The newest Unearthed Arcana presents revised subclasses for the Bard (College of Spirits), Cleric (Grave Domain), Rogue (Phantom), Sorcerer (Shadow Sorcery), and Warlock (Hexblade Patron and Undead Patron) as well as new subclasses for the Artificer (Reanimator) and Ranger (Hollow Warden).
UPDATE (5/13): The feedback survey for this Unearthed Arcana is now live! Don't forget to get your feedback in and let us know what you think!
Remember: as with all playtest material, this cannot be used with D&D Beyond's character builder.
Listen to Todd and Makenzie talk about these terrifying subclasses and try them out yourself today!
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Those seem cool. Strange the necromancer wizard isn’t in there.
Also, Mackenzie DeArmas is sooooo charming. I loved her enthusiasm— it made me want to try everything she talked about because she was so excited about it.
I have to say it. I don't like Hexblade. The buffs to Hex are pretty cool abilities, but if my Patron is a weapon, I want weapon related abilities. Other than that I like the theme of all of them.
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
For those who do not want to watch the video content, here is the link to the UA document. The new subclasses tested are Reanimator Artificer and Hollow Warden Ranger (Eldritch forest themed). Returning subclasses are College of Spirits Bard, Grave Cleric, Phantom Rogue, Shadow Sorcerer, Hexblade Warlock, and Undead Warlock.
Great list of options (other than the continued need for Necromancer to get an update). Really thrilled to see Artificer on the list - one of 2014 Artificer’s big problem was Wizards’ unwillingness to update it with additional subclasses.
Hot take: Phantom should use WIS or INT for its features rather than DEX- Rogue is SAD with an extra ASI so they can afford the spread, and now that you start with a full stock of Soul Trinkets after a LR you’ve got a solid secondary source for the damage feature. Just feels weird to tie all the magical powers to DEX.
I really get that "OG 5e Hexblade is too strong." from this version. The Re-animator artificer is fun in practice, I wonder how it'll compete with the Battle Smith's Steel Defender as pet class options.
Also the free cast of Summon Undead for the Shadow Sorc is kinda boring. Hound of Ill Omen, to me, was way cooler and more interesting.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I really get that "OG 5e Hexblade is too strong." from this version. The Re-animator artificer is fun in practice, I wonder how it'll compete with the Battle Smith's Steel Defender as pet class options.
Also the free cast of Summon Undead for the Shadow Sorc is kinda boring. Hound of Ill Omen, to me, was way cooler and more interesting.
Sadly the original Hound was weak sauce and dies really easily, making it hard to use effectively I have found.
I feel like the Hound (or even just change the name to Beast) of Ill Omen would benefit from having a Beast Companion/Steel Defender style stat block, maybe even allowing us to give the Beast certain buffs if you spend more then the standard 3 sorcery points on it. That's how I'd change it.
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"Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup."
Love the flavour of the brand new subclasses, but yet again Hollow Warden's functions are heavily reliant on Hunter's Mark being active.
Keep in mind Rangers get free casts of it that increase as they level, and they don’t need to hold concentration to ready spells like Hail of Thorns or Lightning Arrow. Combat-wise a lot of the remaining competition is in the form of all or nothing save spells, which aren’t typically a Ranger’s forte to begin with.
I really like Artificer subclass,. it's a very welcome addition here. It does need a bit of tidying up, though:
- Jolt to Life could probably make the creatures targeted optional, otherwise people won't want to use it if allies (or the Artificer) are nearby, which makes it quite niche.
- Lightning Absorption on the Companion states that it regenerates HP equal to Lightning Damage dealt to it, but it's immune to Lightning Damage, so...yeah. Maybe "it regains a number of Hit Points equal to the Lightning damage rolled", or strip the immunity and instead it gains twice the damage (or regains equal instead of taking damage).
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
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D&D StaffThe newest Unearthed Arcana presents revised subclasses for the Bard (College of Spirits), Cleric (Grave Domain), Rogue (Phantom), Sorcerer (Shadow Sorcery), and Warlock (Hexblade Patron and Undead Patron) as well as new subclasses for the Artificer (Reanimator) and Ranger (Hollow Warden).
UPDATE (5/13): The feedback survey for this Unearthed Arcana is now live! Don't forget to get your feedback in and let us know what you think!
Remember: as with all playtest material, this cannot be used with D&D Beyond's character builder.
