Dungeons and Dragons is home to a plethora of diverse races and their hybrids. There are half-elves, halflings, and even half-orcs; so naturally, one could expect a half-dragon of some sort because a human probably got a little too bold with the winged lizards at one time. Sadly, the Dragonborn are not such creatures. Their classification as a race is a little murky but they are best summed up as humanoids that look like dragons.
Truth be told, they're a race that has gone multiple reboots per rulebook edition. While their latest appearance in 5e or Fifth Edition has reinvented them introduced some clear distinction or uniqueness to them, it also served to confuse some players who are looking to start their class as a Dragonborn. So here are some nifty lesser-known facts about Dragonborn to help with character lore.
8 They've Changed A Lot As A Race
As mentioned above, Dragonborn are different depending on the rulebook edition. In some of the earlier editions, they're not even playable as a race. In Dungeons and Dragons 3.5e for example, they're less of a race but more of a category for characters who have devoted themselves to the worship of Bahamut, one of the most powerful dragons in the lore.
In 2e, they may or may not even exist depending on the Dungeon Master's whims. Dragonborn were only established as a core race starting in 4e, meaning they're relatively new and fresh as far as Forgotten Realms lore goes. It's also one of the reasons why they don't seem that popular, especially among newbies.
7 They're Different Depending On The World They Inhabit
5e changed up the Dragonborn lore and made them somewhat of an outcast alien race whose pragmatism carries more weight than its culture. That's because the Dragonborn who inhabit the Forgotten Realms universe comes from a rather tragic background wrought with slavery and violence.
That doesn't mean the Dragonborn who exist in different planes of existence or universe within D&D lore suffered the same predicament in their origins. In Eberron, for example, they live alongside their supposed Forgotten Realms oppressors and even maintain a vast empire there. Hence, it's safe to say that Dragonborn culture and dogma differ per setting.
6 They're More Physically Robust Than Other Humanoid Races
One good reason why some players might prefer Dragonborn as their race is that they're naturally physically imposing. That's already a given since they're essentially the Warhammer Lizardmen in the D&D lore except smarter. Apart from their beastly appearance, they also have a vast height advantage compared to the other playable races.
Most Dragonborn are no shorter than 6'2" and typically weigh 300 pounds. Some of the tallest Dragonborn even go as high as 6'8" which puts them second only to Goliaths in terms of physical height. Of course, this their stat distribution will still determine how much better they are at physical feats compared to other humanoid races but they do have some innate racial benefits such as scales.
5 Most Of Them Don't Have Tails Or Wings
One would think that Dragonborn would have more dragonlike physical characteristics but apart from the scales, the breath, the snout, and the eyes, they're pretty far removed from the actual dragons in D&D lore. They don't have tails or wings.
In fact, Dragonborn who grow up to have tails or wings in the Forgotten Realms are considered deformed by their own clansmen in the Forgotten Realms. That's because they're not really half-dragons in 5e but a special and magical kind that hatched originally from dragon eggs. While the concept behind them is a race that combines features of both dragons and humans, they lean more toward their human traits.
4 Only A Few Of Them Have Original Dragon Colors
Dragonborn, much like other humanoids, come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. However, they do have a dominant physical trait as most Dragonborn come in bronze or brass. Other color variations are either gold, greenish copper, rust, or scarlet. This is due to interbreeding between different Dragonborn who inherited their scale colors from the dragons.
The original Dragonborn colors are identical to that of dragons. They're either green, blue, white, black, etc. Mostly simple colors. Turns out their offspring comes as a result of the parent's scale color so colors combine if they're different. In some special Dragonborn, however, ancestral dragon traits are so strong that they come out with the original dragon colors. The existence of these individuals is few and far between, of course.
3 They Put Their Clans Above All Else
So what sets Dragonborns apart from their dragon-like appearance and their physical traits? For starters, their culture is vastly alien but still relatable compared to other humanoids. Because Dragonborn value their clans more so than faith or any other aspect in their lives.
To them, the clan is everything and clan members are the only ones that can provide help in dire times. True enough to their philosophies in life, Dragonborn also believe in self-sufficiency and self-determination, making them more independent compared to other races. Keep this in mind when coming up with a Dragonborn backstory.
2 Average Lifespan Is Equal To Humans
Dragonborn come off as wise due to their culture and their ways as well as their natural predisposition for magic but they actually have around the same lifespan as humans. Most Dragonborn live up to only 80 years of age give or take. Compared to other nonhuman races in 5e, this is a rather short lifespan.
However, the Dragonborn make good of the relatively short life they have by developing fast. Because hours after hatching from their eggs, they're already ready to walk. They also become as big as pre-adolescent humans by age three and reach adulthood by age 15.
1 Most Of Them Hate Gods And Dragons
There's also something that sets the Dragonborn of the Forgotten Realms apart from other worlds in D&D lore. That would be their mostly innate disdain or apathy toward deities or figures of faith. That includes dragons. Because in the Forgotten Realms lore for Dragonborn, they were oppressed by the dragons and only gained their freedom through sheer force.
For that same reason, they also avoid worshiping gods for fear of their cruelty or tyranny. At least, that's how the Dragonborn should be within their clans. Players aren't pigeonholed or forced into this kind of guideline when making their Dragonborn characters. So feel free to make an outlier of a Dragonborn, much like how Drizzt is a rebel among the Drow.