Dungeons and Dragons three different character NPCs from an adventure module
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When building a character in Dungeons and Dragons, picking a subclass can help you determine not only your abilities, but the origin and personality of that figure within a campaign. Some subclasses are popular for their rich potential, such as having a cursed weapon as a Hexblade Warlock or being a master tactician as a Battle Master Fighter. However, some subclasses are often overlooked, providing niche angles for unique characters.
While the 2024 Player's Handbook for D&D and other supplements have changed the rules of the game slightly, many ideas behind subclasses have remained the same for the 5th Edition. New books have included more archetypes, giving players obscure options beyond what is provided in basic rule books. Many of the character types below follow their 2014 5e versions, as they are more expansive from years of added content.
Psi Warrior (Fighter)
Psychic Abilities Channeled Into Incredible Skills
D&D Psi Warrior Fighter with glowing eyes holding a large sword.
The Psi Warrior is a rarely used type of Fighter subclass that emphasizes tactical uses of the archetype's main feature — the Psionic Energy dice. Much like the Battle Master, this resource is one you can expend in certain situations, creating flexible opportunities to adjust to different combat encounters. Some of the skills in this subclass include:
- Protective Field (Lvl 3) — Use your Reaction to reduce damage taken by your nearby allies from an attack.
- Psionic Strike (Lvl 3) — Add extra Force damage to an attack made on your turn, boosted by your Intelligence modifier.
- Telekenetic Movement (Lvl 3) — Move creatures or objects with your mind up to a certain distance.
- Psi-Powered Leap (Lvl 7) — Gain a temporary Flying Speed to bolster your movement.
- Telekenetic Thrust (Lvl 7) — Knock enemies prone or push them back after using Psionic Strike.
The potency of your Psionic Strike increases as you level up, as you also gain more psychic abilities for battle. Psi Warriors gain resistance to psychic damage as a whole, and eventually can grant telepathic shields to their allies for extra protection. With the ability to cast the spell Telekensis without spell slots later, this subclass has a variety of utilities that has a focus on support, similar to the Banneret Fighter too.
Way Of The Long Death (Monk)
Masters Of Survival Beyond The Shadow Of Decay
Dungeons and Dragons Way of the Long Death Monk subclass character
When players look for an "edgy" or "grim" type of Monk, they usually gravitate towards the Way of Shadow. Yet, the Way of the Long Death is an underrated gem for macabre Monks, allowing characters to use martial arts to manipulate the moment of death that awaits all living creatures. This subclass almost acts like an Oathbreaker Paladin or Necromancer Wizard, giving a Monk darker abilities more tied to vitality rather than stealth.
The Way of Kensei Monk is another Monk subclass in D&D that isn't used much, as it tends to give players bonuses for using weapons rather than just their fists.
When picking this subclass, you can gain temporary Hit Points when creatures die near you, giving some great sustainability to a typically brittle class. As you get stronger, the Long Death Monk lets you frighten enemies, providing ways of disrupting the battlefield in synergy with the class' other ki-based abilities.
However, the biggest boon to this subclass is how it avoids death itself. This subclass lets you cheat death, going to 1 HP instead of 0 in exchange for a ki point when you reach Level 11. While a later ability, those who stick with this subclass can dump their ki points into a massive burst of necrotic damage using the "Touch of the Long Death" skill at Level 17, making this path an extremely potent survivor and boss slayer in D&D.
School Of Conjuration (Wizard)
Summon Strong Allies And Maintain Potent Spells
D&D Conjuration Wizard subclass summoning an animated object
Wizards typically gain their strength through their sheer variety of spells, but the Conjuration Wizard provides extra skills that make up for the class' vulnerable spots. Conjuration Wizards can create inanimate objects at will, giving them even more utility than the class normally has. Depending on how creative a player is, Conjuration Wizards can manifest a variety of tools to help their party out of a sticky situation.
The Conjuration subclass also lets this type of Wizard teleport in combat, letting you get away from danger that would otherwise be lethal for a low-health Wizard. Despite this skill recharging on a Long Rest, players can also gain this ability back by casting a Conjuration spell of 1st Level or higher.
However, the best feature of this subclass in D&D is when it reaches Level 10. Here, you gain advantage on any saving throw to maintain concentration on a spell, a skill mainly seen through the War Caster Feat. As Conjuration Wizards improve, you also get the ability to create stronger summons through Conjuration spells, letting you find powerful allies in any Beasts, Fey, Elementals, or other creatures you call to your side.
