Choosing a class is the single most important decision when building a Dungeons & Dragons character — it shapes how a character fights, what abilities they have access to, and what role they play within a party. The 2024 Player’s Handbook (released September 2024) refreshed all twelve core classes and standardized them to four subclasses each, for a total of 48 subclasses to choose from.
This guide walks through each of the twelve classes from the 2024 Player’s Handbook, their four subclasses, and a high-level overview of what each class brings to the table — useful for new players picking a first character or returning players getting familiar with the updated rules.
Quick Reference: All 12 Classes and Their Subclasses
| Class | Subclasses (2024 Player’s Handbook) |
| Barbarian | Path of the Berserker, Path of the Wild Heart, Path of the World Tree, Path of the Zealot |
| Bard | College of Dance, College of Glamour, College of Lore, College of Valor |
| Cleric | Life Domain, Light Domain, Trickery Domain, War Domain |
| Druid | Circle of the Land, Circle of the Moon, Circle of the Sea, Circle of the Stars |
| Fighter | Battle Master, Champion, Eldritch Knight, Psi Warrior |
| Monk | Warrior of Mercy, Warrior of Shadow, Warrior of the Elements, Warrior of the Open Hand |
| Paladin | Oath of Devotion, Oath of Glory, Oath of the Ancients, Oath of Vengeance |
| Ranger | Beast Master, Fey Wanderer, Gloom Stalker, Hunter |
| Rogue | Arcane Trickster, Assassin, Soulknife, Thief |
| Sorcerer | Aberrant Sorcery, Clockwork Sorcery, Draconic Sorcery, Wild Magic |
| Warlock | Archfey Patron, Celestial Patron, Fiend Patron, Great Old One Patron |
| Wizard | Abjurer, Diviner, Evoker, Illusionist |
The Three Class Categories
DnD classes and subclasses are commonly grouped into three broad categories based on how they fight and use magic:
- Martial classes (Barbarian, Fighter, Monk, Rogue): Primarily skilled in physical combat, with some classes (like Fighter’s Eldritch Knight or Monk) gaining limited magical abilities through their subclasses
- Full spellcasters (Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard): Built around spellcasting as a core mechanic, with access to the largest and most flexible spell lists
- Half-casters (Paladin, Ranger): Combine martial combat with a more limited spell list, gaining spellcasting later and at a slower pace than full casters
Class Overviews
Barbarian
Barbarians are durable melee fighters built around Rage, a core class feature that boosts damage and resistance to physical damage during combat. The 2024 subclasses lean into different thematic flavors: Path of the Berserker focuses on raw offensive frenzy, Path of the Wild Heart draws on animal spirits, Path of the World Tree connects to primal nature magic, and Path of the Zealot ties the Barbarian’s fury to divine purpose.
Bard
Bards are versatile spellcasters who use musical and artistic performance to fuel their magic, often serving as a party’s social specialist alongside spellcasting support. The College of Lore emphasizes broad skill and spell versatility, College of Valor leans into combat performance, College of Glamour focuses on charm and fey-touched magic, and College of Dance is new to the 2024 rules, built around mobility and performance-based combat techniques.
Cleric
Clerics are divine spellcasters whose subclass — called a Domain — reflects the portfolio of the deity or divine source they draw power from. The Life Domain focuses on healing, Light Domain on radiant damage and illumination, War Domain on combat-enhancing divine magic, and Trickery Domain on deception and misdirection.
Druid
Druids draw on nature magic and the ability to transform into animal forms (Wild Shape). Circle of the Land grants spellcasting tied to specific terrain types, Circle of the Moon emphasizes powerful combat Wild Shape forms, Circle of the Sea is new to the 2024 rules with an aquatic and weather-based theme, and Circle of the Stars draws on constellations for a more spellcasting-focused druid.
Fighter
Fighters are weapon and armor specialists with the most combat actions per round of any class at higher levels. Champion focuses on raw consistency through improved critical hits, Battle Master uses tactical maneuvers that add versatility to attacks, Eldritch Knight blends martial combat with wizard-style spellcasting, and Psi Warrior incorporates psionic (mental) abilities into combat.
Monk
Monks combine martial arts with a resource (called Focus in the 2024 rules, previously known as Ki) that fuels special techniques. Warrior of the Open Hand focuses on unarmed combat techniques, Warrior of Shadow incorporates stealth and shadow-based abilities, Warrior of the Elements channels elemental forces, and Warrior of Mercy is new to 2024, focused on manipulating life force to heal or harm.
Paladin
Paladins are martial characters bound by a sacred Oath that grants divine abilities. Oath of Devotion emphasizes classic heroic ideals and protection, Oath of the Ancients draws on primal and fey-aligned divine power, Oath of Vengeance focuses on pursuing and punishing wrongdoers, and Oath of Glory is new to the 2024 rules, themed around legendary achievement and personal excellence.
