Owlin 5e Race
What is an Owlin? You would be right if you think an Owlin has something to do with owls! Owlins are a race you can choose for your player in Dungeons and Dragons fifth edition. Distantly related to the Great Owls of the Feywild, Owlins are a combination of birds and humans. Read our guide to Owlin 5e below.
What are Owlins in 5e?
“Distant kin of giant owls from the Feywild, owlin come in many shapes and sizes, from petite and fluffy to wide-winged and majestic. Owlin have arms and legs like other Humanoids, as well as wings that extend from their back and shoulders.
Like owls, owlin are graced with feathers that make no sound when they move or fly, making it easy for them to sneak up on you in the library.
Your owlin character might be nocturnal. Or perhaps your character is simply prone to rise later, embodying the common nickname of night owl.” Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos pg 29.
Owlin 5e Description
Owlin are winged humanoids that resemble owls. They all have two arms like any other humanoid, but are covered in feathers and have owl-like facial features and characteristics.
All Owlin have wings that protrude from their back covered in soft silent feathers. Just as owls can be widely different, so too can the Owlin species. They can range from incredibly tall and stocky to diminutive.
Some Owlin have been known to keep to a nocturnal schedule or simply rise later in the day, but it’s more of a personal preference than a species trait.
In 5e, Owlins are considered humanoid, but their look varies widely. It is up to the player to put the finishing touches on their character’s appearance. They can be cute, cuddly, wide-eyed forest friends or scary, mysterious hunters in the night.
Owlin 5e Stats
From Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos, Owlins have the following stats and abilities:
- Ability Score Increase. Increase one ability score by 2, and increase a different one by 1.
- Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character.
- Creature Type. You are a Humanoid.
- Size. You are Medium or Small. You choose the size when you select this race.
- Speed. Your walking speed is 30 feet.
- Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 120 feet of yourself as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.
- Flight. Thanks to your wings, you have a flying speed equal to your walking speed. You can’t use this flying speed if you wear medium or heavy armor.
- Silent Feathers. You have proficiency in the Stealth skill.
Owlin Lore
It is said that the Owlin are distant relatives to the great giant owls of the Feywilds. The Giant Owls of the Feywilds are strong and incredibly loyal to the creatures of the Feywilds that manage to befriend them.
This trait is passed down to the Owlin themselves. They are curious and some can be seemingly cute and curious, but they are fiercely protective of their allies and friends.
They can often be found at the University of Strixhaven due to their natural curiosity.
Owlin Names in DnD 5e
Owlin, like most named creatures of DnD, have a surname and a forename. Their surnames typically represent something from their past or clan name based on their species.
Some common Owlin surnames:
- Fantail
- Jetwing
- Silvertuft
- Greywind
Forenames typically can fall within any range of names and are typically given depending upon the region the Owlin is currently living in.
You could, of course, opt to name your Owlin character something punny, like Owl Bundy or Owl Capone.
Owlin 5e Features
Owlin 5e s share a few common characteristics. They tend to have two wings extending from their back and arms hanging by their sides, like the average human. Their size can range from small to medium in size. You can be a hulking six-foot 5 creature of nightmares or a three-foot-tall little birdie buddy. Either way, Owlins will make a noble addition to any campaign.
Flight
Their owl ancestry comes with some perks as well. Owlins can fly. Flight gives them a clear advantage over their earthbound companions. Owlin 5e also have the benefit of sneaking. Their soft feathers make their flight almost silent, a definite advantage to any stealthy adventurer.
Flight is not only a means of momentum. The ability to fly also includes hovering for over one hour. Combined with stealth the Owlin build can be a super powerful advantage. Owlins can sneakily glide upon a target or situation without triggering passive perception, perfect for surprise attacks and surveillance.
Ability Score Bonuses
In addition to stealth and flight, Owlin 5e also have an extra three points to add to their ability scores. Players can divide up these bonuses how they will. They are limited to 2 additional points in any one score. Players can choose to add 2 to one ability scores or add one point to three ability scores.
On top of all that, Owlins have darkvision. Every DM will tell you the importance of dark vision to any character build.
