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The 2024 Player’s Handbook revises fifth edition rather than introducing a new edition. It keeps all 12 player classes and gives each four subclasses, for 48 options in the book. Three subclasses are entirely new: Path of the World Tree Barbarian, College of Dance Bard, and Circle of the Sea Druid. The rest of the changes range from revised class features and spell lists to renamed, imported, or reworked subclasses.
What changed in the 2024 Player’s Handbook?
D&D Beyond’s official comparison, published September 3, 2024, describes changes across class features, equipment, proficiencies, spell lists, and subclass mechanics. The scale and type of change differ by class: this is not simply a new set of subclass names, nor does every class receive the same kind of redesign.
The book’s structure is 12 classes with four subclasses apiece. D&D Beyond identifies three subclasses as entirely new to the 2024 handbook. Other subclasses that first appeared in earlier supplements are included here with revisions; they should not be mistaken for brand-new creations.
All 48 subclasses in the 2024 Player’s Handbook
| Class | 2024 Player’s Handbook subclasses |
|---|---|
| Barbarian | Path of the Berserker; Path of the Wild Heart; Path of the World Tree; Path of the Zealot |
| Bard | College of Dance; College of Glamour; College of Lore; College of Valor |
| Cleric | Life Domain; Light Domain; Trickery Domain; War Domain |
| Druid | Circle of the Land; Circle of the Moon; Circle of the Sea; Circle of the Stars |
| Fighter | Battle Master; Champion; Eldritch Knight; Psi Warrior |
| Monk | Warrior of Mercy; Warrior of Shadow; Warrior of the Elements; Warrior of the Open Hand |
| Paladin | Oath of Devotion; Oath of Glory; Oath of the Ancients; Oath of Vengeance |
| Ranger | Beast Master; Fey Wanderer; Gloom Stalker; Hunter |
| Rogue | Arcane Trickster; Assassin; Soulknife; Thief |
| Sorcerer | Aberrant Sorcery; Clockwork Sorcery; Draconic Sorcery; Wild Magic Sorcery |
| Warlock | Archfey Patron; Celestial Patron; Fiend Patron; Great Old One Patron |
| Wizard | Abjurer; Diviner; Evoker; Illusionist |
The three entirely new subclass options are Path of the World Tree, College of Dance, and Circle of the Sea. Several other options in the table came from earlier supplements and were revised for this handbook.
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- UNLEASH NEW POSSIBILITIES—Introducing the 2024 Player’s Handbook, the new and improved guide for fifth edition Dungeons and Dragons. Redesigned with 10 years of feedback from the D and D community, the essential Dungeons and Dragons rulebook is bigger and better than ever before
- NEW CHARACTER OPTIONS YOU’LL LOVE—Create unforgettable characters with 12 core classes, 48 intriguing subclasses, and 10 distinctive species. Buff up your character’s backstory with 16 compelling backgrounds and 75 fantastic feats.
- STUNNING ARTWORK—With vibrant new illustrations of every single character class, subclass, background, species, weapon, and armor, our thrilling artwork also features new and familiar spells, brought to life for the first time ever.
- FRESH and ENGAGING GAMEPLAY—Change up your combat style with fascinating new Weapon Masteries for your character class. Our new Tools and Crafting system lets you use your tools to craft items and impact travel and exploration.
- DESIGNED JUST FOR YOU—We’ve thoughtfully redesigned this book with an improved layout, better organization, and an alphabetized Rules Glossary. Find whatever you’re looking for with ease
Barbarian updates
The 2024 Barbarian’s Rage is revised, and the class gains Weapon Mastery, Primal Knowledge, and Brutal Strike. Its four subclasses are Berserker, Wild Heart, World Tree, and Zealot. Path of the World Tree is new; Path of the Wild Heart is the renamed Path of the Totem Warrior. The other listed options are part of the 2024 roster, but the comparison does not characterize them as entirely new.
Bard updates
Bardic Inspiration and Font of Inspiration are revised. College of Dance is the new subclass. College of Glamour, which first appeared in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, is included with revisions. Lore and Valor complete the book’s four-college roster.
Cleric updates
The Cleric receives a revised spell list and revised or new class features. The 2024 book includes the Life, Light, Trickery, and War domains. Knowledge, Nature, and Tempest domains are not reprinted in this handbook; that absence is not the same as a statement that players can never use them at a table.
