Kobold Avenger
Legend
I think the Wizard is quite solid as a class on it's own, I see possible changes to spells, spellcasting and however they come up with the themes of the Mage classes as being the things that do change the base Wizard class overall in some ways. But subclasses I feel they might be getting some bigger changes, since it's suggested but not confirmed that each class is getting 4 subclasses, and the Wizard has 8 subclasses already. So what stays, or goes, or gets merged?
Abjuration - I feel the Abjurer in 5e was a fairly solid one, they are all about damage warding and countering magic. But it might not be everyone's favourite idea for a Wizard, and could be at risk of getting removed or merged. Maybe it'll get merged into the Bladesinger or become a fightery wizard-subclass.
Conjuration - The Conjurer is solidly about summoning things, but I think all of the Conjure spells are going to get a major overhaul, with statblocks like in Tasha's and not "go look up the Monster Manual". As a concept I feel that's one a lot of people can grasp, so it might stay.
Divination - Specializing in Divination is not really something most people would go for, and they worked hard to make this subclass appealing. Like giving them many free spell slots if they cast Divination and the ability to pre-set D20 rolls. But somehow I feel this subclass would be on it's way out.
Enchantment - I feel the Enchanter is certainly a concept many people can grasp, though this subclass potentially has the problem of encroaching on the Bard's territory. Being able to do charm related abilities without using spell slots is a strong appeal here.
Evocation - The Evoker is the most basic concept for a Wizard, it's the subclass for starters and the one in SRD. The idea of a Wizard that's all about fireballs and blasting things is a very basic one. So I'm sure this one stays.
Illusion - One of the first subclass as a concept in D&D before anything else. So many people do like this one for legacy reasons, and I think the ability to push and get more out of Illusions is a good one. But I could see this getting merged with an Enchantment subclass.
Necromancy - A lot of people like the concept of playing a Necromancer, even if it's one that scares some DMs when a player wants to play one. But this subclass has a problem where it's too dependent on casting Animate Dead and having lots of Undead minions, which doesn't play well with the action economy. They are certainly thinking of keeping the Necromancer around from it being mentioned in one of the interviews. So I could see a lot of changes happening to this subclass.
Transmutation - Mostly not on anyone's favourite concept for a Wizard, the Transmuter somehow ended up becoming an Alchemist before the Artificer had a subclass called the Alchemist. I do like the idea of having the philosopher stone bring a bunch of buffs of the Transmuters choice. But I feel this subclass could be on it's way out.
Abjuration - I feel the Abjurer in 5e was a fairly solid one, they are all about damage warding and countering magic. But it might not be everyone's favourite idea for a Wizard, and could be at risk of getting removed or merged. Maybe it'll get merged into the Bladesinger or become a fightery wizard-subclass.
Conjuration - The Conjurer is solidly about summoning things, but I think all of the Conjure spells are going to get a major overhaul, with statblocks like in Tasha's and not "go look up the Monster Manual". As a concept I feel that's one a lot of people can grasp, so it might stay.
Divination - Specializing in Divination is not really something most people would go for, and they worked hard to make this subclass appealing. Like giving them many free spell slots if they cast Divination and the ability to pre-set D20 rolls. But somehow I feel this subclass would be on it's way out.
Enchantment - I feel the Enchanter is certainly a concept many people can grasp, though this subclass potentially has the problem of encroaching on the Bard's territory. Being able to do charm related abilities without using spell slots is a strong appeal here.
Evocation - The Evoker is the most basic concept for a Wizard, it's the subclass for starters and the one in SRD. The idea of a Wizard that's all about fireballs and blasting things is a very basic one. So I'm sure this one stays.
Illusion - One of the first subclass as a concept in D&D before anything else. So many people do like this one for legacy reasons, and I think the ability to push and get more out of Illusions is a good one. But I could see this getting merged with an Enchantment subclass.
Necromancy - A lot of people like the concept of playing a Necromancer, even if it's one that scares some DMs when a player wants to play one. But this subclass has a problem where it's too dependent on casting Animate Dead and having lots of Undead minions, which doesn't play well with the action economy. They are certainly thinking of keeping the Necromancer around from it being mentioned in one of the interviews. So I could see a lot of changes happening to this subclass.
Transmutation - Mostly not on anyone's favourite concept for a Wizard, the Transmuter somehow ended up becoming an Alchemist before the Artificer had a subclass called the Alchemist. I do like the idea of having the philosopher stone bring a bunch of buffs of the Transmuters choice. But I feel this subclass could be on it's way out.