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Wizards of the Coast continues to evolve Dungeons & Dragons with regular Unearthed Arcana (UA) playtests that explore fresh mechanics, subclasses, and themes. The latest wave of Unearthed Arcana for 2025 has brought significant updates and entirely new options for adventurers seeking novel character builds. Particularly notable are two key releases this year: a refined update of the arcane-themed subclasses and a new set of apocalyptic-themed subclasses, both signaling exciting directions for D&D narratives and gameplay.

Updated Arcane Subclasses at a Glance

In June 2025, Wizards of the Coast launched a large Unearthed Arcana playtest that introduced nine arcane-focused subclasses encompassing Clerics, Fighters, Monks, Sorcerers, Warlocks, and Wizards. In response to extensive player feedback gathered over the summer, the designers released a revised and expanded "Arcane Subclasses Update" in September 2025, honing the mechanics of six subclasses to balance power and flavor better.

The new Arcane Subclasses Update maintains focus on six key subclasses, each of which appeared previously in the June 2025 update, but has since been retooled:

• Arcane Archer (Fighter)
  • First Appearance: Xanathar’s Guide to Everything
    
  • Updates: Curving Shot uses the same ammunition as your attack but a new attack roll, Magical Ammunition grants magical effects to your ammunition, Ever-Ready Shot appears later but always regains one expended Arcane Shot die, Arcane Burst grants an additional effect to indomitable & Magical Shots
• Tattooed Warrior (Monk)
  • First Appearance: Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
  • Updates: Tattoos now focus on granting new abilities instead of spells. Beast Tattoos give you a cantrip plus an extra benefit that's no longer connected to level 1 spells. Celestial Tattoos let you use Focus Points outside of combat. Nature Tattoos have been simplified and shortened. Monster Tattoos offer fresh new options.
• Conjurer (Wizard)
  • First Appearance: Earlier editions of Unearthed Arcana
  • Updates: Benign Transposition now works as a Bonus Action. Durable Summons gives your summoned creatures resistance to several damage types while they have Temporary Hit Points. Splintered Summons is a brand-new feature that lets you summon a second creature when you cast certain summoning spells.
• Enchanter (Wizard)
  • First Appearance: 5th Edition Players Handbook (2014)
  • Updates: Hypnotic Presence replaces Vexing Movement and has been redesigned to use Concentration. Split Enchantment is available at an earlier level, Instinctive Charm returns and is redesigned to turn hits against you into misses, with the potential to redirect the attack, & Alter Memories returns with the ability to Modify Memory multiple creatures.
• Necromancer (Wizard)
  • First Appearance: 5th Edition Players Handbook (2014)
  • Updates: Your Necromancy Spellbook includes Find Familiar, which lets you summon Skeletons and Zombies. Grim Harvest now restores Hit Points to any Undead creature you choose. Undead Thralls has been redesigned to work with the Animate Dead spell and provide extra bonuses. Harvest Undead (formerly Undead Secrets) now restores your Hit Points when you destroy an Undead creature under your control. Death's Master lets you create bursts of necrotic energy whenever one of your Undead drops to 0 Hit Points.
• Transmuter (Wizard)
  • First Appearance: 5th Edition Players Handbook (2014)
  • Updates: Transmuter's Stone now gives the bearer proficiency in Constitution saving throws along with another benefit, and it can be used as a Spellcasting Focus. Wondrous Alteration replaces Wondrous Enhancement and improves the Alter Self spell. Empowered Transmutation replaces Twinned Transmutation and works with any Transmutation spell you cast using a higher-level spell slot. Potent Stone adds more options for your transmutation stone. Shapechanger returns, letting you modify the Polymorph spell when you cast it on yourself. Master Transmuter now lets you save your stone from destruction by spending a spell slot.

Overview of Arcane Subclasses

Arcane Archer (Fighter)

The Arcane Archer gets fresh features for out-of-combat utility: a new "Magical Ammunition" option allows the archer to create magical effects beyond combat, such as conjuring thorny vines, imbuing arrows with darkness, or unlocking doors remotely. Combat effectiveness is enhanced with a reworked "Arcane Burst," which pushes enemies away when a key ability triggers. These improvements make the Arcane Archer not only a deadly marksman but also a versatile magical presence on and off the battlefield.

Tattooed Warrior (Monk)

The Tattooed Warrior Monk has undergone a significant redesign. The subclass now uses magic that is distinct from traditional spellcasting, aligning better with the Monk’s martial theme. Its magical tattoos grant cantrips reflecting the spirit or power of the tattoo, enhancing combat and utility. This change elevates the subclass’s identity as a mystical martial artist, drawing power from arcane tattoos, and creates a unique blend of physical and magical prowess.

Conjurer (Wizard)

The Conjurer Wizard moves toward summoning spells with more durable and resilient summoned creatures, shifting from mere quantity to quality of summoned allies. This provides a stronger tactical presence in combat scenarios where summoned minions play a vital role, granting players new ways to control the battlefield with summoned guardians that can absorb more damage.

