Abilities | Strength and either Constitution or Wisdom |
Skills | +2 Athletics +2 Nature |
Size | see description |
Speed | see description |
Vision | see description |
Languages | Common, either Dwarven or Giant |
Traits | see description |
Avg. height | 7´ 2˝–7´ 8˝ |
Avg. weight | 280–340 lb. |
Goliath is a player character race in Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition as one of the races in the second Player's Handbook.[PH2:12]
Publication history[]
Goliaths were originally introduced as a playable race in the 3.5e book Races of Stone (2004).[1]
Goliaths appeared as a playable race in 4th edition's Player's Handbook 2.
Goliaths appeared as a playable race in the 5th edition books Elemental Evil Player's Companion and Volo's Guide to Monsters.
Racial Traits[]
Statistics[]
- Average Height: 7´ 2˝–7´ 8˝
- Average Weight: 280–340 lb.
- Ability Scores: Strength, and either Constitution or Wisdom
- Size: Medium
- Speed: Average squares
- Vision: Normal
- Languages: Common, either Dwarven or Giant
- Skill Bonuses: Athletics, Nature
Special[]
- Mountain's Tenacity: You have a minor racial bonus to Will.
- Powerful Athlete: When you make an Athletics check to jump or climb, roll twice and use either result.
- Stone's Endurance: You have the stone's endurance power
Favored classes[]
Description[]
They are the largest and heaviest of the playable races (but still classified as Medium-sized creatures), standing over 7 feet tall and weighing over 300 pounds. Goliaths have blueish-grey skin, which is covered in mottled blue markings; most Goliaths believe that the shape of these markings reflects the destiny of an individual. Male Goliaths are bald, while females have long hair, usually brown, which they grow and braid to a great length. Goliaths generally live in mountainous areas, sometimes in small tribes atop the mountains, sometimes in caves alongside Dwarves. They can choose either Giant or Dwarven as a second language to reflect these two possible backgrounds.
Despite their relationship to Giants, the two races share a great deal of enmity. Giants often make slaves of Goliaths, on the grounds that Goliaths are tougher than humans, and the Giants do not need to travel as far away from their mountain homes to find them. This is presumably one of the factors which drove Goliaths underground. Goliaths are generally considered to be a rare and isolationist race in any campaign setting.
Goliaths have bonuses to a number of physical skills and statistics, such as Strength and Constitution, as well as a number of racial skills that boost their health and armor. As such Goliath adventurers generally play as classes such as Wardens, Fighters, Barbarians, and other classes that rely on heavy melee combat.
Goliath Paragon Paths[]
Refer to the Goliath section in the Paragon Path page or the Goliath Paragon Paths category.
Updates[]
- Dragon 397 allows Goliath to choose Wisdom as an alternative to Constitution.