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.

 

[Minigiant]

I think Artificer might get core book treatment in 6e.

Hollow Warden being the defense focused obviously primal tank Ranger subclass like the 4e Warden is hilarious

 

[WanderingMystic]

Perkins talked about the necromancer being ready back during the first round of 2024 play test what about two years ago. While it has never seen public play testing they have had it for long enough that I am sure that it could already be in what they consider a finished place.

 

[mellored]

Just started, and right away this stood out:

View attachment 404794

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

You get Spare the Dying with the subclass.

You don't need to cast it any other time, just when someone drops.

 

[Kurotowa]

Perkins talked about the necromancer being ready back during the first round of 2024 play test what about two years ago. While it has never seen public play testing they have had it for long enough that I am sure that it could already be in what they consider a finished place.

Personally, I'd assume the opposite. If he talked about it when it was in an early stage but it never even made it to UA release, it means it had serious problems and was discarded. Not that it somehow got completely finished without any playtest stage.

 

[WanderingMystic]

Personally, I'd assume the opposite. If he talked about it when it was in an early stage but it never even made it to UA release, it means it had serious problems and was discarded. Not that it somehow got completely finished without any playtest stage.

Actually he said it was his favorite take on the necromancer, the best concept for that type of summoner(?) they have done. It was just that the n necromancer had a very low score on dndbeyond as far as players and abjuration and divination we more liked.

 

[mamba]

I think the lawyers are guiding WotC and they're making a clear claim to their IP by releasing setting books for each of their settings.

I hope they do, at least that way they finally have to make some I am interested in

 

[Sir Brennen]

Personally, I'd assume the opposite. If he talked about it when it was in an early stage but it never even made it to UA release, it means it had serious problems and was discarded. Not that it somehow got completely finished without any playtest stage.

It probably did have a playtest stage, just not in a public UA.

 

[DarkCrisis]

Reanimator, you say?

Currently watching Reanimator. Love Jeffery Combs.

 

[humble minion]

I played a "reanimator artificer" in a Deadlands (Savage Worlds) game once - the reaction from other players when I first got to yell "IT'S ALIIIIVE!" was worth the investment.

I played an alchemist artificer who was heavily Frankenstein-inspired for a while in a Tomb of Horrors campaign.

The verbal component to his Healing Word spell was ‘Arise, minion!!’

 

[Neonchameleon]

The Vampire concept is so big, it merits an entire class with subclasses.

My 5e vampire (must update for 2024) got split between sub classes of monk and warlock. I think it's too big for one class to own.