The Best and Worst New Classes In D&D - Full Breakdown (Wizard, Warlock, Druid, Rogue) 

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I absolutely love the "Everyone gets expertise" approach. It just makes sense that a wizard would have expertise in arcana. Or that barbarians whould have expertise in athletics. They should be far better in their respective fields than other characters. Currently a bard with arcana proficiency is just slightly less knowledgable about arcana than a wizard who studied it their whole life.

9:04 330 foot Thorn Whip is hilarious: oh, I'll just yank that sniper 10 feet out of his perch and watch him fall.

3:30 I think this Warlock change is specifically for more flavor options. Rather, it sets up an opportunity for the DM to introduce actual NPCs that are story relevant and can be your patron. Rather than it just being a character from your backstory the DM has to occasionally remember exists.

Pact boons we’re actually changed into invocations so that’s a pretty significant change

I wish they kept the idea that Warlocks could choose their spellcasting modifier :(

I'm actually psyched about expertise for the wizard. I'm playing one now and feel kinda silly when my arcana is worse than the rogue's because they took arcana expertise.

Honestly, the arch druid feature is probably the most nerfed druid class feature

By far the best ad spot DC20 has gotten 😂

Ez DM Rouge fix, d8s instead of d6s.

One huge change I saw that you didn't notice: the ability of Archdruid that removed verbal and somatic components and material components that aren't consumed isn't there anymore. That's a HUGE change. That means when before level 20 druids were basically immune to counterspell and could stealth cast. Now they can't anymore.

it makes sense for the wizard to have expertise in intelligence base skills, why the fuck were rogues and bards better at intellegence stuff than the person whos been studying for years

It sounds like your warlock patron spell list automatically gives you access to those spells instead of just you can pick it for your one spell a level. An extra 10 spells in your repertoire is a nice bonus. I hope the same thing happens for sorcerers too.

There is one change to the warlock that is radical enough for me: Pact Boons can now be taken using Eldritch Adept, which if it's a 1st level feat, means I can finally have the incredibly juicy Blade SAD paladin, Tome Booming Blade Rune Knight, or Chain Slaadpole Abberant Mind sorcerer right off the bat at level 1. If it's a 4th level feat, it's less exciting, but great nonetheless. No more annoying 3 level dips for my favorite features in the game.

I love the "burn a spell to use X again" and I love that,is a simple but really cool idea

You're my favorite dnd youtuber Dndshorts, keep up the good work. P.S I used your hexbalde warlock build to bully my DM. (Not on purpose but it worked!)

If anything in regards to the wizard, free vortex warp seems fun.

How come no one is talking about the macro changes to multiclassing and how that hurts martial classes much more than casters?! I think the caster/martial gap is actually getting bigger w/ 5.5. Core martial feats are nerfed and all subclasses / plus a bunch of class features have gotten pushed back farther... Which hurts optimized martials.

Bonus points for showing The Sword in the Stone fight between Merlin and Mad Madam Mim! 😂🤙

Will, you easily do the best sponsor skits on RU-vid, but that one was God Tier. Just blown away lmao

I glad that are giving more expertise it was odd that so few got it

variant human sorlock wont even need to take levels into warlock. you'd start with 2 feats at lvl 1. eldritch adept and magic initiate: warlock. variant human is already the most played race and now they just made it so much better by giving feats to everyone at level 1 because of origin.

Love your content @DnDShorts. As another person whose favorite class is warlock, I think the warlock receives a lot of additional indirect buffs you don't mention that aren't so much on the nose. For example, because of changes to spellcasting, warlocks have the same spell list as wizards (e.g. find familiar, mage armor, shield, magic missile, polymorph, fireball) plus some additional warlock-exclusive spells (i.e. eldritch blast, hex). Plus, all spellcasters can now cast certain spells as rituals, which hugely helps the warlock's limited spell slot issue. Not only do you now get your first eldritch invocation at level 1 *and* you get up to 10 instead of 8, but many of the eldritch invocations can be accessed sooner than before. A lot of them can simply be replaced by choosing certain spells (e.g. the effects of the Eldritch Sight invocation can be nearly duplicated by simply choosing detect magic as one of your spells and casting it as a ritual). Probably the best change is that since pact boons are now invocations, you can get pact of the blade, pact of the tome, *and* pact of the chain by level 2, and all three pact invocations are buffed as compared to their originals. The spells that come with your subclass aren't just an expansion of your regular spell list anymore-now, you learn them automatically and they don't count against your known spells. Ultimately, my favorite thing about these changes is that it makes it easier to want to single class as a warlock. It used to be a lot more common for people to just dip a level or two to get eldritch blast + agonizing blast or take a level in hexblade so that they can use Charisma as their weapon stat. Maybe people will still do that, but I feel like the class is just as tempting at later levels than it is at early levels now.

