Analysis of the new stat pairs for elf, eladrin, dwarf, halfling

[mkill]

For those who haven't noticed, the Essentials series will give most races a choice for their second ability score. It's more or less a given that these will be updated into the main product line.
The following have been confirmed:

Elf: +2 Dex, +2 Int or Wis
Eladrin: +2 Int, +2 Dex or Cha
Halfling: +2 Dex, +2 Con or Cha
Dwarf: +2 Con, +2 Str or Wis

Let's look at which builds benefit most from these changes.


-- Elf --

The Elf gains a Dex/Int build, and becomes a competitor of Eladrin and Shadar-Kai. Dex/Int, however, isn't a very popular stat combo and only used by Wand Wizards and Cunning Sneak rogues.

For the Cunning Sneak, the Elf is now top choice - double stat match, mobility class features perfect for a striker, Perception bonus, and a feat to sneak attack with bows: What's not to love? Regarding background, it's your choice between a wilderness rogue or an urbanized elf.

The main benefit of the Int bonus is that the Elf now has +2 to the primary stat for a number of arcane classes - the Artificer, Swordmage, and Wizard - as well as a secondary stat for Bard and Warlock. The Eladrin, with his +2 racial bonus to Arcana, Fey Step and excellent feat support still reigns supreme here, though, unless there is a different race with a better stat match. With a 7 move, shift in difficult terrain, and elven accuracy, the elf is a viable alternative. Especially Swordmages benefit from the elven mobility.

Another Int class to mention is the Psion, where the Elf becomes an interesting option but still takes a backseat compared to psionic races such as Shardminds.

In the also ran category we have the tactical warlord, where the elf moves up to the midfield.


-- Eladrin --

The Eladrin gains an Int/Cha option, which moves him on par with Changeling, Tiefling, Gnome and Shardmind.

There are builds in 4 classes with an Int/Cha pair: The Cunning Bard, Telepathic Psion, Fey / Dark / Infernal Warlock, and the Enchanter Mage / Orb of Deception Wizard. Except for the Infernal Warlock, which is pretty much written for the Tiefling, the Eladrin now takes the crown in all of these builds. Not only does their background fit very well, with Fey Step, a free skill, Arcana bonus, +1 to Will, and tons of feat support, they offer the best class features.

In comparison, the Changeling suffers from lack of support, and Gnomes... well, nobody takes them serious anyway. Fade Away is good for Strikers and Controllers, but less useful for leaders and defenders. Fey Step is more generally useful. Gnomes also suffer from slow movement speed. As for Shardminds, they'll always be an off-choice. Just finding the right miniature is a pain. Ironically, Eladrin are now better Dark Warlocks than Drow...

Charisma is also a main stat for Ardent, Paladin, and Sorcerer, which makes Eladrin interesting choices in these classes now. Eladrin can now be graceful and noble knights of Corellon Larethian, or champions of a fey court. As for Sorcerer, I consider the Cosmic Sorcerer the best match by flavor.

Another build that benefits is the Tactical Warlord: Even without a Strength bonus, this was a powerful build with strong feat and PP support. Now, they add a bonus to the other Warlord secondary, which broadens power choice.

In the also ran department, we have Barbarians, Battleminds and Clerics. None of these are classic Eladrin choices, but they move to the mid-field with a bonus to a secondary stat in some builds, at least. In other words, you suck less if you want to play one.


--- more after the break.

 

[mkill]

-- Dwarf --

Dwarves probably got the most controversial change, with a new choice of a Str/Con pair. This puts them on par with Muls, Minotaurs, Warforged and Goliaths.

Str/Con is not just a popular combination for races, but also for builds. Dwarves now move to the top rank as Rageblood Barbarians, several Fighter builds (Essentials Knight, Hammer or Axe user, Battlerager), Wrathful Hammer Runepriests and Earthstrength and Stormheart Wardens.

Con, however, is a viable stat for pretty much any class - who doesn't need hit points and healing surges, so Dwarves also become better Strength Clerics, Strength Paladins, melee Rangers, and Warlords.

