Greater Genasi

Greater Genasi

An Improved & Expanded Form of Genasi
By Sean vas Terra

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Greater Genasi Genasi traits

Those who think of other planes at all consider them Thanks to your elemental heritage, you share the
remote, distant realms, but planar influence can be following traits with other genasi, as well as having
felt throughout the world. It sometimes manifests traits determined by which element has influenced
in beings who carry the power of the planes in their your lineage: Air, Earth, Fire, or Water.
blood, including the humanoid Genasi.
Age. Genasi mature at about the same rate as
Many genasi can trace the source of their elemental humans and reach adulthood in their late teens.
power to a union of mortal and genie, directly or They live somewhat longer than humans do, up
through multiple generations of genasi. A rare few to 120 years.
have a genie further up their family tree, manifesting
an elemental heritage that’s lain dormant for Creature Type. Your creature type is both humanoid
generations. and elemental.

Occasionally, genasi result from exposure to a Size. Genasi come in all the same varieties of shape
surge of elemental power, through phenomena such and size as their mortal kin, but they often have a
as an eruption from the Inner Planes or a planar build befitting their element. Those of earth or water
convergence. In such cases, those exposed to such descent tend to be heavier, while those of air or fire
magics might bear genasi as offspring, or even be tend to be lighter. You are Medium or Small. You
directly transformed into one themselves. choose the size when you gain this lineage.

Heirs to Elemental Power Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet
Genasi inherit something from both sides of their of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it
dual nature. They resemble humanoids but often were dim light.
have an aspect to their appearance influenced by Manifest Element. You are able to briefly manifest
their respective element. A fire genasi might have the power of the elemental plane from which your
ashen skin and dimly glowing veins, while an earth lineage derives. The action cost and effects of your
genasi’s skin could resemble weathered stone. manifestation is determined by your genasi element.
Genasi come in a wide variety of skin colors, green If your manifestation allows you to cast spells,
and blue and grey, often differing from their mortal Constitution is your spellcasting ability for them.
kin. The magical blood flowing through their veins These spells require no material components, but
manifests differently in each genasi, not only as their they still require their normal casting time. If your
appearance but also in innate elemental powers. manifestation otherwise imposes a saving throw, the
DC is equal to 8 + your Constitution modifier + your
Seen in silhouette, a genasi can usually pass for Proficiency bonus.
a member of another race. Most genasi have some Once you manifest your element, you can’t do so
features reminiscent of their mortal parent (pointed again until you finish a long rest.
ears from an elf, a stockier frame and thick hair *spells marked with an asterisk are included at the
from a dwarf, small hands and feet from a halfling, end of this document.
exceedingly large eyes from a gnome, and so on). Genasi Element. The primary elemental planes are
Those of earth or water descent tend to be heavier Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. Choose one of these to be
in build, while those of air or fire tend to be slimmer your genasi element. At your DM’s discretion, you
and lighter. can instead choose an Exotic Element.

Genasi almost never have contact with their Air
elemental parents. Genies seldom have interest in
their mortal offspring, seeing them as accidents. Air genasi typically have light blue skin, hair, and
Many feel nothing for their genasi children at all. eyes. A faint but constant breeze accompanies them,
tousling the hair and stirring the clothing.
Genasi primarily use the naming conventions of
the people among whom they were raised. They Thunder Resistance. You have resistance to
might later assume distinctive names to capture their thunder damage.
heritage, such as Zephyr, Onyx, Ember, or Wave.
Gust. You know the gust XGE cantrip. Constitution is
Character Creation your spellcasting ability for it.
If you are creating a Genasi character, follow these
additional rules during character creation: Unending Breath. You can hold your breath
• When determining your character’s ability scores, increase indefinitely while you’re not incapacitated.
one of those scores by 2 and a different score by 1, or
increase three different scores by 1. Slow Fall. When you fall, you fall at a rate of 60
• Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one feet per round, take no falling damage, and can land
other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate on your feet.
for the character. Many genasi learn Primordial, the
elemental language. Manifest Air. You can manifest elemental air to cast
the feather fall spell or the zephyr strike XGE spell.

