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.

 

[Nightfly]

How often do they think players are using Spare the Dying? That seems really weak for something almost never used.

People would surely use it a ton more often if it actually revived the ally. I think this looks great, actually.

 

[marimbaguy715]

Is Ravenloft getting a 2024 splatbook like Eberron?

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.

This SCREAMS Ravenloft book in 2026. My body is ready.

Ravenloft was my first thought as well, but someone on Reddit pointed out that this actually makes a lot of sense for the upcoming Lorwyn book - specifically tying them to the dark side of the setting, Shadowmoor.

 

[Zaukrie]

I'd prefer something new..... Not Ravenloft.

 

[Sacrosanct]

People would surely use it a ton more often if it actually revived the ally. I think this looks great, actually.

Even then, how often do PCs drop to 0 hp in 5e? Not that often IME. For 1d4 + 1/2 your level?

 

[Reynard]

I'd prefer something new..... Not Ravenloft.

I don't think that is particularly likely. Why would they split their D&D horror fanbase?

 

[Zaukrie]

I don't think that is particularly likely. Why would they split their D&D horror fanbase?

Could be a book about undead, which would be my top hope. Could be part of the shadowfell. Could be the dark side mentioned above. I'm tired of rewrites.

 

[Remathilis]

Ravenloft was my first thought as well, but someone on Reddit pointed out that this actually makes a lot of sense for the upcoming Lorwyn book - specifically tying them to the dark side of the setting, Shadowmoor.

Two of those subs were originally in Van Richten. The others absolutely fit the theme. Nothing here feels dark fey. If it's not a Ravenloft book, it's a Undead book.

 

[Remathilis]

Could be a book about undead, which would be my top hope. Could be part of the shadowfell. Could be the dark side mentioned above. I'm tired of rewrites.

My gut says it would be an extension like Forge of the Artificer is to Eberron. Mechanical update with expansion lore like new domains and stuff.

 

[humble minion]

I HATE that the reanimator can create their undead companion without requiring a corpse to be handy! Way to miss the grave robbing point of the entire archetype.

Bard’s Spirits from Beyond ability is much more dice-dependent now that the ability triggers immediately you use the bardic inspiration dice. There’s going to be lots of scenarios when you roll a result that is just situationally useless. This class is much more a spirit guardians specialist now rather than a giver out of random powers.

I kinda like the new ranger class. Interesting flavour. Character optimisers everywhere will be bewailing the changes to Hound of Ill Omen in the shadow sorcerer though.

I do like the increasing use of the Bloodied condition though. That’s a nice new design toy that 5.5 gives you to play with, glad it’s being used.

 

[Yaarel]

While Ravenloft (Strahd, Van Richten) seems likely, I wonder if a Shadowfell setting is possible, opposite a Feywild setting.