Ravenloft has been the backdrop for horror, dark evil, and terrifying creatures that have terrorized players since 1983. Yet, Ravenloft is still not satiated, and neither are we. Set to release on June 16, 2026, (or, as of publishing, 7 days, but who’s keeping count?) Ravenloft: The Horrors Within will give players the ability to not only meet Dark Lords like Strahd once again, but also explore new areas, encounter new creatures, and expand Ravenloft further so that it can unleash all of its terrors, known and unknown.

Let’s take a look at what’s in store in Ravenloft: The Horrors Within!

Subclasses and Species

To start off this new expansion, players will be introduced to seven classes, a few of which may be familiar, and a couple that are new to the expansion. They include the Spirit Bard, Grave Cleric, Phantom Rogue, Shadow Sorcerer, Undead Warlock, Reanimator Artifice and Hollow Warden Ranger.

The Reanimator Artificer is a character that defies the laws of nature, taking scraps of corpses and stitching them together through a mixture of necromancy and dark science, creating their own grotesque servant. Players will also have the option of the Hollow Warden Ranger. This is a character that lives in the shadows of the wilds, using the dark forces of nature to become the predator, a true force to be reckoned with and one that is meant to be feared.

The other classes have not been neglected in the expansion. For the new adventures that are sure to come, they have been reimagined and adjusted in order for players to have more choice in how their characters traverse the dark and twisted domains that make up Ravenloft.

With classes set to enter Ravenloft’s dark realm, there also comes the introduction of lineage species.

 Players may already be aware of the Hexblood, Reborn, and Dhampir as they have been viewed in a previous release, Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft. With this expansion, players can look forward to an updated version of them, which will add new options in character creation and gameplay. In addition, there is the Lupin species, canine humanoids who are fierce warriors and have an intense dislike for lycanthropes.

Roll20 is making character building easier by including these new subclasses and species available in the Character Builder. Players will have the ability to drag and drop them onto the improved character sheet so that the fun (or pain) of your campaign can start sooner rather than later!

Backgrounds and Dark Gifts

Players can also expect new and updated backgrounds including the mysterious Mist Wanderer, Spirit Medium, Haunted One, and Investigator. (The Haunted One and Investigator backgrounds also include Dark Gifts.)

Ravenloft Dark Gifts are supernatural boons granted by sinister and other worldly entities. These have been revised for the 5.5e rules framework, which restructures them into a feat-based system, giving players the option to play as corrupted characters. These include Living Shadow, Mist Walker, Symbiotic Being, Touch of Death, Aberrant Anatomy, Echoing Soul, Gathered Whispers, Second Skin and Watchers.

Dark Gifts and Backgrounds will be a snap to integrate into character sheets! Roll20 has made it easier with the ability to drag and drop Dark Gifts and pre-built background features from the Compendium directly.

Domains and Dark Lords

So, you’ve made a crazy cool (maybe even super scary) character with wicked cool and terrifying abilities. What to do next? Go on an adventure, obviously!

Ravenloft: The Horrors Within will reveal the Domains of Dread, 16 major domains which will include places such as Barovia, Borca, Darkon, Dementlieu, and Har’Akir. These and the other domains bring their own flavor of regional horror to terrorize players and bring glee to scheming DMs. To illustrate the different areas to be found whilst exploring, there are 20 new maps that include new settlements and adventure sites to serve as the backdrop to terrifying and exciting adventures.

Speaking of encounters, players will have the opportunity to run into one (or more, if your DM is feeling spicy) of the 17 Dark Lords, complete with stat blocks. These will include, to name a few, Strahd, Azalin Rex, Hazlika, Viktra Mordenheim, Chakuna, Lord Soth, Ebonbane, and the return of Cthulhu!

To explore these domains and for the encounters with Dark Lords Roll20 will have fully rendered Area Maps for each domain, Dynamic Lighting (Roll20 subscription required for use of Dynamic Lighting), Map Pins, Automated Traps, and so much more! Want to surprise your players with a Dark Lord? DMs will have the ability to drag and drop their Dark Lord’s premade token anywhere on the map and have ease of access to the pre-made stat-block.