The Best D&D 5e Deities for New Players

There are many deities in Dungeons and Dragons 5e, each with their own unique characteristics and mythologies. But which one do I pick for my Chaotic Neutral Halfling Paladin?

In this article we’re going to go over the 8 most well known deities, and how you can use them to add flavor to your table. This guide is for both players and GMs alike!

Who are the Deities of the D&D universe?
Pros and Cons of pledging to a God
The 8 Best Deities for new Players

What are my Options?

The number of deities in Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) varies depending on the edition and the campaign setting being used. However, there are many deities which can be a slog to read through when doing your research. In some campaign settings, such as the Forgotten Realms, there may be a core group of deities that are more prominent and important to the game’s lore and storylines.

In other settings there may be a more diverse array of deities that play a role in the game, such as the Greyhawk Pantheon. Ultimately, the number of deities in D&D can be quite large and can vary depending on the game world as well as the preferences of the game’s players and dungeon master.

So how do I pick out my Deity?

Picking the right God in Dungeons and Dragons depends on a couple factors including your character’s race, alignment, personality, and backstory. Here are some tips to help you find the perfect lawful good gnome god for your player character:

Consider your character’s race: Different races in D&D tend to worship different deities. For example, dwarves may worship Dwarf God Moradin, while elves may worship Elf God Corellon Larethian. Look at your character’s race and research which deities are commonly worshipped by that race.
Think about your character’s alignment: Deities in D&D are typically associated with certain alignments. If your character is aligned as Neutral Good, you may want to choose a deity who embodies virtues such as justice and compassion, like Tyr. Conversely, a character with a Neutral Evil alignment may choose a deity associated with darkness and destruction. Shar, neutral evil goddess of Darkness and Loss may do nicely!

Impacting Character Class: Certain gods may be more appealing to characters of certain classes, such as war gods for fighters or trickster gods for rogues.
Consider your character’s personality and backstory: Your character’s personality and backstory can also influence which deity they worship. For example, a Chaotic Neutral Rogue who values freedom and independence may worship a deity who represents trickery and cunning such as Leira, Goddess of Cunning.
Discuss with your Dungeon Master: Your Dungeon Master may have specific guidelines or suggestions for deities that are appropriate for the campaign setting or story. They may also have additional information on each deity that can help inform your decision.

Ultimately, picking the right deity in D&D is about finding a deity that fits your character’s background, personality, and beliefs. Research different deities and their associated domains and ideals, and choose the one that best aligns with your character’s values and goals.

What are the Pros and Cons of Choosing a Deity?

While you muse on what flavor of divine power will taste best to your character, let’s look through this pros and cons list that may help you figure out whether or not you still want to commit to a Chaotic Evil troglodyte God of War.

Pros:

Access to divine spells and abilities: Depending on your class and the deity you choose, you may gain access to divine spells and abilities that can be very powerful and useful in combat and other situations. This can provide you with tons of role play options to really ham up the table.
Roleplaying opportunities: Worshiping a deity can add depth to your character’s backstory and personality. It create opportunities for interesting roleplaying interactions with other characters. Not Another D&D Podcast’s Beverly Toegold (Caldwell Tanner) does a great job with making his Neutral Good God Pelor come to life by swearing by his name all the time. Don’t be afraid to be a big fan of your God! If you feel silly about it, just remember that your friend next to you is literally pretending to be a giant talking lizard.

Group cohesion: If multiple players in the same D&D party worship the same deity, it can create a sense of shared purpose and cohesion that can enhance the overall experience. It can also get really silly when the whole table decides to take oath to a Chaotic Evil Bugbear God that looks like Sully of Monster’s Inc.
Alignment guidance: Worshipping a deity can help provide guidance for your character’s alignment and moral compass. If you see a really cool Lawful Neutral God, like Kelemvor God of the Dead, it may alter your PC’s alignment drastically. Comparatively, to Blibdoolpoolp, Kua-Toa Neutral Evil Goddess. (Yes that is a real god. Yes it is a lady with a lobster head.)

Cons:

Limitations on behavior: Some deities have strict codes of conduct or beliefs that may conflict with your character’s personality or goals, limiting your character’s freedom to act as you would like. Use your common sense here. If you’re a Lawful Good Elf Ranger, you probably would not pick Maglubiyet, the Lawful Evil Goblinoid God of War.
Risks of divine disfavor: Depending on the campaign setting and the actions of your character, worshiping a patron deity can come with the risk of divine disfavor or punishment if your character violates the deity’s tenets. This is especially true of cliche Warlock Patrons. Either way, get ready for some saving throws.

