Winning Races: Dwarves Favored of the All-Father by Matt Sernet Illustration by Matthias Kollros

Winning Races: Dwarves Favored of the All-Father By Matt Sernet Illustration by Matthias Kollros

Dwarves know Moradin as the All-Father because Dwarves honor their creator through prayer, This article presents feats that are compatible he crafted all dwarves. Yet Moradin has made many but also through proud traditions. Knowledge and with the new Dungeons & Dragons Essentials™ things in his immortal lifetime. Some were stronger customs passed down through the generations— products. Feats are grouped into categories so that and some more beautiful, but none found so much almost unchanged from the Dawn Age—guide you can make decisions about what feats to take favor in Moradin’s bejeweled heart as his dwarves. dwarves through the uncertain present and into the based on your character’s personality, background, The dwarves were the first of Moradin’s makings unknowable future with the confidence that what and goals. Although you can take feats from any that made him proud not only of his own skill, but has been will be. The past lives on in the present category, sticking with one or two presents you with proud to know them and prouder still that they through the deeds of honorable dwarves. So shall a clear path and reinforces the themes of your char- prayed to him. it always be as long as any of the favored of the All- acter as you gain levels. Then, after looking at the Father draw breath.

themed categories and choosing feats that appeal Clangeddin’s rebellion came amid the Dawn him. Clangeddin Silverbeard became an exarch of to your character concept, you can find the feat War, when gods and primordials battled for control Moradin, and ever since then the dwarves have had descriptions presented in alphabetical order at the of the world. For the first time, Moradin took pride a tradition of training to take on challenges much end of the article. in his creations—not just for the greatness of what larger than themselves. he had made, but for the greatness they inspired in

Giant Slaying Giant Slaying Feats The titans, sons and daughters of the mighty pri- Feat Effect mordials of old, bound to their service the race of Beneath Notice When you and an ally are adjacent to the same enemy of Large or greater size, you dwarves. Enslaved by these powerful masters and gain combat advantage against that enemy. their lesser kin—the still massive and mighty giants— Clangeddin’s Axe Expertise you gain a bonus to attack rolls with axes, and you can reroll a 1 on up to two damage dice once per turn when using an axe to attack a creature of Large or dwarves lived in chains for untold centuries. Giant greater size. feet trod stones mortared with dwarf blood, and giant Dwarf Protector You gain a bonus to attack rolls against an enemy who is adjacent to a dwarf ally. hearths blazed with fires stoked by dwarf bones. Giant Killer When you score a critical hit against a creature of Large of greater size, you gain an Moradin took pride in his creations. Despite their extra critical damage die. many hardships, they endured. The storm of the Giantslayer Training When you flank a creature of Large or greater size, you gain a bonus titans’ wrath was met with the stoicism of stone. Yet to damage rolls. pride comes not just from looking at one’s good works, How the Mighty Have Fallen When you score a critical hit against a creature of Large of greater size, you knock but at seeing oneself as good, and one dwarf, Clanged- the target prone. din Silverbeard, could bear the giants’ yoke no longer. Moradin had created the dwarves and given them Dwarven Stamina to the primordials, who had in turn granted them Moradin’s clerics exhort all to face difficulty with Berronar Truesilver acts as the patron of dwarven to their creations, the titans and giants. Now the stoicism and to endure danger with courage. Dwarves stamina. Moradin relies upon her clear thinking and dwarves gave their creations to their masters. It was honor the tenacity and determination of even the steady hand in all his plans. And even Clangeddin’s the order of things since time immemorial. Clanged- foulest foes, and their legends are filled with battles bravado and bluster are said to wither before her din decided instead to give something to himself and between combatants that last for days, months, and unwavering and serious gaze. An exarch and con- to his people. In secret, he made two fine axes, meld- even years. Dwarven stamina itself is legend, and sort of Moradin, Berronar is the stern and steadfast ing into them the strands of his own silver beard. dwarves are renowned for their ability to outfight, mother-figure to all dwarves. Dwarves who desire Then Clangeddin set about giving the dwarves pride outdrink, and outlast opponents. strength to withstand trying times, patience to in themselves. He showed them how to cut the giants see their quest through to the end, or resilience to down to size, and he offered the titans the gift of fear. spring back to health after taking harm say a prayer to Berronar. Dwarven Stamina Feats Feat Effect Poison Adaptation You gain poison resistance. Resolute Stamina (Con 15) you can use your second wind twice per encounter. Savior’s Surge You can make a saving throw when you use your second wind.

