Dungeons & Dragons Playtests Four New Mystic-Themed Subclasses

Dungeons & Dragons has dropped their first Unearthed Arcana playtest of 2026, with four brand-new subclasses being tested. Today, Wizards of the Coast posted a Mystic Subclasses Unearthed Arcana playtest to D&D Beyond, featuring four magic-themed subclasses. The new subclasses include the Warrior of the Mystic Arts Monk subclass, the Oath of the Spellguard Paladin subclass, the Magic Stealer Rogue subclass and the Vestige Patron Warlock subclass.

The Warrior of the Mystic Arts is a spellcasting subclass that grants Monks the ability to cast Sorcerer spells up to 4th level spells. The Oath of the Spellguard is designed with protecting magic-casters in mind, while the Magic Stealer Rogue targets spellcasting and can empower their Sneak Attacks with magic stolen from nearby spellcasters. The Vestige Patron Warlock forms a bond with a dying god, with the god taking on a vestige form as a companion. The Vestige companion grows in power with the spellcaster. Notably, the Vestige Patron draws inspiration from the Binder from past editions of D&D.

There's no indication when or what this new Unearthed Arcana could be related to. There are several Unearthed Arcanas not currently attached to an announced D&D product, although two almost are certainly tied to a Dark Sun sourcebook.

You can check out the subclasses here. Feedback opens for the playtest on January 22nd.

 

[Maxperson]

That's actually the key ability imho.

I'll buff you with bless give me a lvl 2 slot back.

It doesn't even have to be reciprocal like that. You scout ahead invisibly and then come back and I give you the slot back. So many things you can do with that ability that are awesomely helpful at low levels and just helpful at high levels.

 

[Zardnaar]

I'm finding your objections hard to follow, and they are starting to feel contradictory, or at least like the goalposts are moving.

If this is your standard, then you are assuming a rogue in melee, or at least being hit with melee attacks (and making a two-feat investment)...


...but here you are objecting that you have to be within 30'.

So, what is your benchmark? Are you interested in building a straight rogue? Comparing this subclass against other rogue options in equal circumstances? Doing as much damage as possible in a specific circumstance only?

Its a damage boost so its easy to compare. Its not "free" damage though as it eats your reaction. Its also situational and limited.

How good it actually is depends on a lot of factors that you can't really

It doesn't even have to be reciprocal like that. You scout ahead invisibly and then come back and I give you the slot back. So many things you can do with that ability that are awesomely helpful at low levels and just helpful at high levels.

Yup its a bit limited 1/short rest. Great at low level.

Can't really rate the other ability without a few tests imho.

 

[Maxperson]

Read the new Zhent feats? Rogues have hit dice use them. I'll start going skirmishes once I run out.

Also tanking damage cia the half damage reaction ability. With group heaps eg new prayer of healing and aura of vitality I dont care about taking damage as such.

You're better off spreading it around vs loading it all up on 1-2 characters.

I do care if I'm low on HP or out of hit dice.

The Zhent Ruffian feat is okay. I like the Tactics feat, but half of it requires you to be front line fighter just to maybe get opportunity attacks. The ability to get expertise is nice, but since you're a rogue, not nearly as useful as if you weren't a rogue. All for the low, low cost of being hated by much of the Realms because you are Zhentarim.

 

[Hussar]

We talkin a class or a subclass of warlock?

Subclass of warlock. There's very little chance of getting an actual binder class. So, any binder for 5e from WotC is going to have to leverage existing classes and Warlocks are the obvious choice.

The point upthread about the body horror element was such a huge part of Binders. Binders were flat out weird. They weren't just a Deity Pact Warlock. At the end of the day, deity pact warlock isn't much different than any other warlock. If your pact is with a deity or an elemental lord or whatever, the isn't a whole lot of difference.

But having a pact with a Vestige, and having that vestige actually directly impact your character? That's cool.

 

[Necropolitan]

I loved 3.5 Binders, but unfortunately never got the chance to play one. The mechanics and lore were really cool and allowed for numerous combinations. Sure a lot of the Vestiges would never end up picked because they were too weak/there were obvious correct choices, but that's how 3.5 was.

Nothing that interested me about Binders is in the Vestige Warlock.

The mechanics don't translate into anything close to what the Binder was and they've completely changed the lore.

