The origins of the giff, a hippo-like race in D&D's Spelljammer, are unknown, but their homeworld remains a compelling unsolved D&D mystery.

The giff – a race of gun-toting, space-faring, hippo-humanoids – are one of the most interesting and most mysterious playable races in Dungeons & Dragons. A returning Spelljammer D&D race dwelling in the Astral Plane, the giff have no known homeworld – even the giff themselves don’t know their place of origin, the identity of which has been lost to history (though, given that time as we know it doesn’t actually elapse in the Astral Plane, even the notion of “history” is debatable). Still, while their origins remain a mystery, the giff homeworld and its associated deities have shaped who the giff are as a people and, consequently, influence the stats and abilities of giff player characters in D&D's Spelljammer universe.

First appearing in 1989, the giff became a playable race in the August 2022 release of the Spelljammer: Adventures in Space box set, compatible with D&D’s 5th edition. Massive in size and formidable in combat, the giff are best known as gunslingers, skilled in the use of firearms and explosives. Lacking magical powers of their own, the giff rely on other races to ferry them around the Astral Sea and the Wildspace between planetary systems. The giff have a highly organized, militaristic society (they prefer to dress like 18th century sea captains, complete with uniforms and medals), with individuals grouped into units that hire themselves out as mercenaries on any D&D Spelljammer ships, from the cheapest to the most ornate - so long as they pay.

Related: Everything Included in D&D's Spelljammer: Adventures in Space Boxset

Given their unusual physical appearance and proficiency with firearms – weapons not typically found in classic swords-and-sorcery campaigns – questions about the giff abound. In particular, giff origins have long been the subject of speculation, and the identity of their homeworld is shrouded in mystery. Nevertheless, these origins provided the giff with both an affinity for gunpowder and an Astral Spark, making the giff prodigious gunslingers and an appealingly different race for D&D players exploring the Spelljammer universe.

Theories about the giff homeworld abound. It is generally agreed, among player/scholars and the giff themselves, that the race originated on a single planet, in a system that (according to an older Spelljammer cosmology) was part of a distant, anonymous crystal sphere. What happened to that planet is unknown: Some suggest it was accidentally destroyed in an explosion, others that the giff sold it to another race and took to the stars. Still others contend that the giff homeworld was invaded by an alien race, with the surviving giff forced into exile in space. Additionally, it is believed that the gods who created the giff are long dead, now floating as petrified relics in the Astral Sea.

The giff are homeless and alone in Wildspace (predisposing them to Spelljammer's powerful D&D Wildspacer background), but they remain connected to both their planet and their deities in important ways. Though they can’t name or locate their homeworld, the giff describe it as lush and beautiful, with swamps and jungles and, importantly, mountains rich in metals and gunpowder. This abundance of explosive materials may have led to the giff’s affinity for and ability with firearms. What’s more, though otherwise lacking in magical abilities, from their lost gods the giff gained an Astral Spark that enables them to channel the mystical power of the Astral Plane into their weapons.

These aspects of giff lore are not mere curiosities – they are essential to giff player characters in Dungeons & Dragons. The giff are natural gunners, gaining additional force damage through their Astral Spark. Giff also automatically gain Firearms Mastery, allowing them to ignore the reload requirements of guns and suffer no disadvantage in long-range shooting. These abilities make the giff desirable for crew roles Spelljammer D&D campaigns: Though giff origins are unknown, their inheritance makes them potent adversaries to all enemies awaiting them in the Astral Seas.

D.M.K. (Daniel) Grace likes to play video games and write about them. He lives on a lake in northern Minnesota with his wife Ellen and a dog named Moose. A recovering academic and aspiring novelist, Daniel enjoys cooking, reading, and TV shows about outer space.