Dungeons and Dragons' 8 New Subclasses Target a Specific…

Dungeons and Dragons' Forgotten Realms-themed Heroes of Faerun and Adventures in Faerun introduce eight new subclasses, including a mix of returning favorites like the Knowledge Domain Cleric and new additions such as the Scion of the Three Rogue. All eight subclasses feature exciting new abilities and spells ranging from elemental smites to healing auras. In particular, the new Dungeons and Dragons subclasses are perfect for those who enjoy multiclassing, because they offer powerful abilities at early levels. The multiclass options are practically infinite, and players will certainly come up with tons of exciting new combinations.

The New Dungeons and Dragons Subclasses Beg For Multiclass Experimentation

Dungeons and Dragons Reveals 8 Subclasses in Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerun

Each of the eight new Dungeons and Dragons subclasses can absolutely stand on its own and be taken from Level 1 to Level 20 with no dips into anything else. However, for those who love to multiclass and create unique new combinations, Heroes of Faerun's subclasses are a treat that invite players to experiment.

Strictly speaking, some of the book's subclasses aren't "new" to Dungeons and Dragons, but rather, reworks of previous subclasses published for the 2014 version of 5e.

Wizards of the Coast made the excellent decision to give most of the eight subclasses extremely powerful abilities at early levels, typically Level 3 and Level 6. A few examples of what the eight new subclasses can do early in a Dungeons and Dragons campaign include:

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At Level 3, Oath of the Noble Genies Paladins can access four powerful Elemental Smites, cast spells such as Chromatic Orb and Thunderous Smite, and add bonuses to their Armor Class when not wearing armor.
Spellfire Sorcerers who hit Level 3 can create a burst of flame that heals or harms, as well as casting Cure Wounds, Scorching Ray, and more.
College of the Moon Bards can become Invisible and increase their healing at Level 3, while Level 6 allows for casting a modified version of the spell Moonbeam that heals, damages, and sheds light.

Note that this does not mean that the abilities these subclasses gain at Level 15 or 20 are necessarily bad. A few do feel lackluster - the Banneret Fighter Level 18 feature, which grants immunity to Charmed and Frightened conditions, for example - but a single-class run of these subclasses is totally valid. Nevertheless, looking at what these subclasses can do so early in their journey, the urge to mix and match and see what I can create is undeniable.

DnD's New Multiclass Options Are Practically Infinite

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I can't wait to see what Dungeons and Dragons players come up with when combining the new subclasses with one another or previously existing options. After reading through Heroes of Faerun, here are a few multiclass combinations that I think would be particularly fun to explore:

Oath of the Noble Genies Paladin would combine well with any Charisma-based caster, such as Warlock or Sorcerer. The Noble Genies Paladin's ability to boost their AC without armor gives the character survivability while they cast their spells, and they have a melee option too, in the form of Elemental Smites.
Spellfire Sorcerer could double up with another caster or hybrid caster class, like Bard, Warlock, or Paladin. Spellfire Sorcerer gives access to useful spells like Counterspell, which could add to the arsenal of casters who don't learn it naturally.
The Banneret Fighter's support-based skillset, which can boost allies standing close to them, pairs perfectly with a Paladin's proximity-based aura abilities. It could also combine with the new College of the Moon Bard to create the ultimate support-focused character.

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Heroes of Faerun and its eight subclasses seem perfectly poised to encourage a variety of exciting new multiclass options. Looking at the Unearthed Arcana database and seeing what other classes might be coming in the near future promises even further experimentation opportunities. This is the era of unique new multiclasses in Dungeons and Dragons, and I'm ready to dive in headfirst.

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