Subraces

of the

Aarakocra
New Racial Features for the Bird-Folk
D&D 5th Edition
By Jamie Manson
 Subraces of the Aarakocra
The Aarakocra
Sequestered in high mountains atop tall trees, the
aarakocra, sometimes called birdfolk, evoke fear and
wonder. Many aarakocra aren’t even native to the
Material Plane. They hail from a world beyond — from
the boundless vistas of the Elemental Plane of Air.
They are immigrants, refugees, scouts, and
explorers, their outposts functioning as footholds in a
world both strange and alien to them.
Aarakocra Personality
An Aarakocra may have different quirks and
motivations from the regular inhabitants within the
Material Plane.
Use the following table to help customize your
character and bring an extra racial quirk that sets
them apart from other races.
d12 Quirk
1 You sometimes let out a loud squawk when you
feel nervous or anxious.
2 You preen yourself and others you feel
comfortable around, it’s an old habit you’ve had
since you were young.
3 You are fixated by reflections of yourself,
becoming unaware of your surroundings.
4 When eating, you try to eat things whole, tilting
your head back, letting gravity do the work.
5 Your pockets are constantly lined with grain and
seed, which you regularly snack on.
6 You use your own feathers for arrows, quills and
other crafts giving it a personal touch.
7 Being in an enclosed space makes you feel
uneasy, making you focus on ways out. The sight
of the sky helps calm you.
8 You can’t help but whistle a cheery tune when
you wake up in the morning.
9 When things get heated, you puff yourself up and
outstretch your wings until you calm down.
10 In moments of excitement, your speech becomes
breathless, sometimes making chirping noises.
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11 You are keen to communicate using your wings
and plumage.
12 When you fall, trip, or otherwise make sudden
movements - you create a trail of feathers, which
inexplicably get everywhere.
A Life Of Flight
As an aarakocra, the idea of flight is ingrained when
they are first born. However, starting with the ability
to fly at 1st level is exceptionally effective in some
situations, while being exceedingly dangerous in
others. Flight is often unaccounted for in campaigns
at an early level, so it is recommended that you talk to
your DM to give special consideration to your
character.
As a compromise, you can start your character in
one of 2 other ways. Use one of the following flightless
options you can start as an Aarakocra character below
to trade off the loss of your flying ability:
Delayed Flight. You are only suffering a
temporary injury and will gain your ability to fly at a
later date as determined by your DM, where you will
start with Slowfall, but change it to Flight once you
regain the use of your wings.
Flightless. You have completely lost your ability to
fly. You instead start with Slowfall + Racial Feat of
your choice.
Flight
Aarakocra are born into a life of flying, it is their
nature, their life and they are at their most
comfortable when they take to the air.
You have a flying speed of 50 feet. To fly, you can’t
be wearing medium or heavy armor.
Slowfall
If your wings are not working as they once were, your
lightweight body and remaining wings are still able to
carry you slowly towards the ground.
You can fall from any height using your remaining
wings, you can't be wearing medium or heavy armor
and must have at least a 10 feet of free space to either
side of you (a total of 25ft.) to make room for your
wings. (You fall at a speed of 60ft. per round.)
 Subraces of the Aarakocra
If you decide to forgo the use of your wings, you can
use the list below to help create a possible narrative to
explain why you cannot use them.
d8 You lost the ability to fly because...
1 It is a forgotten skill lost through generations of
your tribe living a grounded life.
2 A horrific accident disabled the use of both of
your wings.
3 You were born with a rare genetic defect that left
you without fully formed wings.
4 You suffered a grueling punishment and exiled
from your tribe, leaving your wings clipped up to
the elbow.
5 Your wings can only truly carry you while within
the Elemental Plane of Air. Outside of it, flying is
both too strenuous and exhausting.
6 You have suffered from debilitating nausea and
disorientation when flying since you were young.
You’ve never learned to fly because of it.
7 A dragon scarred your wings with its magical
breath, the wounds will mysteriously not heal,
still emitting a subtle glow from residual magic.
8 A curse was laid upon you and your tribe by
some force of elemental evil.
Aarakocra Traits
Your aarakocra character has the following racial
traits.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score
increases by 2.
Age. Aarakocra reach maturity by age 3. Compared
to humans, aarakocra don’t usually live longer than
30 years.
Alignment. Most aarakocra are good and rarely
choose sides when it comes to law and chaos. Tribal
leaders and warriors might be lawful, while explorers
and adventurers might tend toward chaotic.
Size. The Aarakocra range from about 3 to 5 feet
tall. They have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh
between 50 and 100 pounds and sizes ranging from
Small to Medium.
