Summary
Baldur’s Gate 3has proven to be a faithful adaptation of the Forgotten Realms setting ofDungeons and Dragonswith an unprecedented level of detail, but most players don’t know that one of the game’s most memorable fantasy races originates from an entirely different setting. More popular than ever with the recent groundbreaking success ofBaldur’s Gate 3, Tieflings offer a devilish alternative to the Elves and Dwarves that typically make up the genre and that can be traced back to their beginnings in an experimental addition to the classic tabletop game.
While her own history withAvernus and the Archdevil Zarielmay make Karlach one of the most prominent party members available in the game, the race of Tieflings as a whole has some of the most unique lore inBaldur’s Gate 3. Appearing to be hybrids of humans and devils, Tieflings are actually the descendants of people who made deals with devils of the Forgotten Realms mythos. The modern Fifth Edition thatBaldur’s Gate 3is based on features the race and concept of the Nine Hells as normal parts of the world, but these devilish aspects weren’t always in the main series.
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The Planescape Origins of Tieflings
A setting first introduced during the Second Edition, Planescape introduced the concept of an overarching cosmology uniting different settings ofDungeons and Dragons. A boxed set independent of the standard game of the time, Planescape established a more mature and ideologically challenging side to the series all the way back in 1994. The normalPlayer’s Handbookworld that players had known would come to be known as the Prime Material Plane within the Great Wheel of various realms that form the multiverse.
Yet to develop into the devilish beings players are familiar with today, Tieflings were originally conceived as a term representative of “Planetouched” people that have been affected or “blessed” by a godly being or demon somehow. They generally appeared significantly different from now in theiroriginal Planescape setting, commonly having hybrid features that varied from hooves to reptilian tails. The status of Tieflings as a socially maligned people was still present in their original incarnation, however, a characteristic that would carry on as their relevance would only grow.
Tieflings as a Core Race of Dungeons and Dragons
When Third Edition came around, Tieflings would become a notable example of an edgier playable option despite restrictions associated with their status as an alternative race. Distinctions between crossings such as that of Elf and Fiend or Orc and Fiend would receive unique variations respectively, but Fourth Edition changed Tieflings into what they are known as today. Officially becoming a core race of the Player’s Handbook at that time, they were redefined to be the people cursed with infernal blood that arethe Tieflings ofBaldur’s Gate 3.
Now associated with the Nine Hells and a people descended from nobles who dealt with Fiends, the term Tiefling used to describe those who are now considered Planetouched. A term for races descended from Outsiders to the Prime Material Plane, Planetouched is a word that encompasses Tieflings and beyond in the modern multiverse. WithBaldur’s Gate 3already exploring concepts such as the Aasimar andAstral Planethat also originated within Planescape, there is still potential for the game to continue to explore the more celestial side to its source material with future content as it continues to be Larian Studios' best-performing release yet.
Baldur’s Gate 3is currently available on PC and is slated for a June 29, 2025 release for PlayStation 5.
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