D&D 5E Do WBW and VGR rules on racial spells apply retroactively to PHB races?

[ECMO3]

The most recent books, Ravenloft and Witchlight, include races with racial spells where you can select the spellcasting modifier to use at character creation and you can cast the spells using slots in addition to the once a day.

Are these changes applied retroactively to the older races as well? Can my Tiefling now upcast Hellish Rebuke using his wizard or cleric spell slots?

 

[Nathaniel Lee]

These rules do not apply to any other race/lineage option in the game. If you're the DM, you can house rule that however you want. If you're a player who wants to use them on a different race/lineage, ask your DM if they can house rule that.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

The most recent books, Ravenloft and Witchlight, include races with racial spells where you can select the spellcasting modifier to use at character creation and you can cast the spells using slots in addition to the once a day.

Are these changes applied retroactively to the older races as well? Can my Tiefling now upcast Hellish Rebuke using his wizard or cleric spell slots?

No.
But I guess as a DM it would be your priviledge to allow it.

My guideline would be:

• if it is a real spell, then yes.
• if it is an inherent ability that "resembles" a spell (and thus just use the spell as a shorthand), then no.

 

[Weiley31]

RAW, no. However, it is a simple enough House Rule to auto-adjust to that.