The next Dungeons & Dragons rulebook is adding new classes and subclasses to the game, but fans might be disappointed to learn that they're refined versions of ones that are already available online for free. The current edition of Dungeons & Dragons includes a plethora of classes, each with their own distinct archetypes and subclasses that can further define their abilities.
There is a regular feature on the official Dungeons & Dragons website called Unearthed Arcana, which is a series of articles containing free content for the game. The Unearthed Arcana articles contain things like new subclasses, magic items, and rules for sidekicks. Some of the recent Unearthed Arcana articles have included rules for classes like the Soul Knife, which allows players to create Psylocke from the X-Men as a Dungeons & Dragons character.
Wizards of the Coast has announced that the next Dungeons & Dragons rulebook will be Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, which is a follow-up to Xanathar's Guide to Everything. Tasha's Cauldron of Everything will contain new rules for things like magic items, group patrons, and a reworking of how race plays a role in character creation. Fans might be disappointed to learn that all of the new classes and subclasses in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything are updated versions of ones already available in Unearthed Arcana articles. This was revealed during a recent online press event that announced Tasha's Cauldron of Everything.
D&D's New Classes Are Already Free Online
The reason given for only including updated Unearthed Arcana subclasses & the sidekick classes was that they have now been refined by community feedback and playtesting, to the point where Wizards of the Coast was satisfied enough with their design to release them in a paid product. This makes a lot of sense, especially when considering some of the horribly unbalanced classes that appeared in older editions of Dungeons & Dragons (like the Bladesinger in second edition), many of which couldn't be easily errata'd in the age before the Internet. It's just a shame that there won't be any surprises, as everything is already out there for people to see.
The developers of the current edition of Dungeons & Dragons have put a lot of thought and care into what is added to the game, which is why it has taken so long for new D&D classes to appear. The recent Unearthed Arcana articles have included rules for psychic classes, as well as expanding upon the existing classes in the Player's Handbook with new features, so there will still be lots of class-related content in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything.
Tasha's Cauldron of Everything will be released on November 17, 2020.