Wizards of the Coast has been heavily promoting Dungeons & Dragons 2024. Also known as D&D 5.5e, this iteration of the world's most popular TTRPG has promised changes to the underlying rules without greatly changing the core of the game players love. Illustrating this are the recently released Dungeons & Dragons 2024 class changes.
The Dungeons & Dragons 2024 class changes
On D&D Beyond, Wizards of the Coast has published several articles highlighting different Dungeons & Dragons 2024 class changes. The articles show what parts of a certain character class remain unchanged from the 2014 core rules and what has received an update in the new 2024 rulebook.
The first of these posts focused on the Fighter class. Thanks to playtest material released last year, it was confirmed that martial classes would be getting a boost thanks to Weapon Mastery properties. Basically all weapons in the game will have special properties like dealing damage on misses, debuffing enemies, or pushing them across the battlefield.
In addition to implementing this new weapon mastery system, Fighters have received several quality-of-life updates. Not only do they get additional uses of Second Wind, a use can be spent to spend bonus dice on a failed ability check. Also, the Eldritch Knight subclass no longer has spell school restrictions and can substitute weapon attacks for cantrips.
The second post promotes the Paladin class. These holy warriors have gotten some nerfs and buffs. Divine Smite is always prepared and can be used with unarmed strikes, but require a bonus action now. No more smite stacking. In addition, Divine Sense is now part of their Channel Divinity feature.
Alternatively, various subclasses have been buffed. Oaths of Devotion and Glory now have a larger aura area of effects, reduced action cost, or longer range. Lay On Hands has also been changed. It no longer removes disease but can be used on Undead and Constructs. At later levels it can even remove certain conditions.
The third post spotlights the rage-fueled Barbarian. Rage can now be maintained as a bonus action or forcing an enemy to make a saving throw, adding some tactical edge to the character. Brutal Strike has replaced the Brutal Critical feature, which provides extra damage on hit as well as a debuff on the enemy.
The biggest change is in the Path of the Berserker subclass. The 2014 version of the Berserker allowed Barbarians to make extra weapon attacks but would cause them to suffer levels of exhaustion afterward. Now, not only does the subclass swap out extra attacks for extra damage; exhaustion is gone completely.
The Dungeons & Dragons 2024 class changes continue beyond these D&D Beyond post. In her recent video, D&D YouTuber Ginny Di highlighted changes coming to the Bard class. She mentions that the Bard archetype has been reworded, emphasizing theatrical and performing experience beyond just the musical.
She also discusses a brand new subclass for the Bard: College of Dance. It provides the Bard with some Monk features like Unarmored Defense, the ability to make unarmed strikes as a bonus action, and dealing bonus damage with those unarmed strikes equal to their Bardic Inspiration die.
Lastly, the College of Dance Bard has its version of Evasion. Unlike Monks and Rogues who get this feature at level 7, the College of Dance Bard gets it at level 14. The catch is the Bard can share this effect with an ally within five feet. What's better than one character dodging a fireball? Two dodging a fireball.
The Dungeons & Dragons 2024 core rulebooks are available for pre-order right now on D&D Beyond.
