Species
There are 24 different playable species (previously known as races) in Dungeon Crawl. Most species are humanoid to some degree, although some are human-animal hybrids.
Player gender is irrelevant in Crawl, and the game does not ask for the player to specify one.
Contents
List of Species
More information can be found at the pages for the individual species.
- Human (Hu): The basic species against which all others are measured. Average aptitudes across the board, no special abilities. They gain levels at the fastest possible rate.
- High Elf (HE): A species of tall, long-lived elf, with many enhanced aptitudes. Levels very slowly.
- Deep Elf (DE): An underground species of elf, smaller and weaker than others, but with incredible magical ability. A very good choice for spellcasters.
- Sludge Elf (SE): A degenerate elf better at magic that other elves shun, such as Necromancy, Transmutations, and Earth Magic. Dangerous with its fists.
- Deep Dwarf (DD): A cousin of the mountain dwarf, unable to regenerate but with a strong empathy for the earth and the ability to intrinsically resist small doses of damage.
- Hill Orc (HO): A brutish species, related to the cave orcs who can be found all over the Dungeon and in the Orcish Mines. They make excellent warriors and have their own god.
- Merfolk (Mf): An aquatic, magical race of half-humanoids, half-fish that thrive in the water. Great aptitudes for Transmutations, Polearms, and Ice Magic.
- Halfling (Ha): A small humanoid. Cannot use large weapons and is poor with most magic, but otherwise quite hardy and stealthy.
- Kobold (Ko): A tiny, hateful lizard-like being with a powerful stomach.
- Spriggan (Sp): A very small fairy-like humanoid. They move swiftly, have high aptitudes for many schools of magic, but cannot eat meat or wear most forms of armour.
- Naga (Na): A humanoid with a serpentine lower half. Has many of a snake's qualities, but moves very slowly.
- Centaur (Ce): A humanoid with a horse's lower half. Its four hooves allow it to run very quickly, but it is poor at most things and must eat frequently.
- Ogre (Og): Enormous and bloodthirsty, its interests include hitting things and throwing things.
- Troll (Tr): Even larger and stronger than the ogre, with huge claws, incredible regeneration and near-infinite hunger.
- Minotaur (Mi): A brawny, bipedal bovine species. Great at all forms of both ranged and hand-to-hand combat, but bad at everything else.
- Tengu (Te): A bird-like species with a beak, talons and a propensity for violence. They eventually learn to fly. Known as Kenku (Ke) before 0.10.
- Draconian (Dr): A humanoid dragon, which eventually matures into a random adult form, with different aptitudes based on its colour.
- Demigod (Dg): A human with divine heritage that prevents them from worshipping any god. They have excellent statistics, but need more experience for both their skills and their leveling.
- Demonspawn (Ds): A person with a demonic heritage. Unlike Demigods, they may lend their services to all gods except the good ones. They acquire powerful mutations as they mature.
- Mummy (Mu): Animated by an unholy magic, this dry and bandaged corpse needs no food to survive.
- Ghoul (Gh): A terrible undead corpse which must eat the flesh of others to maintain its life force.
- Vampire (Vp): A sneaky, undead humanoid which gains life by drinking fresh blood.
- Felid (Fe): A sentient housecat, severely limited in body slots and unable to use most items, but with increased speed and multiple lives.
- Octopode (Op): An amphibious squid-like creature with eight tentacles. Cannot wear most types of armour (only hats), but can wear eight rings and is at home in water.
Removed species
These species used to exist, but were removed in the version listed. They may still be seen in high score lists.
- Hill Dwarf (HD) - 0.3
- Elf (El) - 0.3
- Ogre-mage (OM) - merged with Ogres in 0.5
- Grey Elf (GE) - 0.5
- Gnome (Gn) - 0.6
- Mountain Dwarf (MD) - 0.10
Table of Aptitudes
Your choice of species affects several important characteristics, in particular the speed at which you learn different skills, which are referred to as aptitudes. Some species are also limited in their choice of background.
The following table describes the aptitudes of the various species for each skill.