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- COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION—Get all three 2024 Core Rulebooks and discover new character options you’ll love, creative world-building inspiration, stunning artwork, and monsters galore
- STUNNING ARTWORK—Delight in spectacular new artwork for character classes, subclasses, weapons, armor, legendary D&D figures, almost every monster, and so much more
- FRESH & ENGAGING GAMEPLAY—Change up your combat style with fascinating new Weapon Masteries for your character class. Our new Tools and Crafting system lets you use your tools to craft items and impact travel and exploration
- NEW CHARACTER OPTIONS YOU’LL LOVE—Create unforgettable characters with 12 core classes, 48 intriguing subclasses, and 10 distinctive species. Buff up your character’s backstory with 16 compelling backgrounds and 75 fantastic feats
Druid updates
Circle of the Sea is the new Druid subclass; Circle of the Land, Circle of the Moon, and Circle of the Stars round out the 2024 selection. Changes to Druid subclasses are subclass-specific, so a change to one circle should not be read as applying identically to all Druids.
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Weapon Mastery and Tactical Mind are new Fighter features. Battle Master gains new and revised maneuvers. Psi Warrior, originally published in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, is included with a revision. Champion and Eldritch Knight are also in the handbook’s four-subclass roster.
Monk updates
The class replaces the Ki terminology with Monk’s Focus and adds features including Uncanny Metabolism and Deflect Attacks. The subclass names use Warrior: Warrior of Mercy, Warrior of Shadow, Warrior of the Elements, and Warrior of the Open Hand. Warrior of the Elements receives extensive new features.
Rank #3
- NIFTY RESOURCES FOR DUNGEON MASTERS—We've packed this book with incredibly useful tools and advice for Dungeon Masters of all levels. Make your game sessions special with over 400 total and 18 new magic items, practical solutions for common Dungeon Master pitfalls, and Greyhawk, a customizable premade campaign setting.
- WONDERFUL WORLDBUILDING INSPIRATION—Introduce inspiring new mechanics into your game! Tinker away with revised rules for crafting magic items, creating NPCs, and more. Excite your party and keep them engaged between sessions with the new system for bastions, which are strongholds built and controlled by players.
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- PART OF THE 2024 CORE COLLECTION—1 of 3 revised Dungeons & Dragons core rulebooks, the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide is designed for use with the fifth edition 2024 Player’s Handbook and 2024 Monster Manual
Paladin updates
Lay on Hands and Spellcasting are revised. New features listed in the comparison include Weapon Mastery, Paladin’s Smite, Faithful Steed, Abjure Foes, Restoring Touch, and Epic Boon. The four subclasses are the Oaths of Devotion, Glory, the Ancients, and Vengeance.
Ranger updates
Favored Enemy and spellcasting are revised. The Ranger gains or revises features including Weapon Mastery, Deft Explorer, Roving, Expertise, and Tireless. Fey Wanderer and Gloom Stalker are earlier-supplement subclasses updated for this book; Beast Master and Hunter are also included.
Rogue updates
The Rogue gains Steady Aim, Cunning Strike, Improved Cunning Strike, and Devious Strikes; Evasion and Reliable Talent are revised. Soulknife, first published in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, appears here with revisions. Arcane Trickster, Assassin, and Thief complete the 2024 roster.
Rank #4
Sorcerer updates
Innate Sorcery, Sorcery Incarnate, and Arcane Apotheosis are new class features, and Metamagic is revised. The Wild Magic Surge table is revised. Several subclass names have changed: Aberrant Mind becomes Aberrant Sorcery, Clockwork Soul becomes Clockwork Sorcery, Draconic Bloodline becomes Draconic Sorcery, and Wild Magic becomes Wild Magic Sorcery.
Warlock updates
Magical Cunning and Contact Patron are new features, and the class’s invocation and spell lists are revised. All four subclass names use “Patron”: Archfey Patron, Celestial Patron, Fiend Patron, and Great Old One Patron.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Wizard updates
The 2024 handbook presents four Wizard subclasses by shorter names: Abjurer, Diviner, Evoker, and Illusionist. The corresponding older names were School of Abjuration, School of Divination, School of Evocation, and School of Illusion. Conjuration, Enchantment, Necromancy, and Transmutation schools are not reprinted in this handbook.
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What happened to 2014 subclasses and other older options?
The 2024 handbook replaces the 2014 handbook’s rules and options for characters built using the revised rules, while some older material remains relevant in specific ways. A subclass that has a 2024 version is replaced by that version when used with a 2024 class; for instance, the revised handbook version takes precedence over its matching older version. Some 2014 subclasses are absent from the new book, including the Cleric domains and Wizard schools named above.
D&D Beyond’s changelog distinguishes updated Legacy material from older options that have not been updated. Its guidance says an unupdated 2014 subclass may be used with a 2024 class using the 2024 class progression and spell lists, while a player can continue to use an older subclass with its 2014 class. These are D&D Beyond’s published toolset guidelines, not a rule that overrides a game table’s decisions. In the D&D Beyond character builder, the source selection and Legacy labels help distinguish the two rulesets.
For the authoritative wording and full feature details, consult the 2024 Player’s Handbook and D&D Beyond’s September 3, 2024 comparison, “Updates in the Player’s Handbook (2024).”
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