Dungeons and Dragons 5e has a wide variety of classes in the official material, but some of the best classes in the game are homebrew. Homebrew classes are creations developed specifically for D&D this did not come from one of the official rulebooks published by Wizards of the Coast. In some cases, in a more colloquial sense, it usually means a fan-made class or kingdom. With the release of the game’s fifth edition in 2014, fans have more tools than ever to develop their own classes and abilities with the game’s mechanics.
The best D&D 5e homebrew classes build on ideas that the official material doesn’t adequately explore, allowing players looking for a different approach to the usual classes to fulfill their fantasies. From strong wizards to intelligent physical classes, The best homebrew classes can explore unusual ideas without breaking the game’s balance. Although D&D is undergoing major evolutions in 2024 with the introduction of new core rulebooks, the focus on backwards compatibility ensures that players will be able to utilize their favorite 5e homebrew classes for years to come.
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Cursed (by Ross Leiser)
An afflicted class that uses its curse to its advantage
Curses are generally not a desirable trait in a character class. The homebrew class Cursed by Ross Leiser turns this on its head, making it a class to be reckoned with. The Accursed is described as “a class that turns its struggles into its strengths” and The type of curse determines the direction in which the character will evolve.
There are five potential curses that can affect the Cursed: Lycanthropy, Misfortune, Possession, Weaponization, or Vampirism. Each comes with its own strengths and weaknesses, such as the Misfortune Curse that makes its owner skilled at manipulating luck and deceiving fate. The class also comes with 16 new spells that can be used by the different brands of Cursed and can even be adapted for some other classes (mainly Warlock).
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The cipher (by LightningOpal)
An adaptation of a Pillars of Eternity class
Pillars of Eternity was a 2015 RPG from Obsidian that served as a spiritual successor to Baldur’s Gate at the moment. One of the game’s classes was the Cipher, a rare magical being with the power to reach into the minds of others and manipulate their souls. Lightning Opal he has recreated the class for Dungeons and Dragons, to be played and enjoyed at the table game.
The class is still undergoing adjustments, but is designed to act as a psion-like half-caster whose magical abilities rely on physical attacks. In practice, this means that Cipher has nothing stopping him from going on a killing spree to increase his magical attack power, except morale, of course.
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Swordmage (by Arcane Athenæum)
The best in the world of magical and physical fighting
THE D&D The world has many users who engage in magical and physical attacks and abilities. The trope is so common that it has its own word, the “gish”, from the Githyanki term for this type of fighter. Unfortunately, the fighter who dabbles in magic (or vice versa) is underrepresented in the official class list of the Dunges and Dragons at the moment.
The Arcane Athenaeum aims to change that through the invention of the homebrew Swordmage class, affectionately referred to by the community as “Arcane Gish”. As the name implies, the Swordmage is inspired by the 4th edition class of the same name, with a bit of Pathfinder’s Paladin and mage class thrown into the mix. Some might consider the end result a bit overdone, but with a few tweaks, this magic sword wielder is amazing to play with.
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The Summoner (by Yojimno)
Inspired by the summoners from Final Fantasy games
The Summoner was created by Yojimno inspired by Final Fantasy games. Specifically, Yojimno cites the system used by summoners like Yuna in Final Fantasy 10. Homemade beer D&D class The Summoner, as the name suggests, is capable of Summon a monster to fight alongside them in battle.
There are several subclasses for the Summoner, which determine what type of monster they can summon into battle. Summons vary in style and ability, such as the humanoid treant-like creature or even sentient armor. Spellcasting is inspired by Warlock, but the creator made a point of not giving the Summoner too much power as a caster, to keep the class distinct from other magic-using options.
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The muscular wizard (by the finger)
A punch-focused D&D sorcerer
Wizards and wizards can be candidates for the most powerful classes in the world. D&Dbut some players wonder what would happen if they could use brute force as well as magic. The aptly named “Muscle Wizard” bluntly answers this question in a humorous way. Originally a joke concept, Reual Nathan Onyrian created guidelines for interpreting the class.
Muscle Wizard’s signature spell is ‘Fist’which allows a character to use an action or bonus action to deal enemies with a single powerful punch. Despite his obvious joke status, Muscle Wizard’s off-key sense of humor manages to endear himself to many. D&D fans, and less serious campaigns might enjoy having a character in the Fist cast every now and then.
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The Artificer (by WeirdoWhoever)
Combination of magic and mechanics
Although many players have attempted to homebrew with an Artificer class for their own uses, StrangeWhoever taking on these magical inventors stands out from the rest. This iteration is actually WeirdoWhoever’s second pass at the concept, refined to better fit the core rules of the D&D and is different from the official 5e class.
This version of the Artificer can take on a variety of character builds as a battle artificerfrom a ranged armorer to a tank knight in mechanical armor. Weirdo Whoever even added a beast taming specialization in the form of the Effigy Master, who commands mechanical beasts.
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Inventor (by KibblesTasty)
An alternative approach to the craftsman
Inventor is one of the first homebrew classes that KibblesTasty created and remains one of the most popular. This version of the original D&D Artificer gives the class more depth and playability. The Inventor is an ever-curious and evolving character who is always improving his craft.
The Inventor has a crafting specialty, from potions to gadgets, and their specialty shapes the way they grow throughout their journey. KibblesTasty’s homebrew class gives players more freedom in how far they take their creations, from creating thunder-infused cannons to bring their equipment to life with the “forbidden art of flesh.” The Inventor isn’t for everyone, but Artificer fans will enjoy using this more versatile and creative version of the class.
