Dungeons & Dragons gives players several tools that allow them to customize their characters and make them their own. Outside of one’s class, one of the most impactful choices a player can make when building their character is their choice of subclass. Subclasses provide a character with flavorful abilities (and in some cases spells) that they wouldn’t have otherwise, giving characters additional utility as well as differentiating two party members that may have picked the same class.
While there are some subclasses that have become the gold standard in D&D, there are some lesser appreciated subclasses that often go overlooked. So today, we’re going to examine some of the most underrated subclasses that players can choose in Dungeons & Dragons.
9 Path Of The Zealot - Barbarian
One of the worst things that can happen in the midst of a D&D campaign is the death of a party member. As aggressive front-line combatants, Barbarians are one of the classes in D&D that tend to be the most death-prone. Enter the Path of the Zealot.
Barbarians of this subclass are designed to be significantly easier to revive in the case of their death, doing away with spell component requirements of spells that would revive them. Barbarians of this subclass also have their rage notably improved, allowing failed saving throws to be rerolled while raging and also improving the raging Barbarian’s damage output.
8 Way Of The Sun Soul - Monk
One of the primary drawbacks of the Monk class is that it’s traditionally incapable of meaningfully contributing to combat from afar. The Way of the Sun Soul subclass provides Monks with several means of attacking foes from a distance.
Gaining the Radiant Sun Bolt ability at level three that effectively gives a monk’s punches thirty feet of range. These monks also have the ability to convert their Ki into the Burning Hands spell. At level eleven, the subclass even gains the ability to create remote explosions with up to 150 feet of range!
7 Celestial Patron - Warlock
Though many Warlocks tend to focus on their damage output, Warlocks of the Celestial Patron can help round out one’s character, providing several useful support and healing options.
Out of every Warlock subclass, few allow a Warlock to gain as many noteworthy spells as the Celestial Patron, providing the likes of Cure Wounds, Lesser Restoration, Revivify, and Lesser Restoration. As if these great support spells weren’t enough, this subclass gets access to a useful bonus action healing ability in Healing Light.
6 Oath Of The Ancients - Paladin
Sometimes referred to as the Green Knight, Paladins of the Oath of the Ancients are tied to nature, gaining abilities and spells that one would likely associate with a druid. There are three notable selling points to playing the Oath of the Ancients, with the first and second of these points being the spells Ensnaring Strike and Misty Step respectively.
Each of these spells is incredible in its own right and they aren’t normally available to Paladins. The third selling point of this subclass comes in the form of its stellar Aura of Warding that provides the Paladin and allies within ten feet resistance to all damage from spells.
5 Circle Of The Land (Coast) - Druid
While the Circle of the Land subclass available to druids often gets flack for being too vanilla, it has access to useful tools such as the ability to regain spell slots on a short rest as well as the ability to gain immunities to poison and disease.
When a player opts to play a Druid of the Circle of the Land, they are able to choose a type of land that their character is most familiar with, giving them spells based on said environment. While many of the spells Coast Druids always have prepared are already available to the Druid class, they notably gain access to the ever-useful Misty Step and Mirror Image providing additional mobility and defense options.
4 Fathomless Patron - Warlock
Introduced in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, Warlocks of a Fathomless Patron gain their power from aquatic beings and in turn, gain several abilities based around water. Easily the most impressive capability of this subclass is its Tentacle of the Deep. This is a magic tentacle that can be summoned by the warlock as a bonus action and can also be used to attack one’s foes.
Not only does this provide a Warlock with additional damage they can deal with their bonus action without using spell slots, but as of reaching level 6, these warlocks can use their reaction to have the tentacle reduce the damage the warlock or their allies would sustain.
3 Banneret - Fighter
Fighters are a class that traditionally only care about doing one thing: dealing a lot of melee damage. The Banneret Fighter is a subclass perfect for those wishing to cover more bases than a traditional fighter, gaining access to more conversational skills.
Not only do Bannerets gain proficiency in Persuasion, but they are able to double their proficiency bonus similarly to a Knowledge Domain Cleric. While their out-of-combat utility is quite nice, in combat, these Fighters are able to support their allies when they activate their second wind, allowing them to gain HP and even make additional attacks!
2 War Domain - Cleric
When it comes to discussions about the best melee class and subclass options in D&D, many players are far too quick to rule out the Cleric.
While Clerics are traditionally known for their support, War Domain Clerics are able to deal significant damage. With proficiency in heavy armor and martial weapons, War Domain Clerics have several offensive luxuries, able to make additional attacks as a bonus action and even boost their chances of hitting through their Channel Divinity.
1 Knowledge Domain - Cleric
While Clerics are most often noted for their support capabilities and spellcasting, Clerics of the Knowledge Domain offer some of the most flexible utility of any subclass in D&D. Providing a Cleric with additional languages and skill proficiencies, doubling a character’s proficiency bonus with those skills in a manner reminiscent of a Rogue’s expertise.
Additionally, Clerics of the Knowledge domain are able to easily adapt to a plethora of situations using their Channel Divinity, temporarily gaining proficiency in any skill or tool. On top of the incredible magic provided by the Cleric class, it’s quite shocking this subclass isn’t more popular.
