DnD Classes are the mechanical heart of characters in Dungeons and Dragons. While your race and background carry equal weight in who your character is, your class defines what your character does. Understanding how to build and play a class effectively is the most important part of building an effective DnD character.
Listed below are Guides on each of DnD’s classes, exploring the nuances and tricks to get the most out of each. To that end we not only go over the features and options of each class, but put those ideas into practice with subclass Guides and example builds.
We try to keep multiclassing to a minimum in these basic examples, but if those advanced options interest you don’t miss the Practical Guide to Multiclassing and our Build Guide Showcase, both of which go into multiclassing.
Table of Contents
What DnD Class Should I Play?
Choosing your character’s class is arguably the most important decision when building a new character, as it determines their biggest capabilities and their role within the party.
DnD 5e is resilient enough as a system that a party doesn’t need to adhere to the classic Cleric/Fighter/Rogue/Wizard party makeup, though covering all of those core capabilities can make your party more successful. For a quick, capable party, ensure that someone in the party is filling each of those four roles.
| Cleric Equivalent | Fighter Equivalent | Rogue Equivalent | Wizard Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bard | Artificer | Artificer | Bard |
| Cleric | Barbarian | Bard | Sorcerer |
| Druid | Fighter | Monk | Warlock |
| Sorcerer (Divine Soul) | Paladin | Ranger | Wizard |
| Warlock (Celestial) | Rogue |
If your character’s build won’t neatly fit into those boxes, it may be helpful to consider party roles in more depth. Specific roles can be split between the party, and so long as every role is represented, your party has everything that it needs to succeed regardless of specific classes.
What DnD Class Should I Play First?
The Fighter is an easy choice for your first DnD character. Their core mechanics are simple, they’re easy to build, and they’re easy to play successfully. Players growing into the game will find points within the class which allow you to add more complexity when you feel ready for it.
If you want to dive into the game quickly and master the rules quickly, the Paladin can be a great choice. They’re more complex than the Fighter, but that will expose you to more parts of the rules, allowing you to learn quickly.
But your absolute best choice for your first DnD class is whatever you’re excited to play. If you’re playing a character that doesn’t interest you, it’s difficult to enjoy the game. If you’re playing a character that you’re excited about, even if it’s somewhat complex, you’re going to have more fun with the game and find it easier to learn as you play.
What are the DnD Classes?
There are 13 official DnD classes including the Artificer, Barbarian, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Warlock, and Wizard. There are also popular 3rd-party classes like the Bloodhunter and the Illrigger, some of which are now available on DnDBeyond.
Artificer
Artificer: Built primarily around their ability to create temporary magic items, the Artificer is a fantastic option for players who enjoy deep customization and the ability to equip a huge number of magic items. In addition to crafting their own temporary items, artificers are half casters with access to most of the Wizard’s spell list with the addition of crucial healing options like Lesser Restoration and powerful support options like Faerie Fire.
Artificer Strengths:
- Excellent with tools
- Extremely durable
- Supports multiple play styles
Artificer Weaknesses:
- Complex resource management
Unique Artificer Features:
- Create temporary magic items
- Partial spellcasting similar to the Wizard
DnD 5.5 Artificer (2024)
- Artificer Class Guide
- Artificer Subclasses Guide
- Artificer Roleplay Guide
- Replicate Magic Item Guide
DnD 5e Artificer
- Artificer Class Guide
- Artificer Infusions Breakdown
- Artificer Races Breakdown
- Artificer Spell List Breakdown
Artificer Subclasses Guide
- Alchemist Artificer Subclass Guide: Add new support and healing options, as well as bonus healing and bonus damage with spells which deal certain damage types.
- Armorer Artificer Subclass Guide: Don a suit of magic armor and smash or blast your foes in combat.
- Artillerist Artificer Subclass Guide: Emphasize the Artificer’s abilities as a Blaster, and add the ability to summon magical canons to aid you in combat.
- Battle Smith Artificer Subclass Guide: Focus on fighting with weapons alongside your new Steel Defender, a sturdy pet construct designed for combat.
Barbarian
Barbarian: With a huge pile of hit points, access to damage resistance to common damage types, and a general preference for large weapons, the Barbarian is a capable melee warrior who typically thrives using simple, repeatable tactics. Rage allows the Barbarian to be exceptionally durable during a few fights per day, allowing you to act aggressively while shrugging off blows that would quickly drop other characters.