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Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.
Language. You can speak, read, and write
Common, Aarakocra, and Auran.
Subrace. There are multiple subraces within the
aarakocra, each with their own unique traits.
Aarakocra Subraces
The Aarakocra are a mysterious race, their sighting in
the Material Plane is rife with tales and
misconceptions about them.
One of the biggest misunderstandings of the
Aarakocra peoples is that they all look alike - that they
are all of one species, which is reported as an
eagle-like humanoid. However they are but only one
subrace of the birdfolk, the Alia’eet who are tasked as
scouts and military forces that lay on the outskirts of
their civilization - and therefore - the most likely to be
seen by outsiders.
Other subraces exist, tending to keep to their own
realm, guarded from all possible fronts by the Alia’eet,
who are described as eagle-like. Most subraces
commonly band together into their small tribes, with
multiple subraces only likely to mingle together
within their home cities within the Elemental Plane of
Air.
The Aarakocra consist of many subraces, each with
a specific speciality within their society. The following
are some of the main subsets within the culture:
Alia’eet
Bald Eagle
To most other races, the Alia’eet are reported to be the
only known subrace of Aarakocra, they make up the
near entirety of their military might. Their scouts and
fighters are seen almost exclusively with all
encounters with other races. They are typically the
only subrace of the Aarakocra that bleed into the
material plane, and as such, they are easily mistaken
 Subraces of the Aarakocra
as the only Aarakocra archetype to exist within texts,
eyewitness reports and lore books.
Appearance. They are commonly mistaken for
eagles given the height that they fly, with white
feathered heads and strong curled yellow beaks. The
core of their bodies are brown plumage with some
extremities containing more white feathers like their
posterior crest.
Size. Alia’eet are around 4-5 feet high, your size is
Medium.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score
increases by 1.
Vicious Talons. Your talons are particularly
vicious, which deal 1d6 of slashing damage when you
attack with them.
Eagles Scream. As a bonus action, you let out an
intimidatingly shrill scream at a target within 60 ft.
The target must make a Wisdom saving throw with a
DC 8 + strength modifier + your proficiency, on a
failure the target is frightened as long as it can see you
or is within 60ft. The target can make saving throws
at the end of its turn. You cannot use this ability again
until after a short rest.
Bubo Vir
Horned Owl
The wise sages of the aarakocra family, these birdfolk
are seen as the elders of their tribes. Often they are
skilled healers, well versed in the druidic arts and
have a quiet respect for nature. The Bubo Vir convey
themselves with a proud sense of decorum when
conducting their affairs. Not much can get under their
feathers, always seemingly calm and collected, even
within times of duress.
Appearance. Bubo Vir have tawny plumage, flat
pale feathered faces, prominent ear-tufts and barred
plumage that distinguishes them from other
Aarakocra. They are slightly smaller compared to
other birdfolk and also have large yellow eyes and a
short black curled beak.
Size. Bubo Vir are 3-4 feet high, your size is Small.
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Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score
increases by 1.
Talons. You are proficient with your unarmed
strikes using your hands or feet, which deal 1d4
slashing damage on a hit.
Darkvision. You are able to see in the dark, up to
a range of 60 feet in shades of gray.
Naturally Perceptive. Being able to rotate your
head almost completely around, you are naturally
proficient in Perception.
Anocetta
Blue Jay
Colorful, upbeat and driven, the Anocetta are known
for keeping spirits high, expressing their inner soul to
provide entertainment and boosting morale within
Aarakocra culture. If something is colorful, musical or
artistic, the equally expressive Anocetta are sure to let
their boastful presence be known. They are regularly
patrolling to be the life of the party or vying for
attention, and can sometimes be garrulous in their
ways, but they are eager to please and see cheering-up
others as a challenge to always accept.
Appearance. Anocetta are predominantly blue
with a white chest and underparts, and a blue crest.
They have a black, U-shaped collar around the neck
and a black border behind their crest. They can also
be found in an assortment of other colors ranging in
red, orange and green, sometimes being darker or
more mute in females.
Size. Anocetta are 3-4 feet high, your size is Small.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score
increases by 1.
Birdsong. Your natural morning birdsong can
bestow tranquility to those around you. After a long
rest you can choose one ally within 60ft. to gain
advantage for their first roll of the day. This must be
done once in the morning and lasts until mid-day.
Natural Melody. You are a natural when it comes
to creating songs and tunes at a moment's notice. You
are proficient in Performance.
 Subraces of the Aarakocra

