Metahuman is varyingly used in the Shadowrun universe to describe either humans and the other metatypes as a single group, or to refer to elves, dwarves, orks and trolls as separate from homo sapiens sapiens. Although the word metahuman is increasingly reclaimed in-universe for the former definition, this article deals with them primarily in the latter sense.

Metahumans are described as being subspecies of Homo sapiens who began emerging following the return of magic in 2011 and generally have been the targets of racism throughout their existence. In game terms, metahuman characters generally have abilities beyond those of normal humans, such as increased strength or agility, improved vision, etc.
Contents

    1 Major Classifications and subgroups
        1.1 Dwarves
        1.2 Elves
        1.3 Humans
        1.4 Orks
        1.5 Trolls
        1.6 Others
            1.6.1 Pixies
            1.6.2 Drakes
    2 Infected Metahumans

1 Major Classifications and subgroups
1.1	Dwarves

There are at least five known variants of the Dwarven Metatype:

    Gnomes: Central European Dwarf
    Harumen: Dwarven variant from India with monkey-like appearance
    Koborokuru: Japanese Dwarven variant
    Menehune: Hawaiʻian Dwarf
    Querx: Variant from Saxony in the Allied German States

1.2 Elves

There are at least five known variants of the Elven Metatype:

    Dalakiton: elf variant from the Philippines
    Dryads: All-female variant of the Elven species
    Night Ones: European Elf noted for fine dark-coloured fur
    Wakyambi: Dark-skinned Elves of Africa
    Xapiri Thëpë: Elf variant with green spots (chlorophyl) on their skin, native to Amazonia

1.3 Humans

There is one official variant listed for Humans:

    Nartaki

1.4 Orks

There are some rare metahuman variants of orks, that are - mostly - characteristic for some special geographic area:

    Hobgoblins: Middle Eastern Ork variant
    Ogres: European Ork sub-group
    Oni: Japanese Ork
    Satyr: Mediterranean Ork

1.5 Trolls

Metavariants of Homo sapiens ingentis (trolls) include:

    Cyclops: one-eyed Mediterranean troll
    Fomori: Irish Celtic troll
    Giants: Nordic troll
    Minotaurs: rare Mediterranean troll

1.6 Others
1.6.1 Pixies

These small humanoids resemble miniature elves with wings. They bear ethnic traits from around the world, usually similar to the local metahuman population. Pixies stand under a half-meter tall, though their feet are rarely on the ground to measure them. Their wingspan measures approximately one meter across. The average pixie’s wings resemble iridescent dragonfly wings, but other variations have been noted, including those mimicking the wing profiles of bats, birds of prey, butterflies, and grasshoppers, and pixies claim an even wider spectrum of wings is possible. Regardless of their wings’ appearance, pixies use an innate manipulation of mana for flight instead of actual aerodynamics. They also possess the innate magical ability to conceal themselves; this seems to be their natural state, as they immediately disappear at the moment of death, which makes postmortem study and taxonomical classification of the species a challenge. Unsavory elements have attempted living autopsies, but pixies are tricky a
nd tough catch, and those who claim to have information from such procedures are not necessarily to be trusted.

Pixies tend to live in forested areas away from cities. They group themselves by family and develop treehouse villages. On rare occasions, pixies have been known to try out life in urban sprawls. Their size is usually the most limiting factor, though variations in mana levels also affect their ability to fly and magically conceal themselves.

Pixies may be the Windlings of the Fourth World, as they share all of the same characteristics except pixies vanish when they die and Windlings do not (they are usually cremated).

When infected with HMHVV disease. Pixies become 'Tooth Fairies' which have an hunger for fresh teeth. The younger, the better.

1.6.2 Drakes


2.0 Infected Metahumans
	HMHVV I 	HMHVV II 	HMHVV BL
Human 	Vampire 	Loup-garou 	Nosferatu
Elf 	Banshee 	Harvester 	—
Dwarf 	Goblin 	Gnawer 	—
Ork 	Wendigo 	Grendel 	—
Troll 	Dzoo-noo-qua 	Fomóraig 	Mutaqua

These are metahumans that have been infected by one of the various strains of the HMHVV diseases.

The Krieger strain of HMHVV always turns its victims into Ghouls regardless of metatype. For other strains of HMHVV, the outcome depends on the subjects metatype.

One exception to the normal outcomes is that while the Bruckner-Langer strain normally kills any host that is not a human or troll; there has been one case where an elf did survive and became a Nosferatu.