Now, dwarves have pretty strong racial features, and some will argue the best racial features of any race. This may be true for armor wearing melee fighters, especially defenders, and especially when fighting with an axe or a hammer. Well, if you ask me, dwarves are an iconic fantasy race, and it would be a shame if they weren't best at exactly this role. Warforged and Goliaths definitely have enough own class features and other benefits to compete, Muls and Minotaurs not so much, but this could change with more published material.

As an also ran, dwarves now feature a secondary stat for Rogue, Sorcerer and Swordmage. I'm not sure that's enough to make Dwarven Brutal Scoundrel or Ruthless Ruffian Rogues viable, though. At least they have a feat to sneak attack with a Warhammer (how subtle...), but they still suffer from slow movement speed.


-- Halfling --

Halflings gain Dex/Con, a somewhat unusual combination that they share with the Revenant, Gnoll, Kobold, Bullywug and Wilden, of all races. The halfling easily beats them in feat and PP support.

Three classes use this combination. The first is the bleak Assassin, which makes Halflings top choice for both existing Assassin builds (the other is Dex/Cha). I'm not sure if that's so valuable, considering the well-known problems with the current Assassin, and the general question whether the jolly halfling nature fits a ruthless, stealthy killer (yes, I am aware of Belkar).

Then, there is the Harrier Battlemind from Psionic Power. The halfling suffers from his limited weapon choice here, but his defensive class features are surprisingly useful for a defender. The halfling background doesn't exactly scream Battlemind, but then, neither does Gnoll or Revenant.

The third optimal stat alignment is the Iron Soul Monk. Even if you don't choose this build, Con is still a better tertiary stat for monks than Charisma. The same applies to ranged Rangers. Strangely enough, 4th edition halflings don't get any ability that makes them better with slings. Not even a feat...

Halfling Warlocks with a Vestige or Infernal Pact also benefit from a bonus to their main stat, but again these are off-choices, if I would play a halfling Warlock I'd rather match style and go Dex/Cha and Fey Pact (or play a Gnome instead).

That leaves a laundry list of classes that use Constitution as a secondary stat in some builds - Artificer, Barbarian, Druid, Fighter, Invoker, Runepriest, Shaman, Swordmage, Warden, Wizard. None of these is a "classic" halfling class, but if you want to try a halfling here, you'll do better than before. Halfling Fighter is probably the most commonly played in this list.

 

[interwyrm]

I am so happy about the eladrin change.

Quick fix on your warlock bits though...
Cha based is Fey and Dark pact mostly, with some options for Star and Infernal 'locks.
Con based is Infernal and Vestige mostly. Star'locks need con to use their at-will.
The new SK pact can use either stat.

Dex/Con also makes halflings better fighters, rangers... pretty much anything with a dex primary and a cha dump stat.

 

[mkill]

All in all, the first batch of extended ability score choices made a lot of builds more viable - among them many iconic ones, such as dwarf warlords and runepriests, as well as eladrin fey warlocks and bards. As you already see in these examples, Eladrin and Dwarf definitely got the best deal. They were pushed to top tier for a number of their iconic classes, leaving other races like Gnome or Minotaur behind them.

The Int bonus for the Elf came unexpected - good if you always wanted to play a more nature-loving arcane character. It does blur the line between Elf and Eladrin, though, and pits both races directly against each other in a few arcane classes, with the Eladrin still the top choice.

As for the halfling, the Dex/Con option doesn't have noticeable consequence on most ranking. The race is still on top where it was before, it only adds the rather exotic Halfling Monk and Halfling Battlemind. But even if there is not much shuffling at the top, it moved the Halfling from bad to playable in about a dozen classes that can use Constitution as a secondary stat.

My favorite new option is the Eladrin Paladin. I always wanted to play a graceful knight of Corellon Larethian. And I'm happy that Elves are now on par with Eladrin and Deva as Swordmages.

EDIT @interwyrm: Thanks, fixed.

 

[Mengu]

I think these optional stats not only create new "perfect combos" but also make more classes "workable" for a race.