Barbarian Strengths:
- Highly risk, high reward play style
- Excellent melee combat
Barbarian Weaknesses:
- Can struggle with ranged combat
- Poor skills
Unique Barbarian Features:
- RAGE
- Resistance to weapon damage types
DnD 5.5 Barbarian (2024)
DnD 5e Barbarian
Barbarian Subclasses Guide
- Path of the Ancestral Guardian Barbarian Subclass Guide: Conjure up the spirits of your ancestors to defend yourself and your allies in battle.
- Path of the Battlerager Subclass Guide: Spiked armor and an idea of how to make that everyone’s problem.
- Path of the Beast Barbarian Subclass Guide: Manifest teeth, claws, and other fantastic bodily features, and tear your enemies to shreds.
- Path of the Berserker Barbarian Subclass Guide: A disappointing trap for new players.
- Path of the Giant Barbarian Subclass Guide: Call on the power of the giants to grow in size, hurl items, and deal elemental damage.
- Path of the Storm Herald Barbarian Subclass Guide: Channel the elemental power of storms to enhance your Rage.
- Path of the Totem Warrior Barbarian Subclass Guide: Choose from Animal-themed benefits at several points, allowing you to customize your barbarian to fill several roles in combat.
- Path of the Zealot Barbarian Subclass Guide: A great option for reckless players, or for players who tend to die frequently, the Zealot is exceptionally difficult to kill and can be raised from the dead without the expensive material components usually required to do so.
- Path of Wild Magic Barbarian Subclass Guide: Throw unpredictable magic into the mix, gaining a randomly-selected buff every time you rage, allowing you to do fantastic things like teleporting in combat.
Multiclass Build Showcase
Bard
Bard: A jack of all trades, the bard falls somewhere between the rogue’s capability with skills and the sorcerer’s capabilities with magic. If you want to do a little bit of everything, the Bard is a great choice. With more skills than most characters, Expertise, and full spellcasting, you can build a bard to fill nearly any roll in your party.
Bard Strengths:
- Excellent skills, especially in social situations
- Great support capabilities
- Spellcasting focuses on enchantment and illusion
Bard Weaknesses:
- Poor durability
- Poor weapon use (varies by subclass)
Unique Bard Features:
- Bardic Inspiration to buff your allies’ skills and saves
DnD 5.5 Bard (2024)
DnD 5e Bard
- DnD 5e Bard Guide
- DnD 5e Bard Races Breakdown
- DnD 5e Bard Spell List Breakdown
- DnD 5e Practical Guide to Magical Secrets
- DnD 5e Bard Roleplay Guide
Bard Subclasses Guides
- College of Creation Bard Subclass Guide: Use the song of creation to sing objects to life or create them out of thing air, and add powerful additional benefits to Bardic Inspiration.
- College of Eloquence Bard Subclass Guide: The best bard that ever did bard, College of Eloquence reinforces and expands upon the Bard’s core class features. While it doesn’t add anything truly new to the class, it does make the Bard’s core features considerably better.
- College of Glamour Bard Subclass Guide: A combination of support and Charm effects, College of Glamour makes a great support caster but doesn’t add any directly offensive capabilities.
- College of Lore Bard Subclass Guide: Double down on the Bard’s core features, adding more Expertise, more Magical Secrets, and new support options.
- College of Spirits Bard Subclass Guide: Commune with the spirits of the dead to empower yourself and your allies and to defeat your enemies.
- College of Swords Bard Subclass Guide: Not just a martial bard, but a flashy martial bard.
- College of Valor Bard Subclass Guide: Add some martial capabilities to the Bard, including medium armor, shields, martial weapons, and Extra Attack.
- College of Whispers Bard Subclass Guide: Masters of deceit, infiltration, subterfuge, and psychological warfare.
Multiclass Build Showcase
Cleric
Cleric: While novice players overlook the Cleric for fear of becoming a “healbot”, the Cleric is a much more interesting class than that. Diverse, powerful, and backed up by an amazing spell list, clerics can fill a variety of roles in the party and support many play styles. They do still have the best healing options in the game, but most clerics spend more time smashing through fights with Spirit Guardians than they do spamming Cure Wounds.