College Of Creation (Bard)
Complex Manipulation Of Fundamental Forces
Some subclasses, like the College of Creation Bard, are underutilized due to their complexity. This type of Bard isn't your standard charmer, but instead a channeler of possibilities, enhancing the Inspiration they can grant their party. This subclass changes your Bardic Inspiration into Motes of Possibility, which have additional effects other than just adding a value to a player's dice roll.
Motes of Possibility can create a variety of effects, such as adding thunder damage in an AoE radius after an ally's attack, giving Temporary Hit Points after an attempted saving throw, or letting allies with Inspiration roll twice and take the higher result on an Ability Check roll.
Creation Bards have almost endless utility, having the ability to create nonmagical items from scratch and summon Dancing Item allies in combat. This subclass rewards players with creativity, as the only limits to this archetype is determined by how much grace a DM is willing to give.
Former DMs might have a great time playing this subclass, as the items the Creation Bard can make are limited by what's in the Player's Handbook, so those who know its contents best are rewarded most. With the Motes of Possibility pairing wonderfully with the Dancing Item summon, this class is surprisingly self-sufficient compared to other Bards you could play.
Path Of The Beast (Barbarian)
Infectious Rage With Animal Kingdom Fury
Dungeons and Dragons Path of the Totem Warrior Barbarian character with bear spirit
Barbarians in D&D can be mistaken as simplistic compared to other classes, but some archetypes like the Path of the Beast disprove this perception. Path of the Beast Barbarians get a variety of strong character choices, including the ability to transform their physical features to gain natural weapons resembling different beasts from nature.
These Barbarians can gain a Bite, Claw, or Tail attack against their enemies, which are all amplified by the class' signature Rage. Each natural weapon has an additional unique property, from the Bite helping you restore HP, the Claw allowing for extra attacks, and the Tail giving you a defensive boost to your Armor Class (AC).
This class adds tons of interesting features for your character, such as the ability to gain a Swimming or Climbing speed or a much longer Jump. What makes this subclass special, though, is how you can spread your Rage to enemies and allies as you level up, influencing the battlefield from your anger alone. Against enemies, you can deal psychic damage and control who they attack, while allies gain a significant boost to damage from their attacks.
Forge Domain (Cleric)
Build An Armory Along With Fiery Strikes
Dungeons and Dragons Forge Cleric character creating a nonmagical item
The Forge Cleric may not have as many explosive abilities as other archetypes of the class, but its humble skills are far more potent than you'd think. Characters with this subclass can make items magical, granting +1 bonuses to weapons and armor to raise their damage and AC respectively. The ability to turn objects into magic items is incredibly useful, helping your party have the best gear possible.
Some of the innate spells in D&D you get as a Forge Cleric are fantastic, like Searing Smite and Magic Weapon. Rarer spells, such as Identify and Fabricate, add a lot of flavor to the themes behind this subclass' dedication to forging items.
However, this subclass' claim to fame is how a Forge Cleric character can build almost any item they want. From any kind of nonmagical weapon and armor to all sorts of trinkets under 100gp in cost, Forge Clerics can craft using their Channel Divinity. This opens up so many avenues for you to help your party, by having exactly what they need for specific encounters.
As you get stronger in this class, you gain a lot of fire-based features at early Levels too. For example, Forge Clerics gain resistance to fire damage at Level 6, which turns into full immunity at Level 17. You also gain automatic fire damage on all your attacks starting at Level 8, making this Cleric an excellent damage dealer rather than a "healer" in your party.
You gain a +1 AC bonus wearing heavy armor, and eventually resistance to all physical damage types as this subclass too, making it one of the most defensive avenues you can take as a Cleric. This allows you to be somewhat of a tank, a path usually reserved for Barbarians and Paladins, creating an impressive route for non-traditional Clerics.
Oath Of The Watchers (Paladin)
Sentinel Against Extraplanar Evil
Dungeons and Dragons Oath of the Watchers Paladin character fighting off demon with holy magic
Many Paladins are masters of combat, but sometimes struggle to stop a fight before it starts. The Oath of the Watchers Paladin is the exception to this rule, acting as vigilant and disciplined soldiers against forces outside the Material Plane. These Paladins have honed minds, able to resist magical effects that would otherwise deteriorate other Paladins in combat.
