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.

 

[Charlaquin]

I want a full binder class that, like the original, makes pacts with multiple vestiges. That book, the Tome of Magic, was one of the coolest books in 3rd Edition.

Yeah, that would definitely be better.

 

[TravDoc42]

This Monk subclass is pretty half baked, IMO. Needs some work.

I like the Warlock idea! I agree though, giving more flavorful and mechanically useful vestige options would make it a lot better.

 

[Parmandur]

This is a Circle of Wildfire druid with a new coat of paint. There is pretty much nothing to distinguish this from Circle of Wildfire.

I mean, being a Warlock instead of a Druid. Much like the Mystic Monk is a Monk instead of a Fighter.

I actually wish they would do more such overlaps for Subclasses, to allow more combos of Class and Subclass designs.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

"Warrior of the mystic arts" sounds a too long name. I would rather something like "cultivator". Also I imagine this like a "spirit spellcaster" instead arcane. The good part is after we could create alternate homemade subclasses for other type of magic sources (divine or primal).

I loved the concept of binder class, a great source of inspiration for storytelling but that class was designed with at-will instead daily-spell slots.

It seems we are going to see a 5e "Complete Arcane".

I feel a lot of curiosity about the concept of vestige companions like "D&D mons". I would bet Hasbro dreams with its own pokemon-style franchise. We can't blame them.

Could the "sha'ir" from al-Qadim to be renamed "cognizant" to be more generic? I mean the 5e "cognizant" could be a mixture of 2nd sha'ir and 3.5 binder classes. Other option could be a binder-style class with incarnum soulmelds.

 

[bedir than]

I was just thinking about the art again.
It's PHB art.

One of the claims is that 5e art is twee, or weak, or non-violent. And then you get a piece like this where the hammer does so much damage it separates the arms from the opponent.

I love the action displayed by a clear hero

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Okay, everyone... what do these subclasses tell us about future WotC releases?

Vestige Patron: Discworld setting book confirmed.

 

[Merlecory]

Well its clearly meant that you can replace 1 or 2 of the attacks each with casting a spell. So allowing you to cast 2 spells or do 1 attack and a spell.

Badly worded but intend is quite clear.

I didn't think that's their intent. The rule about 1 spell shot per turn being added in 2024, as well as making sure action surge can't be used for multi-casting makes me doubt a monk sub class is the place to allow that.

 

[Tigris]

I didn't think that's their intent. The rule about 1 spell shot per turn being added in 2024, as well as making sure action surge can't be used for multi-casting makes me doubt a monk sub class is the place to allow that.

Its 1st and 2nd level spells on level 17. At this point a cantrip does more damage than a level 1 spell and you can already do 1 basic attack + 1 cantrip.

So only way this does more damage is if you spend 2 spell slots.


Also wasnt the "only 1 leveled spell" already in 5.14?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Also wasnt the "only 1 leveled spell" already in 5.14?

It was.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The last big set that got dropped entirely, IIRC, were the Strixhaven class-agnostic subclasses. I don't believe those got recycled anywhere after they scrapped that idea.

They were turned into feat/background combos.