Cleric Strengths:
- Powerful spellcasting both defensively and offensively
- Powerful healing spells
Cleric Weaknesses:
- Bad with weapons
Unique Cleric Features:
- Use Channel Divinity to turn undead and activate other powerful effects
DnD 5.5 Cleric (2024)
DnD 5e Cleric
- DnD 5e Cleric Guide
- DnD 5e Cleric Races Breakdown
- DnD 5e Cleric Spell List Breakdown
- DnD 5e Cleric Roleplay Guide
Cleric Subclasses Guides
- Arcana Domain Cleric Subclass Guide: A casting-focused cleric that borrows a few options from the Wizard.
- Death Domain Cleric Subclass Guide: An offense-focused necrotic damage enthusiast.
- Forge Domain Cleric Subclass Guide: A front-line, heavily armored cleric with a good mix of offensive fire options and utility spells.
- Grave Domain Cleric Subclass Guide: Straddling the line between life and death, the Grave domain adds a mix of offensive, defensive, and healing options.
- Knowledge Domain Cleric Subclass Guide: Blessed with both magical and mundane knowledge, the Knowledge Domain grants Expertise in two knowledge skills, a number of excellent divination options, and the ability to temporarily gain proficiency in a set of tools.
- Life Domain Cleric Subclass Guide: The iconic healer, but also a strong heavily-armored Defender.
- Light Domain Cleric Subclass Guide: Praise the sun, then blast your foes with fire and radiant damage.
- Nature Domain Cleric Subclass Guide: The closest you can get to a Druid while still wearing metal.
- Order Domain Cleric Subclass Guide: A heavily-armored commander, the Order Domain adds great options to lead their allies and enchant their foes in battle.
- Peace Domain Cleric Subclass Guide: Nominally themed around a peaceful approach to problems, the Peace Domain offers powerful options to heal and defend your allies, turning them into efficient, resilient, nearly-unstoppable combat monsters.
- Tempest Domain Cleric Subclass Guide: Heavily armored and ready to command thunder and lightning to destroy your foes.
- Trickery Domain Cleric Subclass Guide: Skilled in stealth and illusion, the Trickery Domain is welcome among a party or rogues, sneaks, and ne’er-do-wells.
- Twilight Domain Cleric Subclass Guide: Use the mystical power of twilight to empower and defend both yourself and your allies to overcome any challenge.
- War Domain Cleric Subclass Guide: Direct and simple, the War Domain brings heavy armor, martial weapons, and spells and abilities which allow you to thrive on the front lines of combat.
Multiclass Build Showcase
- Home Run Bat: Launching Enemies to Maximum Distance
- Tetragrammaton Cleric (uses Kobold Press’s Tome of Heroes)
Druid
Druid: Divine spellcasters with a close bond to nature, druids are primarily spellcasters and thrive when controlling their environment with area control spells. They match the Cleric’s healing capabilities, but present a very different playstyle otherwise. Among their most iconic options is Wild Shape, allowing you temporarily adopt the form of an animal.
Druid Strengths:
- Excellent spellcasting for area control and support
- Healing magic comparable to the Cleric
Druid Weaknesses:
- Limited direct offensive options
- Poor durability
Druid Unique Features:
- Use Wild Shape to turn into animals
DnD 5.5 Druid (2024)
DnD 5e Druid
- DnD 5e Druid Guide
- DnD 5e Druid Races Breakdown
- DnD 5e Druid Spell List Breakdown
- DnD 5e Practical Guide to Wild Shape
- DnD 5e Druid Roleplay Guide
Druid Subclasses Guides
- Circle of Dreams Druid Subclasses Guide: A tricky mix of healing, support, and teleportation options.
- Circle of Spores Druid Subclasses Guide: A poison-themed master of fungi and mushrooms, you gain the ability to adopt a powerful symbiotic form and to deal huge amounts of poison damage.
- Circle of Stars Druid Subclasses Guide: Draw on the power of magic constellations to change your capabilities, choosing to attack your foes, support and heal your allies, or withstand your foes attacks.
- Circle of Wildfire Druid Subclasses Guide: Tame a powerful wildfire spirit which serves you as an ally in combat, and use magic fire to defeat your enemies.
- Circle of the Land Druid Subclasses Guide: Emphasize your connection to the natural world by adding extra spellcasting related to specific natural environment.
- Circle of the Moon Druid Subclasses Guide: Master Wild Shape, gaining access to more powerful wild shape forms suitable to combat.
