It’s fairly common for most members of a Dungeons & Dragons 5E party to have the Darkvision trait. Humans, of course, are the main exception since they get bonuses to all ability scores (or, let’s face it, the variant feat everyone opts for). Another fantasy race that lacks the ability to see in the dark are Tritons. Fans have long thought this to be an odd choice, as Tritons are an aquatic people. One would think deep sea denizens would evolve the ability to see in darkness. It seems that the D&D team finally agrees, as Tritons now officially have Darkvision.
The rework to Tritons actually comes from Mythic Odysseys of Theros, a new D&D campaign sourcebook released digitally this week. Theros documents a separate world from the standard medieval setting, instead using a Greek myth-based land from Magic: The Gathering. This resulted in some new playable races being introduced, such as Satyrs and Centaurs. It also remixed existing ones, and this is why Tritons suddenly have Darkvision.
The D&D Adventurers League is the official organization of of standardized play. In an attempt to maintain balance and make things easier for new players, it limits what books can be used in official games. Since Theros is a wildly separate world, the book can’t be used in AL games. However, AL admins announced that the Triton rework is legal for AL play. That means AL Tritons have Darkvision as of today.
The fact that Tritons didn’t have Darkvision has been a fan complaint for a long time. Players will often assume the race has it due to the fact that they come from the sea. They even have the ability to breathe underwater and swim as fast as they walk, powers that exemplify their aquatic nature. Yet when the party enters a dark cave, Tritons would find themselves just as dependent on the ol’ Light cantrip as Humans. Now, that’s no longer an issue.
Other players complain that giving another race Darkvision defeats the purpose. So many races have the trait that lighting loses its value to some DMs. Why bother throwing the party into a dark cave when only the Human ranger is going to be hindered? Of course, Darkvision is not heat vision. It only turns dark areas into dimly lit ones, and only at 60 feet. Creative DMs can still find ways to challenge players with those conditions.
Of course, DMs of homebrew games can rule as they wish on this change. We do, however, imagine that Triton players are going to be very happy about this revision and want it implemented right away. In Adventurer’s League, anyway, they will have that wish.
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