When you reach 5th level, you gain the option to
cast the gust of wind spell using this trait.

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Earth

Some earth genasi always have bits of dust falling
from their bodies and mud clinging to their clothes,
never getting clean no matter how often they bathe.
Others are as shiny and polished as gemstones, with
skin tones of deep brown or black, eyes sparkling
like agates.

Stone’s Endurance. When you take damage,
you can use your reaction to roll a d12. Add your
Constitution modifier to the number rolled and reduce
the damage by that total. After you use this trait, you
can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Mold Earth. You know the mold earth XGE cantrip.
Earth Walk. You can move across difficult
terrain made of earth or stone without expending
extra movement.
Manifest Earth. You can manifest elemental earth
to cast the earth tremor XGE spell.
When you reach 5th level, you gain the option to
cast the earthen grasp XGE spell using this trait.

Fire

Nearly all fire genasi are feverishly hot as if burning
inside, an impression reinforced by flaming red,
coal- black, or ash-gray skin tones. The more human-
looking have fiery red hair that writhes under extreme
emotion, while more unusual individuals sport actual
flames dancing on their heads.

Fire Resistance. You have resistance to
fire damage.

Produce Flame. You know the produce flame
cantrip. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for it.

Internal Heat. You are immune to the effects of
cold weather.

Manifest Fire. You can manifest elemental fire to
cast the burning hands spell.

When you reach 5th level, you gain the option to
cast the flaming sphere spell using this trait.

Water Transforming Into a Genasi
During the course of an adventure, it is possible that a
Most water genasi look as if they just finished character might be transformed from whatever they were
bathing, with beads of moisture collecting on their previous, into a genasi. Regardless of how it happened,
skin and hair. They smell of fresh rain and clean there are essentially two ways the DM can choose to handle
water. Blue or green skin is common, and most have the transformation:
somewhat overlarge eyes, blue-black in color. A water
genasi’s hair might float freely, swaying and waving The simplest way is for the character to lose all the
as if underwater. previous racial traits they had, and gain those of a genasi.
This grants them the new form without increasing the total
Acid Resistance. You have resistance to amount of power the character recieves from their ancestry.
acid damage.
Alternatively, the character could keep some or all of
Shape Water. You know the shape water XGE cantrip. their previous traits, and simply gain the traits of a genasi
Amphibious. You can breathe air and water. ontop of them. This is a noticeable increase in terms of the
Swim. You have a swimming speed equal to your character’s abilities, but it might be warranted if a genasi
walking speed. transformation is granted as a boon, or if an existing racial
Manifest Water. You can manifest elemental water trait is narratively important to the character. The DM is the
to cast the create or destroy water spell or the water ultimate arbiter of which traits are kept this way.
whip* spell.
When you reach 5th level, you gain the option to In either case, the character’s ability scores or other
cast the geysers* spell using this trait. statistics other than their racial traits are not changed by the
transformation, unless the DM decides that the process has
had such side effects.

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Exotic Elements Lightning

Air, Earth, Fire, and Water are not the only elements At first glance a lightning genasi resembles an air
in the multiverse, only the most prevalent. At your genasi, but their frazzled hair and a faint buzzing
DM’s discretion, your genasi could be influenced sound sets them apart. A lightning genasi is always
by a less common form of elemental power, with bristling with electrical energy, which sometimes
more extreme results: Dust, Ice, Lightning, Ooze, manifests as sparks that cascade across their skin.
Salt, or Void.
Lightning Resistance. You have resistance to
Dust lightning damage.

