Unearthed Arcana New Psion update, Dungeons and Dragons Unearthed Arcana

A new Unearthed Arcana is up, featuring a revised version of the Psion class. Per a D&D Beyond article, the Psion has seen considerable changes. Feedback for the class focused into three main areas - Psionic Energy Dice, Psionic Modes, and Spellcasting. Psionic Energy Dice are now more flexible and easier to obtain - a new feature called Psionic Reserves allows players to regain uses of Psionic Energy Dice and Telepathic Propel and Telepathic Connection allow players to use those abilities one time each without expending energy dice. Meanwhile, Psionic Modes has been cut from the class, with various aspects of the ability being incorporated into various subclasses as new features. Finally, the Psion now has an updated and expanded spelllist. The UA also contains seven brand new spells and updated versions of existing spells as well.

Additionally, the Metamorph, Psykinetic, and Telepath have all received updates. The Metamorph's abilities now often feature a roll of the Psionic Energy Die while they're being expended. The Psykinetic gains a Stronger Telekinesis feature with an improved Mage Hand spell use. Also, players can now use Telekinetic Propel without expending a Psionic Energy Dice. Finally, the Telepath has a new Telepathic Distraction feature that lets you interfere with another creature's attack roll if it's within range of your telepathy. Scramble Minds was redesigned to reduce the number of dice rolls needed to keep combat from getting bogged down.

 

[Kurotowa]

The huge problem with the metamorph is that it's a trap. You're on the wizard/sorcerer chassis (d6 hit die, no armour prof) and most of the weapons are melee

A Metamorph can get a respectably decent AC. Dex 14, Mage Armor, Flesh Weaver, and Bracers of Defense is AC 19. Then at higher level, oh hey that Bone Blade is a Finesse weapon, maybe let's take Defensive Duelist. But more importantly, they can easily get Reach. Reach attacks let you stay safe behind the front line, assuming your party has one. And as always with a full caster gish, a lot of the time you're going to be slinging spell slots anyway.

After roughing out a couple test characters, I'm of the opinion that the Psion is a better Sorcerer. Not stronger, but better. And the reason it's better is that Sorcery Points and Metamagic are very narrow, while Psionic Energy Dice and Disciplines are much broader. They're more like a fusion of Metamagic and Battle Master maneuvers. You can modify spells, activate defenses, boost Skill checks, all sorts of things, because they're not limited to spell slot use and have dice you can roll.

Now, a few features need a little tweaking because they've got the old Monk problem of being too Psionic Energy Die hungry. But for a UA draft this is a good look. Certainly more interesting than most full casters, to my eye.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

This isn't entirely fair. There was some experimentation with Tasha's, such as giving the sorcerer extra spells and making the druid's wild shape lead to interesting things that weren't animal transformations. And non-mundane rogues (soulknife, phantom) and fighters (psi warrior, rune knight).

The 2024 PHB normalised all the Tasha's philosophy changes. But just as Xanathar's was ideas from the 2014 PHB that were left on the cutting room floor (often for good reason) in 2025 we're in the ideas left out of the 2024 PHB (often for good reason) era.

Do you really see these things as comparable to the Book of Nine Swords? I most certainly do not.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Do you really see these things as comparable to the Book of Nine Swords? I most certainly do not.

No - but the Bo9S was never intended to be a splatbook. It was instead intended to be 4e but the game failed due to being over complex and they went back to the drawing board. The Bo9S was a salvage operation for what was usable and I don't expect that again.