Listen to Todd and Makenzie talk about these terrifying subclasses and try them out yourself today!
Your Friendly Neighborhood Community Manager (she/her)
You can call me LT. :)
CM Hat On | CM Hat Off
Generally active from 9am - 6pm CDT [GMT-5].
Thank you for your patience if you message me outside of those hours!
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OMG OMG OMG
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Hmm, interesting. I’d guessed Ravenloft might be revisited soonish, but I wasn’t expecting this.
No Monk? I was hoping for an updated Way of the Long Death.
Nice to see all these other ones, though!
No Necromancer T.T
But at least my Grave Cleric and Undead Warlock are here <3
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Oh yeah, now that you mention it that’s a surprising omission. Hopefully we get it soon.
Those seem cool.
Strange the necromancer wizard isn’t in there.
Also, Mackenzie DeArmas is sooooo charming. I loved her enthusiasm— it made me want to try everything she talked about because she was so excited about it.
I have to say it. I don't like Hexblade. The buffs to Hex are pretty cool abilities, but if my Patron is a weapon, I want weapon related abilities. Other than that I like the theme of all of them.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
It's Halloween in May!
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Probably because Elric is a cleary reference to this subclass
For those who do not want to watch the video content, here is the link to the UA document. The new subclasses tested are Reanimator Artificer and Hollow Warden Ranger (Eldritch forest themed). Returning subclasses are College of Spirits Bard, Grave Cleric, Phantom Rogue, Shadow Sorcerer, Hexblade Warlock, and Undead Warlock.
Great list of options (other than the continued need for Necromancer to get an update). Really thrilled to see Artificer on the list - one of 2014 Artificer’s big problem was Wizards’ unwillingness to update it with additional subclasses.
Hot take: Phantom should use WIS or INT for its features rather than DEX- Rogue is SAD with an extra ASI so they can afford the spread, and now that you start with a full stock of Soul Trinkets after a LR you’ve got a solid secondary source for the damage feature. Just feels weird to tie all the magical powers to DEX.
While it's certainly at home in Ravenloft, I'm pretty sure Long Death originated in FR like Sun Soul did, so that might explain why it's not here.
With that said - what really has me gagged is the two Warlocks but no Necromancer Wizard. Maybe we're getting that in a PHB2 or something?
The Hexblade players are really going to hate losing Hex Warrior, though I think Hex Maneuvers is pretty neat.
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I really get that "OG 5e Hexblade is too strong." from this version. The Re-animator artificer is fun in practice, I wonder how it'll compete with the Battle Smith's Steel Defender as pet class options.
Also the free cast of Summon Undead for the Shadow Sorc is kinda boring. Hound of Ill Omen, to me, was way cooler and more interesting.
The link CG provided keeps taking me to Discord for some reason. Here's one that should take you to the DDB page for it:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/ua?srsltid=AfmBOopT1PyjrFcAhnBzrWKU2vEHDE1sS08szutrTRIMF03e_syGZ7BC
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Love the flavour of the brand new subclasses, but yet again Hollow Warden's functions are heavily reliant on Hunter's Mark being active.
Sadly the original Hound was weak sauce and dies really easily, making it hard to use effectively I have found.
I feel like the Hound (or even just change the name to Beast) of Ill Omen would benefit from having a Beast Companion/Steel Defender style stat block, maybe even allowing us to give the Beast certain buffs if you spend more then the standard 3 sorcery points on it. That's how I'd change it.
"Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup."
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RoughCoronet's Greater Wills
Keep in mind Rangers get free casts of it that increase as they level, and they don’t need to hold concentration to ready spells like Hail of Thorns or Lightning Arrow. Combat-wise a lot of the remaining competition is in the form of all or nothing save spells, which aren’t typically a Ranger’s forte to begin with.
I really like Artificer subclass,. it's a very welcome addition here. It does need a bit of tidying up, though:
- Jolt to Life could probably make the creatures targeted optional, otherwise people won't want to use it if allies (or the Artificer) are nearby, which makes it quite niche.
- Lightning Absorption on the Companion states that it regenerates HP equal to Lightning Damage dealt to it, but it's immune to Lightning Damage, so...yeah. Maybe "it regains a number of Hit Points equal to the Lightning damage rolled", or strip the immunity and instead it gains twice the damage (or regains equal instead of taking damage).
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.