Limitations on character development: Focusing too much on your character’s worship of a deity can limit the potential for character development in other areas, such as personal growth or relationships with other characters.
Campaign setting limitations: Some campaign settings may limit the choice of deities available to players or restrict certain types of worship altogether, limiting your character’s options.

Overall, picking a deity in D&D can add a lot to your character. However, it can also come with limitations and risks. It’s important to carefully consider your options before making a decision.

8 Gods for New Players

Finally! Who does your character swear by?

Bahamut, Dragon God – The platinum dragon, Bahamut is the deity of good-aligned dragons, justice, and nobility. He is an Ancient Dragon god who is the rival of his sister Tiamat, the 5-headed Dragon Goddess. What you need to know about Bahamut the Dragon God is that he’s a very good boy and has the favor of a lot of people who think dragons are cool. Bahamut would make a great addition to any Dragonborn Paladin’s character sheet.
Tiamat – Bahamut’s counterpart, Tiamat is the deity of evil-aligned dragons, greed, and tyranny. Each of her 5 heads is a different color. Tiamat is pretty much the most iconic D&D Deity. She’s a baddy who has the favor of a lot of people who think Evil dragons are cool. She is often a villain, so using her name as a curse is more appropriate than outright worship.
Pelor – The Neutral Good God of the Sun, Pelor is the deity of agriculture, healing, and the sun. In the Critical Role Campaig, Pelor is described as a muscular man with a shining sun symbol on his forehead. He planted the Suntree in Whitestone. Pelor would make a great choice as deity if you want to play a Cleric or other healer.
Moradin – The Lawful Good God of Dwarves, Moradin is the deity of creation, artisans, and war. He is often depicted as a muscular dwarf with a long beard and a smith’s hammer. He is the classic Dwarf God: stout, stubborn, and fierce. Perfect for any new player trying out a Dwarf, or Fighter Class.

Corellon Larethian – The Chaotic Good Elf God, Corellon Larethian is the deity of music, art, and magic. A tall, slender elf with pointed ears and flowing hair, he’s the staple archetype of Elf-kind. He would be a great pick for Half-elf Rangers, some Druids, and any High Elf race.
Lolth – The spider queen, Lolth is the chaotic evil goddess of the drow (dark elves), spiders, and the Underdark. She is often found hanging out <get it?> with her horrible spider children, the Driders (Drow spiders). The spider queen herself – a gross nasty ugly mean spider bod with the torso of a beautiful female elf. But don’t be fooled, the Spider Queen has a rich history that may leave you wrapped up in lore (and webs) for days. Warlocks would have a lot of fun here.
Bane – The Lawful Evil god of tyranny, Bane is the deity of fear, hatred, and oppression. Seems like a chill dude. He’s technically dead, along with his brothers. If you’re going for a gothic vibe, he’s got the big evil churches and skull-faced “demon lord” thing you may be looking for. Pick Bane, or one of the other members of the Dead Three, to spice up your Sorcerer.
Gruumsh – The chaotic evil god of orcs, Gruumsh is the deity of conquest, strength, and survival. Gruumsh would be great for Barbarians that want to expand their role play options! He looks like a giant hairy cyclops, and he smells like one too.

We’ve covered a lot! By now you should hopefully have a pretty good idea of what to look for when choosing your Deity. Let’s wrap things up.

Conclusion

Choosing a god or deity in D&D 5e can add depth and complexity to your character’s backstory and motivations. Whether you’re playing a paladin or a cleric, or simply want to give your character a religious affiliation, there are many options to choose from in the game’s pantheons.

Consider your character’s personality, alignment, and beliefs when selecting a god or goddess that aligns with their values and goals. Think about how your character’s relationship with their deity. It may impact their decisions and actions throughout the game, and how their faith may be tested or strengthened in different situations.

Remember that worshiping a deity in D&D 5e is not just about gaining divine powers and abilities. It’s also about roleplaying and immersing yourself in the game’s rich mythology and lore. With so many gods and goddesses to choose from, the possibilities are endless for creating a unique and compelling character that is rooted in the game’s fantasy world.

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