The world of Dungeons & Dragons is preparing for a grand return to one of its most iconically terrifying settings: Ravenloft. As part of the upcoming Season of Horror, Ravenloft: The Horrors Within is set to revitalize the horror aspect of D&D with player options, DM tools, and plenty more. A highly anticipated release that promises to shed some light on the mist-shrouded Domains of Dread (including Strahd's Barovia) as well as expand the lore of the Shadowfell, and introduce all-new mechanics designed to send chills around the table.

What Are "The Horrors Within"?

Ravenloft: The Horrors Within is the inaugural release for Wizards of the Coast's new Seasons release model, and it's already been earning some hype since its announcement on March 3rd. While we'll have to wait for its June release to nail down the specifics, we've already been blessed with some sneak peeks, including previews of new classes, species, and even a look at Strahd Von Zarovich himself.

Ravenloft: The Horrors Within is not an adventure module, but it is still tied to a setting. In previous materials, the Domains of Dread were usually referenced in the context of Barovia. Ravenloft: The Horrors Within expands on the domains beyond, painting a fuller image of the Shadowfell at large. While Ravenloft: The Horrors Within won’t send players on a horror-themed adventure, it will equip both players and DMs with the tools they need to bring horror into their games and even experiment with different tones like gothic horror, dark fantasy, and cosmic horror.

New Character Options

Whenever sourcebooks are released, readers tend to flip straight to the new character options to dream up some character ideas for their next game. New species, new subclasses, and new feats are often the most enticing elements of a sourcebook release, and to that end, fans should be pretty happy with Ravenloft: The Horrors Within.

New Species

Taking inspiration from the many denizens of Ravenloft, The Horrors Within introduces new species that embody the setting's darker nature. Some have been spotted in previous releases, specifically Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, which offered some returning species as Lineage options. In Ravenloft: The Horrors Within, lineages appear to function more as separate species of their own.

Of the four confirmed lineages making an appearance, three are returning: the Dhampir, the Hexblood, and the Undead, each long-awaited horror-themed species. A fourth, the all-new Lupin, is set to shake things up as a wolf-like species. This raises the question: What happens when a Lupin contracts Lycanthropy? Double werewolf?

New Dark Gift Feats

Furthering the deepened character options and thematic integrations, The Horrors Within reintroduces the Dark Gift feats. Originally sighted in Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft, Dark Gift feats were a creative way to add a touch of the macabre to your character creation at the cost of an origin feat. As with most dark powers, these feats are often double-edged swords, offering strong benefits paired with a narrative or mechanical cost. In Van Richten's Guide, popular Dark Gift feats included the Living Shadow, or the Echoing Soul, which imposed direct advantages in combat, with the possibility for some game-changing drawbacks. In Ravenloft: The Horrors Within, these options will see a major upgrade with some new Dark Gift feats. We still don’t know what feats we’ll be getting or how many, but with Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, eight dark gift feats, players will have plenty of options fit for taking on the Season of Horror.

New Subclasses
Perhaps the most enticing promise of Ravenloft: The Horrors Within is the upcoming subclasses thematically tailored for Ravenloft's unique brand of terror. While we haven't officially confirmed each subclass, playtests strongly indicate the inclusion of a few fan favorites. From 2025's Horror Subclasses Unearthed Arcana, the following subclasses are expected to make a return.

College of Spirits (Bard)
A new bard subclass that transforms the jolly performances of the bard into eerie incantations designed to invoke spirits from beyond. College of Spirits bards are able to communicate with the dead, summon strength from spirits, and even divine the future with fortune-telling abilities.

Grave Domain (Cleric)
Clerics of the Grave Domain tend to feel right at home in the spooky shadows of Ravenloft as the premier conduit for the forces of death and the afterlife. Grave Domain clerics are equipped with a wide range of necromatic spells, damage bonuses to render their enemies obsolete, and even advanced healing abilities.