Enchanter (Wizard)

Returning closer to its 2014 design, the Enchanter focuses on charm, crowd control, and mental manipulation. This makes the subclass a strong choice for players who want to influence enemies and allies alike, bending wills or avoiding conflict altogether through magical persuasion or domination.

Necromancer (Wizard)

One of the most intriguing updates is the Necromancer’s ability to summon multiple undead creatures. The subclass also gains features that allow the Necromancer to heal by drawing life essence from their undead minions. This adds depth and versatility, reinforcing the subclass’s theme of commanding death while sustaining their own vitality on the front lines of battle.

Transmuter (Wizard)

The Transmuter gains a powerful shape-shifting ability, significantly expanding its utility and thematic appeal. Also, the subclass’s "Transmuter's Stone" now comes with the durability option by default. This change was made because the durability option was identified as the strongest and most popular choice during playtesting compared to its alternatives. The shape-shifting trait introduces a kinetic, dynamic mechanic that many players anticipated, seamlessly integrated within the archetype’s philosophy of transformation and alchemical mastery.

Notably Absent Subclasses

Several subclasses from the initial June 2025 arcane playtest were omitted in the September update, suggesting the design team is still refining or considering these options for future release. These include the Arcana Domain Cleric, Ancestral Sorcery Sorcerer, and the Hexblade Warlock Patron.

New Apocalyptic-Themed Subclasses

In August 2025, Wizards of the Coast also released a distinctive Unearthed Arcana introducing four new subclasses steeped in apocalyptic lore closely associated with the Dark Sun setting. Although not explicitly named in this release, these subclasses draw inspiration from the post-apocalyptic world of Athas, featuring psionics and themes of scarcity, survival, and ruin.

The all-new apocalyptic subclasses include:

- Circle of Preservation (Druid)

- Gladiator (Fighter)

- Defiled Sorcery (Sorcerer)

- Sorcerer-King Patron (Warlock)

Overview of Apocalyptic Subclasses

Circle of Preservation (Druid)

Druids of this circle are guardians dedicated to conservation and healing a scarred world. These druids tirelessly work to restore blighted lands depleted by greed and devastation. Their magic emphasizes restorative and protective effects, capable of breathing life back into barren fields and shielding fragile ecosystems. This subclass resonates deeply with the theme of nature fighting back amid an apocalypse.

Gladiator (Fighter)

The Gladiator epitomizes brutal, close-quarters combat. This subclass focuses on raw strength and displays of martial prowess, perfect for arenas or harsh survival scenarios. The subclass features aggressive combat maneuvers and talents that allow for dominating foes physically, reflecting the gladiatorial culture of forced combat and survival.

Defiled Sorcery (Sorcerer)

Drawing from corrupted and dark energies, the Defiled Sorcery subclass imbues sorcerers with devastating but costly power. Their magic leeches life from the environment and opponents, emphasizing that such power comes with a price. This subclass serves as a dark mirror to the preservationist druid, highlighting the destructive potential of unchecked magic in a broken world.

Sorcerer-King Patron (Warlock)

Warlocks with this patron gain psionic and commanding abilities that reflect the legendary Sorcerer-Kings of Athas. This subclass embodies control through mental domination and overwhelming magical force, combining elements of psionics with traditional warlock patron powers. Serving as a potent choice for players who enjoy commanding influence and psychic might, the Sorcerer-King Patron suggests powerful narratives tied to rulership and ancient sorcery.

New Class: The Psion

In the latest news in Unearthed Arcana, the Psion class is moving further down the development pipeline with its latest playtest update as of October 2nd. Psionics have been a recurring theme in D&D, most notably linked to settings like the Dark Sun campaign or older edition core rulebooks. Despite high interest, 5th edition only provided psionics through subclasses like the Aberrant Mind Sorcerer, or the Mystic playtest, or even with specific spells, but never provided a dedicated base class. 

Differentiating itself from the others on this list, the Psion is the first wholly new D&D 5e class since the Artificer’s debut in 2019, making it one of the most significant Unearthed Arcana updates of late. 

The Psion

The Psion is a full spellcasting class that channels “magic of the mind” over raw arcana, relying on Intelligence for spellcasting and psychic abilities. Coming to the table as an entirely new unique caster, distinct from Wizards and Sorcerers, the Psion stands to shake up the current class structure in new and exciting ways.

• Psion
  • Features: The core resource for triggering powerful psionic abilities, is Psionic Energy Die, which scales in size and quantity as the Psion levels. Psionic spellcasting follows a similar progression trajectory to standard caster progressions. The Psion comes with D6 Hit Die.

With each passing year, the number of options available to players grows more and more. And with the remarkable amount of releases in the last year, and the upcoming releases scheduled for the next year, we’re entering an era of unprecedented freedom and creativity in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. These latest Unearthed Arcana subclasses mark a considered evolution for Dungeons & Dragons, one that blends refinement of the beloved and traditional TTRPG experience, with the growing desire for bold thematic experiments in narrative and character design. People come to D&D to achieve the impossible and build the characters of their dreams. With this peek into the latest materials in Unearthed Arcana, it's clear that the future is bright for those looking to craft unique and compelling characters.