For instance, I wouldn't really dream of playing an elf warlock before, but now it's workable, since I can sink an 18 into Charisma or Con, and after racial modifiers end up with a 16 Intelligence giving decent riders and AC, and 13 dexterity, which is sufficiently high for Dual implement.

Similarly, an Eladrin Paladin was in no way an option, but now the Charisma bonus makes it a reasonable option for a paladin who won't actually suck at religion. They will be good with the Greatspear, which is an excellent weapon for multi-marking even when opponents are 3 squares apart, by divine challenging one that's adjacent and ardent striking one that's two squares away, not to mention they get around mobility issues with teleport.

For Dwarf, I wouldn't make a dwarf sorcerer before, but now a dwarf Dragon or Cosmic Sorcerer sounds like it might work even if not optimal.

Halflings now have the door open for shielding swordmage. Picking mostly implement powers, you don't really rely on your weapon damage, so using a shortsword isn't a problem.

 

[Mengu]

One more quick addition for these 4 races, going through every race/class combo for the 4 races, the only combos that lack all stat synergy are Eladrin Warden and Eladrin Runepriest. Every other combo has at least one coinciding primary or secondary stat for an available class build.

 

[mkill]

One more quick addition for these 4 races, going through every race/class combo for the 4 races, the only combos that lack all stat synergy are Eladrin Warden and Eladrin Runepriest. Every other combo has at least one coinciding primary or secondary stat for an available class build.

I just checked too and you're right. I almost forgot that Barbarians have the Dex-based whirling build for elves. The Compendium omits a few secondaries that came with later splatbooks.

I agree that builds with a bonus to a secondary stat are perfectly viable. I even consider a few combos without any stat synergy viable, such as Tiefling Fighter. A race is not just its stat bonuses, racial features, available feats, prestige classes paragon paths and the general "fluff" match also play a role.

All in all this means that almost every race-class combo can be a viable character, which is quite an achievement of 4th edition.
(There are one or two wall-bangers, though, for example, it's almost impossible to build a useful half-elf ranger.)

 

[Nahat Anoj]

Except for the Infernal Warlock, which is pretty much written for the Tiefling...

Well, I'd say if tieflings were tailor made for infernal locks, they'd get +2 Con, +2 Int.

The Int bonus for the Elf came unexpected - good if you always wanted to play a more nature-loving arcane character. It does blur the line between Elf and Eladrin, though, and pits both races directly against each other in a few arcane classes, with the Eladrin still the top choice.

Yeah, Int/Dex surprised me. I wonder if drow will get +2 Dex, +2 Cha or +2 Int to keep them "inline" with the other elf races.

As for the halfling, the Dex/Con option has no noticable consequence on any ranking. The race is still on top where it was before, and only moved to the midfield in a dozen classes that aren't typical halfling careers anyway.

Psionic Power introduced a Dex/Con monk and a Con/Dex battlemind.

My favorite new option is the Eladrin Paladin. I always wanted to play a graceful knight of Corellon Larethian. And I'm happy that Elves are now on par with Eladrin and Deva as Swordmages.

It wouldn't surprise me if this bladesinger "class" I've heard mentioned is an essentialized swordmage that uses Cha or Dex as a secondary attribute. Personally, I feel the ensnaring swordmage should have used Dex as a secondary, but that's neither here nor there.

 

[mkill]

Psionic Power introduced a Dex/Con monk and a Con/Dex battlemind.

Ok, thanks. I don't own that book and they're not in the Compendium yet.

 

[Ryujin]

I am so happy about the eladrin change.

Quick fix on your warlock bits though...
Cha based is Fey and Dark pact mostly, with some options for Star and Infernal 'locks.
Con based is Infernal and Vestige mostly. Star'locks need con to use their at-will.
The new SK pact can use either stat.

Dex/Con also makes halflings better fighters, rangers... pretty much anything with a dex primary and a cha dump stat.

Yes, I'm definitely liking the Eladrin change, and it's the one I'd hoped for. I played an unoptimized Elardin Feylock (INT 18, CHA 16 to start after racials) and could never quite grasp why those who are closest to The Fey didn't have a good option to grab onto that Warlock power.