WotC just dropped a new Unearthed Arcana, which features five subclasses out of Xanathar’s Guide with shiny new 5.5E updates.
WotC just unveiled five more subclasses to get the 5.5E update treatment. This time, though, there’s no “narrative theme” around them. Which I mention, because the last several UAs have all had a strong hook. For instance, “these are arcane subclasses,” or “these are Forgotten Realms subclasses,” or “here’s stuff you’d find in Dark Sun.” I don’t wonder if we have moved past the runway of books that are planned/in the works and are in uncharted (for now) territory.
But despite the lack of a narrative theme, all five of these classes came out of Xanathar’s Guide to Everything. So there is a connection. But I don’t think we’re likely to see a Xanathar’s Guide to Everything Else, for instance. Whatever the case – and whatever the book these subclasses might ultimately be slated for, there are some fan-favorite 5E subclasses here, including the Oathbreaker Paladin, a newly renamed Path of the Spiritual Guardian Barbarian (formerly Ancestral Guardian), and more. Let’s take a look.
WotC Revisits Old Subclasses In New Unearthed Arcana
This is exciting news for a couple of different reasons. For one, the cadence of Unearthed Arcana means that maybe as part of this edition, we’ll get more player stuff to play with. That’s kind of already the case – especially with Eberron: Forge of the Artificer ready to bring in the Artificer, and a future Dark Sun book poised to unleash the Psion. But going forward even from there, we have more subclasses that are being tinkered and updated.
And they need to be. Because there’s just enough of a difference that it’s worth giving things a second look. Especially with the five subclasses featured in this update; I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that some of these were on the lower rung of the ladder in terms of power and how often they were chosen/played with. While it’s not necessary that every subclass be balanced, it does feel good to see some of the less-loved subclasses get a fresh look.
I’m especially excited to see the revamped Storm Herald Barbarian. Because it could have been an interesting subclass, but instead it was just a lesser Zealot Barbarian in many ways. The same can be said for a lot of these. When was the last time you saw anyone playing a Cavalier Fighter?
Of course, a lot depends on how much these subclasses get redesigned. That’s what the feedback form is for – though it’s moving faster these days. I think the feedback survey opens in a week, so you’d better start playtesting these guys. Or at least theorycrafting in your best whiteboard situation.
Whatever the case, it is well worth diving into this update to see where WotC’s design headspace is at these days. There are definitely common themes to new subclass mechanics. It’s almost a meme at this point to have someone that can misty step as a class feature. And temporary hit points? You better believe a subclass exists to help you hand them out. But let’s take a look at what the subclasses actually are.
What’s In The Updated Subclasses Unearthed Arcana
There are five updated subclasses in this Unearthed Arcana. We start with the renamed Path of the Spiritual Guardian, a renamed version of the Ancestral Guardian. This was a sort of defense-focused Barbarian that largely had its purpose subsumed by the World Tree, and now gets its Spiritual protector effect revamped. You can make more attacks if you roll well, and this might well be a great two-weapon and/or Polearm Barbarian.
We also get a Path of the Storm Herald. This is one I want to do a deeper dive into to see how well it actually plays. It was my least favorite Barbarian subclass, and mostly because it feels like it had a lot of potential that it failed to live up to. Though now the storm that follows you as you rage has been redesigned, so maybe there’s some meat here.
Meanwhile we revisit the Cavalier Fighter who now can Mark enemies at will, and seems to work a little bit better with or without a mount. Of all the subclasses in the Unearthed Arcana this is the one I’m dubious about most – especially given the recent Banneret release. But hey, let’s see how it plays.
Then there’s the Warrior of Intoxication, which was formerly the Way of the Drunken Master for the Monk. I love that the Monk is getting another subclass, the more the merrier for them. In this iteration, the Warrior of Intoxication can actually brew up their own spirits to drink for various benefits. It has potential. Cautiously optimistic about this one.
And of course, we round things out with everyone’s edgiest edgelord, the Oathbreaker Paladin. This is truly a fan-favorite, and it has been in need of a little love in the light of the new edition. Now with more undead and fiends and an Aura of Hate! This is for people who want that evil aesthetic. We’ll be taking a deeper dive into these subclasses next week, but for now, check out the Unearthed Arcana at the link below!
What subclass are you hoping gets updated next?
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