D&D 5E Halflings are the 7th most popular 5e race

[CleverNickName]

Here they are, broken down by percentage and class.

Spoiler: Artificer

Top Ten Artificers

1. Gnome (23.6%)
2. Human (22.2%)
3. Dwarf (7.5%)
4. Warforged (4.7%)
5. Tiefling (4.7%)
6. Half-Elf (4.1%)
7. Elf (4.1%)
8. Halfling (3.0%)
9. Changeling (2.8%)
10. Kobold (2.4%)

Spoiler: Barbarian

Top Ten Barbarians

1. Half-Orc (25.7%)
2. Goliath (19.2%)
3. Human (15.0%)
4. Dwarf (14.4%)
5. Dragonborn (10.7%)
6. Genasi (2.7%)
7. Halfling (2.6%)
8. Elf (2.4%)
9. Aarakocra (2.0%)
10. Tiefling (1.9%)

Spoiler: Bard

Top Ten Bards

1. Half-Elf (23.2%)
2. Human (17.4%)
3. Tiefling (11.4%)
4. Halfling (10.4%)
5. Elf (8.9%)
6. Gnome (4.8%)
7. Dragonborn (3.9%)
8. Aasimar (3.8%)
9. Dwarf (3.7%)
10. Genasi (3.1%)

Spoiler: Blood Hunter

Top Ten Blood Hunters

1. Human (28.1%)
2. Elf (12.4%)
3. Tiefling (10.5%)
4. Aasimar (7.6%)
5. Dragonborn (6.9%)
6. Genasi (6.2%)
7. Goliath (5.9%)
8. Half-Orc (5.3%)
9. Half-Elf (4.9%)
10. Dwarf (3.3%)

Spoiler: Cleric

Top Ten Clerics

1. Human (24.7%)
2. Dwarf (22.5%)
3. Elf (10.9%)
4. Half-Elf (7.0%)
5. Aasimar (6.9%)
6. Dragonborn (5.1%)
7. Tiefling (4.5%)
8. Genasi (3.6%)
9. Halfling (3.1%)
10. Gnome (2.8%)

Spoiler: Druid

Top Ten Druids

1. Elf (30.6%)
2. Human (13.8%)
3. Half-Elf (8.8%)
4. Genasi (7.0%)
5. Dwarf (5.8%)
6. Tiefling (5.6%)
7. Gnome (5.5%)
8. Dragonborn (4.4%)
9. Halfling (4.1%)
10. Aarakocra (3.1%)

Spoiler: Fighter

Top Ten Fighters

1. Human (34.5%)
2. Dwarf (13.7%)
3. Dragonborn (10.6%)
4. Elf (8.4%)
5. Half-Orc (7.4%)
6. Goliath (6.2%K)
7. Half-Elf (4.4%)
8. Genasi (3.0%)
9. Tiefling (2.8%)
10. Halfling (2.1%)

Spoiler: Monk

Top Ten Monks

1. Human (23.4%)
2. Elf (16.7%)
3. Aarakocra (9.2%)
4. Genasi (7.6%)
5. Halfling (6.6%)
6. Dragonborn (5.7%)
7. Half-Elf (5.2%)
8. Dwarf (4.2%)
9. Tiefling (3.9%)
10. Half-Orc (3.7%)

Spoiler: Paladin

Top Ten Paladins

1. Human (25.0%)
2. Dragonborn (18.3%)
3. Aasimar (10.5%)
4. Dwarf (10.3%)
5. Half-Elf (8.3%)
6. Elf (5.6%)
7. Half-Orc (5.5%)
8. Tiefling (5.0%)
9. Goliath (4.0%)
10. Genasi (2.1%)

Spoiler: Ranger

Top Ten Rangers

1. Elf (37.1%)
2. Human (18.1%)
3. Half-Elf (10.9%)
4. Aarakocra (5.2%)
5. Halfling (4.4%)
6. Dragonborn (4.0%)
7. Dwarf (3.6%)
8. Tiefling (3.4%)
9. Genasi (3.3%)
10. Gnome (2.3%)

Spoiler: Rogues

Top Ten Rogues

1. Elf (21.8%)
2. Human (20.0%)
3. Halfling (15.5%)
4. Half-Elf (11.3%)
5. Tiefling (8.2%)
6. Gnome (4.8%)
7. Genasi (3.1%)
8. Dragonborn (2.9%)
9. Aarakocra (2.6%)
10. Dwarf (2.1%)

Spoiler: Sorcerer

Top Ten Sorcerers

1. Half-Elf (16.6%)
2. Human (16.3%)
3. Tiefling (15.4%)
4. Elf (14.1%)
5. Dragonborn (11.6%)
6. Genasi (7.2%)
7. Aasimar (5.2%)
8. Halfling (3.1%)
9. Gnome (2.5%)
10. Dwarf (1.9%)