Rogues in my system already had a feature similar to Cunning Strikes called Debilitations. I plan to later on give the rouge extra attack within my system whilst adjusting their Sneak Attack (now called Precision Attack) to work alongside their version of extra attack without breaking it (as it sucks to miss your one attack as a rogue). I was mostly looking for more features for the Wizard's base class, as it's rather empty (and yes, I know they have lots of spells. Though, every class has spells, they should have a feature that defines them and shows us that they are truly the casters of casters). I was thinking about taking the scribe wizard's idea and kinda making that it's base feature (aka giving them the ability to augment and change their spells such as damage types, ranges, radius, etc). Regardless, Thank you for the video and thank you for making Ryoko's Guide, my players love it dude 💕

I feel that they nerfed Druids 😢

Im excited to see what you say about what they did with Ranger

I love the sword and stone clips. One of my favorites.

Quick note on Rogue: With Twelve classes in the book, someone's gotta be number 12 on the power scale. This doesn't mean that the class is bad, the new rogue still delivers on the fantasy of the rogue class and is fun and satisfying to play (At least if it's not too far off the playtest material), but it just isn't as explosively powerful as other new classes.

Must have finished editing this and posted right before they dropped the ranger video cant wait to hear your opinion on that

Great video Will!

How the hell is this man still able to make each sponsor even more unhinged than the last.

Im so grateful for you! i was not gonna watch jeremy talk for over 3 hrs to see whats new!

I think, flavor-wise, that they should have given Moon Druid the werewolf resistance to non-silvered weapons while wildshaped.

As always, fantastic video.

Love your art

I recently tried to come back to 5e after not playing much for about 7 years. I was stunned at how big the game has grown. It was overwhelming trying to study about the contemporary form of the game and also have a real life. I think a series could be made where you break the game down and hit the biggest bullet points, talking about how it used to be and what it is now. One series for classes, maybe a condensed one about races. 10 minutes max (or whatever minimum run time has to be for ads). I could listen to that at work much easier than having to do the actual reading. Certain subjects I would re-watch a few times. I'm guessing I wouldn't be the only one doing that. Helps views.

12:39 as someone who almost always plays a rogue, in ttrpgs and video games this image nearly makes me want to drop the class. I can’t believe this is official art. I feel that way about a lot of art they show. It doesn’t make my imagination race, it makes my face go O_o

Hey dude, i only came here to say your videos are not only very entertaining but also help the community of D&D and TTRPG grow fonder and larger of the amazing worlds we can experience through them, even your adds are fun man! Honestly congrats on the great work, and please know you've made me smile many many times and i thank you for that from the bottom of my heart, anywho...Hope you are doing great and rock on!

The reason primal order is a huge buff is the medium armor they get seems to no longer have the metal armor restriction. This functionally gives them +3 ac compared to the 2014 druid.

Not sure if I’d call Druid improved. More class features are nice, but I don’t have good feelings about how wildshape works.

11:50 could i please get told what that is from, that animation is super cool

Totally agree with everything you said! Unfortunately, I think the Ranger might beat out the Rogue after today

2:48 If this changed, it technically means you could stack ray of frost with lance of lethargy (If they can get ray of frost that is) which is a 20ft slow for a cantrip that already does solid damage

@DNDShorts I just want to thank you for motivating me to back the DC20 Kickstarter campaign! It is because of your in-video ad, I decided to finally back it (I saw it well before this video). Will Ryoko's Guide to the Yokai Realms have a conversion ready for DC20?

I think with druid use the new one for anything other than moon and old moon. Although so far it is just the variant I have already seen from the last UA which means moon druid gets a spell list they can use in wild shape from level 3 and it includes a cantrip which is basically a spectral arrow, pretty nice since spells used to be locked behind level 18. It also gets AC equal to 13+wis so 18 at most levels, a big improvement and at level 6 nothing much changes, instead of it being counted as magical you can now do radiant damage, so normally just as good though technically a nerf and you can add your wisdom modifier to constitution saving throws, very very good as that includes concentration saving throws, making concentration defensive spells far more reliable. At level 10 you essentially gain misty step that also gives you advantage on your next attack roll this turn and can cast it a number of times equal to your wisdom modifier for free and it isn't a spell so it is immune to counterspell shenanigans. At level 14 you can bring another creature with you when you teleport and you deal an extra 1d10 damage on every hit.

