Summary

Using Unearthed Arcana character build options is one of the best ways you may make your character more unique inDungeons & Dragons. Especially if you’re a high-level or expert player, finding the best UA options for yourself can take your character build from good to great.

But, just what are the best Unearthed Arcana options out there for expert players? If you’ve been wondering what you should choose for yourself, look no further than this list, which has some of the best, most powerful Unearthed Arcana options available for high-level players. As a note, for this list, we’re looking at individual character options, not full builds.

An artificer fighting an adversary in Dungeons & Dragons.

Key Feature

Adventurer’s Atlas

The cartographer artificer introduces a subclass for artificers that’s focused on mapmaking and naval navigation. The primary feature of this subclass includes the Adventurer’s Atlas, which allows you to create a set of magical maps that can offer boons to you and your party.

When you use these maps, you may either improve an ally’s initiative rolls, track their positioning across the same plane of existence, or even prevent someone from going completely unconscious at higher levels. Plus, this subclass has excellent flavor for roleplay potential.

A woman in a colorful skirt and blouse casts a spell using a magic wand in Dungeons & Dragons.

Spell Absorption

This fun andunique sorcerer subclassallows sorcerers to tap into the very fabric of the Weave itself to access spells from other class lists and even absorb spells. When you take this subclass, at sixth level, you always have Counterspell prepared.

Additionally, when your target for Counterspell fails their saving throw, you end up regaining 1d4 sorcery points. Be warned that many Dungeon Masters might consider this feature completely broken. However, if your DM allows it, this feature is well worth it for your sorcerer build.

A dark, shadowy rogue perched on a rooftop in Dungeons & Dragons.

Bloodthirst & Inflicted Conditions

This subclass for rogues reads almost like a mix between the traditional rogue class and the bloodhunter class. With this subclass, you get boons for attacking bloodied creatures with your sneak attack feature, inflicting extra damage equal to half your rogue level.

However, the real boon to this subclass is your ability to strike fear into the hearts of your enemies, potentially inflicting the frightened condition on them. you may do this as many times as you want, as long as you use the Cunning Strike ability to initiate it. Additionally, as you level up, creatures who are frightened by you incur more banes.

A warforged character attacks a train in Eberron in DND.

Improved/Unique Feats

This next character build option only works if you’re playing in the Eberron setting for Dungeons & Dragons, which features a set of rules for abilities called Dragonmarks, tied to the various houses of Eberron. These feats let players improve their dragonmarks.

Some particularly powerful Dragonmark Feats include the Abberant Dragonmark, which grants players additional spellcasting features and the abilityto regain hitpointsafter casting spells; in addition, the Mark of Healing helps support classes do even more healing on the battlefield.

The Fighter class charging into battle in DND.

Improvements to Improvised Weapons & Unarmed Strikes

The brawler fighter subclass is highly unique, but does share a decent amount of overlap with monks. However, if you’re interested in combining the best features from both classes, this unique subclass is the one for you.

When you select this subclass, you gain proficiency with improvised weapons and can roll 1d6 + your Strength modifier in place of normal damage for unarmed strikes. You also get bonuses to grappling abilities, and further improvements to your unarmed strikes and improvised weapon attacks at higher levels. This subclass almost asks, ‘What if the Tavern Brawler feat were its own class?’

A cleric attempts a raise dead spell surrounded by glowing white light in Dungeons & Dragons.

Heroes of Krynn - UA 81

Additional Spellcasting

This feat comes from the Krynn campaign setting and is great for expert players who are playing at lower levels to start. When you take this feat, you learn the Thaumatury cantrip and another first-level spell that is based onthe alignment of your character.

For example, if your character is evil-aligned, you can choose either a first-level warlock or wizard spell of your choice. Good-aligned characters can choose from cleric or wizard spells, while neutral characters can choose from druid or wizard spells.

A wizard studying a magic book in DND.

Access to Martial Weapons

The bladesinger wizard subclass has become infamous over the years for, at times, being completely overpowered. The most recent addition to this subclass in the 2025 Forgotten Realms subclasses UA is probably the most balanced version yet.

This subclass allows wizards access to proficiency with melee martial weapons (so long as they’re not versatile or two-handed). Plus, you get access to multiattack and other melee defensive features, basically allowing you to function as a wizard-fighter multiclass without actually having to deal with the headaches of multiclassing in general.

A red dragonborne character in Dungeons & Dragons holds an arcane focus in his claw.

Extraplanar Powers

The seeker warlock subclass is probably most similar to the horizon walker ranger subclass, in that it grants warlocks access to extraplanar powers from the Astral Sea. This piece of Unearthed Arcana also allows warlocks a new pact, known as the pact of the star chain, giving them access to spells like augury, advantage on intelligence checks, and more.

The best feature in this subclass is your Astral Refugee feature. As an action, you’re able to disappear from the world and enter the Astral Plane, subsequently taking two actions to cast spells (so long as you are the target) and then return. This is great for self-healing or casting spells that can otherwise buff your character in combat.

A cleric casts the Daylight spell in Dungeons & Dragons.

Psionic Magic

The mystic subclass allows casters to tap into the power of psionic magic. In many ways, a lot of these class features got ported over into the psionic sorcerer subclass, rather than becoming its own class altogether. However, if your DM allows it, you may use this UA class, which also has many unique subclasses of its own.

The best of these subclasses is the order of the immortal subclass, which grants additional hit points in various forms. As the mystic only has a d8 hit die, this can prove extremely helpful for buffing your squishy spellcaster.

A player character using astral projection over a spelljamming ship in DND 5e.

Wonders of the Multiverse - UA 85

Extra Extraplanar Magics

For players who love extraplanar adventuring, or are playing in an extraplanar campaign like Spelljammer, the Planar Wanderer feat is a great option for high-level players. With this feat, you can switch up various resistances to damage each long rest, in addition to knowing the direction of the last planar portal you used while on the same plane as the portal.

However, the most fun aspect of this feat is its Portal Cracker feature. With this feature, you can make a DC 20 Wisdom check and potentially force an extraplanar portal open or closed. However, you will incur damage on a failure, so use it sparingly.