Dust genasi are associated with the desert, and their Shocking Grasp. You know the shocking grasp
hair and skin are often the color of sand dunes. Their cantrip. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for it.
elemental makeup makes them somewhat averse to
water, although they suffer no direct harm from it. Electrosensitive. You have blindsight with a
radius of 10 feet.
Whirling Dodge. When you fail a Dexterity saving
throw, you can use your reaction to roll 1d6 and add it Manifest Lightning. You can manifest elemental
to your roll, potentially changing the result. Once you lightning to cast the lightning rod* spell.
turn a failure into a success with this trait, you can’t
use it again until you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you gain the option to
cast the ball lightning* spell using this trait.
Mold Earth. You know the mold earth XGE cantrip.
Dry Body. You need half as much water as normal, Ooze
and can go up to 1 week without water before
suffering from thirst. While not entirely an amorphous ooze, ooze genasi
Manifest Dust. You can manifest elemental dust are much squishier than most. They come in all
as a bonus action, briefly transforming into an varieties of colors from pink to green to orange, and
amorphous cloud of dust until the end of your next their flesh is slightly translucent under direct light.
turn. you gain the following effects for the duration:
• While in this form, your only method of movement Acid Resistance. You have resistance to
is a flying speed of 30 feet, which allows you to acid damage.
hover.
• You can enter and occupy the space of another Acid Splash. You know the acid splash cantrip.
creature. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for it.
• You have resistance to nonmagical damage, and
advantage on Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution Somewhat Amorphous. You are able to move
saving throws. through a space as narrow as 1 foot wide without
• You can pass through small holes, narrow openings, squeezing. You must spend 3 feet of movement for
and even mere cracks, though you treat liquids as every 1 foot you move in this way.
though they were solid surfaces.
When you reach 5th level, you gain the option to Manifest Ooze. You can manifest elemental ooze
instead cast the dust devil XGE spell using this trait. as an action, granting you the following benefits
for 1 minute:
Ice • You can climb difficult surfaces, including upside

The chillier cousin of water genasi, ice genasi down on ceilings, without needing to make an
sometimes have filaments of magical ice instead of ability check.
hair, and skin with the texture of snow. Even a hale • You are immune to the blinded, deafened and prone
and healthy ice genasi is usually cold to the touch. conditions.
• Once per turn when you hit a creature with a melee
Cold Resistance. You have resistance to attack, you can deal 1d4 extra acid damage.
cold damage. When you reach 5th level, you gain the option to
instead cast the blinding spit* spell using this trait.
Frostbite. You know the frostbite XGE cantrip.
Constitution is your spellcasting ability for it. Variant: Additional Elements
At your DM’s discretion, this variant allows you to represent
Cold Blooded. You are immune to the effects of a para-elemental heritage — such as a magma or steam
hot weather. genasi — or simply a genasi who has been influenced by
multiple different elements.
Manifest Ice. You can manifest elemental
ice in order to cast the ice knife XGE spell or the Choose your genasi element as normal, then choose a
snowdrift* spell. secondary element. You gain the Manifest feature from
your secondary element, but none of its other features. This
When you reach 5th level, you gain the option to doesn’t increase your maximum usages of Manifest Element,
cast the chilling breeze* spell using this trait. it only gives you additional options of effects when you do
use it. Optionally, this secondary Manifest feature could
replace the cantrip-feature of your original element, as a
cost for the added versatility.

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Salt Cold Hearted

Although sharing some characteristics with earth Prerequisites: Genasi (water or ice)
genasi, a salt genasi’s skin is almost always pale You embrace the power of elemental cold, gaining the
white, beige, or pink. Salt is an unusual elemental following benefits:
makeup, able to both preserve and dessicate • Increase your Constitution or Wisdom score by 1, to
living flesh.
a maximum of 20.
Necrotic Resistance. You have resistance to • When you use your Manifest Element trait, you can
necrotic damage.
cover yourself in a sheen of ice, gaining temporary
Poison Spray. You know the poison spray cantrip. hitpoints equal to 1d8 + half your level.
Constitution is your spellcasting ability for it.
High Energy
Preserved. You have advantage on saving throws to
resist disease, as well as death saving throws. Prerequisites: Genasi (fire or lightning), 6th
level or higher
Manifest Salt. You can manifest elemental salt as a You increase your attunement to the intense energies
reaction when you take damage. Each hostile creature of your heritage, gaining the following benefits:
within 5 feet of you must make a Constitution saving • When you cast a spell that deals fire or lightning
throw, taking necrotic damage equal to 2d4 + half
your level on a failed save, or half as much damage damage, you can choose to swap the damage type to
on a success. A creature who fails the saving throw is the other. (fire to lightning, or lightning to fire).
also blinded until the end of its next turn. • You can use your Manifest Elemental trait to cast
the fireball spell or the lightning bolt spell (you
When you reach 5th level, you gain the option to choose which spell when you gain this feat).
instead cast the gentle repose spell or purify food and
drink spell using this trait. Mineral Hardness