- Circle of the Shepherd Druid Subclasses Guide: A powerful summoner with useful abilities to buff and support their allies.
Fighter
Fighter: Diverse, capable, and effective, the Fighter is an iconic warrior. Fighters have many excellent options, and get more Ability Score Increases than any other class, allowing them to further customize by collecting feats. Because their complexity grows slowly as you level and you can add complexity as desired by adding feats, the Fighter is both an easy class to play and an exciting class to optimize.
Fighter Strengths:
- Supports a wide variety of play styles
Fighter Weaknesses:
- Often struggles to handle large groups of enemies
Unique Fighter Features:
- More ability scores increases and feats than any other class
DnD 5.5 Fighter (2024)
DnD 5e Fighter
- DnD 5e Fighter Guide
- DnD 5e Fighter Races Breakdown
- DnD 5e Fighter Spell List Breakdown
- DnD 5e Fighter Roleplay Guide
Fighter Subclasses Guides
- Arcane Archer Fighter Subclass Guide: Imbue arrows with magical effects.
- Battle Master Fighter Subclass Guide: Master of combat maneuvers, the Battle Master uses a unique Maneuvers mechanic which allows you add additional effects to your attacks to harm and hinder your foes.
- Cavalier Fighter Subclass Guide: Known for their exceptional abilities to fight while mounted, but the Cavalier is also a capable bodyguard and Defender.
- Champion Fighter Subclass Guide: Simple and straightforward, but unquestionably effective, the Champion thrives on the Fighter’s central features.
- Echo Knight Fighter Subclass Guide: Summon an echo of yourself from alternate time streams to fight alongside you in combat.
- Eldritch Knight Fighter Subclass Guide: Complement your phenomenal martial prowess with magic to defend yourself and to strike at your foes.
- Psi Warrior Fighter Subclass Guide: Use the power of psionics to boost your attacks, defend yourself and your allies, and mess with your enemies.
- Purple Dragon Knight Fighter Subclass Guide: An inspirational leader and diplomat, the Purple Dragon Knight is a capable leader and good Face despite the stereotypically non-charismatic nature of fighters.
- Rune Knight Fighter Subclass Guide: Empower yourself with the magic power of giants, using runes to create fantastic magical effects and enlarging yourself in combat.
- Samurai Fighter Subclass Guide: Capable and resilient, the Samurai is capable of sudden bursts of incredible prowess and adds some proficiencies to aid them in social situations.
Multiclass Build Showcase
- Bugbear-y Me in Damage
- Home Run Bat: Launching Enemies to Maximum Distance
- Oversized Weapons Guide
- Tetragrammaton Cleric (uses Kobold Press’s Tome of Heroes)
Monk
Monk: The iconic unarmed combatant, monks are capable of many superheroic physical feats without the use of spells. They’re a comlex class to build and play successfully, but their niche between the fighter and the rogue can make them a lot of fun. Unfortunately, the mechanical requirements of the class mean that monk builds are extremely homogenous and there is very little room to deviate without feeling like your character is underperforming the rest of your party.
Monk Strengths:
- High damage output
- High mobility
Monk Weaknesses:
- Low durability
- Difficult resource management
Unique Monk Features:
- Exceptionally fast
- Functions well with no weapons or armor
DnD 5.5 Monk (2024)
DnD 5e Monk
Monk Subclasses Guides
- Way of Mercy Monk Subclass Guide: Empower your ki to harm and afflict your foes and to heal yourself and your allies.
- Way of Shadow Subclass Monk: Sneaky and punchy.
- Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk Subclass Guide: Breath fire, fly a little bit, maybe frighten your enemies a little bit.
- Way of the Astral Self Monk Subclass Guide: Use your Ki to conjure a magical set of arms and fight using your Ki more than your actual body. (This is the one that’s a Jojo reference.)
- Way of the Drunken Master Subclass Guide: Highly mobile and surprisingly durable.
- Way of the Four Elements Subclass Guide: Use Ki to cast elemental spells and do some spell-like abilities.
- Way of the Kensei Monk Subclass Guide: Master fighting with a weapon.
- Way of the Long Death Monk Subclass Guide: Exceptionally hard to kill, the Way of Long Death allows you to preserve your own life by taking others’.
- Way of the Open Hand Monk Subclass Guide: The master of martial arts, Way of the Open Hand is the simplest and most iconic monk.
