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.

 

[Horwath]

paladin:
Spellguard strike,
I just love to see ability being locked behind a subclass or a feat that should be available to EVERYONE by default.

rogue:
level 13,
now unlimited level 5 or lower spell slots for the sorcerer in the party, also full sorcery points.

 

[Charlaquin]

rogue:
level 13,
now unlimited level 5 or lower spell slots for the sorcerer in the party, also full sorcery points.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Given that many of the main designers at this point started with 5E...I doubt this originated as an attempt to replicate a Binder. Someone probably thought it would be fun to explore a Pet Warlock, and then they found the Vestige term that hasn't been used or twenty years and several editions to hang on the idea.

There is a Vestige Pact in 4e, actually, but yeah.

That's probably true. Sad but true. Like I said, the Binder is my absolute favorite class. I only ever got to play it once, back in the 3e days, and I adored the class. So, to see it lobotomized like this is just so disappointing.

Yeah and i really wanted a binder based warlock subclass. Its such an obviously good fit.

 

[Horwath]

View attachment 427485

end one 1st level spell(cost 2 sorcery points for slot)
regain 3rd level slot, burn the slot for 3 sorcery points

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Yeah and they were actually cool.

A pet warlock is a bit lame especially when pact of the chain already kind of does that but more interesting. (Less powerfull but not just a reflavoured ranger/druid pet).


And making your pet become a bigger summon instead of summoning a new creature is also not really a plus

Eh??

The standard should be making the pet more powerful. summoning more of them is a distant second place in importance.

 

[Horwath]

Eh??

The standard should be making the pet more powerful. summoning more of them is a distant second place in importance.

this.
one summon per caster please.
we really do not need another 2014 conjure spells.

 

[bedir than]

end one 1st level spell(cost 2 sorcery points for slot)
regain 3rd level slot, burn the slot for 3 sorcery points

1, you only get a 2nd level slot back.
Ah, I think you're talking about the 13th level ability, which still would have the limit below as it is an improvement, not a new ability
2, it's not an infinite loop as you only can do this once per short rest

 

[Charlaquin]

end one 1st level spell(cost 2 sorcery points for slot)
regain 3rd level slot, burn the slot for 3 sorcery points

And then wait an hour before you can do it again

 

[Parmandur]

True, but I can't think of anything - not even a crossover with Avengers Doomsday - that would call for it, given that they didn't bother for Dark Sun.

In October 2026, Magic the Gathering has a big capstone Set, Reality Fracture, that is going to be a fat "muktiverse shaking event"...and these high magic concepts would fit well in a Magic crossover.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

In October 2026, Magic the Gathering has a big capstone Set, Reality Fracture, that is going to be a fat "muktiverse shaking event"...and these high magic concepts would fit well in a Magic crossover.

Ooooooh... Now that's intriguing for those of us who have liked the MtG sourcebooks, and maybe even for others too. Or at least it's intriguing to me.