Do you want to play a race and class that seem unlikely? While Gnomes are often jolly, curious, and vibrant creatures, the same can’t be said for the Blood Hunter class. A Blood Hunter can be as lethal as a Rogue, but it’s a class twice as edgy and much darker. 

Thus, most people find it difficult to imagine how to roleplay, roll, or create a Gnome Blood Hunter. Well, as luck would have it, below you’ll find a guide on how you might make such a dichotomy a harmonious reality.

The Blood Hunter class is found in the Dungeon Master’s Guild. Click here to pick up your own copy of the Blood Hunter Class!

The Gnome race can be found in the Player’s Handbook. Click here to pick up your own copy of The Player’s Handbook!

How to Make a Gnome Blood Hunter

Being a Gnome is a great choice for those who want to play Blood Hunters. Whether you choose to be a rock or forest Gnome, you get a +1 bonus to one of your top stats anyway. Speaking of stat priority, Blood Hunters need Dexterity or Strength and Constitution or Intelligence.

Here’s how you choose your highest ability score. If you’ll fight with melee weapons, make Strength your highest ability score. If you’ll use archery or finesse weapons, take Dexterity and be a Forest Gnome (for its +1 Dexterity subrace trait).

Your second-highest ability score will depend on whether you want potent blood curses or more blood curse amplification. If you want to invoke potent blood curses and cast spells, take Intelligence as your second-highest score. If you want to have more hit points to burn for your crimson rites or amplify your blood curses, pick Constitution instead.

As for picking a subclass, choose one from the:

• Order of the Lycan, which makes you a werewolf
• Order of the Profane Soul, which lets you cast spells and gives you a patron
• Order of the Ghostslayer, which turns you into a hunter of ghosts and the undead
• Order of the Mutant, which lets you use chemicals to turn into a mutant/monster

As a tip: pick any Blood Hunter subclass except for Mutant. It’s the weakest subclass for now, and may still get tweaked in the future.

How to Play a Gnome Blood Hunter

Whenever your party goes into combat, your job is to be at the frontline with the other damage dealers, unless you fight with a bow. With your weapon, you can cast a crimson rite. When you invoke a rite of hemocraft, you’ll sacrifice some hit points to deal a form of damage to your target.

You can also cast blood curses onto foes and targets. These curses can manipulate, damage, or control a creature. You can also amplify it if you wish.

Depending on your order, you’ll also gain access to some unique abilities. For example, Ghostslayers gain the ability to step into the veil between planes, while Lycans can use their hybrid transformation to become a half-bestial creature.

How to Roleplay as a Gnome Blood Hunter

Most Blood Hunters have severe and grave personalities. You can turn your Gnome as serious and brooding. You can also keep your Gnomely vibrancy, enthusiasm, and keenness.

It’ll be much better if you can find a balance between the Blood Hunter’s and Gnome’s stereotypical natures. It’s challenging, but it’ll also be fun.