Dungeons & Dragons Releases Updated Unearthed Arcana for Arcane Subclasses

Dungeons & Dragons has released an updated set of Unearthed Arcana, incorporating feedback about the Arcane Subclasses released for playtesting earlier this year. Included in the new subclass is the Arcane Archer Fighter, Tattooed Warrior Monk, and the Conjurer, Transmuter, Necromancer, and Enchanter Wizard classes.

The Arcane Archer has several new features, including Magical Ammunition that can be used outside of combat and a new Arcane Burst that pushes creatures away when the Indomitable feature is used. The Tattooed Warrior Monk has also been redesigned, with magical abilities that are no longer spellcasting, along with Beast Tattoos that provide cantrips in addition to enhancing other core Monk features.

Meanwhile, the Conjurer Wizard now emphasizes summoning spells with creatures that are much more durable, the Enchanter has moved back to a subclass similar to the 2014 design, the Necromancer now has ways to summon multiple Undead creatures, and the Transmuter now has shape-shifting ability. With the Transmuter ability, the Durability option of the Transmuter's Stone is now included as a default, as that option was seen as the strongest and other options were considered far inferior.

Three other subclasses from the original playtest - two Warlock subclasses and a Cleric Domain - were not included in the new playtest.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

but historically

But the move to a “franchise model” means they have staff whose job it is to improve performance in that department.

 

[Not a Decepticon]

Psionics were part of D&D years before Dark Sun. There is no way they are going to say “you must buy this setting in order to play a psion”. That goes for the artificer too - that needs to be added to the core rules asap.

But most of all, it goes for the necromancer. There is no way that’s not going to be a core rules archetype.

Artificer always debuts in Eberron

 

[Parmandur]

Indeed. It seems certain that there will be both a general book focused on player options, and a Dark Sun product. Its just unclear which is first. Psion in both.

No Ravenloft product is needed to explain all the evidence though. And personally I think its unlikely as there isn’t much in VGR that needs updating.

My personal feeling is the Dark Sun product will be a boxed set, and aimed at the Christmas market - so Autumn 2026. Which would make the general book earlier. But that’s just a hunch.

A Ravenloft book similar to the forthcoming Eberron book would be sensible: allow for updating the Species and other spooky characther option, such as the Dark Powers being made full 2024 Backgrounds with new Feats...and include a bunch of 2024 DMG style material for spooky Adventures, Campaigns or Bastions.

 

[Parmandur]

I appreciate the vote of confidence for market synergy, but historically the sourcebooks that coincide with Magic sets (Ravnica, Theros, Strixhaven) have taken 6 months minimum from the associated set release to come out. Lorwyn is probably the Q3 book you're pondering over.

That's not entirely accurate: Guildmasters Guide to Ravnica dropped about a month after the cards.

And...the card set got delayed 6 months.

So the gamebook coming Q1 alongside the card set would not be unprecedented nor unlikely.

 

[Juomari Veren]

But the move to a “franchise model” means they have staff whose job it is to improve performance in that department.

Yeah but I don't know the hire date of the person who went on the press circuit about the franchise model, or how quickly and effectively they're working, or that there's even a way to improve performance in that regard. My gut says we won't see any meaningful difference through 2026, maybe at the tail end, but probably only from there afterwards.