Void Prerequisites: Genasi (earth or salt)
You deepen your connection with elemental earth,
With purplish skin and eyes like starfields, void gaining the following benefits:
genasi embody the otherworldly elements of radiance • Increase your Strength or Constitution score by 1,
and vacuum.
to a maximum of 20.
Radiant Resistance. You have resistance to • When you use your Manifest Element trait, you
radiant damage.
gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and
Dancing Lights. You can cast the dancing slashing damage until the end of your next turn.
lights cantrip.
Mixed Elements
Void Sight. Magical darkness within 15 feet of you
doesn’t impede your darkvision. Prerequisites: Genasi
You intertwine two different elemental influences into
Manifest Void. You can manifest elemental void to a greater whole, gaining the following benefits:
cast the the inflict wounds spell. • You you can use your Manifest Element trait one

When you reach 5th level, you gain the option to additional time between long rests.
cast the darkness spell using this trait. • Choose a genasi element (exotic elements are at

Lineage Feats your DM’s discretion) other than yours. You gain
that element’s Manifest feature.
At your DM’s discretion using the Feats optional rule, You can select this feat multiple times. Each time you
your genasi character has the following additional do so, you must choose a different genasi element.
options available to them:
Seize the Wind
Alien Adaptability
Prerequisites: Genasi (air or dust), 6th level or higher
Prerequisites: Genasi (ooze or void) You heighten your control over elemental air, gaining
Your unusual elemental nature allows you to adapt to the following benefits:
extreme conditions. When you take damage, you can • You can use your Manifest Element trait to cast the
use your Manifest Element trait as a reaction to gain
resistance to that type of damage (including against fly spell.
the triggering damage) until the end of your next turn. • When you use your Manifest Element trait, you can

also take the Dash or Dodge action as part of the
same action used to manifest the element.

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New Spells Chilling Breeze

These spells originated in Elementalist’s Pocketbook, 2nd-level evocation
and are provided here for the use by genasi. The Casting Time: 1 action
spells are sorted alphabetically. Range: Self (15-foot line)
Components: V, S, M (a penguin’s feather)
Ball Lightning Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

2nd-level evocation You cast forth a gentle breeze of freezing air in a line
Casting Time: 1 action 15 feet long and 5 feet wide in a direction you choose.
Range: 30 feet Each creature in the line must make a Constitution
Components: V saving throw. A creature that fails the saving throw
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute takes 1d12 cold damage and is chilled for the spell’s
A 5-foot-diameter sphere of shimmering lightning duration, as ice freezes their feet to the ground.
appears in an unoccupied space of your choice within
range and lasts for the duration. Any creature that A chilled creature has its speed reduced to 0, and
starts its turn within 5 feet of the sphere must make disadvantage on attack rolls. A chilled creature can
a Dexterity saving throw. The creature takes 2d10 make a Strength check as an action against your spell
lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much save DC, freeing itself on a success. The spell ends if
damage on a successful one. there are no chilled creatures.