Orvids
Tarius
Magpie
Secretary Bird
Highly intelligent, stark creatures with a propensity to
The Tarius are known to be skilled runners with very
be overly curious. Their love to harvest arcane lore
capable ground movement, and capable fighters able
serendipitously dovetails with an almost unnatural
to exploit enemies when they are knocked down.
affinity for shiny objects. They have a knack for
They are skittish and quick to run, but typically
finding mildly interesting magical trinkets and turn
towards the direction of danger and not away. Tarius
them into personal collections.
are eager to put a plan into action, usually as there is
Orvids are often magic users by consequence of this
never a plan to begin with, getting frustrated when a
wanton lust of pretty devices and - despite their
situation isn’t dealt with immediately. They are quiet
wandering eyes and meandering mind - are still
and speak in short bursts and are surprisingly quite
considered the smartest of their kind.
pleasant to engage with when they have nothing
Appearance. The head, neck and breast area of
important on their minds, which are often racing with
Orvids’ are glossy black with a metallic green and
thoughts.
violet sheen, the wings are black glossed with green or
Appearance. Tarius have stunning facial features,
purple striped with white and the legs and bill of the
with distinct quill-like black feathers protruding from
Orvids are black; the iris is dark brown. They are
behind their heads and striking featherless red faces.
sometimes incorrectly identified as Kenku.
Their bodies, however, have mute gray feathers and a
Size. Orvids are the smallest of the Aarakocra and
strong border to black plumage on their wingtips and
are not much larger than 3 feet high, your size is
exceptionally long legs, which tend to give the Tarius
Small.
more height over their other Aarakocra cousins.
Ability Score Increase.Your Intelligence score
Size. Tarius reach up to about 5 feet high, with
increases by 1.
most of it made up by their legs, your size is Medium.
Trinket Horder. You start with 2 additional
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score
trinkets.
increases by 1.
Investigator. You are naturally proficient in the
Talons. You are proficient with your unarmed
Investigation skill
strikes using your hands or feet, which deal 1d4
Shining Example. You have an eye for finding
slashing damage on a hit.
shiny objects, gaining advantage on trying to find
Ground Rake. If a creature is prone on the
items or objects that can shine or glint in the light
ground, you can move across, over its space and use a
within 20 feet of you.
reaction to make a talon attack on it using your feet.
Bounding. Your legs are built for speed, your base
movement speed is increased to 35ft.

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 Subraces of the Aarakocra

● Kickup Dirt. Given the right conditions, you blow

Racial Feats dirt, sand and other detritus into a target's eyes
These feats are associated with the Aarakocra and within 10 feet. The target must make a DC 8 +
their subraces: strength modifier + your proficiency Constitution
saving throw or be blinded for 1 round.
Wind Walker
● Blowback. You exert such force from your wings
Prerequisite: Aarakocra, Flight
that you push a target in the direction that you are
A master of the wind, you can pick up subtle changes
facing them. The target must be within 5ft of you
in the air, able to adapt to sudden changes.
and must make a DC 8 + strength modifier + your
● Your flight movement is increased by +10 feet.
proficiency Strength saving throw or be pushed 10
● You gain advantage on any saving throws to do with
feet back. You also move 10 feet back in the
air or wind spells cast on you (including
opposite direction. Neither of these movements
environmental hazards). On successes you are able
provoke attacks of opportunities.
to use a reaction, using the air on your wings and
move up to your flight movement speed in any
direction (including vertically) you wish to.
Grounded Senses
● In windy and stormy conditions you are able to use Prerequisite: Aarakocra, Flightless

