New Unearthed Arcana Released, With 8 New Forgotten Realms-Themed Subclasses

Today, Wizards of the Coast has announced a new Unearthed Arcana playtest featuring eight new Dungeons & Dragons subclasses that will appear in the upcoming Forgotten Realms Player's Guide. The new subclasses include five classes tied to Forgotten Realms regions, as well as the return of the Knowledge Domain Cleric subclass from the 2014 Player's Handbook and the Bladesinger Wizard subclass and Purple Dragon Knight Fighter subclass from the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide.

Each of the five remaining subclasses are themed to one of the five regions explored in the Forgotten Realms Adventure Guide also coming out in November. The College of the Moon Bard subclass is tied to the Moonshae Isles, the Winter Walker Ranger subclass is tied to Icewind Dale, and the Oath of the Noble Genies is tied to Calimshan. The Scion of The Three is tied to the Dead Three (of Baldur's Gate fame). Meanwhile, Spellfire Sorcery dates back to 2nd Edition and can both heal allies and harm foes.

The eight new subclasses can be found below:

• College Of The Moon (Bard)
• Knowledge Domain (Cleric)
• Purple Dragon Knight (Fighter)
• Oath Of The Noble Genies (Paladin)
• Winter Walker (Ranger)
• Scion Of The Three (Rogue)
• Spellfire Sorcery (Sorcerer)
• Bladesinger (Wizard)

The Forgotten Realm's Players Guide comes out on November 11th.

 

[Parmandur]

As @Parmandur said, some of it was hinted at when they revealed the books the first time. And some is conjecture based on other products. But the new subs that are location based seem to match stuff that was known or hinted at.

The Icewind Dale ranger seems to tie back to the horror theme of Rime of the Frostmaiden. Baldur's Gate's rogue was setup in both BG3 and the opening to DiA. Callimshan's paladin is reminiscent of 4e's genie-rulers. They stated the Moonshaes were going to have a feywild and druidic theme and the bard reflects that. So I'm going out on a limb and saying that Cormyr, famous for dragon iconology, is going to get some damn dragons to back that up and the PDK seems to support that. Too much of the lore we do know of is reflected in the new subs that it feels like an educated guess that Cormyr is getting a greater dragon focus.

What is interesting is that we are getting Subclasses aimed at four of the regions getting a deep dive in the DM book...but not for the fifth (the Dalelands).

 

[GarrettKP]

What is interesting is that we are getting Subclasses aimed at four of the regions getting a deep dive in the DM book...but not for the fifth (the Dalelands).

Cormyr is a direct neighbor to the Dalelands and will likely feature in that section, so the Purple Dragon Knight is likely their fill in for that, especially if the lore of the PDK is that they now recruit from beyond the borders of Cormyr.

Also, we know the Dalelands are going to focus on communities surrounding "ancient elven ruins," so one could argue Bladesinger might fit there given its status as an ancient elven art.

 

[Parmandur]

To some degree, but this sounds like they amping up in some way.

Well, sure, ampijg things up is the way to go, I'd say.

 

[Parmandur]

Cormyr is a direct neighbor to the Dalelands and will likely feature in that section, so the Purple Dragon Knight is likely their fill in for that, especially if the lore of the PDK is that they now recruit from beyond the borders of Cormyr.

Also, we know the Dalelands are going to focus on communities surrounding "ancient elven ruins," so one could argue Bladesinger might fit there given its status as an ancient elven art.

Fair point about Bladesinging.


Also worth noting that the novel Spellfire is set in the Dalelands and focuses on the Knights of Myth Drannor and Eliminster and their shenanigans in the area.

 

[GarrettKP]

Fair point about Bladesinging.


Also worth noting that the novel Spellfire is set in the Dalelands and focuses on the Knights of Myth Drannor and Eliminster and their shenanigans in the area.

Sounds to me like they put three Dalelands subclasses in then. What a greedy region

 

[Parmandur]

Sounds to me like they put three Dalelands subclasses in then. What a greedy region

And K owledge Clerics tied to Mystara...? So four?

Still interesting thst they didn't call out the connection like they did for the other 4.

To be fair, the Dalelands are thw real core region of the entire Settinf, where Greenwoods main home campaign has been running since the 1960s, and the most conducive for Standard Issue D&D play (rural "Wild West" Points of Light government situation, lots of monsters, scheming faction, a megadungeon, etc.).

 

[Paul Farquhar]

What is interesting is that we are getting Subclasses aimed at four of the regions getting a deep dive in the DM book...but not for the fifth (the Dalelands).

I was thinking Spellfire was for the Dalelands. I seem to recall the novel being set there.

We are still missing a barbarian subclass though.

 

[Parmandur]

I was thinking Spellfire was for the Dalelands. I seem to recall the novel being set there.

Yup, juat checked, and that novel centered around Greenwoods core player characters and his DM PC set in the Dalelands. But they didn't point thst out here, so that's interesting to me still.

We are still missing a barbarian subclass though.

Backgrounds, Origin Feats and higher Level Feats do a lot of heavy lifting in 2024 rules. The Purple Dragon Knight flavor text seems to hint, to me, that a Purple Dragon army member is a Background in the new book seperate from this Subclass (most Purple Drafon Knights are in the Purple Dragon Corps, but not all Purple Dragon Corps members have Amethyst Drsgon pets).

Dollars to donuts we.see cultural Backgrounds for Uthgardt and/or Rashemaar themed Backgrounds and Origin Feats, maybe even other such cultures, and even mini Feat Trees like in Planescape or Dragonlance. So, no "Barbarian" Subclasss, but a Rashemi Background Ranger, say a Beastmaster with a Minature Space.Hamster companion, might be a thing.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

I was thinking Spellfire was for the Dalelands. I seem to recall the novel being set there.

We are still missing a barbarian subclass though.

Maybe there will be a second UA with Barbarbian, Druid, Warlock, Monk subclasses and the rules of Circle magic? Maybe even for the spells and feats.

 

[Parmandur]

Maybe there will be a second UA with Barbarbian, Druid, Warlock, Monk subclasses and the rules of Circle magic? Maybe even for the spells and feats.

Maybe, though this may also just be it.