Summary
At a certain point in yourDungeons & Dragonscampaign, you will be asked to pick a subclass. This typically happens around level three, though depending on what version of the game you’re playing, you might even be asked to make this selection at level one. So, how do you know which subclass is right for you?
The Player’s Handbook has a ton of options from the get-go. Plus, you can always use unearthed arcana options, or even homebrew your own. So, whether you’re new to Dungeons & Dragons or not, here are some tips and tricks to help you pick the best subclass.
10Round Out Your Party
A Balanced Party Is The Best Party
When it comes to picking your subclass, there’s no rule saying it has to be a solitary experience. Before committing to one subclass over another, you should consult your fellow party members and see what they’re choosing. Discovering what weaknesses your party has, and tailoring your choice to those weaknesses can help tremendously.
For example, many classeshave healing subclasses, in which classes that don’t normally heal can gain access to healing abilities. For a party that’s down a cleric or paladin, this can prove immensely useful.
9Rely On Narrative Flavor
It’s A Roleplay Game After All
Ultimately, though you’re going to want to pick a subclass based on its abilities and features, there’s also nothing wrong with making a choice based on narrative flavor. After all, one of the main tenets of Dungeons & Dragons is telling a compelling story.
For example, if your character is dark and brooding, there’s no point in picking a subclass that goes against that archetype. Even if a subclass’s abilities aren’t amazing, but you love the flavor of it, there’s nothing wrong with making a selection based on style over substance, as long as it works for you and your character.
8Ask Your DM
That’s What They’re There For
This next tip is primarily for new players or anyone who’s never played a TTRPG before. Ask your Dungeon Master if they have any recommendations for a subclass based on what they know of your character. It might seem like this is taking away your choice, but actually, it’s emboldening you.
Your DM may have a ton of ideas for homebrews, non-book subclasses, and more that could spark your interest. Before making an official selection, talk to your DM about what they think might be right. They may surprise you.
7Follow The Fun
Still A Game!
Yes, character optimization is important, and you certainly don’t want to pick a subclass that seems objectively bad to you. However, if you’re reading through subclass options, and one seems the most fun to you, that’s likely going to be your best pick going forward.
Don’t let a more seasoned or veteran player talk you out of a subclass that sounds fun to you just because they view it as less optimized. Ultimately, this is your character, and Dungeons & Dragons is a game where you’re meant to have fun; so follow the fun!
6Look Down The Road
Best Laid Plans
On the optimization side of things, make sure you’re picking a subclass based on all of its features and abilities, not just some. Also, you might want to talk to your Dungeon Master about what level they think the party will get to by the time the campaign wraps up.
For example, you might decide you want to play a soulknife rogue because of the level 17 ability known as Death Strike. However, your DM might tell you that they only intend for this campaign to run until level 15. Be careful that you don’t accidentally shoehorn yourself into a subclass that might not even give you the key ability you want.
5Match The Campaign’s Tone
Don’t Fight The Current
While playing against type can be fun, depending on the overall tone of a campaign, you might want to be careful about veering too far away from the overall atmosphere your Dungeon Master is cultivating. After all, it can be a bit of a buzzkill if you’re playing a horror campaign and your character is designed to be a comedic clown.
Most subclasses can be flavored to ensure that they fit a campaign’s tone. But, for example, if you’re playing in asurvival-based campaignthat’s warding off a zombie apocalypse, maybe picking a college of dance bard as your subclass might feel a bit tonally off for the seriousness of the campaign.
4Try Out Unearthed Arcana
Don’t Limit Yourself
Beyond the 2024 Player’s Handbook, Wizards of the Coast often puts out supplements known asunearthed arcana, in which they offer up playtest material that often includes different subclasses. If you’re a veteran player who feels that they’ve tried everything, make sure you check out these supplements.
Of course, you’re going to want to also verify that your Dungeon Master is comfortable running playtested material. A lot of unearthed arcana isn’t necessarily balanced yet, so make sure you run your selection by your DM before showing up at the table.
3Avoid Redundancies
No Need To Nerf Yourself
While, at level three, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll have access to any features or abilities otherwise offered in your subclass description, you are going to want to make sure you’re not gaining access to completely redundant abilities. This goes for both your own character and your party’s composition.
For example, if your subclass features grant you the ability to teleport, but you know your party has access to a magic item that offers a similar effect, you might want to select something else. Similarly, if your party already has a plethora of healers, you might not want to pick a healing subclass.
2Counter Enemies
Optimize, Optimize, Optimize
By the time you pick a subclass, you should have a general idea of what kind of campaign your Dungeon Master is running, and what kinds of enemies they favor. A lot of DMs have personal style that tends to come out throughout a lot of games, and you can easily pick up on the types of creatures they like to use, and what these creatures' strengths and weaknesses are.
So, when picking a subclass, consider ways you might be able to counter your DM’s style. For example, if your Dungeon Master tends to favor plant-like beasts, perhaps selecting a wildfire druid as your subclass will prove beneficial.
1Consider Homebrews
Think Outside The Books
Lastly, you should also talk to your DM about the possibility of homebrewing a subclass. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to create something from scratch, but, if none of the preexisting subclasses are speaking to you, there’s no harm in trying out something fresh.
Sometimes, you might just even want to try tweaking one or two rules in a subclass to make it more suitable for your character and your campaign. Talk to your Dungeon Master about this possibility first before coming up with a whole new subclass. Plus, some DMs might not allow homebrew at all, so be warned.