0.11
General Skills
| Species | Arm | Ddg | Sth | Stb | Shd | T&D | Inv | Evo | HP | MP | Exp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Centaur | -3 | -3 | -4 | -3 | -3 | -2 | 0 | -1 | 1 | -1 | 140 |
| Demigod | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | NA | -1 | 1 | 2 | 160 |
| Demonspawn | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 150 |
| Draconian | NA | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 140 |
| Black Draconian | NA | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 140 |
| Green Draconian | NA | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 140 |
| Grey Draconian | NA | -1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 140 |
| Mottled Draconian | NA | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 140 |
| Pale Draconian | NA | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 140 |
| Purple Draconian | NA | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 140 |
| Red Draconian | NA | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 140 |
| White Draconian | NA | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 140 |
| Yellow Draconian | NA | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 140 |
| Deep Dwarf | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 130 |
| Deep Elf | -2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 3 | 140 |
| High Elf | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 2 | 150 |
| Sludge Elf | -2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 1 | 120 |
| Felid | NA | 3 | 3 | 3 | NA | 2 | -1 | +1 | -4 | 2 | 140 |
| Ghoul | -1 | -1 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 0 | -1 | 1 | -1 | 120 |
| Halfling | -2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 100 |
| Kobold | -2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 100 |
| Merfolk | -3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 120 |
| Minotaur | 2 | 1 | -2 | -1 | 2 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -2 | 130 |
| Mummy | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 140 |
| Naga | -2 | -2 | 5 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 120 |
| Octopode | NA | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 120 |
| Ogre | -2 | -1 | -2 | -2 | -1 | -2 | 0 | -2 | 3 | 0 | 110 |
| Hill Orc | 1 | -2 | -2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100 |
| Spriggan | -3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | -3 | 3 | -1 | 3 | -3 | 3 | 130 |
| Tengu | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | -2 | 1 | 130 |
| Troll | -2 | -2 | -5 | -2 | -2 | -4 | -2 | -3 | 3 | -2 | 150 |
| Vampire | -2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | -1 | 0 | -2 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 150 |
Melee & Ranged Combat
| Species | Fgt | SBl | LBl | M&F | Axs | Pla | Stv | UC | Thr | Slg | Bws | Crb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Centaur | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Demigod | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Demonspawn | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Draconian | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Black Draconian | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Green Draconian | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Grey Draconian | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Mottled Draconian | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Pale Draconian | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Purple Draconian | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Red Draconian | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| White Draconian | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Yellow Draconian | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Deep Dwarf | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -3 | 1 |
| Deep Elf | -2 | 0 | -1 | -3 | -2 | -3 | 0 | -2 | 1 | -2 | 1 | -1 |
| High Elf | 0 | 2 | 2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | 0 | -2 | 1 | -2 | 3 | 0 |
| Sludge Elf | 1 | -1 | -1 | -2 | -2 | -2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Felid | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Ghoul | 1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Halfling | -1 | 3 | 0 | -2 | -1 | -3 | -2 | -2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | -1 |
| Kobold | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 | -1 | -2 | -1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -1 | 2 |
| Merfolk | 1 | 2 | 1 | -2 | -2 | 4 | -2 | 1 | 0 | -2 | -2 | -2 |
| Minotaur | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Mummy | 0 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 |
| Naga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Octopode | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ogre | 3 | -4 | -3 | 3 | -3 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -3 | -3 | -3 |
| Hill Orc | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Spriggan | -2 | 1 | -2 | -3 | -2 | -3 | -3 | -2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Tengu | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Troll | -2 | -2 | -2 | -1 | -2 | -2 | -2 | 0 | -1 | -4 | -4 | -4 |
| Vampire | -1 | 1 | 0 | -2 | -1 | -1 | -2 | 1 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 |
Spellcasting and Magic
| Species | Spc | Coj | Hex | Cha | Sum | Nec | Trl | Trm | Fir | Ice | Air | Ear | Poi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Centaur | -2 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -2 |
| Demigod | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Demonspawn | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 0 |
| Draconian | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Black Draconian | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| Green Draconian | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Grey Draconian | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mottled Draconian | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pale Draconian | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Purple Draconian | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red Draconian | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| White Draconian | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yellow Draconian | 0 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deep Dwarf | -1 | -1 | -2 | -1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -3 | 3 | -2 |
| Deep Elf | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| High Elf | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 | -2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | -2 |
| Sludge Elf | 2 | -2 | 0 | -2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Felid | 0 | -1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | -1 | -2 | -1 | -2 | -1 |
| Ghoul | -1 | -2 | -2 | -1 | -1 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -2 | 1 | -2 | 1 | 0 |
| Halfling | -2 | -2 | -1 | 1 | -1 | -2 | 1 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| Kobold | 0 | -1 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merfolk | 0 | -2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -2 | -2 | 3 | -3 | 1 | -2 | -2 | 1 |
| Minotaur | -3 | -3 | -4 | -4 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -2 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -2 | -3 |
| Mummy | 0 | -2 | -1 | -2 | -2 | 0 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 |
| Naga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Octopode | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Ogre | 2 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 |
| Hill Orc | -2 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | -2 | -3 | 1 | -1 | -2 | 0 | -1 |
| Spriggan | 3 | -3 | 2 | 4 | -2 | -1 | 4 | 3 | -2 | -2 | -1 | -1 | 0 |
| Tengu | 0 | 3 | -3 | -2 | 2 | 1 | -2 | -2 | 1 | -1 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| Troll | -4 | -3 | -4 | -4 | -3 | -2 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -4 | -1 | -3 |
| Vampire | 0 | -3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 1 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