the extra power in the air to your advantage, While grounded, you are naturally more alert for
gaining a flying dash movement as a reaction. dangers and can spot potential dangers at a moment's
notice.
● Increase your Wisdom score by 1, to a maximum of
Emergency Landing
20.
Prerequisite: Aarakocra
● You gain +1 passive perception and +2 to
You become better at using your wings to slowfall
perception checks.
more effectively, as long as you are wearing armor
● When you are surprised in combat, you gain a
that you are proficient in flying in, you are able to:
reaction at the start of the surprise round to move
● Automatically as a free-action slow-fall safely by
away from the initial threat.
yourself from any height when you are knocked
unconscious.
● Your effective slowfall wingspan requirement space
Silent Glide
is reduced to 5 feet on either side of you. Prerequisite: Aarakocra, (Subrace: Bubo Vir)

● You are able to consciously slow-fall while holding
on to one additional creature of medium size or
smaller for 100ft. Both taking 1d6 damage after that
distance and another 1d6 for every extra 100ft
thereafter, up to a maximum of 10d6. After taking
damage, both creatures are knocked prone.
Winged Combat
Prerequisite: Aarakocra
As an action on the ground, you beat your wings with
such force that you are able to do one of the following:
● Kickup Dust. Given the right conditions, you can
kick up a cloud of dust covering a 15ft by 15ft square
immediately in front of you. The cloud blocks sight
and remains in the air for 1 round.
The Bubo Vir are well renowned for their ability to
glide silently through the air, leaving nary a wake to
detect.
Your glide rate is your flight move speed, dropping
by 10ft for that distance traveled.
● Increase your Dexterity score by 1, to a maximum of
20.
● When you glide through the air, you gain advantage
on any stealth checks related to sound during the
day and gain advantage on stealth on both sight and
sound during the night. You make no noise while
gliding.
● If you attack during a glide, on a successful stealth
glide you can add +2d4 to your attack if the initial
attack is melee.

