Summary
In the base version ofDungeons and Dragons 5e, there are six casting classes: the Bard, the Cleric, the Druid, the Sorcerer, the Warlock, and the Wizard. InEberron: Rising, a seventh majorD&Dcasting class was introduced: the Artificer and others are available through expanded versions and as separate DLC, especially on D&D Beyond.
All casting classes are not made equally, though. Some, like the Warlock and Druid, were made to be versatile, while the Sorcerer and Wizard can lash out huge amounts of damage at the cost oflittle to no defense. While they might all seem similar on the surface, the playstyle of all D&D spellcaster classes feels completely different.
Updated June 22, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam: With the new Player’s Handbook release providing fans of the acclaimed TTRPG with vastly different takes on the game’s Classes complete with overhauled subclasses, D&D enthusiasts might be feeling as though they’re playing a completely new game. This is especially the case with the game’s Spellcasters, as all the available Classes have now received massive changes to their gameplay styles to ensure each Class feels unique and more involved in all aspects of roleplay in combat.
Before players rush over to make their favorite Spellcaster for their next campaign, it might be worth looking into how each Spellcaster has been changed in this new version of the Player’s Handbook.
The Blood Hunter class is unique toDungeons and Dragons' online service D&D Beyond. It comes from a special rulebook tied to the well-known Critical RoleDungeons and Dragonspodcast and plays as a sort ofmix between a spellcaster and a melee fighter.
Partially based on Witchers fromThe Witcherfranchise, Blood Hunters use spells in combat and alter their bodies through dark rituals to enhance their senses, combat prowess, or other traits. They are a very fun and involved class to play, but only being available through D&D Beyond limits how easily players can access the class.
Blood Hunter Class Weaknesses
Changes In The September 2024 Player’s Handbook
Given how the Blood Hunter is technically an inclusion in an exclusive setting and is not an official starting Class, it didn’t get a rework in the New Player’s Handbook. However, players who feel as though their Blood Hunter might not be performing on par with their peers could always ask their Dungeon Master for light tweaks to their base kits just to improve their overall performance. Small changes that could be proposed would be:
The powers of a Sorcerer have been described by some as coming from the discovery that one innately has magical abilities rather than studying them. According to RPGbot, a well-respectedDungeons and Dragonsguide maker, the sorcerer is powerful “becausethey own a few good tools” rather than a variety of less powerful spells.
It’s a complicated class to play, mostly due to the Metamagic system, and the lack of in-combat options compared to other casters. When a Sorcerer expends themselves fully in combat, though, they truly go all out and turn enemies to dust, even if there might have been a different solution.
Sorcerer Class Weaknesses
As the Sorcerer rages in raw power throughoutD&Dgameplay, so too do their new versions. Changes in the Sorcerer transformed them into more versatile Spellcasters compared to their other counterparts, allowing them to access more Spells and even more Metamagic options much earlier in the campaign. Changes include:
The Artificer is a new caster class introduced in theDungeons and Dragonsexpanded guidebookEberron: Risingand is most easily described as a steampunk MacGyver class. Artificers thrive on versatility in combat and their use of magically infused technology, but they arealso the most complicated classthat requires players to micromanage constantly.
Artificers are great fun to play in a world that has no knowledge of technology, and they’re equally fun to play in settings like Eberron, surrounded by their own ilk. Just be aware that you’ll need to keep constantly on top of your character’s attunements and readied abilities to master this complex class.
Artificer Class Weaknesses
Unfortunately for these tinkering friends, they are also not part of the New Player’s Handbook rework. This exclusion is attributed to mostD&D Player’s Handbooksoften including only the core Classes in them. However, while the Artificer doesn’t have any changes in this new Handbook version, fans may want to request slight tweaks to their Artificer to help it contend with their beefier counterparts:
Warlocks are generally seen as the least complex casting class to play, due in part to the lack of spell slots, spell slot levels, and achoice of damaging cantrips. It’s also one of the most frustrating to play because spell slots recharge with a short rest, but the Warlock has far, far fewer than other spellcasters.
One of the major benefits of choosing a Warlock is the diversity of the class' choices later on down the line. No two playthroughs with a Warlock are quite the same, provided the player chooses different pacts on each character, but it is definitely a beginner class in terms of difficulty.
Warlock Class Weaknesses
Despite their overall firepower, Warlocks in the early game of mostDungeons & Dragonscampaigns suffer not just from a lack of overall damage prowess but also in utility due to their lack of Spell Slots and limited variability. Much of these setbacks change in the New Player’s Handbook, as the Warlock has access to a lot of powerful features early on in their adventures:
The Bard is perhaps the most versatile class in all ofDungeons and Dragons, thanks to its ability tofit into just about any party roledepending on the Bard’s chosen College. The College of Eloquence, for example, just enhances the Bard’s innate abilities, whereas the College of Swords turns them into a melee martial fighter.
The downside to playing a bard is that despite their versatility, they just aren’t as powerful as classes that perform the same role. If all the central roles in a party are filled, though, the bard can be a valuable source of buffs and other support for the group.
Bard Class Weaknesses
Touted as perhaps the most versatile Class inDungeons & Dragons, the Bard in the New Player’s Handbook has received quite a lot of changes that further champion their multifaceted nature. The new changes seem to have emphasized them as an even more capable support Class, with some changes being:
Generally, Clericsend up being the healer or supportfor the party, but although the class does lean towards those roles, players aren’t bound by them. The choice of Domain that the cleric makes is integral to its role in the party – an Arcana Domain Cleric is equivalent to a Wizard, while a Peace Domain Cleric leans towards traditional healing and support abilities.
Though they have some versatility, players mostly agree that no class is as effective at healing as the Cleric. It’s not a class that’s locked into its traditional role necessarily, but if a player chooses a cleric and doesn’t want to take advantage of the class' great support abilities, other party members might get resentful.
Cleric Class Weaknesses
The Cleric in the New Player’s Handbook is no longer a “designated healer” as they are made more useful for players across various party setups. They can now select a focus that allows them to either focus more on being in the frontlines or a support unit in the rear, no longer locking these options within Domains. Other things include:
Druids are a relatively easy spellcaster to play with lots ofoptions for variability in builds. They can become one of the strongest classes in the game, especially depending on which Circle the player chooses at level 2. Though Druids are not strictly spellcasters, they do have a number of useful spells in their toolkit.
The Circle of Spores, for example, will enable the Druid to deal poison damage, while the Circle of Dreams grants the Druid several casting options. Despite the ability to shift into fearsome animals, Druids are one of the weakest classes inDungeons and Dragons, requiring careful planning during combat.
Druid Class Weaknesses
The Druid gets a dramatic overhaul from their typical association as a Wild Shape-heavy Class stuck between a Cleric and a Ranger, with their Spellcasting having now been expanded and their other options made more open for flexibility. New changes include:
The Wizard is undoubtedly the go-to class for any player looking to try casting for the first time and for good reason. It’s arguably the most iconic class inDungeons and Dragons, with access to a huge swathe of useful spells, and is considered by most to be the best casting class in general.
Wizards do suffer from being spongey and having a low number of spell slots each day, though. There are few ways for a Wizard to heal the party, but proper preparation can give them access to supporting, controlling, and damage-dealing spells regularly. They have more out-of-combat abilities than other classes, too, making them the all-around best casterfor any campaign setting.
Wizard Class Weaknesses
As the “go-to” Spellcaster in terms of traditionalDungeons & Dragons, the Wizard is expected to be made more versatile with the New Player’s Handbook. Interestingly enough, the changes made to the Wizard transformed the Class into a more efficient Spellcaster. Some changes include:
