The Chosen and Favoured of the Greek Gods (v1.2)

The following subrace options are styled after the Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology. The idea is that you are a child of one of these deities, or you have been granted power through their favor of you.

I have balanced them against the 5e Homebrew Race Guide, but they still need to be reviewed by the comunity. In comparison to the rest of the races available in the PHB, they would be among the most powerful. However, these races are intended for the sole use in a homebrew campaign setting of Mythic Greece, in which these are among the only race options (in addition to a few other races, and none from the PHB).

Many of these subraces have innate casting abilities. This is due to the high-magic setting they are intended for.

In regards to the race features that are not included in each of the descriptions, such as size, speed, age, allignment, etc, they are identical to the PHB Human features.

Balance Scores

Score	Greek Deity Subrace
27	Aphrodite
27	Apollo
27	Ares
28	Artemis
28	Athena
29	Demeter
28	Dionysis
30	Hades
28	Hecate
29	Helios
29	Hephaestus
27	Hera
29	Hermes
29	Hestia
30	Posiedon
29	Selene
30	Zeus

Favoured of Aphrodite Traits

As someone favoured by Aphrodite, you have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Seducer. You know the Friends cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you learn the Charm Person spell and can cast it once per day as a 1st-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you also learn the Calm Emotions spell and can cast it once per day. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Flawless Beauty. You gain advantage on Persuasion and Deception ability checks with creatures that would be sexually attracted to you.

Counter-Manipulator. You have advantage against being charmed.

Blessing of Aphrodite. Your beauty can reduce even the most heinous foe to stunned awe. As a reaction to a Melee Weapon Attack, you can force the creature to make a Wisdom Saving Throw contested against your Charisma Spellcasting DC. If it fails the Saving Throw, the attacker is charmed by you until the beginning of its next turn. If the Melee Weapon Attack would have hit, the attack is instead lost. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.

Favoured of Apollo Traits

As someone favoured by Apollo, you have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Sun-kissed. You know both the Spare the Dying cantrip and the Light cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you learn the Augury spell and can cast it once per day as a 2nd-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you also learn the Flame Arrows spell and can cast it once per day as a 3rd-level spell. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Equipment Training. You have proficiency with Simple Ranged Weapons and the Longbow.

Healer. You gain proficiency in the Medicine skill.

Musician. You gain proficiency with a musical instrument of your choice.

Blessing of Apollo. During a short rest, you can play music to help relax and soothe your allies. When a creature benefiting from this feature rolls a 1 on a hit die, they can reroll the die and must use the new roll, even if the new roll is a 1.

Favoured of Ares Traits

As someone favoured by Ares, you have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Innate Weapon Training. You have proficiency with the Spear, Longsword, Battleaxe and Shield.

Intimidating Presence. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.

Fearless. You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.

Toughness. Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 every time you gain a level.

Relentless Endurance. When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.

Blessing of Ares. When you roll iniative, you can choose to treat any roll of 9 or lower as a 10. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.

Favoured of Artemis Traits

As someone favoured by Artemis, you have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Night Hunter. You know both the Dancing Lights cantrip and the Shillelagh cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you learn the Hunter’s Mark spell and can cast it once per day as a 1st-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you also learn the Lightning Arrow spell and can cast it once per day as a 3rd-level spell. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Equipment Training. You have proficiency with Simple Ranged Weapons and the Longbow.

Survivor. You gain proficiency in the Survival skill.

Darkvision. Through the grace of Artemis, your eyesight is better suited for hunting and tracking your prey during the darkest hours of the night. You can see in dim light within 60ft as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern colour in darkness, only shades of gray.

Blessing of Artemis. When you make an Intelligence (History) check related to the origin, nature or weaknesses of a monster, you are considered proficient in the History skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a short or long rest.

Favoured of Athena Traits

As someone favoured by Athena, you have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Civilized. You know the message cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the comprehend languages spell once per day. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the zone of truth spell once per day. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Innate Weapon Training. You have proficiency with the Spear, Longsword, Battleaxe and Shield.

Tool Proficiency. You gain proficiency with an Artisan’s tool of your choice.

Mindshield. You have resistance to Psychic damage.
Blessing of Athena. You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice. When you finish a long rest, you can reassign this skill proficiency to another of your choice.

Interpretor You can speak, read, and write an additional language of your choice.