Ranger
Rangers combine martial skill with nature-based magic and tracking abilities. Hunter focuses on combat techniques against specific enemy types, Beast Master is built around fighting alongside an animal companion, Gloom Stalker specializes in ambush tactics and darkness, and Fey Wanderer incorporates fey magic and charm-based abilities.
Rogue
Rogues are skill-focused characters built around Sneak Attack, a feature that rewards positioning and stealth with significant bonus damage. Thief grants additional utility through extra item interactions, Assassin specializes in eliminating enemies from stealth, Arcane Trickster blends rogue skills with wizard-style spellcasting, and Soulknife uses psionic abilities to create weapons from mental energy.
Sorcerer
Sorcerers are spellcasters whose magic comes from an innate source tied to their subclass, called a Sorcerous Origin. Draconic Sorcery draws power from dragon ancestry, Wild Magic introduces an element of unpredictability to spellcasting, Aberrant Sorcery (new to 2024) ties magic to otherworldly mental influence, and Clockwork Sorcery (also new to 2024) draws on cosmic order and clockwork-themed magic.
Warlock
Warlocks gain magic through a pact with a powerful being, called their Patron, which shapes both their abilities and roleplay. Fiend Patron draws on infernal power, Archfey Patron connects to the magic of the fey realms, Great Old One Patron ties into cosmic horror and alien minds, and Celestial Patron channels radiant, healing-focused divine power.
Wizard
Wizards are spellcasters who study magic academically, with subclasses based on Schools of Magic that grant bonuses to specific types of spells. Evoker specializes in damage-dealing spells, Abjurer focuses on protective and defensive magic, Diviner emphasizes information-gathering and luck manipulation, and Illusionist specializes in deception-based magic.
A Note on the Artificer
Players researching D&D classes will often encounter the Artificer, a class focused on crafting and enhancing magic items that was introduced outside the core Player’s Handbook (originally in a separate sourcebook). As of the 2024 Player’s Handbook, the Artificer has not yet been updated to the new ruleset, but it remains compatible for play alongside 2024 characters using its existing rules — making it a thirteenth class many groups still use.
Choosing a Class: What to Consider
- Playstyle preference: Do you want to be in melee combat, casting spells from a distance, or a mix of both?
- Party role: Parties generally benefit from a mix of damage dealers, support/healing, and utility — though D&D’s flexible design means most classes can fill multiple roles
- Complexity: Full spellcasters (especially Wizard and Druid) tend to have the most options to track at higher levels, while martial classes like Fighter and Barbarian are often recommended as more straightforward for new players
- Subclass timing: Most classes choose their subclass at character level 3, so a class’s baseline features (before subclass) are worth considering for the early game
Frequently Asked Questions
How many classes are there in D&D 5e?
The 2024 Player’s Handbook includes 12 core classes, each with 4 subclasses (48 subclasses total). The Artificer, introduced in an earlier sourcebook, is often considered an unofficial 13th class and remains usable, though it hasn’t yet been updated to the 2024 rules.
What’s the difference between a class and a subclass?
A class determines a character’s core abilities, role, and how they progress through the game’s levels. A subclass is a specialization chosen (typically at level 3) that adds a more specific theme and additional abilities on top of the base class — for example, a Fighter choosing the Eldritch Knight subclass gains spellcasting in addition to standard Fighter abilities.
What’s the easiest class for a new D&D player?
Fighter and Barbarian are commonly recommended for new players due to their relatively straightforward combat options and fewer resources to track compared to full spellcasters. Cleric is also often recommended as an accessible introduction to spellcasting, since its spell list is generally easier to manage than Wizard or Sorcerer.
Are 2014 subclasses compatible with 2024 classes?
According to Wizards of the Coast, subclasses from the 2014 Player’s Handbook that were updated in the 2024 edition are not compatible with the new 2024 class versions. However, subclasses that haven’t yet been updated for 2024 can still be used with 2024 classes, since they weren’t revised alongside the core rules.
What are the new subclasses introduced in the 2024 Player’s Handbook?
Several subclasses are new to the 2024 edition, including College of Dance (Bard), Circle of the Sea (Druid), Warrior of Mercy (Monk), Oath of Glory (Paladin), and Aberrant Sorcery and Clockwork Sorcery (Sorcerer).
Final Thoughts
The 2024 Player’s Handbook’s standardized structure — twelve classes, four subclasses each — makes it more approachable to compare options than previous editions, where some classes had accumulated far more subclasses than others across multiple sourcebooks. Whether you’re drawn to a Barbarian’s straightforward fury, a Wizard’s deep spell list, or a Warlock’s thematic pact magic, each class’s four subclasses offer enough variety to support multiple different characters within the same core framework.
