Don’t want to go full Elf yet in your next D&D game? Do you want to try and see what it’s like to play as a powerful and knowledgeable magic user too? If you’re ready to be both, the Half-Elf Wizard is a great choice for your next D&D character.

The Half-Elf race AND the Wizard class 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 Half-Elf Wizard

One of the first steps in making a Half-Elf Wizard character is to roll your stats. From your rolls, put the highest number under Intelligence. The next-highest goes to Constitution or Dexterity, depending on how you want to survive in your games. Do you want to be harder to hit, or harder to kill? The exception is if you plan to join the School of Enchantment. If so, make Charisma your second-best score instead. 

There’s a wide variety of Arcane Traditions to choose from and to specialize in. If you want to play as a protector or banisher, enter the School of Abjuration. If you want to be knowledgeable in revelations and secrets, enter the School of Divination.

The Sage and Noble backgrounds are optimal backgrounds for a Half-Elf Wizard.

How to Play a Half-Elf Wizard

Wizards rely heavily on their spells and cantrips in combat. Some general combat-appropriate spells you’d want to take are:

• Shield
• Invisibility
• Misty Step
• Fireball
• Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere
• Wall of Force

For cantrips, consider the following for combat use:

• True Strike
• Acid Splash
• Ray of Frost
• Poison Spray
• Fire Bolt
• Shocking Grasp
• Chill Touch

From your Fey Ancestry trait, you also have advantage against being charmed. Also, magic can’t put you to sleep. These traits are great for keeping a key player like you alive and on the battlefield. 

How to Roleplay as a Half-Elf Wizard

When roleplaying, always keep your character’s backstory and personality in mind. Below is an example of how you can marry a character’s accent, backstory, and personality together.

Despite being half-human, Erik is a beloved member of his clan. Joyous and bright, he enjoyed speaking with his peers and family as much as he loved studying. He also had the privilege of having an esteemed mage of a mother, who introduced Erik to the art.

However, no matter how hard he studied, he lacked natural talent. While his nuclear family remained supportive, his peers and clan began to distance themselves from Erik.

It was at his mother’s suggestion that Erik decided to leave home and find his true gift. Erik packed his journal of spells, basic supplies, and ration in his bag. Thus, he began his adventure, driven to find his true calling.

You may feel more comfortable roleplaying your character when you use an accent. If that’s the case, go for it. Depending on your accent perception, your character can bring about a certain personality trait. For example, most people find the London accent as a posh. Others find speakers with Canadian accents friendly or neighborly.