With the 2024 rules revision, Dungeons & Dragons 5e got some big changes. The goal of this update was to rebalance and clarify the game mechanics based on years of player feedback. With the update, we got a new version of the Player’s Handbook, DM Guide, and Monster Manual to fully update everything from player character class options to monsters and more. This also means some classes, like the Artificer, are in temporary limbo until new source texts reintroduce them with the 2024 5e rules. But while change is always a bit of a mixed bag, there are a few revised subclasses that D&D fans are already impressed with.
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It’s been just over a year since the 2024 revision of the Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook was released. Now that we’ve had some time to try out the new and allegedly improved class and subclass options, there are a few clear winners. The new rules introduced a couple of brand-new subclasses, but many are just reworked versions of previous options. And some of them are just hands-down way more fun to play. These 5 D&D subclasses in particular have improved the most with the 2024 rules update.
5. Warrior of the Elements Monk
Playing as a monk in Dungeons & Dragons can be tricky. It’s a melee class, but without the full tank abilities of donning hefty armor. And the Way of the Four Elements monk, aka the Avatar, was particularly tricky to play well. Many of the abilities cost too much Ki, making it tough to really leverage in battle.
By contrast, the Warrior of the Elements version in the revised 5e rules offers a better balance. The Reach ability makes it easier to smack your opponents at a distance, and Elemental Strike lets you add elemental damage without spending Ki (now Focus Points). Some players wish it felt a bit more like a bender from Avatar: The Last Airbender, but there’s no denying it’s a mechanical improvement from the odd caster hybrid offered by the prior rendition.
4. Wild Magic Sorcerer
Allow me to introduce you to the class I am currently playing and loving in D&D 5e. The Wild Magic Sorcerer has always been a bit of a gamble thanks to the Wild Magic table’s punishing ways. But in the prior version, more options were bad than good, making every spell slot use a major risk. While some players liked the chaos, many avoided the class for that very reason.
In the 2024 rules revision, the Wild Magic table gets an upgrade. There are still some risky options, such as being turned into a plant, but more of the randomness of the dice is in your favor. That means the Wild Magic Sorcerer retains the randomness without as much likelihood of hamstringing you in a tough combat. The subclass still misses out on the bonus slots offered by other Sorcerer options, but more beneficial Wild Magic Surges help balance it out.
3. Archfey Patron Warlock
In general, Warlocks got some big changes in the 5e rules revision. Players now unlock their subclass sooner and gain access to more abilities earlier on as a result. This especially helped better balance the Archfey Warlock, a fan-favorite option for its fae-adjacent vibes.
In the prior ruleset, the Archfey Patron Warlock suffered from power creep at higher levels. Abilities that started out solid quickly lost efficacy at higher levels, despite still sounding cool. By contrast, the 2024 revision offers a wider array of abilities, including fun teleportation options from Steps of the Fey, which unlocks Misty Step at Level 3. With Misty Step and Blink in the arsenal, this makes for a fun Nightcrawler from the X-Men cosplay and overall enjoyable playstyle compared to its previous rendition.
2. Eldritch Knight Fighter
The Eldritch Knight has always been one of those subclasses that sounds cool, but felt pretty limited to actually play. The previous version was limited to specific schools of magic, making it tricky to get the right build to actually work. Players found it so overly complicated to do well that many wound up skipping it altogether.
The 2024 rules revision helps streamline this class in some major ways. First, the spell class restrictions have been removed, allowing more flexibility with builds. Abilities like War Magic help amp up damage output earlier on, and join up with improved abilities like War Magic to make the blend of caster and fighter work more smoothly. For many fans, this upgrade makes the class finally viable to play and enjoy compared to its prior version.
1. Oath of Devotion Paladin
Despite being one of the more popular Paladin subclass options, the Oath of Devotion Paladin could be pretty lackluster to play. The subclass suffered from being a bit too middling, creating a sort of jack of all trades, master of none situation. It was good, but not great, leading many players to choose other options.
By contrast, the 2024 rules update brings a lot more versatility to the Oath of Devotion Paladin. Its Sacred Weapon can be activated more easily, and key abilities like Smite and Lay On Hands have become Bonus Actions, improving the action economy. Plus, Channel Divinity scales at level, making it more viable long term. In many ways, this subclass may well be the biggest improvement in the newly updated 2024 5e rules, and it’s a big win for Paladin fans.
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