D&D (2024) Final Guesses: packet 7 subclasses

[Remathilis]

With packet 7 dropping Soon, anyone want to stake a claim on which subclasses we will see?

A rundown of what is known and rumored:

Barbarian
Known: berserker
Rumored: totem

Fighter
Known: Champion
Rumored: eldritch knight, battlemaster

Sorcerer
Known: draconic
Rumored: wild magic

Warlock
Known: fiend
Rumored: archfey, Great Old One

Wizard:
Known: evoker
Rumored: necromancer, two other specialists

Rules: there are four subs per class. Knowns are a given, and rumored would need a strong argument why not. Any subclass previously printed is fair game, as would no more than one new sub per class.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

With packet 7 dropping Soon, anyone want to stake a claim on which subclasses we will see?

A rundown of what is known and rumored:

Barbarian
Known: berserker
Rumored: totem

Fighter
Known: Champion
Rumored: eldritch knight, battlemaster

Sorcerer
Known: draconic
Rumored: wild magic

Warlock
Known: fiend
Rumored: archfey, Great Old One

Wizard:
Known: evoker
Rumored: necromancer, two other specialists

Rules: there are four subs per class. Knowns are a given, and rumored would need a strong argument why not. Any subclass previously printed is fair game, as would no more than one new sub per class.

It would be every subclass in the 2014 PHB, unless it's the Wizard.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

As for my guesses:
Barbarian: Ancestral Guardian, Storm Herald
Fighter: Arcane Archer
Sorcerer: Divine Soul, Shadow Magic
Warlock: Celestial

Wizard (as the special case):
Evoker, Necromancer, Illusionist, Bladesong

 

[doctorbadwolf]

It would be every subclass in the 2014 PHB, unless it's the Wizard.

Cleric isn’t getting 346 domains in the phb either. Just 4.

Anyway I don’t think we will see a ton of “this is popular so we will reprint it from a valuable expansion book in the phb” choices. Maybe a couple, but not much more.

I think Warlock will be the PHB patrons and a new one. (I’m hoping for Great Wyrm or for one that strongly suggests an occult ritualist rather than so much a deal maker)

Wizard: Evoker, Illusionist, Conjurer, War Magic

Sorcerer: Draconic, Wild Magic (unfortunately), Divine Soul, New

Fighter: Champion, Battlemaster, Echo Knight (or a revamped cavalier or banneret), Eldritch Knight

Barbarian: Berserker, Totem, Ancestral Guardian, New one

 

[Parmandur]

Barbarian:

• Totem, renamed Wildheart and looking like the BG3 version in general
• Wild Magic from Tasha's, also because of BG3 and to offer something different
• Zealot, because it popular and awesome.
• Something new...?

Fighter:

• Eldritch Knight
• Battlemaster
• Rune Knight

Warlock:

• Fey
• GOO
• Celestial, popular and contrasts nicely

Sorcerer:

• Wild Magic
• Storm, iconic and BG3
• something new

Wizard:

• Necromancer confirmed by Crawford
• Illusionist, goes back to 1E
• Bladesinger, too popular not to

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Barbarian:

• Wild Magic from Tasha's, also because of BG3 and to offer something different

Maybe because of BG3, but I seem to remember it being quite unpopular and complained about when it was first introduced in UA. Too much complaining about magic, even if there's not much additional conceptual space for a non-magical Barbarian (Berserker takes up most of the non-magical Barbarian).

 

[Frozen_Heart]

Gee I'm hyped to see yet again how eldritch knight is a package of disappointment when compared to duskblade, magus, or swordmage...

 

[Parmandur]

Maybe because of BG3, but I seem to remember it being quite unpopular and complained about when it was first introduced in UA. Too much complaining about magic, even if there's not much additional conceptual space for a non-magical Barbarian (Berserker takes up most of the non-magical Barbarian).

I wouldn't take the online kvetching too seriously: it did well enough to go to print in Tasha's, literally the same threshold they're using for the new PHB. It's presence in BG3 indicates that it is a popular choice.

 

[The Myopic Sniper]

I am guessing one of the Wizard subclasses is going to be something other than one of the eight schools of magic that the spells are typed by. One of the difficulties in getting new Wizard subclasses over the 70 percent threshold was the slight drag caused by the identity of the class and subclasses being so tied to the eight schools. That would be like having a Mage class with subclasses called "Red", "Orange", "Yellow", "Green", "Blue", "Indigo" and "Violet". When you suddenly try to add a subclass called "Metal" or "Vivomancer," it just seems off. The PHB is a great place to break that symmetry before people start mentally organizing the class that way. In fact, I kind of wish that we got 4 new subclasses and delegate the spell school choice to be a one level feature that you get at first level which might just be the scribing feature and a couple of bonus spells with the subclasses more about the role you play in adventuring like War Mage, Scholar Mage, etc.

 

[Kobold Stew]

My guesses:

Barbarian: Berserker, Totem (renamed as Wildheart), Storm, Ancestral Guardians

• Totem being re-named Wildheart (following BG3) removes its only liability
• I would much prefer Ancestral or Beast to Wild Magic, but I think Wild Magic has a good chance -- it gives a fun enough experience that players like it, and it "matches" as sorcerer choice.

Fighter: Champion, Battlemaster, Eldritch Knight, Rune

• Battlemaster will be there, What I am hoping is that they will also include in the PHB the list of Battle Master Builds that were present in Tasha's.
• I'd like it if Samurai were there (I think it's well designed and gives out of combat benefits), but the lure of being big is too great.

Warlock: Fiend, Archfey, GOO, Genie
* The vessel and the extra spells with Genie are fun and feel different than the others.

Sorcerer: Draconic, Wild Magic, Divine Soul, Shadow Magic

• I've included Divine Soul, but in a way I hope it isn't there: my hope will be that the Sorcerer gets to choose a spell list (like what the Bard had, and which may still survive in one form or another). That first-level choice would eliminate the need for a Divine Soul, and would greatly increase the diversity of builds available.
• Shadow Magic has the Hound of Ill Omen, and I think that puts it slightly head of Aberrant Mind, which while apparently popular smacks too much of Psionics, and I don't think they're going to have a psionic-flavoured subclass in the PHB.

Wizard: Evocation, Necromancy, Bladesinger, Divination

• I would love there to be Illusionist, but Illusions are such a subjective category of spells that I don't think they can mainstream them this way. As it is, so much is unclear and subject to table conventions.
• The Portent ability is very popular, I think.