Favoured of Demeter Traits

As someone favoured by Demeter, you have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Natures Child. You know both the Druidcraft cantrip and the Thorn Whip cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you learn both the Purify Food and Drink spell and the Detect Poison or Disease spell and can cast each once per day. Once you reach 5th level, you also learn either the Spike Growth spell or the Barkskin spell and can cast it once per day. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Innate Weapon Knowledge. You have proficiency with the Sickle, Handaxe, Quarterstaff and Shortsword.

Botanist. You gain proficiency in the Nature skill.

Naturally Resilient. You have advantage on saving throws against Poison and Disease. You also have resistance against poison damage.

Blessing of Demeter. Through touch, you can communicate simple ideas to plants. In addition, they can communicate simple ideas to you. The more domesticated and cultivated the plant, the easier it is to comunicate with.

Favoured of Dionysis Traits

As someone favoured by Dionysis, you have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Lunacy. You know the Vicious Mockery cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you learn the Tasha’s Hideous Laughter spell and can cast it once per day. Once you reach 5th level, you also learn either the Phantasmal Force spell or the Crown of Madness spell and can cast it once per day. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Internal Fortitude. You have advantage on saving throws against Poison. You also have resistance against poison damage. In addition, you have advantage on saving throws against effects that you have ingested.

Tool Proficiency. You gain proficiency with one of the tools of your choice: Alchemist’s supplies, Brewer’s Supplies, Herbalism Kit or a Musical Instrument.

Blessing of Dionysis. The taste and potency of strong alcohol is like an elixer to your lips. As a bonus action, you can drink a pint of an alcoholic beverage and regain a number of hit points equal to your level. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.

Favoured of Hades Traits

As someone favoured by Hades, you have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Underchild. You know the Chill Touch cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you learn either the Darkness spell or the Misty Step spell and can cast it once per day. Once you reach 5th level, you also learn the Animate Dead spell and can cast it once per day as a 3rd-level spell. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Resilience of the Dead. You have resistance to Necrotic damage and advantage on Death Saving Throws.

Gravesight. Through the grace of Hades, your sight can pierce the veil of death and the shadows of the world. You can see in dim light within 60 feet as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern colour in darkness, only shades of gray. You can also see and hear the souls of the recently deceased that still linger in the world within 60 feet of you.

Blessing of Hades. You can communicate briefly with the souls of the recently deceased before they have departed to the underworld. You can communicate in this manner up to one minute after the target’s death and can only speak with the soul for up to 10 minutes, after which the soul must travel to the afterlife.

Extra Language. You can speak, read, and write Undercommon.

Favoured of Hecate Traits

As someone favoured by Hecate, you have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Witchborn. You know both the Thaumaturgy cantrip and the Prestidigitation cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you learn either the Hex spell or the Dissonant Whispers spell and can cast it once per day as a 1st-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you also learn both the Dispel magic spell and the spell Counterspell, but can only cast either one once per day as a 3rd-level spell. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Arcanist. You gain proficiency in the Arcana skill. You can also cast the spell Detect Magic as a ritual once per day.

Magically Resilient. You have advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic.

Blessing of Hecate. You are intimatly familiar with magic of all kinds. When a creature you can hear or see casts a spell with either a verbal or somatic component respecively, you can make an Arcana check to determine the name of the spell being cast. The DC for this feature is equal to 10 + the spell's level.

Extra Language. You can speak, read, and write the language of the Titans.

Favoured of Helios Traits

As someone favoured by Helios, you have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constituition score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Sun-kissed. You know both the Light cantrip and the Sacred Flame cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you learn the Guiding Bolt spell and can cast it once per day as a 1st-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you also learn the scorching ray spell and can cast it once per day as a 2nd-level spell. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Sun-lit You have resistance to radiant damage.

Solar Vitality. You have advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma Saving Throws when in direct sunlight.

Blessing of Helios. Your presence can shine with the brilliance of the noonday sun. As a Bonus Action, you can shed bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 ft. You can use another Bonus Action to extinguish the light.

Extra Language. You can speak, read, and write the language of the Titans.

Favoured of Hephaestus Traits

As someone favoured by Hephaestus, you have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Fire-forged. You know the Mending cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you learn the Heat metal spell and can cast it once per day as a 2nd-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you also learn the Flaming Sphere spell and can cast it once per day as a 3rd-level spell. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Non-flammable. You have resistance to fire damage.

Tool Proficiency. You gain proficiency with either Smiths tools or Tinkers tools.