- Way of the Sun Soul Monk Subclass Guide: Blast your foes with radiant damage fueled by your Ki.
Multiclass Build Showcase
Paladin
Paladin: Warriors powered by their commitment to a cause, the Paladin is nearly always a heavily-armored melee character, equally capable of smiting their enemies and healing their allies. Their dependence on Charisma also makes them capable in social situations where similar classes like the Barbarian and the Fighter often struggle. Because the Paladin’s capabilities touch on so many mechanics, Paladins are very mechanically satisfying to play and can be a great way to quickly master 5e’s mechanics.
Paladin Strengths:
- Extremely durable
- Bursts of high damage output with Divine Smite
Paladin Weaknesses:
- Struggles to fight at range
- Very limited spellcasting
Unique Features:
- Aura of Protection provides powerful buffs for yourself and your allies
DnD 5.5 Paladin (2024)
DnD 5e Paladin
- DnD 5e Paladin Guide
- DnD 5e Paladin Races Breakdown
- DnD 5e Paladin Spell List Breakdown
- DnD 5e Paladin Roleplay Guide
Paladin Subclasses Guides
- Oath of Conquest Paladin Subclass Guide: Use crowd control and defensive options to crush your foes in combat.
- Oath of Devotion Paladin Subclass Guide: The iconic paladin. Defend your allies and smite the wicked.
- Oath of Glory Paladin Subclass Guide: Strive for perfection and glory, making yourself the greatest hero and athlete that you can be.
- Oath of Redemption Paladin Subclass Guide: Focused on nonviolent solutions to problems, Oath of Redemption adds spells and abilities to protect yourself and your allies, and to inhibit enemies without harming them.
- Oath of the Ancients Paladin Subclass Guide: Use the power of nature to ensnare and restrain your foes.
- Oath of the Crown Paladin Subclass Guide: Force enemies to face you in combat and protect your allies from damage.
- Oath of the Watchers Paladin Subclass Guide: Guard the material world against extraplanar foes like elementals, fey, and fiends.
- Oath of Vengeance: Focused primarily on Offense, Oath of Vengeance adds powerful new ways to boost your damage output and destroy your foes through force of arms.
- Oath of Vengeance Paladin Subclass Guide – by Random
- Oath of Vengeance Paladin Subclass Guide – by Rocco
- Oathbreaker Paladin Subclass Guide: A paladin who has broken their oath, the Oathbreaker gainsa evil abilities to harm their foes and to fight alongside undead and fiends.
Multiclass Build Showcase
- Bardadin: The Portable Punching Bag
- Bardadin: The Whispering Vengeance
- Bugbear-y Me in Damage
- Hexadin: Suffer Not the Witch-Knight to Live
- Sorcadin: Smite Like Clockwork
- Totembreaker: Scourge of Nature
Ranger
Ranger: Capable explorers and warriors, the Ranger falls somewhere between the Fighter’s martial capabilities, the Rogue’s skills, and the Druid’s spellcasting. While early versions of the Ranger struggled somewhat due to highly situational class features, Optional Class Features and exciting new subclass options have made the ranger both effective and exciting to play.
Ranger Strengths:
- Good mix of martial, skills, and spellcasting
- Good damage output in combat
Ranger Weaknesses:
- Limited spell selection
- Several
Ranger Unique Features:
- Features to thrive in any environment
DnD 5.5 Ranger (2024)
DnD 5e Ranger
- DnD 5e Ranger Guide
- DnD 5e Ranger Races Breakdown
- DnD 5e Ranger Spell List Breakdown
- DnD 5e Ranger Roleplay Guide
Ranger Subclasses Guides
- Beast Master Ranger Subclass Guide: Fight alongside a powerful beast companion, training them as a living weapon to aid you in battle.
- .Drakewarden Ranger Subclass Guide: Command a powerful drake companion that you can ride into battle!
- Fey Wanderer Ranger Subclass Guide: Gain fey power and use it to beguile, charm, and outwit other creatures.
- Gloom Stalker Ranger Subclass Guide: Hunt your foes in the dark, gaining the ability to see and fight in the dark, and to ambush your foes.
- Horizon Walker Ranger Subclass Guide: Walk the planes, gaining the ability to teleport in battle and to travel between planes without relying on spells like Plane Shift.
