The popular game Dungeons & Dragons recently launched two new books focused on its Forgotten Realms setting. Adventures in Faerun and Heroes of Faerun together provide everything players and Dungeon Masters need to build campaigns and characters in this world. While there’s a lot to explore, many players are most excited about the new character options. Heroes of Faerun specifically introduces eight new subclasses for the updated 2024 version of D&D 5th edition, alongside new backgrounds and factions.
It’s been almost a year since the rules were updated for 2024, and there aren’t many official character class options available yet. That’s why the recent release of 8 new classes in the Forgotten Realms player companion is so exciting for players looking to create new characters. I’ve ranked these 8 new classes based on how fun they’ll be to play and how unique their abilities are. Keep in mind that your personal preferences might lead you to rank them differently!
8) Banneret (Fighter)
The Purple Dragon Knight Fighter subclass for 2024 lands at the bottom of the list. It’s designed to be a supportive character who follows a strict code of honor, but many of its abilities are more useful for social interactions than actual fighting. While this could be great for roleplaying, it makes the Banneret a somewhat weak choice for players looking for a powerful combat-focused Fighter.
The Banneret Fighter is primarily useful for its ability to heal the whole party with Second Wind. However, this healing can only be done once per day, which limits how much support it can provide. Also, the Team Tactics feat, which grants benefits in combat, only works when the party is healed this way, meaning the Fighter’s special abilities won’t be useful for very long.
7) Winter Walker (Ranger)
The Winter Walker Ranger is a new option introduced in 2024, designed with the frozen landscapes of Icewind Dale in mind. It focuses on surviving and thriving in cold environments, offering abilities like the Frigid Explorer feat to help with travel. Winter Walkers also gain access to powerful ice-based spells, such as Cone of Cold and Ice Knife. While it’s a really cool choice for players who want a character similar to the X-Men’s Iceman, this subclass might not be ideal for every campaign or playstyle.
The Winter Walker is a strong choice for adventures taking place in cold environments, where enduring the ice and snow is a major challenge. However, enemies in those areas might not be very susceptible to its ice-based powers. This means it will only be truly effective in certain situations, which might make it less versatile and interesting compared to other character options in the Forgotten Realms.
6) Knowledge Domain (Cleric)
This revised Knowledge Domain Cleric feels distinct from earlier versions, which often seemed like attempts to create a wizard-like class. It’s especially valuable in campaigns that focus on lore and require frequent knowledge checks, as it quickly gains proficiency in many skills. As you advance, you’ll learn spells centered around knowledge and mental power, offering both strong attacks like Mind Spike and Synaptic Static, and useful spells to weaken enemies like Confusion and Banishment. A key benefit is the new Mind Magic feat, which lets you cast these spells without using your limited spell slots.
This new cleric subclass offers a really engaging way to play a character with abilities that feel almost psychic. The spells and special talents available strike a good balance between storytelling opportunities and practical combat skills, making this class surprisingly strong even at moderate levels. However, like all spellcasters, this subclass can be vulnerable, and it doesn’t inherently make you tougher in a fight.
5) Bladesinger (Wizard)
As a big fan of this class, I was really excited to see it in Baldur’s Gate 3, so I already knew the basics. The recent update for 2024 really brings it in line with the newest rules, and it’s a nice improvement! One of the best changes is that we can now pick up proficiency with almost any martial weapon – anything but the big two-handed ones or heavy weapons. Thankfully, we still get to keep the awesome Song of Defense and Extra Attack abilities, and the update also adds some cool new feats to play around with.
The Bladesinger is a great way to combine magic and weapon combat for your Wizard character. The latest update in 2024 makes a few improvements to balance the class within the game, but it’s still similar to previous versions. Since Bladesingers don’t typically wear armor, they can be vulnerable, but spells like Mage Armor and abilities like Bladesong and Song of Defense help protect them. It’s a surprisingly tough class – some players might even find it a little too powerful, depending on how they play.
4) Spellfire Sorcery (Sorcerer)
The Spellfire Sorcerer draws power directly from the Weave, the source of all magic, allowing them to wield incredible forces. This class blends destructive fire spells with potent healing, requiring a balance between creation and destruction. They can prepare spells like Cure Wounds and Wall of Fire, and also protect themselves and others by using Counterspell to negate incoming spells.
This Sorcerer class is pretty good, offering some reliable ways to boost damage with its Spellfire Burst ability. The Bolstering Flames ability helps the Sorcerer stay alive longer by granting temporary hit points. However, this new subclass doesn’t really stand out compared to existing options. It has a cool theme tied to the Forgotten Realms and is more controlled than a Wild Magic Sorcerer, but its effectiveness will depend on your playstyle.
3) Scion of the Three (Rogue)
This class adds a cool element from Baldur’s Gate, linking it to the city’s infamous Dead Three. Once per long rest, Rogues can pledge themselves to Bane, Bhaal, or Myrkul, which grants them unique resistances to damage and a new cantrip. The Bloodthirst feat allows for rapid movement around enemies, dealing extra damage when they’re weakened. At 6th level, you’ll also gain the ability to frighten your enemies with a Cunning Strike.
This Rogue subclass is a great combination of interesting themes and useful new skills. One of its best features is the ability to change your chosen Dread Allegiance with a Long Rest, letting you adapt your resistances and cantrips to fit any challenge. It seems like a really engaging option for roleplaying, and it also offers strong combat capabilities.
2) Oath of the Noble Genies (Paladin)
This Paladin class gains its abilities from powerful, elemental Genies. It’s a great choice for characters originating from Calimshan and feels right at home in the Forgotten Realms setting. This is a completely new option, not an update to an existing one, and it seems like a really enjoyable class to play.
This class is great for players who enjoy roleplaying as an Avatar, with fun elemental powers. Beyond those, it also boosts your defense, helps your team resist elemental damage, and offers strong abilities overall. It’s a powerful and enjoyable option among the subclasses available in the Forgotten Realms.
1) College of the Moon (Bard)
This Bard specialization draws power from the druidic traditions of the Moonshae Isles, giving it a magical, otherworldly feel. You’ll harness the moon’s energy, unlocking unusual and enigmatic abilities. The Inspired Eclipse feature lets you turn invisible while giving a Bardic Inspiration to an ally, and Lunar Vitality enhances your healing by using the die you roll for Bardic Inspiration.
The Primal Lore feat for this Bard subclass essentially lets you add some Druid abilities without actually multiclassing. You learn a Druid spell and cantrip, and you can even change the cantrip each time you gain a level. By level 6, you also get access to the strong Moonbeam spell. As someone who often builds characters with Druidic elements, I’m excited to try this one – it adds a cool, mystical feel to the Bard, making them better at dealing damage and enhancing their signature Inspiration ability.
What new character class from the Forgotten Realms sourcebook are you most looking forward to playing? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- Hazbin Hotel season 3 release date speculation and latest news
- Where Winds Meet: Best Weapon Combinations
- Red Dead Redemption Remaster Error Prevents Xbox Players from Free Upgrade
- Where Winds Meet: How To Defeat Shadow Puppeteer (Boss Guide)
- Walking Towards State Estimation: A New Boundary Condition Approach
- Zootopia 2 Reactions Raise Eyebrows as Early Viewers Note “Timely Social Commentary”
- The Death of Bunny Munro soundtrack: Every song in Nick Cave drama
- Is There a Smiling Friends Season 3 Episode 9 Release Date or Part 2?
- Every Wicked: For Good Song, Ranked By Anticipation
- Where to Find Tempest Blueprint in ARC Raiders
2025-11-12 23:45