New Dungeons & Dragons Class Lets Players (Literally) Raise Hell

New Dungeons & Dragons Class Lets Players (Literally) Raise Hell

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of tabletop RPG under my belt, I must say, the Illrigger class has truly captured my imagination. Having dabbled in everything from the grimy back alleys of Waterdeep to the frozen wastes of Icewind Dale, this new addition to the D&D pantheon is a welcome breath of fresh (and fiery) air.


Directly following the release of the 2024 editions of the Player’s Handbook and Dungeon Master’s Guide, Dungeons & Dragons introduced a fresh, new class from MCDM: the Illrigger. This class allows players to tap into the malevolent powers of the Nine Hells. According to D&D Beyond, an Illrigger is essentially a hellish soldier, dispatched on assignments to enforce the desires of the archdevil commanding them. In many respects, their character profile shares similarities with a Paladin from Hell, but it also offers distinctive traits that set it apart as a wholly unique and immersive role-playing experience for both players and non-player characters (NPCs).

Illriggers are versatile beings, capable of fulfilling various roles: they excel as skilled soldiers, strategic commanders on the battlefield, stealthy assassins, and knowledgeable magic-focused advisors. While they can be quite stylish and appealing, it’s crucial to acknowledge that their status as warriors from Hell might lead to internal party conflicts. This could manifest in ideological differences between good-aligned characters and their Illrigger ally, or even a malevolent archdevil guiding the Illrigger towards potentially dramatic and high-stakes situations at certain gaming tables. Ultimately, the choice of how players and game masters choose to utilize this new class is entirely up to them, offering endless possibilities.

New Dungeons & Dragons Class Lets Players (Literally) Raise Hell

Illrigger’s Are All Favor & Hellfire – Making Them the Perfect Pick For Every Table

As a die-hard fan, I was initially skeptical about the Illrigger’s inherent connection to the Hells, fearing they’d default to an evil alignment or make gameplay unbearably edgy. However, I’ve come to appreciate that the creators at MCDM have crafted the Illrigger class thoughtfully, ensuring it harmonizes well with any campaign setting.

For a PC seeking a covert playstyle in their gaming experience, they might opt for a Shadowmaster character – this versatile role offers both combat effectiveness and useful skills that can rival the most strategically-optimized Rogues. Alternatively, Sanguine Knights excel as healers and blood manipulators, providing aid to allies while weakening enemies for crucial party benefits. Painkillers are damage dealers who specialize in frontline combat, with added abilities for players who enjoy delivering powerful blows and restraining adversaries. Hellspeakers, a Charisma-centric subclass, function as enchanters, leveraging their charm to turn even the most challenging social encounters to their advantage. Lastly, the Architect of Ruin is an intriguing subclass that channels the malevolent might of Asmodeus through spellsword abilities, granting bonus damage, imposing disadvantage on saving throws, and disrupting other casters.

New Dungeons & Dragons Class Lets Players (Literally) Raise Hell

Illriggers boast numerous personalization choices, setting them apart distinctly within the current Dungeons & Dragons milieu. One of the initial abilities an Illrigger gains, known as Baleful Interdict, is characterized thusly:

At level 1, you possess the ability to affix a magical ward onto a creature within 30 feet of you once per turn. This can be done either through an attack or using a Bonus Action. When the target suffers damage from a source other than your wards being scorched by an Illrigger, you may utilize your wards to inflict additional Fire or Necrotic damage (1d6 for each ward). The number of wards you have is determined by your level as an Illrigger, but they are replenished during a Short or Long Rest. The damage inflicted by each ward increases by 1d6 at levels 5, 11, and 20.

This function operates in a manner reminiscent of a Hexblade Warlock’s “Hexblade’s Curse,” but it provides additional flexibility as it allows you to select the type of damage and offers a wider range of triggers for its effect.

Furthermore, Illriggers possess “Interdict Boons” that grant unique advantages to players upon successful activation of their seals. For instance, an Illrigger could activate the Soul Eater boon to temporarily increase their hit points by their character level. They can also acquire a boost to their Armor Class, which significantly impacts their effectiveness in combat, especially for characters who can swap between magical and martial roles as frontliners. The impact of this buff varies greatly depending on the nature of the combat situation.

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2024-11-28 19:12