Triton
Tritons (not to be confused with tridents) are a race of aquatic humanoids originating from Greek mythology, being followers/descendants of the original Triton, the son and messenger of Poseidon. They can essentially be summarized as "merfolk, but with a sillier name".
In Dungeons & Dragons, Tritons are distinguished from merfolk in that they have two lower limbs rather than one (originally two merfolk-style fishtails in lieu of legs in their 1e Fiend Folio appearance, thereafter changed to the less silly legs with finned feet look) and are more magical; Tritons originated on the Elemental Plane of Water, but have since migrated en masse to the Material Plane, to the point they are considered Native Outsiders in 3rd edition.
Tritons are fairly obscure, but they have been playable races throughout the first 3 editions, getting racial writeups in 1e's "The Sea People", 2e's "Sea of Fallen Stars" for the Forgotten Realms, and 3e's "Savage Species". This is because, unlike merfolk, the tritons' legs allow them to freely move about on land and in the water with equal ease, whereas merfolk are pretty much reduced to crawling like oversized slugs if you pull them out of the water.
5th Edition
Tritons are one of the playable races introduced to 5th edition in Volo's Guide to Monsters. They are very paranoid of other races, having spent the entirety of their lives underwater with little to no contact with the outside world. They act proud and noble, but are like fish out of water on the surface. Almost no one sees them or cares about what they do, so no one takes their proud boasting about their culture seriously. This can lead to tensions as your Mary Sue Triton gets humbled by surface dwellers who have no idea who he is.
Statline
Alignment–They tend towards chaotic neutral and will do anything to ensure the safety of their own. Tritons are extremely paranoid.
Ability Score Increases – Strength, Constitution and Charisma scores increases by 1 of your Triton character.
Amphibious–Your triton character can breathe water and air.
Resistant to Cold Damage
Speak to Sea Creatures
Control Earth And Water – With this trait, you can cast poison spray. And at the starting of 3rd level, you can cast a stone shape with this trait. Moreover, starting at 5th level, you can cast wall of water with it. After using this trait to cast a spell, you can’t cast with it again without finishing long rest. For these spells, Charisma is your spellcasting ability.
Darkvision–Adapted to the dreary and dark environment of the shadowfell, tritons can see in low lights very well. In the dark light, they can see like as if it were low light. Colors cannot be perceived by tritons in darkness.
Statline for Swamp Tritons
Alignment–They tend towards chaotic neutral and will do anything to ensure the safety of their own. Tritons are extremely paranoid.
Ability Score Increases – Strength, Constitution and Charisma scores increases by 1 of your Triton character.
Amphibious–Your triton character can breathe water and air.
Resistant to Cold Damage
Speak to Sea Creatures
Control Earth And Water – With this trait, you can cast poison spray. And at the starting of 3rd level, you can cast a stone shape with this trait. Moreover, starting at 5th level, you can cast wall of water with it. After using this trait to cast a spell, you can’t cast with it again without finishing long rest. For these spells, Charisma is your spellcasting ability.
Darkvision–Adapted to the dreary and dark environment of the shadowfell, tritons can see in low lights very well. In the dark light, they can see like as if it were low light. Colors cannot be perceived by tritons in darkness.
Magic the Gathering
They are also used in Magic:the Gatherings Theros setting. Here they are much more directly merfolk with legs with a funny name, as they are literally merfolk in creature type. Cosmology isn't particularly related to D&D's as they are not more extraplanar than any other humanoid.
| Dungeons & Dragons 1st Edition Races | |
|---|---|
| Basic Set | Dwarf • Elf • Hobbit • Human |
| Creature Crucible 1 | Brownie • Centaur • Dryad • Faun • Hsiao • Leprechaun • Pixie • Pooka • Redcap • Sidhe • Sprite • Treant • Wood Imp • Wooddrake |
| Creature Crucible 2 | Faenare • Gnome • Gremlin • Harpy • Nagpa • Pegataur • Sphinx • Tabi |
| Creature Crucible 3 | Kna • Kopru • Merrow • Nixie • Sea Giant • Shark-kin • Triton |
| Dragon Magazine | Cayma • Gatorman • Lupin • N'djatwa • Phanaton • Rakasta • Shazak • Wallara |
| Hollow World | Beastman • Brute-Man • Hutaakan • Krugel Orc • Kubitt • Malpheggi Lizard Man |
| Known World | Bugbear • Goblin • Gnoll • Hobgoblin • Kobold • Ogre • Troll |
| The Races of Pathfinder | |
|---|---|
| Player's Handbook: | Dwarf - Elf - Gnome - Half-Elf - Half-Orc - Halfling - Human |
| Advanced Race Guide: |
Aasimar - Catfolk - Changeling - Dhampir - Duergar Drow - Fetchling - Gillman - Goblin - Grippli - Hobgoblin Ifrit - Kitsune - Kobold - Merfolk - Nagaji - Orc - Oread Ratfolk - Samsaran - Strix - Suli - Svirfneblin - Sylph Tengu - Tiefling - Undine - Vanara - Vishkanya - Wayang |
| Bestiaries: | Android - Astomoi - Caligni - Deep One Hybrid - Gathlain Gnoll - Kasatha - Munavri - Naiad - Orang-Pendak Reptoid - Rougarou - Shabti - Trox - Yaddithian |
| Adventure Paths: | Being of Ib - Kuru |
| Inner Sea Races: | Ghoran - Monkey Goblin - Lashunta - Skinwalker Syrinx - Triaxian - Wyrwood - Wyvaran |
| Ultimate Wilderness: | Vine Leshy |
| Blood of the Sea: | Adaro - Cecaelia - Grindylow - Locathah - Sahuagin - Triton |
| Planar Adventures: | Aphorite - Duskwalker - Ganzi |