D&D (2024) 48 subclasses in the 2024 PHB: What are they?

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

In the video introducing the newest UA, the hosts said there would be 48 subclasses in the 2024 PHB.

Assuming that all of the 2014 subclasses reappear (which I don't think we can necessarily assume), we're a little light.

In the 2014 PHB, we have the following:

• Barbarian: Path of the Berserker, Path of the Totem Warrior
• Bard: College of Lore, College of Valor
• Cleric: Knowledge Domain, Life Domain, Light Domain, Nature Domain, Tempest Domain, Trickery Domain, War Domain
• Druid: Circle of the Land, Circle of the Moon
• Fighter: Champion, Battle Master, Eldritch Knight
• Monk: Way of the Open Hand, Way of Shadow, Way of the Four Elements
• Paladin: Oath of Devotion, Oath of the Ancients, Oath of Vengeance
• Ranger: Hunter, Beast Master
• Rogue: Thief, Assassin, Arcane Trickster
• Sorcerer: Draconic Bloodline, Wild Magic
• Warlock: The Archfey, The Fiend, The Great Old One
• Wizard: School of Abjuration, School of Conjuration, School of Divination, School of Enchantment, School of Evocation, School of Illusion, School of Necromancy, School of Transmutation

That's 41 subclasses. If they all are planned to appear in the 2024 PHB, there are currently seven more waiting to join them. Any guesses?

Assuming some or all of them are from Xanathar's or Tasha's, I'd guess we'll see the following:

1. Bard: College of Glamour
2. Druid: Circle of Dreams
3. Monk: Way of the Drunken Master
4. Ranger: Gloom Stalker
5. Rogue: Swashbuckler
6. Sorcerer: Divine Soul
7. Warlock: Hexblade

Not only are these some of the most popular subclasses, but the some of the core classes in the 2014 PHB only got two subclasses, which looked weird even at the time, and which would be really strange to see in 2024, after 10 years of iteration and play.

Which do you think we'll see? Will all the 2014 subclasses reappear in the 2024 PHB? Is 48 subclasses too few? Too many?

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Well, they said that there'd be 48 subclasses in the 1D&D playtest.

They didn't, AFAICT actually say for sure that they'd all wind up in the 2024 PHB. It's probably the INTENT, but I doubt anyone can be fully sure about that. Even if they wind up with 48, they might not be the same 48 from the playtest.

But... that shouldn't stop us from speculating!

My first comment would be to ask: To be "fair" that ought to be 4 subclasses per class (though 5e is not known for it's symmetry, for good or ill).

So... what Wizard subclasses should we cut to make room?

Or perhaps "School Specialist" should just be one subclass? Then we can actually fit 3 more!

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Yeah, clerics and wizards are wildly over-represented in the 2014 PHB. That said, I think a single specialist subclass for wizard would end up being a cheat, and effectively be nine subclasses anyway.

 

[FarBeyondC]

It (almost certainly) won't happen, but I think it'd be neat to see each class get at least 2 exclusive subclasses and then have the other subclasses be group subclasses.

 

[darjr]

The amount of content they intend to release for free is astonishing.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It (almost certainly) won't happen, but I think it'd be neat to see each class get at least 2 exclusive subclasses and then have the other subclasses be group subclasses.

People last year blasted WotC for trying that with the Strixhaven UA, so I think that's unlikely. I thought it was a pretty interesting idea, but it was loudly rejected.

 

[cbwjm]

Yeah, clerics and wizards are wildly over-represented in the 2014 PHB. That said, I think a single specialist subclass for wizard would end up being a cheat, and effectively be nine subclasses anyway.

Maybe they'll change the way clerics work so that instead of your subclass being a domain, it's something a little more evocative like war priest or avenger or something.

 

[cbwjm]

People last year blasted WotC for trying that with the Strixhaven UA, so I think that's unlikely. I thought it was a pretty interesting idea, but it was loudly rejected.

Not sure the idea was blasted, more the implementation wasn't very good due to everyone having a different subclass schedule. If all of the other classes follow the experts and gain subclass abilities at 3, 6, 10 and 14 then it would work very well and will hopefully make a comeback officially.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

People last year blasted WotC for trying that with the Strixhaven UA, so I think that's unlikely. I thought it was a pretty interesting idea, but it was loudly rejected.

It might work a bit better now that they're unifying when Subclasses get their features across class. They could try out these "multi-class subclasses" again and they might get better reception due to them being less confusing. However, I doubt that would happen.

Edit: Ninja'ed by @cbwjm!

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I hope they merge some subclasses together, College of Valor and College of Swords definitely comes to mind. Especially if it was a subclass that was like a less effective subclass except it's unofficially version 2.0 of it.