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 Subraces of the Aarakocra
Binocular Vision
Prerequisite: Aarakocra, (Subrace: Bubo Vir)
You are able to focus on intricate detail from a long
distance. If you spend a 1 minute focusing on an
object or small area that you can see:
● You focus on a single object or creature within 320
feet, you can make out detail as if you were only 15
feet away from it, and at 120 feet you can make out
detail as if you were 5 feet away. If you are within
60 feet, you are able to read regular text on the
pages of a book clearly.
● Focusing on minute movements and unnatural
shapes, you can analyze a relatively clear area 50ft x
50ft from an adequate range of 120 -320 feet that
you can see to check for hidden creatures, traps or
features that use non magical means to hide or
disguise themselves. Removing advantages on their
rolls to hide and disadvantages on your rolls to
perceive.
While doing any of these actions you suffer from
disadvantage on any perception checks outside of the
target area.
Ground Stomp
Prerequisite: Aarakocra, (Subrace: Tarius)
You are able to use the force from your powerful legs
more wisely during combat. You can do the following
additional actions during the same Ground Rake
movement reaction:
● Spending an action you can attempt to stun a target
by kicking it while it is prone with both feet. If the
attack is successful, you deal 2d4 + your strength
modifier of damage and the target must make a DC
8 + strength modifier + your proficiency Wisdom
saving throw or become stunned for 1 turn.
● You are able to get a free Ground Rake action on
every prone creature that you are able to move
across during the turn (providing you spend the
reaction for using Ground Rake).
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Leaps and Bounds
Prerequisite: Aarakocra, (Subrace: Tarius)
The Tarius become veterans at bounding combat,
learning to use the weight of their enemies against
them and use them to increase your movement.
● Your long and high jump distance is doubled
● You can jump down from a height of 30 feet without
taking any fall damage as long as you are not
incapacitated.
● As an action, you can attempt to jump onto a foe of
size large or smaller, using your inertia to leap off of
them. Your acrobatics must beat their AC score, on
a success you can make a free Ground Rake attack
as you leap off the target, causing it to go prone, and
you can travel up to a distance equal to your
acrobatics roll in any direction (rounded down to
the nearest tile square). Your acrobatics do not
provoke attacks of opportunity.
Dive Bomb
Prerequisite: Aarakocra, Flight, (Subrace: Alia’eet)
If you are flying, you dive at least 10 feet directly (in
straight line) towards a target and as an action, can do
either one of the following:
● Attack. Use your feet talons to make an attack,
doing 2d4 of slashing damage on a successful hit.
Adding +1d4 damage for every extra 10 feet you
moved towards the target in a straight line on the
same turn to attack.
● Pin. Attempt to pin a target of large size or smaller
prone, the target must roll against a DC equal to 8 +
Your strength modifier + your proficiency. Adding 1
to the DC for every extra 10 feet you moved on the
same turn straight towards the target. If you decide
to remain on the target after a successful strike,
they are considered restrained by you.
If you miss any of the above actions, you instead pass
over the target and then an additional half the
distance you traveled, not provoking attacks of
opportunity as long as you remain in the air.
 Subraces of the Aarakocra
Strength Of The Alia’eet
Prerequisite: Aarakocra, Flight (Subrace: Alia’eet)
Your flying is strong and powerful compared to other
Aarakocra allowing you to carry more weight during
flight.
● Increase your Strength score by 1, to a maximum of
20.
● You are now proficient in flying with medium
armor.
● At a strength score of 16 you are able to carry a
small creature while flying.
● At a strength score of 20 you are able to carry a
medium creature while flying.
When you are wearing medium armor, your flight
movement is halved while carrying a creature.
Bewildering Display
Prerequisite: Aarakocra, (Subrace: Anocetta)
As an action, you attempt to use your colorful
plumage in a fascinating display to dazzle and distract
all targets within 30 feet of you that can see you . The
target must make a contested Wisdom saving throw
against the Performance you make, on failure the
target suffers the effects of the confusion spell for 1
turn.
If the target succeeds however, you instead become
the focus of the target for the turn, paying attention to
only you. If you move out of the target's sight, it will
attempt to find you.
You can choose to intentionally fail this feature.
Beak Performance
Prerequisite: Aarakocra, Class: Bard (Subrace: Anocetta)
As both a bard and aarakocra, a wonderful synergy
has emerged between your beak and your musical
prowess.
● Increase your Charisma score by 1, to a maximum
of 20.
● Your beak is considered a musical instrument and
can be used as a musical spell focus. As your beak is
part of your body, you do not need to spend time to
equip or unequip it, which leaves both your hands
free.
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Colorful Charm
Prerequisite: Aarakocra, (Subrace: Anocetta)
The words you speak are laced with subtle cheerful
musical whistlings.
If someone's attitude is not favorable towards you,
you can spend 1 minute speaking with them to try to
improve their mood towards you. Combine your
persuasion + performance skill bonuses together as
the save DC, which the target has to make a wisdom
saving throw against.
On a success or failure, the target is not aware that
its mood was being affected. You can only do this once
on each target per week and its mood must already be
negative towards you.
Sky Caster
Prerequisite: Aarakocra, Flight, (Subrace: Orvids)
While flying, you feel attuned to the flow of magic,
gaining some extra magical benefits as long as you are
flying in the air:
● Any spell with a range (not touch), the range is
increased by 30 feet.
● You have advantage on any spells cast against you
that requires a Dexterity saving throw.
Secret Sense
Prerequisite: Aarakocra (Subrace: Orvids)
Your heightened senses of magic, secrets and hidden
objects become second nature to you. Your keen eyes
and probing beak can be used to sense a feeling of
magic. You can do one of the following curious
detections before needing a short rest to be able to do
it again:
● Your arcane senses can detect all magical secrets
within a 30ft radius, such as a magical trap or secret
door using magic to hide.
● You can sense the presence of a loose magical item
in a 100ft radius around you, and can sense a
general attribute of it (e.g. utility, offensive, frost,
fire etc.). You feel a wave of relief wash over you
once you find it.
● You can use a reaction to immediately avoid a
magical trap when wandering into it.
 Subraces of the Aarakocra

