Rogues are natural thieves and assassins, accustomed to acting in the shadows and making things happen quietly.
There are many races that are ideal for Rogues, but those with an extra Feat, mimicking abilities, or increased Dexterity fit Rogues the best.
Best Races for Rogues 5e D&D
5. Gnome
Ability Score Increase – Intelligence by 2.
Age – Gnomes mature the same as Humans, though they settle into adult life at 40 years old and live to around 350 years on average, but it’s not uncommon for them to reach 500 years old.
Alignment – Most Gnomes are Good, tending towards Law or Chaos depending on what they do in life.
Creature Type – Humanoid
Size – Small, ranging between 3 and 4 feet tall and weighing around 40 pounds.
Speed – Base walking speed of 25 feet.
Racial Features – Darkvision and Gnome Cunning.
Languages – Speak, read, and Write Gnomish and Common.
Gnomes already have an undocumented edge when sneaking around because of their height, and their innate advantage against certain magic also increases their durability.
The Darkvision is also perfect, since that allows them to easily scout at night or in caves.
4. Owlin
Ability Score Increase – One score by 2 and a different one by 1 OR Three different scores by 1.
Age – Owlin reach maturity at the age of 30 and live till around 130 years of age.
Alignment – Owlin tend to lean towards Chaos because of their Fey ancestry and are usually Good, but can become Evil under certain circumstances.
Creature Type – Humanoid
Size – Medium or Small, ranging from below 4 feet to around 8 feet with varying weights.
Speed – Base walking speed of 30 feet.
Racial Features – Darkvision, Flight, and Silent Feathers.
Languages – Speak, read, and write Common and one other language deemed appropriate by your DM.
Owlin are simple creatures that make excellent Rogues due to their Silent Feathers feature.
However, their most important feature is Flight, which allows them to silently fly into enemy areas or scout without being noticed.
Their long Darkvision range also means they can scout at almost any time throughout the day.
3. Tiefling
Ability Score Increase – Charisma by 2.
Age – Mature the same as Humans but live a few years longer.
Alignment – Tieflings have no innate tendency towards Evil, though many become Evil, and their independent nature pushes them towards a Chaotic nature.
Creature Type – Humanoid
Size – Medium, the same size as Humans.
Speed – Base walking speed of 30 feet.
Racial Features – Darkvision, Hellish Resistance, and Bloodline (choose).
Languages – Speak, read, and write Infernal and Common.
Who would’ve thought Tieflings are the perfect candidate for the Rogue class? Not only do Tieflings look the part of a Rogue, but their various Bloodlines give you a lot of freedom to choose just what you want from your Rogue to be able to do.
Their Hellish Resistance is also not a bad touch, as Fire damage is very common in almost any D&D campaign.
2. Kenku
Ability Score Increase – One score by 2 and a different one by 1 OR Three different scores by 1.
Age – Kenku live shorter than Humans, reaching maturity at age 12 and living to around 60 years of age.
Alignment – Kenku are Chaotic creatures, though they tend to be more Neutral in their approach to dealing with obstacles.
Creature Type – Humanoid
Size – Medium or Small, being around 5 feet tall and weighing around 90 to 120 pounds.
Speed – Base walking speed of 30 feet.
Racial Features – Expert Duplication, Kenku Recall, and Mimicry.
Languages – Speak, read, and write Common and one other language deemed appropriate by your DM.
Kenku are some of your most common thieves and assassins, having a natural talent for stealth and having the Kenku Recall feature that allows them to take two more skill proficiencies.
Expert Duplication and Mimicry are their most used features and can be used to forge documents (using Expert Duplication) or just mimic the voice of a high-ranking official or someone important (using Mimicry).
1. Tabaxi
Ability Score Increase – One score by 2 and a different one by 1 OR Three different scores by 1.
Age – Tabaxi mature similarly to Humans and live around 100 years.
Alignment – Tabaxi tend to lean towards Choas, but they are rarely Evil, mostly driven by curiosity.
Creature Type – Humanoid
Size – Medium or Small, ranging from slightly below 5 feet to more than 6 feet.
Speed – Base walking speed of 30 feet and a climbing speed equaling it.
Racial Features – Cat’s Claws, Cat’s Talent, Darkvision, and Feline Agility.
Languages – Speak, read, and write Common and one other language deemed appropriate by your DM.
Tabaxi are naturally agile, perceptive, and stealthy, most probably because of their feline origin.
The most important features for a Rogue are the Feline Agility, which lets you double your movement, and Darkvision, which allows you to scout in the dark, explore dark caves, or simply see in the dark.
Final Thoughts
Rogues might have a negative perception of others, and while some of the races above can perfectly play Evil characters, others can play Good or even Neutral characters.
Not only that, they also provide some great bonuses gameplay-wise and make it much easier to pick and choose between what you want your character to be.