Spoiler: Warlock

Top Ten Warlocks

1. Tiefling (26.6%)
2. Human (17.8%)
3. Half-Elf (15.9%)
4. Elf (9.3%)
5. Aasimar (6.4%)
6. Dragonborn (6.0%)
7. Genasi (3.3%)
8. Gnome (2.9%)
9. Halfling (2.6%)
10. Half-Orc (2.2%)

Spoiler: Wizard

Top Ten Wizards

1. Elf (29.4%)
2. Human (25.2%)
3. Gnome (13.5%)
4. Half-Elf (6.9%)
5. Tiefling (5.6%)
6. Genasi (4.0%)
7. Dragonborn (3.7%)
8. Dwarf (3.0%)
9. Halfling (2.0%)
10. Aasimar (1.6%)

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Interest =/= popularity. Period.

Oof. Incorrect. You annd I are not interacting further on the subject.

Yes. But this person isn't official D&D Beyond. They used python to gather the data from DDB themselves, which may have simply included existence of the characters. We don't know if they have access to the "active use" data that DDB uses when they officially report such stuff.

Dude seriously? The rest of the post literally makes it explicitly clear that I know that.

 

[CleverNickName]

Huh. I wonder why a species that is more or less locked out from like three classes due to garbage size rules might not be played as often...

Halflings made it into the Top Ten of all but 4 classes (Artificer, Barbarian, Blood Hunter, and Paladin). But they only got 10% or higher participation in Bard and Rogue.

Gnomes are in the Top Ten of all but 4 classes also (Blood Hunter, Fighter, Monk, and Paladin.) They easily lead all other races in the Artificer class, and are third for Wizards, but otherwise never get above 10%.

And the Dwarf (my favorite) is in every single Top Ten list except for Warlock. They get 22.5% for Cleric, but otherwise never get higher than 10% in any spellcasting class of any kind. They're a popular choice, but not for spellcasters.

All this to say, I think that certain ancestries getting "locked out" has less to do with the size rules, and more to do with typecasting. Not many people read the description of a barbarian and think hmmm, that sounds like a gnome to me!

 

[bedir than]

And the Dwarf (my favorite) is in every single Top Ten list except for Warlock. They get 22.5% for Cleric, but otherwise never get higher than 10% in any spellcasting class of any kind.

I loved playing a Dwarf Bladesinger. It was a fun build because his concentration was so hard to break and he had a decent AC with a lot of HPs

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Top 10 Races for Artificers
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

1. Gnome (23.6%)
2. Human (22.2%)
3. Dwarf (7.5%)
4. Warforged (4.7%)
5. Tiefling (4.7%)
6. Half-Elf (4.1%)
7. Elf (4.1%)
8. Halfling (3.0%)
9. Changeling (2.8%)
10. Kobold (2.4%)

The people playing tiefling, half-elf, elf, halfling or changeling artificers ahead of kobold artificers need to see me after class.

Top 10 Races for Barbarians
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

1. Half-Orc (25.7%)
2. Goliath (19.2%)
3. Human (15.0%)
4. Dwarf (14.4%)
5. Dragonborn (10.7%)
6. Genasi (2.7%)
7. Halfling (2.6%)
8. Elf (2.4%)
9. Aarakocra (2.0%)
10. Tiefling (1.9%)

The second half of this list, other than tieflings, reads like people trying to play ironic characters.

Top 10 Races for Bards
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

1. Half-Elf (23.2%)
2. Human (17.4%)
3. Tiefling (11.4%)
4. Halfling (10.4%)
5. Elf (8.9%)
6. Gnome (4.8%)
7. Dragonborn (3.9%)
8. Aasimar (3.8%)
9. Dwarf (3.7%)
10. Genasi (3.1%)

Not sure I can picture what a dragonborn or genasi bard looks like, but OK otherwise.

Top 10 Races for Clerics
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

1. Human (24.7%)
2. Dwarf (22.5%)
3. Elf (10.9%)
4. Half-Elf (7.0%)
5. Aasimar (6.9%)
6. Dragonborn (5.1%)
7. Tiefling (4.5%)
8. Genasi (3.6%)
9. Halfling (3.1%)
10. Gnome (2.8%)

Trickster clerics are great! Gnome cleric needs to be higher up this list! My campaign has developed a whole theological framework around the worship of Garl Glittergold. (I should probably look for some royalty free gnome art and toss it up onto DMs Guild to spread the word punchline.)

