, and paladins are generally locked into melee, so Fey Step is a huge asset. Between Fey Ancestry, immunity to fear, and Aura of Protection, paladins can generally afford to dump Wisdom. Of course, that makes Perception less useful, but on a MAD class like the Paladin that’s still a good trade. Summer is likely your best season option, but also consider the Shadar-Kai as an alternative for their durability.

Ranger

Most rangers don’t get access to Misty Step, and the ones that do need to spend their limited number of spell slots to do so, so Fey Step is great for the Ranger. But rangers also tend to be less durable than other front-line martial characters, so for melee builds you might consider the Shadar-Kai as an alternative.

Trance can get you proficiency in a tool like Thieves’ Tools, and Perception is among the Ranger’s best skill choices.

Rogue

You can typically rely on Cunning Action to safely move through melee, so Fey Step is really only useful for getting out of grapples. Trance gets you access to a tool or a weapon (whips are great), and free proficiency in Perception adds to the Rogue’s already excellent skill capabilities.

Sorcerer

Sorcerers get access to Misty Step, but with such a limited number of spells known, Fey Step is a great replacement. Unfortunately, most sorcerers can’t do much with Trance or with proficiency in Perception.

Warlock

Warlocks get access to Misty Step, but with extremely limited spell slots, Fey Step is a great replacement. Unfortunately, most warlocks can’t do much with Trance or with proficiency in Perception.

Wizard

The fact that Fey Step is a Bonus Action and not a spell means that you can use it in the same turn that you cast a leveled spell, which is huge for the Wizard. Trance and Perception aren’t great for the Wizard, unfortunately.