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Steady as Stone With a little work, any dwarf can turn these inher- ent traits into a superior advantage. Such a dwarf in Although dwarven stamina might be mocked as the halls and caverns of his or her home can be as stubbornness, few find humor in a dwarf’s ties to the fleet as any elf in the forest. earth. Like the sea crashing against cliffs, a dwarf can stand against waves of foes and not be driven back. steady as stone Feats Powerful limbs and a hunkered form makes it diffi- Feat Effect cult to throw them off balance. Knock Back You can knock prone a foe within your reach when you make saving throw to prevent yourself from being knocked prone. Quick Steps (Dwarf) You gain a +1 bonus to speed. Solid Footing (Dwarf) You ignore difficult terrain that is the result of stairs, rubble, or stone. Feats

Although designed for dwarves, most of the following feats are available to any character. Beneath Notice Dwarf Protector Giantslayer Training You know how to use your enemy’s size against it. With Moradin’s blessing, you defend your dwarf The dwarves of old learned to combine their strength With an ally for distraction, you occupy your foe’s friends through force of arms. Although a stout shield to defeat larger opponents. You carry on their martial blind spot. offers protection from the sword, you know that a tradition. Benefit: When you and an ally are adjacent to the sharp axe can end the sword’s threat. Benefit: When you flank a creature of Large or same enemy of Large or greater size, you gain combat Benefit: You gain a +1 feat bonus to attack rolls greater size, you gain a +1 feat bonus to damage rolls advantage against that enemy. you make with an axe against any enemy who is adja- on attacks against that creature. This bonus increases cent to a dwarf ally. to +2 at 11th level and +3 at 21st level. Clangeddin’s Axe Expertise You’ve trained in the ancient dwarven techniques Giant Killer How the Mighty Have Fallen of axe fighting, giving you a deadly advantage when You know how to cut your enemies down to size. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. You know fighting larger foes. Larger foes mean bigger weak spots. how to bring the mighty down to their knees. Benefit: You gain a +1 feat bonus to weapon Benefit: When you score a critical hit against a Benefit: When you score a critical hit against a attack rolls you make with an axe. creature of Large or greater size, you deal an extra creature of Large orgreater size, you can knock the The bonus to attack rolls increases to +2 at 11th 1d6 damage. target prone. level and +3 at 21st level. Also, when rolling damage for a weapon attack you make with an axe against a creature of Large or greater size, you can reroll up to two damage dice that result in a 1, but you must use the second result.

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Knock Back Savior’s Surge No one pushes you around—at least not without you When you rally to continue the fight, your body and pushing back. You use your solid footing and combat mind react as one, giving you a chance to throw off skill to turn momentum against a foe when someone that which oppresses you. tries to bowl you over. Benefit: When you use your second wind, you can Benefit: When you succeed on a saving throw to make a saving throw as a free action against an effect avoid being knocked prone, you can knock prone an affecting you. enemy of size Large or smaller within your reach. Solid Footing Poison Adaptation From living in the echoing ruins of the mighty halls Due to frequent exposure or unusual stamina, you’ve built by your dwarf ancestors, you have become become inured to poison. accustomed to all their varied terrain. You move Benefit: You gain resist 5 poison. The resistance across any stone and earth as easily as any eladrin increases to 10 at 11th level and 15 at 21st level. flits across a dance floor. Prerequisite: Dwarf Quick Steps Benefit: You gain the earth walk ability (you ignore difficult terrain that is the result of rubble, A dwarf need not give up speed for steadiness, and uneven stone, or earthen construction such as stairs). you’re living proof. You have trained long and hard to gain fleetness of foot, and now you can keep pace About the Author with any elf or human. Matt Sernett is a writer and game designer for Wizards of Prerequisite: Dwarf the Coast who splits his time between Dungeons & Dragons Benefit: You gain a +1 feat bonus to speed. and Magic: The Gathering. Recent credits include Player’s Handbook Races: Tieflings, The Plane Above: Secrets of the Astral Sea, and Magic the Gathering: Zendikar. When he’s not making Resolute Stamina monsters or building worlds, he’s watching bad fantasy movies you don’t realize exist and shouldn’t bother to learn You possess more fighting spirit than most. With about. effort, you dig deeper, steeling your resolve and rein- vigorating your mind and body. Prerequisite: Constitution 15 Benefit: You can use your second wind twice per encounter.

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