There are a few options Dungeons and Dragons As important as a category. From battle specialists like Barbarians and Fighters to masters of magic like Clerics and Wizards, classes determine how characters navigate the three pillars of gameplay: combat, exploration, and social interaction. However, it is a subcategory of one Dungeons and Dragons One that takes the basic chassis of the class and transforms it into something unique and tasteful, allowing the character to really flourish.
Unfortunately, not all subcategories are created equal. Although options like Life Cleric, Battlemaster Fighter, or Bladesinger Wizard will always be set up for success, there are many who will struggle to keep up with their peers. The Dungeons and Dragons 2024 The rules refresh worked wonders for many of the underperforming picks, but these five subcategories still need some love.
Only subcategories published in Player's Handbook (2024)or official Dungeons and Dragons Source books released after this, have been considered for this list.
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Cartographer Artificer – Aberron: The Artificer's Forge
A decent support subclass heavily reliant on first-level concentration spells
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is printed in Eberron: The Artificer's Forge (2025)
The Cartographer Artificer is a brand new subcategory from Eberron: Forge of the Artificer. It has some strong support abilities, with traits that let their party take initiative, teleport the Artificer and their allies around the battlefield, and create quick spell scrolls.
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That said, their only real offensive strengths come in the form of Enlightened Cartography and Guided Precision, both of which rely on fairfire. While a powerful spell on its own, having many features attached to a first-level spell means it belongs in the Artificer subclass. Dungeons and Dragons If it uses any other concentration spell in combat it loses its initial features. Faerie Fire also has no advantage when upcast, making it especially critical when unlocking high-level spells.
This is why the Ranger class struggles so much Dungeons and Dragons: Heavy reliance on Hunter's Mark, first-level concentration magic.
Knowledge Domain Cleric – Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Ferun
Virtually nonexistent subclass features until 17th level
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is printed in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition Player's Handbook (2014)
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Updated on The Forgotten Realms: Hero of Ferun (2025)
like Sword Coast Adventure Guide – One of the worst source books on 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons History – subcategory from Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Ferun are hit or miss. On the one hand, there are stellar options like the revamped Bladesinger Wizard or the brand-new Spellfire Sorcerer. On the other hand, there are subcategories like Knowledge Domain Clerk.
This clerical domain was changed significantly from its original 2014 iteration, and while it was technically sound, most of the changes actually made the class less palatable than before. All that is gained at early levels is a free divination spell with specialization in certain skills, channel divinity, telepathy, and Intelligence saving throw proficiency. Divine Foreknowledge is admittedly extremely powerful, but it doesn't come online until level 17 – and counting Dungeons and Dragons As games end around level 12, most knowledge clerics will not get to use this ability.
Banneret Fighter – Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerun
A feeble attempt to save one of the most vulnerable subclasses in history
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is printed in Sword Coast Adventure Guide (2015) As the Purple Dragon Knight
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Outside the setting of Faerun is known as Banneret
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Updated on The Forgotten Realms: Hero of Ferun (2025) As a banner
The Banneret Fighter was Dungeons and Dragons' trying to remake Purple Dragon Knight from Sword Coast Adventure Guide. Notoriously among the worst fighter subclasses Dungeons and DragonsThe Purple Dragon Knight was essentially a half-baked support class that could share its Second Wind, Action Surge, and Invincibility with others, all while gaining some social skills.
Purple Dragon Knight appeared briefly in A Dungeons and Dragons Amethyst was discovered as a dragon-riding horseman before the Arcana became official, but was changed to Banneret due to differences with Ferun's lore.
Forgotten Realms: Heroes of FerunThe Banneret is undoubtedly better than the original version, but not by much. It works on the same mechanics, with a few extra bells and whistles, like understand languages at level 3 and immunity to charm and fear conditions at level 18, helping the subclass a bit. Still, while most fighters get a bunch of extra resources to use in addition to their core kit, Banneret only mods Second Wind, Action Surge, and Indomitable, meaning he'll run out of gas much faster than a Battle Master or Rune Knight.
Hunter Ranger – Player's Handbook (2024)
Weak subclass features that cannot save a subclass
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is printed in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition Player's Handbook (2014)
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Updated on Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition Player's Handbook (2024)
The Ranger class has always struggled 5th Edition Dungeons and DragonsAnd sadly, the 2024 rule has not solved this problem. On many levels, Rangers live in the worst categories Dungeons and Dragons. That said, although the base class has many problems, most of its subclasses are very strong. Gloom Stalker, Fay Wanderer, and Winter Walker are all pretty solid, and the new Beast Master Ranger is more than viable as well.
On the contrary, the hunter ranger Leaves much to be desired. It gained some vital versatility in that it could replace its hunter's hunting and defensive strategy features at short or long rest, features themselves weak compared to its counterparts. What's more, its 11th-level ability depends on the Hunter's Mark, and its 15th-level ability is essentially a slightly stronger version of the level 5 disease ability, Uncanny Dodge. Simply put, the Hunter relies heavily on the Ranger's weak abilities rather than adding something better like the other subclasses.
Soulknife Rogue – Player's Handbook (2024)
A flavored class that cannot use magical weapons
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is printed in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (2020)
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Updated on Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition Player's Handbook (2024)
The Soulknife evil Has all the characteristics of an excellent subclass. In fact, players will probably find Soulknife to be extraordinary in the early levels Dungeons and DragonsA variety of powerful abilities such as telepathy, teleportation, and bad luck protection on attack rolls and ability checks. The only problem with the class is the limited number of Psionic Energy Dice at low levels.
Unfortunately, the flaws of the class become apparent when reaching higher levels. Most of its features rely on using psychic blades to attack, meaning a Soulknife wielding a magical weapon essentially cuts itself off in half of the subclass. This is a huge drawback in high-level play, as it prevents them from using these game-changing items like no other rogue subclass. Dungeons and Dragons does
- Franchise
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Dungeons and Dragons
- Original release date
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Year 1974
- designer
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E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson
