D&D Drops 4 New Subclasses For Free

Dungeons & Dragons has been trying out new subclasses left and right as of late, and the latest batch has just arrived in a new playtest. Following the D&D 5.5e rules revision, new subclasses have branched out beyond the typical flavor of heroic fantasy, with previous Unearthed Arcana releases focusing on horror and post-apocalyptic themes.

The newest Unearthed Arcana release on D&D Beyond adds the Pestilence Domain cleric, Circle of the Titan druid, Hell Knight fighter, and Demonic Sorcery sorcerer. The details for all four subclasses, along with two new villainous paths, can be accessed through the free Villainous Options PDF available on the site.

D&D’s Four New Subclasses Are Villainous

True to its name, the new Unearthed Arcana playtest is yet another that’s leaning away from typical heroic fantasy, and the subclasses represent this clearly. Pestilence Domain clerics sicken and exhaust enemies, for example, an approach that’s quite far removed from the typical image of godly party healers. Circle of the Titan druids take things to the next step, boasting the ability to swallow enemies whole.

Hell Knight fighters sound like terrifying figures to encounter on the battlefield, imbuing their weapons and armor with Hellfire and inflicting Infernal Wounds. Demonic Sorcery could be the most horrific, allowing sorcerers to corrupt reality and channel powers of the Abyss.

Unearthed Arcana Could Foretell D&D’s Future

Unearthed Arcana subclasses are essentially just test versions of potential subclass ideas, and they aren’t guaranteed to get an official release in future D&D books. All the same, the free availability of playtest PDFs means that they’re already playable in D&D games without making a purchase. The balance may not be perfectly honed, but they could still be fun to try out in the right campaign.

D&D playtests are always an interesting source of speculation about the game’s future, and the announcement of new Ravenloft material for this year already confirmed players’ suspicions about the horror-themed subclasses of late. These villainous options could portend the arrival of an even darker turn for the game, although I doubt Wizards of the Coast will commit to something quite as provocative as 2002’s The Book of Vile Darkness again.

Even in a heroic campaign, these options could be fun to explore, especially if a character is struggling to balance dark powers with noble intent. Regardless, it’s always great to get some new material for Dungeons & Dragons, and it’s all the better when you don’t have to pay to try it out.