D&D General WotC confirms the 8 subclasses coming in Arcana Unleashed

A new article on Beyond has revealed all that is coming in Arcana Unleashed.

The book will feature 8 subclasses:

• Arcana Domain Cleric
• Arcane Archer Fighter
• Warrior of the Mystic Arts Monk
• Vestige Patron Warlock
• Conjurer Wizard
• Enchanter Wizard
• Necromancer Wizard
• Transmuter Wizard

The book will also include 33 spells, with over half being 5th level or higher, 10 backgrounds, over 20 feats (including new Fighting Styles) and over 45 magic items, including “Evolving Magic Items” that grow with the players.

Arcana Unleashed also features a bestiary, and promises stats for the classic cartoon villain Vengar and a level 1 adventure with him as the quest giver.

• 8 new and revised subclasses inspired by powerful arcane traditions.
• 33 new and revised spells that unleash spellcasting prowess in new ways.
• 19 magical creatures ranging from mysterious allies to deadly foes.
• 9 arcane factions and 6 group patrons that shape the politics and power of magical society.
• 47 magical items including evolving relics and legendary artifacts.
• Tomb of the Shadow Serpents: A level 1introductory adventure for 1 to 2 sessions of play.
• 10 backgrounds and 20+ feats rooted in arcane factions and magical traditions.

The adventure, Deadfall, is confirmed to be 11-20 and will include a stat block for Szas Tam and a Thay gazetteer.

 

[Leatherhead]

F

guessing

1. Goliath TransMuter 2. Aasimar Arcane Archer 3. Dwarf Mystic Monk 4. Human Arcane Domain Cleric (eye threw me on her being human at first) seems to have a powerful familiar interestingly, 5. Dragonborn conjurer 6. Tiefling Enchanter 7. Elf Necromancer, outfit screams Red Wizard, 8. Orc Vestage Warlock.

The file names give them away.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

It’s actually:

Goliath Arcana Cleric
Aasimar Arcane Archer
Dwarf Mystic Monk
Human Vestige Warlock
Dragonborn Conjurer Wizard
Tiefling Enchanter Wizard
Elf Necromancer Wizard
Orc Transmuter Wizard

So I got 5 out of 8 right.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

8 New and Revised Subclasses: Arcana Domain (Cleric), Arcane Archer (Fighter), Warrior of the Mystic Arts (Monk), Vestige Patron (Warlock), Conjurer (Wizard), Enchanter (Wizard), Necromancer (Wizard), Transmuter (Wizard)
10 Backgrounds: Agent of the Ninth Quill, Bejeweled Conclave Spy, Cosmic Dawn Experiment, Covenant of the Grave Recruit, Crucible Storm Chaser, Familiar Trainer, Horizon Weaver Initiate, Phantasmic Circus Trouper, Seer Apprentice, Ward of the Sheltering Hands
20+ Feats: 10 Origin Feats, 1 Fighting Style, 3 Epic Boons, and 15 General Feats
30+ New and Revised Spells
9 Arcane Factions
6 Group Patron Types
9 Bastion Facilities (one per arcane faction)
45+ New and Revised Magic Items
16 Monster Stat Blocks
1 Introductory Adventure: Tomb of the Shadow Serpents (Level 1; 1–2 sessions of play)
1 Map

"Agent of the Ninth Quill, Bejeweled Conclave Spy, Cosmic Dawn Experiment, Covenant of the Grave Recruit, Crucible Storm Chaser, Familiar Trainer, Horizon Weaver Initiate, Phantasmic Circus Trouper, Seer Apprentice, Ward of the Sheltering Hands"

This gives us the 9 factions, plus Familiar trainer (this seems inspired by Pokemon Trainer?), CDE is Transmutation, CotGR obviously necromancy, they mention Horizon Weavers are Conjuration explorers, Phantasmic Circus Troop is certainly Illusionists, Bejeweled are Enchanters I think, Seer is Divination, Storm Crucible Evocation, Sheltering Hand Abjuration, and Ninth Quill is the only one not Magic School based.

I think the one fighting style feat will just be for mixing spell casting with an attack, but how that will mix with Eldritch Knight I don't know.

6 group patrons is interesting, first I've heard about this.

 

[TravDoc42]

Seems that this is the darkenbeast art!!

Also, baelnorns confirmed too!! Love those guys!

 

[GarrettKP]

"Agent of the Ninth Quill, Bejeweled Conclave Spy, Cosmic Dawn Experiment, Covenant of the Grave Recruit, Crucible Storm Chaser, Familiar Trainer, Horizon Weaver Initiate, Phantasmic Circus Trouper, Seer Apprentice, Ward of the Sheltering Hands"

This gives us the 9 factions, plus Familiar trainer (this seems inspired by Pokemon Trainer?), CDE is Transmutation, CotGR obviously necromancy, they mention Horizon Weavers are Conjuration explorers, Phantasmic Circus Troop is certainly Illusionists, Bejeweled are Enchanters I think, Seer is Divination, Storm Crucible Evocation, Sheltering Hand Abjuration, and Ninth Quill is the only one not Magic School based.

I think the one fighting style feat will just be for mixing spell casting with an attack, but how that will mix with Eldritch Knight I don't know.

6 group patrons is interesting, first I've heard about this.

If the Fighting Style lets you use Int/Wis/Cha for your weapon stats…

A guy can dream

 

[Silam]

Wow, lots of things I was looking forward to, including the WotMA, the rest of the classical school subs, evolving magic items (hopefully they present a sensible framework for creating them, not just two or three super odd examples hard to extrapolate/balance new ones from…), a fighting style, lots of feats (maybe even some paths of feats?)…

Cool! I was going to pick it up regardless because I’m still in the hype phase of the cycle, but I’m glad that it won’t be begrudgingly

 

[Amphytrion]

I really love both cover arts for Arcana Unleashed. The gravity-labyrinth and broken magic-mirror tropes have both always been favourites of mine. Will get the alt-cover.

It's narrated by Alustriel Silverhand, in her 3rd prominent appearance in recent years (Vecna: Eve of Ruin and the recent FR guides being the others). A relatively new designer at WotC must be a big fan of hers; she was nowhere to be seen for most of 5e's lifespan (she'd even been quietly retired from ruling Silverymoon in the SCAG), and now she's everywhere. I don't have any positive memories of her role in the old novels, so I'd have rather had her sister Laeral or Elminster or Manshoon, but let's see what they do with her.

Monsters and spells are nice and welcome, but I'm most excited about the factions, and hope there is good DM-support material to incorporate them in-game. Something like the write-ups and random tables in Ravnica would be a dream. Some I can envision better than others, e.g. we've had a handful necromantic factions over the years, I look forward to seeing how they differentiate this one.

I don't play with bastions, but may the new ones help whoever does.

 

[el-remmen]

Sounds good enough to get to mine for ideas for my own homebrewed house rule set without ever actually playing 5.5E. It definitely sounds good enough to put on a wishlist for a relative to get me for a birthday or Xmas when they can think of nothing else (i.e. how I have gotten most of my 5E books).

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I guess it does point to the Warrior of the Mystic Arts being the replacement of the Tattooed Warrior Monk, like many speculated

 

[Maxperson]

So I got 5 out of 8 right.

That's not even a C!