Gray Dwarves

The gray dwarves, or duergar, live deep in the Underdark. After delving deeper than any other dwarves, they were enslaved by mind flayers for eons. Although they eventually won their freedom, these grim, ashen-skinned dwarves now take slaves of their own and are as tyrannical as their former masters.

Physically similar to other dwarves in some ways, duergar are wiry and lean, with black eyes and bald heads, with the males growing long, unkempt, gray beards.

Duergar value toil above all else. Showing emotions other than grim determination or wrath is frowned on in their culture, but they can sometimes seem joyful when at work. They have the typical dwarven appreciation for order, tradition, and impeccable craftsmanship, but their goods are purely utilitarian, disdaining aesthetic or artistic value.

Few duergar become adventurers, fewer still on the surface world, because they are a hidebound and suspicious race. Those who leave their subterranean cities are usually exiles. Check with your Dungeon Master to see if you can play a gray dwarf character.

Duergar Traits

Encompassed species

• Dwarf

Ability Score Increase
Their Strength score increases by 1.
Superior Darkvision
Their darkvision has a radius of 120 feet.
Extra Language
They can speak, read, and write Undercommon.
Duergar Resilience
They have advantage on saving throws against illusions and against being charmed or paralyzed.
Duergar Magic
When they reach 3rd level, you can cast the enlarge/reduce spell on themself once with this trait, using only the spell’s enlarge option. When they reach 5th level, they can cast the invisibility spell on themself once with this trait. They don’t need material components for either spell, and they can’t cast them while they’re in direct sunlight, although sunlight has no effect on them once cast. They regain the ability to cast these spells with this trait when they finish a long rest.
Sunlight Sensitivity
They have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when they, the target of their attack, or whatever they are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.