33-34 Kuretek 83-84 Taqui

Aarakocra Names 35-36 Kurru 85-86 Urikeer
As with much of their speech, aarakocra names 37-38 Laikei 87-88 Urreek
include clicks, trills, and whistles to the point that
39-40 Lleree 89-90 Virakeel
other peoples have a difficult time pronouncing them.
41-42 Luireeka 91-92 Veelek
Typically, a name has two to four syllables with the
43-44 Makaw 93-94 Wureed
sounds acting as connectors. When interacting with
other races, aarakocra may use nicknames gained 45-46 Moeirra 95-96 Whekku

from people they meet or shortened forms of their full 47-48 Noheehi 97-98 Zeed
names. 49-50 Nurreik 99-00 Zikeek
Family names are sometimes also integrated into
their first names, the last syllables encode their family Tribe
name in some form, often denoted with an apostrophe d100 Name d100 Name
in writing, splitting the first name into two (e.g. 01-02 Aarak 51-52 Oarrkii
Soleek is Sol’eek, “Sol” being the shortened name and
03-04 Airuan 53-54 Oorhoo
“Eek” being the family name. Other family members
05-06 Alaurial 55-56 Purarooe
tend to also share this part if they want to maintain a
07-08 Arune 57-58 Quarirah
strong family bond (e.g. A family member of “Sol’eek”
may be called “Faar’eek”. 09-10 Buviri 59-60 Queeskiir

Lastly, aarakocra may be associated with a tribe or 11-12 Cauweei 61-62 Quiexsil

clan, which leads them to have a second descriptor to 13-14 Cusoweeri 63-64 Raufreet
help with addressing themselves and each other when 15-16 Deekerirehh 65-66 Saaretikee
tribes have to seldom meet one another. 17-18 Duerrikis 67-68 Saluuris

19-20 Eura 69-70 Taalkiurl

Male or Female
21-22 Eyreekos 71-72 Tuurieka
d100 Name d100 Name
23-24 Feirekes 73-74 Uoroolu
01-02 Aeraka 51-52 Oikeer
25-26 Gaui 75-76 Urkertai
03-04 Aeirra 53-54 Oorr
05-06 Bakaw 55-56 Ouss 27-28 Haukrue 77-78 Uurohooht

07-08 Delikee 57-58 Peikhek 29-30 Irris 79-80 Vauihoo

09-10 Errk 59-60 Pitreet 31-32 Iutirah 81-82 Vourikakee

11-12 Ferreki 61-62 Quaf 33-34 Jereeki 83-84 Waahkaal

13-14 Gialoo 63-64 Queebo 35-36 Juuleeka 85-86 Whaikeeri

15-16 Heequa 65-66 Quierk 37-38 Kaucaa 87-88 Xarritteek

17-18 Hekki 67-68 Reeki 39-40 Kirrofaah 89-90 Xeekeir

19-20 Ieekora 69-70 Ruel 41-42 Kurriheer 91-92 Yeeko

21-22 Ikki 71-72 Rybleek 43-44 Kuuckoora 93-94 Yierkoori

23-24 Iorra 73-74 Saallek 45-46 Lauhhur 95-96 Zeekitoo

25-26 Jiekarr 75-76 Sarrecki 47-48 Mekierei 97-98 Zerneek

27-28 Jookuu 77-78 Skuff 49-50 Nokiraa 99-00 Zizkeereeh

29-30 Kauraff 79-80 Soleek

31-32 Kleeck 81-82 Taiealee

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