Dungeons & Dragons Announces Horror Subclasses Unearthed Arcana

Dungeons & Dragons has announced a new Unearthed Arcana focused on horror subclasses. The new UA, available now on D&D Beyond, introduces a mix of new subclasses and thematic subclasses from 2014 5th Edition. The full list of subclasses are as follows:

• College of Spirits Bard
• Grave Domain Cletic
• Phantom Rogue
• Shadow Sorcerer
• Heblade Patron Warlock
• Undead Patron Warlock
• Reanimator Artificer
• Hollow Warden Ranger

The Reanimator Artificer is built around creating a reanimated companion that can act in combat and explodes when it dies. The Hollow Warden Ranger adds a Wrath of the Wild feature that activates when casting Hunter's Mark and adds various emanation effects while active.

No word on what this UA is related to, but there is a mystery product coming out in October and these horror subclasses could tie into a potential Ravenloft book.

You can check out the full Unearthed Arcana here.

 

[darjr]

PDF https://media.dndbeyond.com/compend.../gPZTjw31gGeVdQKl/UA2025-HorrorSubclasses.pdf

Summary of the video:

• Reanimator Artificer with modular Construct companion
• College of Spirits Bard rebooted from Van Richten's, spirit guardians at 6th level
• Grave Domain Cleric rebooted from Xanathar's
• Hollow Warden Ranger, based on folk horror and cryptid mythology, vampiric healing ability from successful attacks
• Phantom Rogue rebooted from Tasha's, can cast speak with dead
• Shadow Sorcerer rebooted from Xanathar's, expanded spell list
• Hexblade Warlock rebooted from Xanathar's, centered around hex powers
• Undead Warlock rebooted from Van Richten's

Two new subclasses, six remodels for 5.5e. Weird they didn't include a Necromancer Wizard.

So now we have a better idea of what the October book is. Maybe a Ravenloft setting guide to accompany Van Richten's but my money is on a 5.5e version of Liber Mortis as a Fizban's/Bigby's undead monster book with a player-facing first chapter.

 

[Reynard]

Is Ravenloft getting a 2024 splatbook like Eberron?

 

[darjr]

Artificer Reanimator subclass, Death Domain Cleric, etc.

 

[sevenbastard]

Curse of Strahd re-release? I think they can keep going back to that well.

Just expand, update, and improve every 6 to 7 years.

 

[Reynard]

Curse of Strahd re-release? I think they can keep going back to that well.

Just expand, update, and improve every 6 to 7 years.

I doubt it. the whole point of the 2024 D&D compatibility was that the old adventures stand up. I think they are going to give Ravenloft its own Tasha's.

 

[darjr]

Curse of Strahd re-release? I think they can keep going back to that well.

Just expand, update, and improve every 6 to 7 years.

Curse of Strahd still does well.

 

[darjr]

I doubt it. the whole point of the 2024 D&D compatibility was that the old adventures stand up. I think they are going to give Ravenloft its own Tasha's.

Yea, you’re probably right. Still a revised Curse of Strahd I wouldn’t rule out.

 

[Reynard]

Yea, this is my bet. Still a revised Curse of Strahd I wouldn’t rule out.

If they have to reprint, they might make some sort of anniversary edition, but I doubt they would load it with player facing material.

 

[darjr]

If they have to reprint, they might make some sort of anniversary edition, but I doubt they would load it with player facing material.

I agree. A two book set though. Or two books out at the same time?