Phantom (Rogue)
Rogues who walk the path of the Phantom excel at operating in dead silence, dancing between shadows with the grace and even the consult of a ghost. Phantom Rogues can gain temporary weapon proficiencies by invoking the abilities of warrior spirits, and can even turn into mist to traverse the battlefield.

Other Potential Horror Subclasses

While specific subclasses like the Reanimator (Artificer) have been hinted at through Unearthed Arcana, The Horrors Within is likely to feature other thematic subclasses that align with the diverse horrors of Ravenloft. These could include subclasses that lean into the psychological aspects of fear, the occult rituals of dark cults, or the monstrous nature of some of Ravenloft's inhabitants, like the Lupin or the Undead.

Ravenloft: The Horrors Within as a Dungeon Master's Toolkit

While later Seasons like the Season of Magic will include both sourcebooks and adventure modules, Ravenloft: The Horrors Within will be the sole book release for the Season of Horror; however, don't underestimate its many applications. With tons of player options and comprehensive resources for Dungeon Masters, Ravenloft: The Horrors Within stands to serve everyone at the table as a supplement for both taking part in compelling horror campaigns and running them.

New Monsters

The Domains of Dread extend far beyond the mists of Barovia, introducing dozens of new creatures that belong to the realm at large. Ravenloft: The Horrors Within introduces these newly included monsters as Fearsome Mist Denizens, which range from unique takes on classic monsters to entirely new abominations born from the Shadowfell's corrupting influence. While we aren't sure exactly what monsters will be included, Ravenloft: The Horrors Within promises to provide DMs with the tools to run these creatures effectively, and most importantly, in a way that will truly scare your players. Purely speculating, the impressive Strahd Von Zarovich art seems to indicate a possible appearance or updated stat block for everyone's favorite vampire.

Expanding the Domains of Dread

Beyond the familiar landscapes of Barovia, The Horrors Within significantly expands the known Domains of Dread. This includes detailed descriptions of new realms, each lorded over by a unique and terrifying Darklord. It might be that each domain represents different themes, challenges, and horror subgenres, ranging from the occult to the cosmic. The Shadowfell is massive, and there are more domains than are fit to print, but some of the more prolific regions are likely to make an appearance. These include:

• Bluetspur, a domain dominated by mind flayers.
• Darkon, the largest Domain of Dread, ruled over by the lich-king Azalin.
• Arak, a domain ruled by drow.
• Har'Akir, a desert domain ruled by the mummy lord Ankhtepot.

No matter where you stand within the Shadowfell, whether within the domain of Darkon or Arak, you’ll be confined by the mystical mists of the region, which keep all life forms trapped within. Only ever parting for the bravest of heroes. An eternity can be spent within the Shadowfell, which has long since been as large as a nation itself, but until now has remained mostly a mystery.

Release Details and What Comes Next

Ravenloft: The Horrors Within is officially slated for release on June 16, 2026, but will be available for pre-order in early April. The release will kick off Wizards of the Coast's new Seasons Roadmap and prelude the following Seasons of Magic, which will include two new books, supplemental materials, and an adventure module. However, for the immediate future, players will enjoy a return to Ravenloft that just might keep them occupied long enough to forget the world they left behind.

Explore the Horrors Within

Ravenloft: The Horrors Within might just be the most ambitious horror expansion Dungeons & Dragons has seen to date. From the moment you open its ominous pages, you'll be greeted with player options and mechanics that will both chip away at players' sanity and make their enemies cower in fear. For Dungeon Masters, Ravenloft: The Horrors Within offers a rich toolkit to work with, including new monsters, lore, and intricate mechanics to equip storytellers with the creative freedom to tell horror stories that go beyond the reach of Curse of Strahd.

Keep an eye on the Roll20 Marketplace to grab your pre-order copy of Ravenloft: The Horrors Within and enjoy the full glory of this season's inaugural release direct to your VTT experience. Pre-orders open on April 13th, with a wide release on June 16th. Can’t wait till then? Check out Roll20’s recent Curse of Strahd remaster, complete with map pins, foreground layers, and tons of quality of life improvements in preparation for the release of Ravenloft: The Horrors Within.