Excelent video as usual. One thing you didnt mention in the new druid is that you also get to keep your AC, in adition to the temp HP, and social Att. So it opens somes options for AC 20+ Bears :P

This felt more like an advert for DC20 than a review of D&D24.

if ranger had come out when he was recording this we'd all know where it be at.

So you can turn spell slots of any level into wild shape uses and then turn those wild shape uses into spell slots at 2 spell levels per wild shape use? So basically you can turn 4 level 1 spells into 1 level 8 spell.

5:00 mark.... LMAO!!!!! You sir are a comedy genius. I love you.

Dude you gotta get into the 5.5 spell list changes. I've only looked over druid so far, and there are DEF some nerfs (ones that are imho poorly implemented - conjure spells particularly) and some great buffs (barkskin looks epic)

While you can’t rate the subclasses, the design ethos of them can be weighed. For instance, the warlock: it seems like part of the subclass redesign was that the subclasses grant you free castings of one or a few flavored spells to the subclass, solving the perceived issue of warlocks having too few slots in a way that doesn’t make them half-casters.

I kind of wish they went with a point system with wildshape. The size of the creature determines the amount of points used. The larger the creature the less you be able to wildshape as it would cost more. the smaller allowing many uses as it would cost less, assuming you have the points to do so. Sort of reminiscent to the movie and how many times she was wildshaping to flee 😅

I actually really liked the half-caster warlock, I hope they eventually print an arcane half-caster because it was fascinating design to me.

A standard deck of cards consists of 54 cards made from thick paper contained within a paper sleeve. The most common deck used for games and gambling is known as the Old Mage deck and features four suits themed with the four essences of magic, each with 13 cards, as well as two wildcards. The name and appearance of the deck varies from region to region, such as the Magician's Deck in Taldor or the Deck of Masks in the Shackles.

That DC20 segment.. *holy cow*

Moon Druid was maybe my favorite tank - multi class with totem barb to be a raging brown wolf with resistances

I can see the rogue's lucky miss critt thing; you miss, and "ha you missed," insert cheeky unseen strike

Where is the animation in 11:52 From? That looks amazing!

I think this is the funniest sponsored ad you've ever had. ALL HAIL THE COW GOD!

The problem with the warlock in 2014 was the invocations. Invocations were not powerful enough unless you used eldritch invocations to negate the lack of spell slots. The revamp invocation in 2024 really solves that problems and makes more pact boons/ play-styles viable.

Since spell mastery was a 1st or 2nd level spell you could never cast a counterspell anyway. Basicly the feature gives you a more powerfull cantrip of your choice, eg magic missile or with shenanigans like Levitate. But the most intresting will be with synergies with the new subtypes, eg as an illusionist, you can do Phantasmal Force, without having to use verbals and with extended range.

Honestly I think Pact boons becomming invocations is HUGE change and it change practically everything.

Good to see that locks have more cantrip choices giving buffs to any of their cantrips instead of the snoozefest that is EB

I think rogue’s cunning strike feature would be better if you could select multiple effects on a single sneak attack as long as you had dice to spend, so if I had 3d6 for my sneak attack damage, I could pick and choose up to 3 effects in exchange for my raw damage potential

I think for rogues they should add an additional sneak attack damage at every ASI

The more I see of this 'revision', the more I'm glad I moved to Pathfinder 2e.

I’m just not as excited for these “2024” books in comparison to DC20 or anything else I’ve been enjoying like Shadowdark or Mothership. Though I am greatly enjoying 2 campaigns of Drakkenheim via the 2014 rules

I can't wait for the Ranger review.

I can see it being argued that a casting time of 1 Reaction is equivalent to that of 1 Action. For instance, being Incapacitated means you can't take actions, which includes bonus actions and reactions. A reaction is also even faster than an action, which sounds like what they were going for, as opposed to spells with a casting time of a minute or more. If nothing else, that's how I'd rule it at my table.

The biggest buff to the rogue is being able to use the Nick property, allowing them to attack twice while dual wielding and have their Bonus Action ready to dash, hide or disengage. Basically you can have the swashbuckler subclass with every rogue, because you vould always disengage and have advantage if you wanted to. PD: Also the origin feat is another underated buff, you could increase your hp (tough), have more skills (skilled) or even gain some spells (magic initiated) all of that for free at first level

Lol we have literally no idea how different the Warlock is until we see the invocations. It could be completely different for all we know.

Warlocks are by farrrrr my favorite class in the game, I love these changes. I am so genuinely excited for the changes to come out.

You know something I'd love to see as a class, or a fighter subclass? I'd love to see a tactician/strategist class basically the martials version of the support wizard.

You mention DC 20.. (which looks amazing btw) can we get an update on Ryoko's soon maybe?