Top 10 Races for Druids
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

1. Elf (30.6%)
2. Human (13.8%)
3. Half-Elf (8.8%)
4. Genasi (7.0%)
5. Dwarf (5.8%)
6. Tiefling (5.6%)
7. Gnome (5.5%)
8. Dragonborn (4.4%)
9. Halfling (4.1%)
10. Aarakocra (3.1%)

More than a little surprised to not see eladrin here.

Top 10 Races for Fighters
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

1. Human (34.5%)
2. Dwarf (13.7%)
3. Dragonborn (10.6%)
4. Elf (8.4%)
5. Half-Orc (7.4%)
6. Goliath (6.2%K)
7. Half-Elf (4.4%)
8. Genasi (3.0%)
9. Tiefling (2.8%)
10. Halfling (2.1%)

Man, some of y'all really love genasi. Surprised to not see minotaurs here.

Top 10 Races for Monks
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

1. Human (23.4%)
2. Elf (16.7%)
3. Aarakocra (9.2%)
4. Genasi (7.6%)
5. Halfling (6.6%)
6. Dragonborn (5.7%)
7. Half-Elf (5.2%)
8. Dwarf (4.2%)
9. Tiefling (3.9%)
10. Half-Orc (3.7%)

No tortles? Come on, people!

Top 10 Races for Paladins
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

1. Human (25.0%)
2. Dragonborn (18.3%)
3. Aasimar (10.5%)
4. Dwarf (10.3%)
5. Half-Elf (8.3%)
6. Elf (5.6%)
7. Half-Orc (5.5%)
8. Tiefling (5.0%)
9. Goliath (4.0%)
10. Genasi (2.1%)

Again with the genasi!

Top 10 Races for Rangers
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

1. Elf (37.1%)
2. Human (18.1%)
3. Half-Elf (10.9%)
4. Aarakocra (5.2%)
5. Halfling (4.4%)
6. Dragonborn (4.0%)
7. Dwarf (3.6%)
8. Tiefling (3.4%)
9. Genasi (3.3%)
10. Gnome (2.3%)

Forest gnomes are a very strong choice here, with good synergies with the ranger class.

Top 10 Races for Rogues
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

1. Elf (21.8%)
2. Human (20.0%)
3. Halfling (15.5%)
4. Half-Elf (11.3%)
5. Tiefling (8.2%)
6. Gnome (4.8%)
7. Genasi (3.1%)
8. Dragonborn (2.9%)
9. Aarakocra (2.6%)
10. Dwarf (2.1%)

Huh, no tabaxi?

Top 10 Races for Sorcerers
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

1. Half-Elf (16.6%)
2. Human (16.3%)
3. Tiefling (15.4%)
4. Elf (14.1%)
5. Dragonborn (11.6%)
6. Genasi (7.2%)
7. Aasimar (5.2%)
8. Halfling (3.1%)
9. Gnome (2.5%)
10. Dwarf (1.9%)

Maybe it's the memories of 3E and the Races of the Dragon and Dragon Magic books (I think there might even have been a third dragon magic book), but I'm kind of shocked to not see dragonborn higher up here.

Top 10 Races for Warlocks
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

1. Tiefling (26.6%)
2. Human (17.8%)
3. Half-Elf (15.9%)
4. Elf (9.3%)
5. Aasimar (6.4%)
6. Dragonborn (6.0%)
7. Genasi (3.3%)
8. Gnome (2.9%)
9. Halfling (2.6%)
10. Half-Orc (2.2%)

This looks more or less right to me.

Top 10 Races for Wizards
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

1. Elf (29.4%)
2. Human (25.2%)
3. Gnome (13.5%)
4. Half-Elf (6.9%)
5. Tiefling (5.6%)
6. Genasi (4.0%)
7. Dragonborn (3.7%)
8. Dwarf (3.0%)
9. Halfling (2.0%)
10. Aasimar (1.6%)

Also a pretty good breakdown.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Not many people read the description of a barbarian and think hmmm, that sounds like a gnome to me!

But I want to party with the people who do.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I loved playing a Dwarf Bladesinger. It was a fun build because his concentration was so hard to break and he had a decent AC with a lot of HPs

Did he use axes and/or hammers?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Is Your D&D Character Rare?

We got a peek at what kind of characters everyone is building, and a lot of players are sticking close to reality.

fivethirtyeight.com

Article on DDB data that placed dwarves at number 4.

This one puts them at 5th overall.
The third dataset I found only shows the top five with dwarves not present, and I know I’m missing one that breaks down subraces.

 

[bedir than]

Did he use axes and/or hammers?

Battleaxe, almost always one-handed using Golden Axe (green flame blade). Sometimes he got so mad he did a two-handed swing dropping himself out of Bladesong

 

[J-H]

I ended up picking a halfling once or twice for one-shots when playing at the FLGS where some people use critical fail rules.
Crit fails are a terrible houserule, and halflings are immune to them.