- Hunter Ranger Subclass Guide: A capable warrior, the Hunter is the most customizable ranger subclass, capable of succeeding in a variety of fighting styles.
- Monster Slayer Ranger Subclass Guide: Simple and reliable; ideal for new players.
- Swarmkeeper Ranger Subclass Guide: Use a swarm of fey spirits to empower your attacks, to defend you in combat, and even to carry you through the air.
Multiclass Build Showcase
- Bugbear-y Me in Damage
- Home Run Bat: Launching Enemies to Maximum Distance
- Tetragrammaton Cleric (uses Kobold Press’s Tome of Heroes)
Rogue
Rogue: More than just the orphaned thief stereotype, rogues are cunning, highly-skilled characters capable of solving many problems and filling many roles within a party. The Rogue’s signature combat ability is Sneak Attack, which encourages you to use positioning, stealth, and clever tactics to deliver powerful single hits.
Rogue Strengths:
- Expertise in several skills
- Can fill a variety of skill-based roles in the party
- Simple, reliable combat tactics
Rogue Weaknesses:
- Almost entirely dependent on Sneak Attack to be effective in combat
Unique Rogue Features:
- Cunning Action to make you mobile and sneaky in combat
- Sneak Attack for big damage on a single attack
DnD 5.5 Rogue (2024)
DnD 5e Rogue
- DnD 5e Rogue Guide
- DnD 5e Rogue Races Breakdown
- DnD 5e Rogue Spell List Breakdown
- DnD 5e Practical Guide to Fast Hands
- DnD 5e Rogue Roleplay Guide
Rogue Subclasses Guides
- Arcane Trickster Rogue Subclass Guide: Use illusions and enchantments to confuse and outsmart your foes.
- Assassin Rogue Subclass Guide: Masters of infiltration, disguise, and dealing high-damage sneak attacks at the beginning of combat.
- Inquisitive Rogue Subclass Guide: Masters of noticing stuff. Perfect in a mystery game.
- Mastermind Rogue Subclass Guide: Help your allies in combat, and be very slightly tricky outside of combat.
- Phantom Rogue Subclass Guide: Speak to the spirits of the dead and use their knowledge to empower your attacks and your skills.
- Scout Rogue Subclass Guide: A capable wilderness explorer and ambush leader.
- Soulknife Rogue Subclass Guide: Use psionic power to create deadly psychic blades in combat.
- Swashbuckler Rogue Subclass Guide: Charismatic master duelists, swashbucklers use their Charisma in unique ways both in and out of combat, and are masters at engaging foes one-on-one.
- Thief Rogue Subclass Guide: Fast hands, rapid movements, and plenty to do on every turn.
Multiclass Build Showcase
Sorcerer
Sorcerer: Spellcasters that draw their power from something innate about themselves, such as draconic ancestry. Sorcerers rely on a small number of spells known compared to other spellcasters, but their Metamagic feature allows them to customize those spells to suit the needs of their situation. Players who enjoy the power of the Wizard but don’t want the complexity of managing a spellbook will find the Sorcerer very satisfying.
Sorcerer Strengths:
- Great spell list
- Can be simpler to play than the Wizard with much of the same feel
Sorcerer Weaknesses:
- Limited number of spells known/prepared
Sorcerer Unique Features:
- Metamagic can modify spells on the fly
- Use Font of Magic to regain spell slots or fuel Metamagic
DnD 5.5 Sorcerer (2024)
DnD 5e Sorcerer
- DnD 5e Sorcerer Guide
- DnD 5e Sorcerer Races Breakdown
- DnD 5e Sorcerer Spell List Breakdown
- DnD 5e Sorcerer Metamagic Breakdown
- DnD 5e Sorcerer Roleplay Guide
Sorcerer Subclasses Guides
- Aberrant Mind Sorcerer Subclass Guide: Combine the power of psionics with the power of arcane magic to create a spellcaster with the sorcerer’s deep well of spellcasting and some of the warlock’s spooky, occult magic.
- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer Subclass Guide: An avatar of order, the Clockwork Soul rounds the edges off of probability and wards their allies against harm and entropy.
- Divine Soul Sorcerer Subclass Guide: Descended from a divine bloodline, add the ability to learn and cast cleric spells in addition to sorcerer spells.
- Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer Subclass Guide: Extra durable and extra excited about dragons and elemental damage.