I just started playing a Circle of Spores Druid just to play around with a Necromancer build. It’s the first time I’ve ever played a Druid.

Idk where else to ask his so sorry in advance if its inappropriate but is there plans to have Ryokos purchasable somewhere other than Kickstarter? Idk why but the last time I tried buying it my card was declined even though I know there was enough money on my card and was wondering if it fails again next month if theres any other way Id be able to buy the PDF? I really want to own this so bad cause I got a really good theme for a character im in the think tank on but I need the Skeletal Blade Fighter to make it a complete cause a Skeleton fighting cretires with bones sounds awesome lol

11:34 Shield actually, in the wizard playtest they explicitly mentioned Shield.

So as a druid you could technically at high level change 4 low level spellslots into 1 8th level spellslot by burning them for wild shapes and then dumping all 4 wild shapes for an 8th level spell slot. So if you could somehow get more low level spell slots or easy low level spell slot regeneration, you have infinite 8th level spell slots? Or am I misunderstanding something?

They killed my moon druid, massacred even

I once had an idea for the warlock. What if they get a feature that allows them to use one pact spell slot per fight for free, whether they have an slot or not. Allowing them to always have the use of an spell at least once per fight. I think that would solve a lot of issues, warlocks always feel so limited, forcing them to stock all resources. They want to use an spell, but they do not know if they will be able to rest, and as a warlock I often find myself resting with both spells slots still available. Not because I did not want to use them, but because I felt like I needed to save them for the right moment that never happened.

I played a Warlock that didn't use Eldritch blast and I was still a menace XD Lots of Psychic damage and they always had a D4 less or disadvantage.

Regarding the Druid Warden feature, do we know if the "no metal armor" restriction is still in play? Because frankly that would make medium armor proficiency useless. Also thanks to Cow God for the DC20 info, it's got a new happy backer.

I couldn't find the exact text but does the new pact of the blade let you use it on two-handed weapons at level 1?

Secondary DC20 shout out! I know that all future games I'm playing will only be DC20.

I know it's silly, but I hated hearing him use the word "magician" for the druid during the class reveal. The word "sage" is right there guys!

Correction: The 2014 Wizard Spell Mastery only worked on 1st and 2nd level spells. Counterspell was never an option. You are mixing it up with the 20th level feature Signature Spells.

No discussion on subclasses here? New Thief sounds badass

The druid changes seems interesting cant wait to read ut myself

Can you talk more about the new counterspell?

Warlock changes id say are pretty significant close to what the Druid got: Change in pact boons to invocations is a big deal, not to mention the fact that most invocations are getting buffed or changed, and you can take feats from invocations, those are all massive changes that fundamentally alter warlocks not to mention we are yet to know what the changes to the pact boons are, we know weapon is close to pact of the blade with extra attack and that chain has new familiar options, mystic arcanum are staying for the looks of it and if we get more than 2 slots later levels that a huge change (as implied by the recover half your pact slots as it implies more than the 2 before)

I totally like the new warlock. The decisions that can be made seem incredible especially with pacts and lessons of the first ones.

I’m loving the idea of expertise sharing being a thing now.

I don't mind that warlocks get their subclass at 3rd level. 1st and 2nd level being where your character is delving into the secrets of pacts and dark rituals before making their faustian bargain at 3rd with a patron is cool imo. I mean paladins are still paladins at 1st and 2nd level before they take a specific oath at 3rd level, it feels about the same to me personally and like it when these things happen in game instead of in the backstory or out of session.

I do play levelup advance 5e. Which does the exact same thing with wildshape. (Suspiciously so wotc). And it hasn't been a problem for me but that is most likely cause im multiclasses with berserk (thier barb).

I have been doing some cooking and I feel like rogue could potentially be really good. Firstly, the cunning strike abilities I believe take off the sneak attack dice after the hit, so if you crit and use double dice rule, your damage is still pretty high. Secondly, allowing them to knock large and smaller creatures prone every turn for 1 sneak attack dice is hilarious on flying creatures, or enemies with low movement and bad dex saves. Using something with the slow property is even better as is a static -10 move and they are prone. Excited to try it out!

3:41 What is this scene from? That looks badass.

One way I made Cunning Strike potentially less painful with the reduced damage is that certain subclasses have ways of reducing a cost of an option to potentially 0 (and even get to use a second one on the same attack in certain circumstances outside the restriction of once per turn). It's not a perfect fix, but it's something I considered cause I thought "How cool would it be to use two Cunning Strike options on a single attack at the cost of one?" Maybe if I think about it more, I could possibly do something for the base class. Guess I'll see.

Is that Mario kart double dash music in the background?!

Cant wait to see the ranger video...