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.

 

[Remathilis]

Is this a recent trend? I seem to remember they deleted gritty rest alt rules from the 2024 DMG, even though it was present in 2014, though I hadn’t realized it was part of a more generalized pattern… why though?

They’ve had plenty of alternative rules in the past for all sorts of things.

Yeah, 2024. The current trend is to add new stuff (such as renown) but not to change the core systems (like resting or initiative). I actually think this is a good idea: most of the alternative systems WotC would do are half-baked and never supported. If you want a lower magic system, you need to design it from the ground up, not add a page or two of vague suggestions that never get touched again. And 3pp can do a far better job with redoing things in a full book or system than WotC can paying lip service to it.

 

[TwoSix]

WotC isn't in the business of alternative rulesets that replace existing rules. That's 3pp territory. They do add ones that are compatible with rules, not replacing them. The 2024 DMG gave evidence to that.

They have been in the past, so editorializing that one might wish they would be again is certainly in the bounds of discussion.

 

[TravDoc42]

D&D Beyond put out a free Play-Along pack with stats for 6 Living Spells and the Evoker Archmage, too!!

 

[CM]

Ancestor sorcerer, spell guard paladin and the magic stealing rogue one.

Potential D&D Beyond Drops.

 

[Zaukrie]

D&D Beyond put out a free Play-Along pack with stats for 6 Living Spells and the Evoker Archmage, too!!

Do we have this free? Somewhere?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Is anyone tracking which 2014 subclasses haven't been converted?

Where is my battlerager?!

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Where is my battlerager?!

Therapy.

 

[Scribe]

Is anyone tracking which 2014 subclasses haven't been converted? Some of them, like Twilight Cleric, probably never will be, but they seem to be making good progress with the "essentials."

Oath of Conquest was (is?) my favorite 5.0 subclass, I would hope it continues and is updated.

 

[Baumi]

I hope they will make a book like this for Martial Characters. I would love to play a low magic campaign in 5E where you have plenty of choice for no-magic subclasses, maybee even a new class (Warlord!).

Anyway this book looks quite interesting.

 

[Corinnguard]

Laserllama’s classes are the real 5.5 in my opinion. The WotC changes are barely a 5.1 in comparison.

His Ranger class is certainly better than 5.5e's.

I hope they will make a book like this for Martial Characters. I would love to play a low magic campaign in 5E where you have plenty of choice for no-magic subclasses, maybee even a new class (Warlord!).

That would be neat. It would probably be something like 3e's Tome of Battle: The Book of Nine Swords IMO. For now, there is EN Publishing's upcoming book, Steel and Skill: The Complete Fighter's Field Guide for 5.0/5.5e. It appears to be the first book of new series of Complete books (a nod to 2e?). EN Publishing's Level Up already has something for martial classes in D&D, including a Warlord-like class.