But I am now the owner of a copy of Mage Hand Press's Complete Binder thanks to the recommendations of users in this thread so at least some good has come of this.

Anyway I started a thread on Binders:

D&D General Thread 'The 3.5 Binder was a really cool class'

Today at 4:49 AM

There once was an assassin who specialized in murdering other assassins.

He died, went to Hell, and the many enemies he'd made in life who'd ended up in Hell were so mad they staged a mass uprising solely to beat up his newly-damned soul.

When the fight was over his soul was gone.

Now you might be thinking "Did he somehow escape? Was his soul destroyed? Did he go to Double-Hell? What exactly would Double-Hell be like, would it just have twice as much fire or something?"

The answer is none of the above! His soul somehow got shunted outside reality and became a Vestige.

And if you...

• Necropolitan
• Replies: 3
• Forum: *Dungeons & Dragons

• 

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I loved 3.5 Binders, but unfortunately never got the chance to play one. The mechanics and lore were really cool and allowed for numerous combinations. Sure a lot of the Vestiges would never end up picked because they were too weak/there were obvious correct choices, but that's how 3.5 was.

Nothing that interested me about Binders is in the Vestige Warlock.

The mechanics don't translate into anything close to what the Binder was and they've completely changed the lore.

But I am now the owner of a copy of Mage Hand Press's Complete Binder thanks to the recommendations of users in this thread so at least some good has come of this.

Anyway I started a thread on Binders:

D&D General Thread 'The 3.5 Binder was a really cool class'

Today at 4:49 AM

There once was an assassin who specialized in murdering other assassins.

He died, went to Hell, and the many enemies he'd made in life who'd ended up in Hell were so mad they staged a mass uprising solely to beat up his newly-damned soul.

When the fight was over his soul was gone.

Now you might be thinking "Did he somehow escape? Was his soul destroyed? Did he go to Double-Hell? What exactly would Double-Hell be like, would it just have twice as much fire or something?"

The answer is none of the above! His soul somehow got shunted outside reality and became a Vestige.

And if you...

• Necropolitan
• Replies: 3
• Forum: *Dungeons & Dragons

• 

It should probably be noted that it it was Christian who connected it to the Binder, that was never an official WotC position.

My mind went to Brutha and the Great God Om. This subclass is a much better fit for that.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Yup its a bit limited 1/short rest. Great at low level

It’s basically “give someone an extra 2nd level spell slot once per rest”, but with extra messy faffing around. And it doesn’t scale, making it worthless once you get past 2nd level spell slots mattering.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Subclass of warlock. There's very little chance of getting an actual binder class. So, any binder for 5e from WotC is going to have to leverage existing classes and Warlocks are the obvious choice.

The point upthread about the body horror element was such a huge part of Binders. Binders were flat out weird. They weren't just a Deity Pact Warlock. At the end of the day, deity pact warlock isn't much different than any other warlock. If your pact is with a deity or an elemental lord or whatever, the isn't a whole lot of difference.

But having a pact with a Vestige, and having that vestige actually directly impact your character? That's cool.

Extremely not my taste, but im sure it is a cool idea.

I first encountered the Binder as a variant Warlock in 4e, where it wasnt necessarIly tied to vestiges and was instead a...well...a binder of otherwordly beings. A Fey Binder had a Fey companion bound to them, for instance.

Honestly i think that the Binder and Hexblade both should grant the relevant invocation as a bonus invocation, and go from there.

Let the Binder (and rename it if necessary) turn the chain familiar into a medium to large sized wrecking ball that pact slots can make even scarier.

Then let the Hexblade turn the bound pact weapon into a hex blade that deals 1d10 force damage but otherwise has the chosen weapon's properties, plus some Hex upgrades.

 

[Zardnaar]

It’s basically “give someone an extra 2nd level spell slot once per rest”, but with extra messy faffing around. And it doesn’t scale, making it worthless once you get past 2nd level spell slots mattering.

Yeah. I eoukd value it more as say s sorcerer even at higher levels. Extra slots always nice.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Yeah. I eoukd value it more as say s sorcerer even at higher levels. Extra slots always nice.

Given that most people don't play extended encounter days, it's only really the highest level slots that matter. Once you get to level 9 it really boils down to an extra use of Shield.