Dungeons and Dragons: The 2024 Classes' Biggest Winners and Losers Explained

Dungeons and Dragons‘ updated Player’s Handbook has been out for just over a month now, and it’s easy to see which classes have fared the best from its changes. Though this status quo is bound to shift, especially as later D&D books introduce even more character options, the game’s current class balancing is pretty cut-and-dry.

Every class from the 2014 Player’s Handbook has been remastered for D&D 2024. All of these changes can be found in the new Player’s Handbook, which was released in September—a revitalized array of new player options nestled within 384 pages. In addition to giving new players more of a helping hand, the book gives every class new options and more to do; there’s little doubt that, on aggregate, every class is more powerful.

The Best And Worst Class Changes In D&D 2024’s PHB

While it’s clear that every class is more powerful in 2024, especially considering the extra feat characters now take as part of their background, the classes didn’t exactly come out equal. Martial characters got a big boost with D&D 2024‘s weapon masteries, but spellcasters still saw even more powerful with buffed spells and bonus abilities, even if some spells saw long-awaited nerfs. Some overlooked classes finally got the glow-up they’ve always deserved, while others continue to fall by the wayside. Though the 2024 PHB is an overall positive, some classes still come last in line.

The Monk And The Sorcerer Did The Best In 2024

D&D 2024‘s Monk is an obvious winner among the book’s revised classes. The Monk has long been considered D&D 5e‘s weakest class, relying on an overtaxed pool of resources and a weak basic attack. In 2024, the Monk’s Focus Point resource isn’t consumed as fast thanks to more efficient abilities, not to mention Uncanny Metabolism—which allows Monks to, once per day, regain all expended Ki points when Initiative is rolled. Their basic attack is also stronger, with their punches starting out at 1d6 damage and progressing to 1d12. Moreover, the class has a number of new powers and improved abilities, as well as some major subclass buffs.

Though not as celebrated as the Monk’s changes, the Sorcerer got some significant changes in D&D 2024. Most important is its new Innate Sorcery feature, which works similarly to the Barbarian’s Rage, a temporary buff to spellcasting ability. This brand-new ability is on top of all the Sorcerer’s other bells and whistles, which themselves have been buffed via changes to spells and subclasses.

The Paladin And The Ranger Got The Short End Of The Stick

On the other side of the coin, D&D 2024‘s Paladin got something of a nerf. Its Divine Smite was downgraded to a spell, limiting the number of times it can be used per turn to just once. It could be argued that the Paladin’s Smite was too powerful of an ability, and to a near-disruptive extent at some tables, but full casters still have hugely powerful spells like Shield and Heat Metal, which go untouched in 2024. Otherwise, the Paladin doesn’t get much new, but features outside Smite are generally alright.

The Ranger has been the worst-received class in D&D 2024, chiefly because it now relies hugely on Hunter’s Mark, a 1st-level spell. This spell gives the ranger a boost to damage and some tracking capability, but the new abilities that boost it arrive far too late in the Ranger’s development. Furthermore, many old abilities have been removed without a replacement, save for a few more opportunities to grab spells and proficiencies. While a good number of the cut abilities weren’t particularly powerful, their omission makes the Ranger feel even more divorced from its core concept. A focus on Hunter’s Mark above everything has only served to make the class’ identity ever the more muddled.

Dungeons and Dragons

Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.

Franchise

Dungeons & Dragons

Advertisement

Original Release Date

1974-00-00

Designer

E. Gary Gygax , Dave Arneson

Advertisement