These Paladins spring into action fast, and help their party do the same with a boost to Initiative rolls. Watcher Paladins can channel their divine magic to make sure their allies also have advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws, giving them the chance to beat the incredibly harmful effects some deadly monsters in D&D inflict.
An Oath of the Watchers Paladin can use their Channel Divinity to turn fey, fiend, elemental, celestial, or aberration creatures as well as undead, broadening their skills against multiple enemy types beyond just undead.
At later Levels, this Paladin can become a bulwark against strong monsters too, reacting to deal automatic force damage to those that try to enforce saving throws to their allies. At Level 20, this Paladin can even banish targets it hits with an attack. With spells like Counterspell, Alarm, See Invisibility, Hold Monster, and Scrying, this subclass is rarely surprised, and always ready to lock down an unpredictable opponent.
Mastermind (Rogue)
Deceitful Soul With Tactical Genius
Dungeons and Dragons criminal mastermind rogue character counting money
The Mastermind is a type of Rogue that doesn't rely on high damage, magic, or thievery, but rather a studious knowledge of characters they meet. This subclass is a master of disguise, and knows more languages than most characters ever get the chance to learn right as you pick it.
Along with Disengage, Dash, and other basic combat skills Rogues gain as a bonus action, Masterminds can use the Help action as a bonus action too. This lets the Mastermind always have the ability to give advantage to an ally on an attack roll, up to a distance of 30ft rather than just 5ft.
When they reach Level 13, Masterminds can also redirect enemy attacks meant for them, causing foes to accidentally hit their allies with some misdirection. This manipulation of the battlefield goes even further, as this type of Rogue can learn hidden facts about an enemy if they study them for long enough, granting you vital information about their weaknesses. A true Mastermind is a tactical prodigy, yet one a party rarely ever notices.
Fey Wanderer Conclave (Ranger)
Charming Presence With Beguiling Mobility
Dungeons and Dragons Ranger character about to fire an arrow
Rangers have a variety of obscure subclasses, including the Fey Wanderer, a Conclave that taps into the chaotic magic of the Feywild. While Rangers aren't known for their charm, this archetype immediately gives you a charismatic influence, giving you a bonus to Charisma-based skill checks.
One big bonus this subclass gives you is the ability to cast Summon Fey and Misty Step at later levels without using a spell slot.
This subclass also improves the Ranger's damage greatly, gifting you psychic damage on an attack you make per turn, which grows in strength as you level up. This subclass shines against foes that charm or frighten you, as you can redirect that condition to enemies once you or your ally succeeds in a saving throw that causes either affliction.
With advantage on being Charmed or Frightend yourself, the Fey Wanderer Ranger has few ways of being locked down, giving you a lot of freedom in how you approach combat. With innate spells like Charm Person, Dispel Magic, and Dimension Door, it's hard to stop this kind of Ranger, making it an elusive subclass worth trying.
The Fathomless (Warlock)
Surging Waves And Support From The Deep
Dungeons and Dragons Fathomless Warlock character controlling the weather
The Fathomless Warlock is someone blessed by an ancient creature of the deep, gaining powers of the turbulent seas that are extremely different from standard skills seen in the class. Right away, this Warlock gains the ability to summon spectral tentacles, which can attack and slow down targets near them. Your Warlock can teleport this tentacle too, letting you always put it where it's needed most.
This subclass also lets your character gain a Swimming speed, alongside a resistance to cold damage and the skill to speak to underwater creatures. The dedication to flavor is strong with the Fathomless Warlock, with spells like Thunderwave, Lightning Bolt, Control Water, and Cone of Cold adding to the sea theme of the archetype.
As you get stronger, this Warlock also gains more skills with the tentacle, including the ability to have to reduce damage an ally takes near it. With oceanic teleportation coming at late Levels too, it's a shame how the Fathomless Warlock is a Dungeons and Dragons subclass that is rarely seen compared to the Fiend, Great Old One, or Hexblade Warlocks common to many groups.
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Like Follow Followed Dungeons and Dragons Franchise Dungeons & Dragons Original Release Date 1974 Publisher TSR Inc., Wizards of the Coast Designer E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson Player Count 2-7 Players Expand Collapse-
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