Dungeons & Dragons Is Still Missing Out on the Best Pathfinder Class (& This Is the Year to Fix It)

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For some reason, I decided to learn both Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder – another similar fantasy roleplaying game – at the same time. These days, I mainly play D&D because that’s what my group likes, and I’m okay with that. However, even after all this time, there’s one feature from Pathfinder I’ve been hoping D&D would add. And the recently announced plans for 2026 suggest that might finally happen.

I began playing tabletop role-playing games as a druid in both Pathfinder and Dungeons & Dragons. However, after discovering the Witch class in Pathfinder First Edition through The Glass Cannon Podcast, I started to wonder if I’d made the right choice. While D&D offers plenty of spellcasters, it still lacks a dedicated Witch class. Some might think a Warlock, Sorcerer, or Wizard could fill that role, but having experienced the Pathfinder Witch firsthand, I don’t think they quite compare. With Dungeons & Dragons’ recent focus on horror and magic this year, now is the perfect time to introduce a playable Witch class to the game.

No, A Warlock or Wizard Is No Substitute for a True Witch Class in Dungeons & Dragons

For over 50 years, Dungeons & Dragons has offered players many different types of magic-using characters. However, it surprisingly hasn’t released an official class for playing a Witch. This is strange considering witches and hags are established characters within the Dungeons & Dragons universe – Tasha is even known as the Witch Queen, and many campaigns, like Curse of Strahd, feature hags as enemies. If you want to play a Witch, you currently need to rely on unofficial content created by fans or creatively adapt existing classes.

Some players believe a dedicated Witch class isn’t needed, as Wizards or Warlocks can achieve a similar feel with certain specializations. However, even if you re-name a Warlock a Witch, the way it plays doesn’t quite match the unique options found in games like Pathfinder, or even how creatures like Hags work within Dungeons & Dragons. Warlocks gain power through pacts with patrons, while Wizards learn spells from books. Sorcerers, whose magic is natural, could possibly be considered similar to a Witch, though.

While the Witch in Pathfinder and the Warlock in D&D are somewhat alike – both gain power from a powerful, mysterious source – they have key differences. The Pathfinder Witch relies heavily on hexes and always has a familiar companion. These elements could be added to a D&D Warlock, perhaps as a subclass, but they are fundamental to the Witch class in Pathfinder. I’d like to see D&D offer players similar options.

Considering the rich history of hags in Dungeons & Dragons and the new Circle Casting feature, Wizards of the Coast is overlooking a fantastic idea. Allowing players to officially create a witch-like character—specifically a Warlock subclass focused on hexes and accompanied by a crow familiar—is long overdue. If this doesn’t happen soon, I doubt it ever will.

The Season of Horror Leading Into the Season of Magic Means D&D‘s Witching Hour Is Now

I’m genuinely enthusiastic about the plans for Dungeons & Dragons in 2026 – more so than I’ve been in a while. The idea of themed ‘Seasons’ could be really great if executed properly. It’s not just because I love the Ravenloft setting and magic-using characters; launching multiple related products at once gives Wizards of the Coast a fantastic chance to fully explore a concept. I’m particularly hoping we’ll see a playable Witch class or option for characters.

A new sourcebook for the Ravenloft campaign setting is coming out in June 2026. While Barovia is well-known as the home of the iconic vampire Strahd, it also features Barovian Witches. This presents a great chance to finally make these spellcasters official playable characters in D&D 5th edition. We’ve gotten some clues about the upcoming ‘Season of Horror’ through previous Unearthed Arcana playtests, but so far, none of the revealed classes resemble a Witch. However, I’m still hoping that will change.

With the current horror-themed season ending and a magical one beginning, it’s a great time for Wizards of the Coast to add new spellcasting characters. If a new character isn’t revealed in June, I’d really like to see a witch-like character, similar to those in Pathfinder, finally appear in Dungeons & Dragons. It would fit perfectly with the Tarokka Deck they’re releasing soon.

What new character class or specialization would you like to see in Dungeons & Dragons? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-03-11 20:11