Exploring the New Goblin, Hobgoblin, and Kobold Races in Monsters of the Multiverse (2024)

Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverseis arrivingon May 16 and with it comes over 30 playable races! These races have been collected from acrossthe multiverse—fromthe Feywild's harengon to Theros' satyr—and have been tweakedto make themsetting-agnostic.

In this article, we're going toexaminea few of the all-time greats when it comes to monstrous races: the goblin, hobgoblin, and kobold. We'll discuss what's changed for these racessince their original appearance in Volo'sGuide to Monstersand showhow to build characters around them.

• Goblin
• Hobgoblin
• Kobold

Ability score Increases and Languages

Newer Dungeons & Dragons races don'tcome with set ability score increases. Instead, players will get to choose one of the following options at character creation:

• Increase one score by 2 and increase a different score by 1
• Increase three different scores by 1

Instead of preset language proficiencies, you'll learn Common and one other language of your choice (with your DM's approval).

Goblin

Toenablemore diversified goblin characters, the updates inMonsters of the Multiversepresent goblins in a more positive light than previous sources. As made apparent by adding the Fey Ancestry trait, Monsters of the Multiversefocuses on how goblins originated in the Feywild and were later conquered by the god Maglubiyet when they crossed into the Material Plane.

Goblin Traits

In Monsters of the Multiverse, goblins retain all of the traits from their previous version, with slight tweaks. They are still Small creatures that are exceptionally good at hiding, escaping danger, and taking down foes that are larger than them. Their trademark ability, Fury of the Small, is slightly changed to deal damage equal to your proficiency modifier and can be used a number of times equal to your proficiency modifier per long rest.They are also granted the Fey Ancestry trait, which provides them advantage on saving throws made to avoid and end the charmed condition.

The most significant change comes from the ability to choose your ability score array, rather than having to work with a set +2 Dexterity, +1 Constitution. While this previous array was incredible for stealthy rogues, Charisma-focusedbards or Intelligence-focused wizards would overlook the goblin as a viable race. Now, you could easily make a Strength-focused goblin Battle Master who wears heavy armor for defense and can use their Nimble Escape to move around the battlefield while using Fury of the Small to pump up damage.

Hobgoblin

Hobgoblins receive quite the glow-up from their grim depiction in Volo's Guide to Monsters. In Monsters of the Multiverse, hobgoblins aredescribedas charismatic leaders who form deep bonds with their comrades. Like the treatment goblins received, Monsters of the Multiversefocuses on thehobgoblin's origins in the Feywildand ties that into their new racial features.

Hobgoblin Traits

In exchange for their martial weapon and light armor proficiencies, hobgoblins now receive an interesting racial feature called Fey Gift inMonsters of the Multiverse. It allows them to take the Help action as a bonus action a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.Starting at 3rd level, when you take the Help action in this way, you also benefit in other ways:

• You and the creature you help gain temporary hit points.
• You and the creature you help temporarily increase your walking speeds.
• When the creature you help hits a target with an attack roll, that target gets disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes within the next minute.

Being able to take the Helpaction as a bonus action is already a strong ability because it grants a party member advantage on their next attack or ability check.Getting toalso debuff an enemy orgain some temporary hit points make this aneven more stellarresource in combat.

Previously, hobgoblins came with a set +2 Constitution, +1 Intelligence array, which provided a solid base for a tankwizard when combined with the race's light armor proficiency.The addition of the Fey Gift feature fromMonsters of the Multiverseopens up the door for new builds. Combine Fey Gift with the Fortune from the Many trait—a reskinned Saving Face feature from the hobgoblin's previous appearance—and you have a solidsupport-focused martial class that works excellently with other martial party members. But while Fey Giftmakes good useof an empty bonus action slot, builds that already have a use for their bonus action, like bards, rogues, and two-weapon fighters, might want to look elsewhere in order to maximize their action economy.

Kobold

ThekoboldsofVolo's Guide to Monstersisthe only race to receive two ability score increases instead of the typical three. They also have Sunlight Sensitivity, which can be a challenging setbackin campaigns that tend to spend more time above ground than not. InMonsters of the Multiverse,thekobold's racial traits offer a more level playing field plus abilities from their draconic ancestors.

KoboldTraits

The new version of the kobold introduces the Draconic Cry feature, which replaces the previous version's Pact Tactics. This new feature functions fairly similar in that it is a reliable source of advantage on attacks. However, it is an expendable resource, costing a bonus action and only beingusablea number of times equal to your proficiency modifier per long rest. In exchange,Draconic Cry also offers allies advantage on their attacks and doesn't require an ally to be within 5 feet of you to activate it.

In place of the Grovel, Cower, and Beg racial trait, kobolds are given a new feature called Kobold Legacy. This new trait allows you to choose between a skill proficiency in Arcana, Investigation, Medicine, Sleight of Hand, or Survival, getting advantage on saving throws against the frightened condition, or a sorcerer cantrip.

Like Pack Tactics, the Draconic Cry racial trait lends itself to a martial build as it can give you advantage on attacks against enemies within melee range. This can be an excellent way to ensure you can reliably sneak attack as a rogue or when you just need to land that smite as a paladin. These martial builds will be able to make good use of either the advantage against being frightened or the sorcerer cantrip granted through Kobold Legacy. The frightened condition can be a tough one to overcome for builds lacking proficiency in Wisdom saves, and the sorcerer cantrip could be a great way to snag green-flame blade or booming blade.

A Multiverse Worth of Options Awaits

Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverseallows players to choose from over 30 races, each of which can be viable in any number of new and exciting builds. Players will have to be careful, however. The book also contains over 250 monster stat blocks that Dungeon Masters will undoubtedly use to put your new characters to the test!

Mike Bernier (@arcane_eye) is the founder ofArcane Eye, a site focused on providing useful tips and tricks to all those involved in the world of D&D. Outside of writing for Arcane Eye, Mike spends most of his time playing games, hiking with his girlfriend, and tending the veritable jungle of houseplants that have invaded his house.