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The Shaman (by Patrick Mitrega)
Ritual power with D&D talent
Patrick Mitrega The Shaman’s approach has undergone numerous reiterations and adjustments in an attempt to balance its characteristics. As a Shaman, players harness the power of spirits to communicate with the dead and perform various rituals.
The fourth version of Patrick’s Shaman is available on the DMsGuild as a pay-what-you-want offering, meaning players can donate or download it for free. The class features two main subclasses: the Journey of Harmony focuses on healing, while the Journey of Wrath prioritizes combat. These two paths can lead to very different gaming experiences, but both can be rewarding.
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The Sage (by LaserLlama)
A D&D lesson on common domain
Many of D&DClasses in the game, homebrew or base game, rely on the use of magic as part of their skill sets. When creating Savant, LaserLlama decided to create an innovative non-magical class that would change the way players thought about the game. With ingenious minds and the ability to adapt quickly, Savants can take on a variety of professions, from archeology to medicine.
Although it is somewhat similar to the base Rogue class, the Savant attracts players interested in relying on their cunning in ways that go beyond subterfuge. It is an unusual change in the use of magic or brute force that dominates many D&D play, and it can be especially fun and unique because of it. The class has undergone a series of revisions to reach the latest version 4.7.0, which brings a number of balance adjustments while adding new features to an already complex class.
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The Necromancer (by Mozared)
Raising the Dead with a Detailed Touch
Some of the most popular D&D monsters involve undead creatures such as zombies and liches. The Necromancer class by Mozared opts for something a little different, allowing players to fight alongside the dead. Even in a campaign where characters generally do good, exploiting the powers of darkness can reap powerful results.
Unlike the School of Necromancy for Witches in the Player’s Handbook, Mozared’s dedicated class offers resources in every flavor that fits under the necromancy umbrella. From communicating with the dead through séances to draining the life force of their enemies, players who choose this class can properly explore the macabre.
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The Psion (by KibblesTasty)
D&D Homebrew Mind Magic
The Psion homebrew class is reminiscent of Star Wars D&D homebrew, giving players Jedi-like powers while adapting to the game’s basic flavor. Developed by the popular Homebrewer KibblesTastyPsions rely on the power of their own minds as opposed to an external source of magic or a Sorcerer’s magical birthright.
KibblesTasty’s Psion class comes with a range of archetypes and disciplinesallowing players to experience their Psion in a variety of ways. This may make it a slightly more complex class to set up than those included in the official material, but players who prioritize magical flexibility over raw combat power may find it worthwhile.
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The Witch (by Mage Hand Press)
Salamander eye and frog toe galore
The website Magic Handformerly known as Vecna’s Middle Finger, offers an intriguing homely interpretation of witches. Besides the obvious familiars and cauldrons, witches are unique because they have their own list of spells to draw from.
Known as ‘curses’ and ‘jinxes’, these black magic spells focus on inflicting pain and suffering, with the few white magic spells reserved for healing and team boosts. Spells like Evil Eye, Mire, and Pox give this class a distinctly wizarding flavor that stands out from anything published by Wizards of the Coast.
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The Scholar (by AM Black)
Intellectual pursuits in D&D
Created by AM Black, the scholar is such a well-developed homebrew class that some fans want to see the creators at Wizards of the Coast make it an official class. As an intelligence-based class that doesn’t focus on magic, the Scholar offers a different way for players to explore 5th edition.
Unlike the more practical Savant, the Scholar carries a strong inclination toward book intelligence and intellectual pursuits. Most important to the Scholar are ‘discoveries’, a wide variety of buffs that Scholars can learn and swap as they level up. Discoveries range from gaining additional proficiencies and languages ​​to learning a little magic.
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The Boxer (by Benjamin Huffman)
A home version of D&D melee combat
Inspired by D&Dtraditional monk class, the Boxer diverges from its source by exchanging mystical arts and discipline for frailty and physical strength. While the current full version of Pugilist is a paid feature, a trial version offers a less expansive source for the class for free.
Instead of regular specializations, the Boxer can choose from a variety of fight clubs. The most notable of these fight clubs is Dog and Hound, which allows members to take on any type of loyal canine companion.
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The Blood Hunter (by Matt Mercer)
A Hombrew class with dark D&D powers
Matt Mercer, Podcast DM Critical Role and professional voice actor, he is also known for the 5e homebrew material he created. His most popular class to date comes in the form of the blood hunter. As Blood Hunter, players can create their own Van Helsing and dabble in forbidden powers such as lycanthropy..
With a variety of deeply developed spec orders, multiclass options, and a balanced yet in-depth leveling system, Blood Hunter is considered official by many 5th edition players. Certainly appears in more campaigns than average Dungeons and Dragons homebrew class, and it’s easy to see why this happens.
Sources: Reddit (1, 2, 3), Reual Onyrian/GM Paste, Patrick Mitrega/DMs Guild, LaserLlama/Patreon, Wizard’s hand press, Benjamin Huffman/DMs Guild, Matt Mercer/D&D Beyond, Yojimno/D&D BeyondKibblesTasty (1, 2), The Arcane Athenaeum, LightningOpal/GM Paste, Ross Leiser/DMs Guild