- Lunar Sorcery Sorcerer Subclass Guide: Change your subclass spells by changing phases of the moon, and also get discounts on Sorcery Points.
- Shadow Magic Sorcerer Subclass Guide: Masters of magical darkness, gain the ability to see in darkness and summon a powerful shadow hound to weaken and attack your foes.
- Storm Sorcery Sorcerer Subclass Guide: Adept at flight and casting spells in close quarters, storm sorcerers dart in and out of close range to deal bursts of sonic and lightning damage before flying back out of reach and retreating.
- Wild Magic Sorcerer Subclass Guide: Wacky chaos monsters but also powerful rerolls and the ability to mess with dice math.
Multiclass Build Showcase
Warlock
Warlock: Warlocks draw their power from a pact made with a powerful entity of some kind. Mechanically, the Warlock is delightfully weird compared to other options, offering a huge number of customization points and entirely unique spellcasting resource that makes them feel and play very differently from other spellcasters. Building around Eldritch Blast has been simple and effective since the Player’s Guide released in 2014, but that is certainly not the only way to build an effective warlock.
Warlock Strengths:
- Exclusive access to Eldritch Blast, the best offensive cantrip in the game
- Simpler spellcasting than other spellcasters
- Diverse play styles
Warlock Weaknesses:
- Very few spell slots
Warlock Unique Features:
- Unique “pact magic” spellcasting feature
- Heavily customizable with Eldritch Invocations
DnD 5.5 Warlock (2024)
DnD 5e Warlock
- DnD 5e Warlock Guide
- DnD 5e Warlock Races Breakdown
- DnD 5e Warlock Eldritch Invocations Breakdown
- DnD 5e Warlock Pact Boons Breakdown
- DnD 5e Warlock Spell List Breakdown
- DnD 5e Warlock Roleplay Guide
Warlock Subclasses Guides
- Archfey Warlock Subclass Guide: Fey are tricky, unpredictable creatures, and warlocks who swear pacts to The Archfey gain spells and abilities to confuse, surprise, and charm other creatures.
- Celestial Warlock Subclass Guide: Make a pact with a powerful creature from the upper plains and some healing and radiant damage to your capabilities.
- Fathomless Warlock Subclass Guide: A powerful threat in and around water, the Fathomless gives you new spells related to storms and water, and you gain the ability to conjure spectral tentacles to attack your foes and to defend you from harm.
- Fiend Warlock Subclass Guide: Make a pact with a powerful fiend and get all of the fire damage you could even possibly want. Other stuff, too, but Fireball is pretty great.
- Genie Warlock Subclass Guide: Make a pact with a genie of one of the four major elements, and gain benefits like empowered spellcasting and a magic vessel which you can use both as a spellcasting focus and as a resting place.
- Great Old One Warlock Subclass Guide: Spooky spells, telepathy, and tentacles.
- Hexblade Warlock Subclass Guide: Forge a pact with a mystical force known only as “The Hexblade”, gaining the ability to use Charisma for weapon attacks and other fantastic combat abilities.
- Undead Warlock Subclass Guide: Gain the ability to adopt a terrifying undead visage to buff yourself in combat.
- Undying Warlock Subclass Guide: Make a pact with an immortal (or at least very long-lived) creature and become very slightly less likely to die.
Multiclass Build Showcase
- Bugbear-y Me in Damage
- Hexadin: Suffer Not the Witch-Knight to Live
- Hexbuckler of the Astral Seas
- Oversized Weapons Guide
Wizard
Wizard: Among the most iconic spellcasters in DnD, the Wizard is your iconic book-bearing magical scholar. Their spell list is the largest in the game and includes many of the best spells in the game, plus their ability to collect spells and cast any ritual that they know makes the Wizard an excellent utility caster on top of their ability to hurl fireballs.
Wizard Strengths:
- Expansive spell list
- Powerful ritual casting
Wizard Weaknesses:
- Low hit points
- No armor
Unique Wizard Features:
- Can cast rituals from their spellbook without preparing them
- Biggest spell list in the game
DnD 5.5 Wizard (2024)
- 2024 Wizard Class Guide
- 2024 Wizard Spells Guide
- 2024 Wizard Subclasses Guide
- 2024 Wizard Spells Guide
DnD 5e Wizard
Wizard Subclasses Guides
- Bladesinging Wizard Subclass Guide: Masters of fighting with both weapons and with spells, bladesingers can perform a secret song and dance which makes them deadly in combat. Among the most caster-focused gish options.