When you summon the sphere, choose a direction A creature resistant to cold damage has advantage
for it to move. At the start of each of your turns, the on the saving throw, and a creature immune to cold
sphere moves 10 feet in that direction. As a bonus damage automatically succeeds.
action, you can choose a new direction for the
sphere to move, and it immediately moves 5 feet in Geysers
that direction.
2nd-level conjuration
The sphere is ethereal, able to move through objects Casting Time: 1 action
and barriers, and hovers. The sphere sheds bright Range: 30 feet
blue light in a 30-foot radius and dim light for an Components: V, S, M (A pickaxe)
additional 30 feet. Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a You cause a steaming geyser to momentarily spray
spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the damage increases from the ground from a point you can see within
by 1d10 for each slot level above 2nd. range. Each creature within 5 feet of the point must
succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 3d6
Blinding Spit fire damage and, if the creature is Large or smaller,
be pushed up to 10 feet away from the geyser in a
2nd-level evocation direction of your choice. Being underwater doesn’t
Casting Time: 1 action grant resistance against this damage.
Range: 15 feet
Components: V On each of your turns until the spell ends, you can
Duration: Instantaneous use your action to create a new geyser within range.
You spit a glob of yellow acid into the eyes (or
nearest equivalent) of a creature of your choice within At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using
range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the fire damage
On a hit, the target takes 4d4 acid damage and is increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 2nd.
blinded until the end of its next turn.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a
spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the damage increases
by 2d4 for each slot level above 2nd.

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Art - Pierre-Auguste Renoir (public Domain)

Lightning Rod Design Notes: Greater Genasi
The default genasi race presented in Elemental Evil Player’s
1st-level evocation Companion has a cool aesthetic, and is relatively popular,
Casting Time: 1 action but suffers from lackluster design. This redesign attempts to
Range: 60 feet revitalize the genasi with more and better features, without
Components: V, S, M (a 5-foot copper rod worth making it too over the top.
at least 10gp)
Duration: Instantaneous The structure of Manifest Element is derived from my
previous Greater Dragonborn rework, with a centralized
You electrify the rod used to cast this spell, and send resource-feature on the base race, with subraces that
a thin streak of lightning at a target within range. The determine the feature’s effects. This saves me from
target must make a Dexterity saving throw, taking 3d8 repeating a bunch of text and allows flexibility in things like
lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much the Mixed Elements feat. While I stuck to spells for the most
damage on a successful one. If you are outdoors in part, I decided experiment a bit more with the features for
stormy conditions or have taken lightning damage in the Exotic Elements.
the past minute when you cast this spell, the spell’s
damage increases by 1d8. The six choices I settled on for Exotic Elements are
boiled dwon from the various para- and quasi- elemental
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a planes that have existed at various points in D&D’s history.
spell slot of 2nd or higher level, the damage increases There are a lot more, but I didn’t feel that most of them
by 1d8 for each slot level above 1st. would have sufficiently unique traits to warrant an entire
entry. The Variant: Additional Elements is designed as an
Snowdrift accomodation for those seeking types of genasi that I did
not include.
1st-level conjuration
Casting Time: 1 action Inline with the new design as seen in Tasha’s Cauldron
Range: 60 feet and in the recent Unearthed Arcanas, Greater Genasi
Components: S, M (a snowball) is presented as a “lineage” rather than a “race”, and so
Duration: 1 minute eschews ability scores, alignment, languages, or lineage-
based personality descriptions.
Snow covers the ground in a 20-foot square centered
on a point within range and turns it into difficult Seeking even more elemental
terrain for the duration. power? try the Elementalist’s
Pocketbook! Also check out
When the snow appears, each creature standing in
its area must succeed on a Constitution saving throw Greater Dragonborn:
or have its speed reduced to 0 until the end of its next
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Water Whip

1st-level evocation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: S
Duration: Instantaneous

You wrap your hand in a whip of water and cast it out
at a target within range. Make a ranged spell attack
against the target. If the attack hits, the creature takes
2d10 bludgeoning damage, and if the creature is
Large or smaller, you can push or pull the creature
up to 15 feet in a direction of your choice other than
upwards. If the target is pulled to within 5 feet of you,
you can choose to immediately attempt to grapple it.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a
spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases
by 1d10, and the distance the target is moved
increases by 5 feet, for each slot level above 1st.

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