Tieflings are a race in the Dungeons & Dragons universe that trace their bloodline back to demons and devils. They have a variety of physical traits that set them apart from humans, including horns, tails, and unusual skin tones. Some tieflings also have wings, allowing them to fly.
Winged Tiefling Variants in D&D
There are a few different types of tieflings in D&D that are born with wings:
- Winged Tiefling – Introduced in the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, these tieflings have large wings that enable them to fly.
- Feral Tiefling – Appearing in Unearthed Arcana playtest material, feral tieflings have small wings that grant limited flight.
- Abyssal Tiefling – Described in Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes, abyssal tieflings can have small, non-functional wings.
The physical traits of a tiefling are passed down from their infernal ancestor, which determines if they have wings or not. Only some bloodlines result in winged tieflings.
Winged Tiefling Traits
Here are the traits of the main winged tiefling variant from the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide:
- Large, functional wings capable of flight
- Wingspan of 20 feet or more
- Can use wings to fly at a speed equal to their walking speed
- Must have enough space to fully extend wings to fly
These tieflings can use their wings to slow or stop falls as a reaction, glide over long distances, hover in place, and even carry other creatures while flying. Their wings make them natural fliers.
Feral Tiefling Wings
Feral tieflings introduced in Unearthed Arcana have smaller, more rudimentary wings compared to the full-fledged wings of the winged tiefling. Here are the feral tiefling’s wing traits:
- Small, leather-like wings
- Wingspan of 6 feet
- Can slow falls from great heights
- Cannot truly fly or hover
While feral tieflings cannot achieve true flight, their wings do grant some limited benefits. They can use their wings to glide down slowly from heights and steer themselves while falling.
Abyssal Tiefling Wings
Some abyssal tieflings described in Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes have small, vestigial wings. These wings have the following characteristics:
- Small, underdeveloped wings
- Too small to allow flight
- Primarily cosmetic in nature
These non-functional wings are mainly useful as a disturbing aesthetic feature rather than having any practical benefit. They set abyssal tieflings apart from their wingless brethren.
How Common Are Winged Tieflings?
Winged tieflings are relatively uncommon compared to standard tieflings without wings. Some scholars believe only 1 in 100 tieflings have wings. However, certain bloodlines may breed true for wings, increasing their prevalence in some families.
In the Forgotten Realms setting, winged tieflings are most common in the eastern nation of Mulhorand. This region saw a rise in the number of winged tieflings born following an ancient war between devil worshipers and other Mulhorandi.
Can All Tieflings Gain Wings?
While only some tieflings inherit wings from their ancestry, it may be possible for a wingless tiefling to acquire wings later in life through powerful magic. Here are some ways a standard tiefling could potentially gain wings:
- Reincarnation magic creating a new body with wings
- Transformation magic such as alter self, polymorph, or shapechange
- Powerful artifacts that transform the user
- Divine intervention from a deity
- Corruption or blessing from an extraplanar being
- Disfigurement from a magical curse or mishap
With the DM’s permission, a tiefling player could discover wing-granting magic items or storyline events allowing their character to finally take flight. But most tieflings will never manifest wings naturally in their lifetimes.
Roleplaying a Winged Tiefling
Here are some tips for roleplaying a winged tiefling character in D&D:
- Describe preening and grooming your wings to keep feathers or skin clean and healthy.
- Use your wings to intimidate others by spreading them wide to appear larger.
- Mention if you have trouble fitting inside buildings and tight spaces due to your wingspan.
- Your wings and ability to fly could affect your personality and worldview.
- Decide if you keep your wings bound/concealed or freely spread.
- Flying ability may grant you unique perspective on peoples and places below.
Playing a winged tiefling can make for a very distinctive D&D experience. You can highlight interesting aspects of having wings, from the expected benefits of flight to the roleplaying drawbacks. Discuss with your DM how your wings might affect interactions and adventuring.
Winged Tiefling Names
Winged tieflings may have names reflecting their unique heritage and abilities. Here are some example winged tiefling names:
- Aviri – “bird” in Sylvan
- Cyrus – meaning “young hawk”
- Draconia – “dragon-like”
- Fenix – “phoenix”
- Leviel – “rising up”
- Merula – “blackbird”
- Rocsval – “grand, mighty wings”
- Vassago – “walker of the air”
- Yael – “ibis, bird of omen”
Names with winged creatures, flight, rising, or the sky in their meanings fit a winged tiefling well. Discuss an appropriately evocative name with your DM.
Conclusion
Only some rare tiefling bloodlines inherit wings capable of true flight or gliding. Winged tieflings stand apart from standard tieflings, possessing an incredible trait passed down from a winged devilish ancestor. Playing a winged tiefling in D&D provides interesting roleplaying opportunities and a distinctive character. With their hereditary wings granting the gift of flight, winged tieflings can reach heights others only dream of.