Playing an Owlin 5e in DnD
While the DnD books don’t give a ton of information about Owlin as a race (it’s actually more of a lineage), overall, the Owlin is an exciting addition to 5e DnD. Owlin characters can be both cute and deadly. They offer ariel an advantage and give rage to the player.
Best Classes for Owlin
Because of the Owlin’s flight speed and the option to choose your ability modifiers, they are adept at any class a player could want. In addition to that, they also are adept at stealth because of their soft feathered wings that allow them to move silently.
The only real limitation is their inability to fly while wearing heavy armor. This discounts several of the martial classes that rely on heavy armor to supplement their abilities.
Because of this, they make particularly good Monks and Barbarians if you’re looking for a martial class, and they can effectively choose any of the spellcasting classes.
Any of the DEX-heavy ranged martial classes like Ranger or Fighter would make terrific Owlin characters. Also, if you lean more toward the magic-user side of things, Sorcerers and Wizards (with their ranged attacks) would make great use of Owlin traits.
It should go without saying that a sneaky, stealthy, silent Owlin Rogue with darkvision would be an absolutely ideal pairing as well.
Evocation Wizard
Owlin make excellent Evocation Wizards. If you’re unfamiliar with the Evocation school of magic, it’s the one with all of the powerful spells that explode.
Since the Owlin can fly, they can simply soar above a battlefield and turn themselves into magical artillery. An owl flying overhead and dropping fireballs on the head of your enemies is a tried and true tactic of many Wizards and Owlin can do it without the aid of levitation spells, which saves more spell slots for damage.
Scout Rogue
Owlins make excellent scouts by themselves. Their ability to silently fly ahead and then return to report back is a major asset to any adventuring party. They can do this without any class features or abilities.
When you choose a Rogue, you can specialize in those species’ abilities and enhance them. Scout Rogues will be able to move quickly across the battlefield to attack and move without being targeted by opportunity attacks, and then quickly swoop back in to either support allies or land sneak attacks on engaged foes.
Arcane Archer Ranger
As a backline fighter, the Owlin can easily shift positions by flying in the air or moving to high ground.
Rangers are an excellent choice for ranged attackers and by choosing the Arcane Archer subclass you can enhance each shot with powerful magics.
Warlock
Any of the Warlock builds are fantastic for the same reasons you would choose the Evocation Wizard. Instead of blasting away with Evocation spells, however, the Warlock Owlin can simply perch somewhere up high and start shooting Eldritch Blasts down at their enemies.
If you choose the Eldritch Spear buff as well you can safely sit well outside of enemy range and hit them from far off. This effectively turns your Owlin into a flying spell sniper.
Why you should play DnD as Owlin
Owlin is an interesting race that is really only limited by your imagination. They make both excellent melee fighters and spellcasters.
For melee fighters, you’ll want to choose a dexterity build since their flying ability is nullified while wearing heavy armor.
Their flying speed makes them excellent choices for any character. Their sneak proficiencies combined with their darkvision also help them play as sneakier characters.
Finally, their ability modifiers can be chosen which gives them a lot of versatility when building your Owlin character.
Owlin 5e FAQs
What Book is Owlin in?
Owlin can be found in Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos.
Can Owlin Fly?
Yes. Owlin have flight speed equal to their walking speed. Any buffs that improve walking speed will also improve their flying speed.
What is the Owlin lifespan?
Owlin have the same life expectancy as humans.
Should the Owlin be banned?
No. Although the Owlin can use tactics that might seem unfair, it’s the same tactics that any spellcaster can use with the Levitate spell.
A beginner DM might have trouble balancing out encounters, but after a bit of experience, they should be able to craft encounters that offer a challenge to Owlin players without seeming like you’re targeting them specifically.
Do Owlin have their own language?
No. Owlin speak Common naturally but like any other creature, can learn other languages as well.
Are there Owlin subraces?
No, currently Owlin so not have any subraces.
If you possess owl-like qualities, like the tendency to rise late, the desire to sneak up on friends, or a taste for mice, the 5e Owlin might be your choice. Give the Owlin race a try in your next adventure!