- Chronurgy Magic Wizard Subclass Guide: Manipulate the flow of time, allowing you to force rerolls, to stop creatures, and even to temporarily suspend spells in a tiny bead and share it with your allies. Chronurgists also gain access to the Dunamancy spell list.
- Graviturgy Magic Wizard Subclass Guide: Manipulate space and gravity to move your foes about on the battlefield and crush them with powerful gravitational effects. Graviturgists also gain access to the Dunamancy spell list.
- Order of Scribes Wizard Subclass Guide: Awaken your spellbook, and master the central concepts of wizardly magic, allowing you to learn spells faster than other wizards and employ them in new and unusual ways.
- School of Abjuration Wizard Subclass Guide: Masters of protective magic, Abjurers gain a powerful magical ward which can absorb damage dealt to you or your allies and recharges when you cast abjuration spells.
- School of Divination Wizard Subclass Guide: Diviners gain the powerful Portent feature, allowing them to roll two to three d20’s at the beginning of the day and use them to replace rolls, as well as the ability to cast divination spells and incredible little cost.
- School of Enchantment Wizard Subclass Guide: Powerful and versatile spellcasters, enchanters gain abilities to charm and hypnotize foes, and to affect additional targets with single-target enchantment spells.
- School of Evocation Wizard Subclass Guide: Exceptional at dealing damage with spells, evokers deal more damage with cantrips than other spellcaster, and can make safe spaces in their area damage spells to avoid harming allies.
- School of Illusion Wizard Subclass Guide: Masters of illusion spells, illusionists gain abilities to manipulate illusion spells beyond their normal limits, including the ability to make them partially real.
- School of Necromancy Wizard Subclass Guide: Gain the ability to heal yourself when you kill other creatures, and to more easily create and control undead, including powerful ones far more powerful than spells alone would allow.
- School of Transmutation Wizard Subclass Guide: Gain abilities to turn things into other things, like wood into metal, yourself into an animal, dead things into live things, and injured or sick things into happy and healthy things.
- War Magic Wizard Subclass Guide: Powerful combatants, war wizards gain abilities to defend themselves against attacks and to boost their spell damage by countering or dispelling other spells.
Multiclass Build Showcase
Content from 3rd-Party Publishers
RPGBOT has covered some 3rd-party content from our favorite creators. This content is published under the Open Gaming License, under Creative Commons, or through DMsGuild, and is not considered official content. As such, it is not available in Adventurer’s League organized play, and your group may not allow it in your game. If your group wants to explore 3rd-party content, we hope that these articles will help you make them work for you.
Keith Baker
- Keith Baker’s Forge Adept Artificer Subclass Guide
- Keith Baker’s Oath of Veneration Paladin Subclass Guide
Kobold Press
Mage Hand Press
Matt Mercer / Critical Role / Tal’Dorei
- Matt Mercer’s Blood Hunter (DMsGuild Affiliate Link)
- Matt Mercer’s Gunslinger (DMsGuild Affiliate Link)
- Matt Mercer’s Oath of the Open Sea Subclass Paladin
- Matt Mercer’s Way of the Cobalt Soul Subclass Monk
- Tal’Dorei Blood Domain Cleric Subclass Guide
- Tal’Dorei Blood Magic Wizard Subclass Guide
- Tal’Dorei Circle of the Blighted Druid Subclass Guide
- Tal’Dorei College of Tragedy Bard Subclass Guide
- Tal’Dorei Path of the Juggernaut Subclass Barbarian
MCDM
MonkeyDM
- Steinhardt’s Circle of Symbiosis Druid Subclass Guide
- Steinhardt’s Path of the Lightning Vessel Barbarian Subclass Guide
SoManyRobots
- Songs of the Spellbound Sea Buccaneer Fighter Subclass Guide
- Songs of the Spellbound Sea Protean Warlock Subclass Guide
Other
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the easiest DnD classes to play?
The Barbarian, Fighter, Rogue, and Warlock are easy to play compared to other DnD classes. The Wizard can also be easy to play if you limit yourself to less complicated spells.
What is the best DnD class?
The Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, and Wizard are typically considered the most powerful DnD classes.
What is the worst DnD class?
In the 2014 DnD 5e rules, the Monk and the Ranger are considered the worst classes.
