Although Dungeons & Dragons may seem like a daunting game to learn, the process can be made easier with the right choice of character. Although some subclasses in D&D introduce unique mechanics that encourage out of the ordinary strategy, others are fairly intuitive. For players looking to try out Dungeons & Dragons for the first time, they should consider choosing one of these relatively simple subclasses.
Despite not being D&D's flashiest class, Fighters have a lot of meaningful benefits. Fighters get the most attacks in the entire game, with a total of 4 at 20th level, as well as the ability to take a second action with Action Surge. Along with these unique perks, Fighters also have access to what may be D&D's most simple subclass, the Champion. Unlike the Fighter's other D&D subclass options, which add new resources and mechanics to the character, Champions simply build off of a Fighter's initial strengths. The Champion's most important feature is Improved Critical, which allows rolls of 19 (and 18 at higher levels) to count as a critical. Playing a Champion in Dungeons & Dragons allows a new player to remain effective while slowly familiarizing themselves with the mechanics of combat.
For new Dungeons & Dragons players uninterested in playing a Fighter, Cleric might be the perfect choice. Clerics are capable of both healing and buffing their allies, and as such they are a welcome addition to any adventuring party. As for the ideal subclass, Life might be the right choice for a newer D&D player. Similar to the Champion Fighter, the Life Domain builds on a D&D Cleric's existing strengths, specifically their healing potency. In addition to providing core Cleric spells such as Cure Wounds, Life Clerics also gain increased healing on all of their spells thanks to their Disciple of Life feature, all while keeping the class simple for new Dungeons & Dragons players.
Simple Wizard & Sorcerer Subclasses In D&D
Despite Wizards being a relatively difficult class to play well in D&D, interested new players should still feel encouraged to give it a try. Evocation is a solid Arcane Tradition for newer players to begin with, since is solves some of the Wizard's biggest problems. Dungeons & Dragons' Wizards are capable of dealing massive damage with spells such as Fireball, but unfortunately those spells can often hurt a player's allies. With the Evocation D&D subclass, players can select allies to automatically succeed on certain Saving Throws, allowing them to use their strongest spells more freely. Evocation Wizards also receive increased damage for their spells, although this feature does not kick in until 10th level.
If a Wizard's number of spell options is intimidating to a new D&D player, another option is a Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer. Sorcerers have much smaller spell lists than Wizards, something that may appeal to inexperienced players. The Draconic Bloodline D&D subclass helps to hide some of the traditional weaknesses of a Dungeons & Dragons spellcaster, providing extra health and armor to the player. These Sorcerers also gain increased damage with spells of the character's chosen damage type, and do so earlier than an Evocation Wizard. It should be noted that Sorcerers do have to worry about Sorcery Points and Metamagic D&D rules, however, so they are not necessarily easier to play than Wizards overall.
With the amount of subclasses available in Dungeons & Dragons, there really is a build for everyone. This applies to new players as well as experienced ones, as there are a number of subclasses that build on a class' strengths without adding complicated new mechanics. Dungeon Masters and veteran players should encourage those new to Dungeons & Dragons to choose one of these simple subclasses, as it may make it easier to learn the game as a whole.