Naturally Skilled. You take half the normal time to create something using your smith’s tools or tinker’s tools. You can also discern the function of any non-magical mechanism after spending an hour studying it. This can be done during a short rest.

Blessing of Hephaestus. You add an additional half of your proficiency modifier, rounded up, to the attack bonus or ability check of any weapon, item or mechanism that you created yourself.

Favoured of Hera Traits

As someone favoured by Hera, you have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Divine Guide. You know the Resistance and Guidance Cantrips.

Armor Training. You have proficiency with Light and Medium armor.

Investigator. You gain proficiency in the Investigation and Insight skills.

Blessing of Hera. When you roll a 1 on a d20 for an Attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can choose to reroll the die and must use the new roll. Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.

Extra Language. You can speak, read, and write an additional language of your choice.

Favoured of Hermes Traits

As someone favoured by Hermes, you have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Three different abilities of your choice increase by 1.

Well Travelled. You know a cantrip of your choice from any classes spell list.

Multi-skilled. You gain proficiency in two skills of your choice.

Tool Proficiency. You gain proficiency with one of each of the tools of your choice: Artisan’s tools, a Musical Instrument and Thieves tools

Fleet of Foot. Your base walking speed increases to 35 feet.

Blessing of Hermes. You can double your proficiency modifier for any ability check in which you have proficiency. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.

Favoured of Hestia Traits

As someone favoured by Hestia, you have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2, and your Constituition score increases by 1.

Fire Starter You know the Create Bonfire cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you learn the Sanctuary spell and can cast it once per day as a 1st-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you learn either the Flame Blade spell or the Burning Hands spell and can cast it once per day as a 2nd-level spell. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Hearth Tender You have resistance to fire damage.

Scorching Touch. As an action, you can touch a creature and cauterize it's wounds, causing it to gain a number of temporary hit points equal to your level. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a Long Rest.

Darkvision Through the grace of Hestia, your eyes shine with the fiery glow of emberous coals. You can see in dim light within 60ft as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern colour in darkness, only shades of gray.

Blessing of Hestia. When you cast the Create Bonfire cantrip and concentrate on it for the duration, the bonfire becomes permanent and sheds bright light in a 20-foot radius and dim light for an additional 20 feet until it is dispelled by you, until you move 100 feet away from it or until you cast this spell again.

In addition, as a bonus action, you can peer through your bonfire and see and hear as if you were in the space occupied by your bonfire.

Favoured of Posiedon Traits

As someone favoured by Posiedon, you have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Earthshaker. You know either the Gust cantrip or the Shape Water cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you learn either the Earth Tremor spell or the Create or Destroy Water spell and can cast it once per day as a 2nd-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you also learn the Tidal Wave spell and can cast it once per day. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Oceanic Fortitude. You have resistance to cold damage.

Horse Whisperer. You can communicate simple ideas to horses and other horse related species. In addition, they can communicate simple ideas to you.

Blessing of Posiedon. You have advantage on Strength, Dexterity and Constituition Saving Throws when submerged in Water. You can also breath normally in water and your swim speed is equal to your base walking speed.

Favoured of Selene Traits

As someone favoured by Selene, you have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constituition score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Moon-touched. You know both the Dancing Lights cantrip and the Frostbite cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you learn the Guiding Bolt spell and can cast it once per day as a 1st-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you also learn the Moonbeam spell and can cast it once per day as a 2nd-level spell. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Moon-lit You have resistance to radiant damage.

Lunar Vitality. You have advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma Saving Throws when in direct moonlight.

Blessing of Selene. Your presence can shine with the light of the full moon. As a bonus action, you can shed bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 feet. You can use another bonus action to extinguish the light.

Extra Language. You can speak, read, and write the language of the Titans.

Favoured of Zeus Traits

As someone favoured by Zeus, you have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Stormborn. You know either the Lightning Lure cantrip or the Shocking Grasp cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you learn either the Gust of Wind spell or the Warding Wind spell and can cast it once per day. Once you reach 5th level, you also learn the Call Lightning spell and can cast it once per day as a 3rd-level spell. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Non-conductive. You have resistance to lightning damage.

Right of Kings You gain proficiency in either the Persuasion or Intimidation skill.

Acclimatised. You’re acclimated to high altitude, including elevations above 20,000 feet.

Blessing of Zeus. You can move an additional half of your base walking speed or gain an extra attack as a bonus action. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.