Summary
- The artillerist subclass is the best for artificers, focusing on damage dealing with Eldritch Cannon.
- TThe Path of the Ancestral Guardian offers strong buffs for barbarians, aiding in combat with ancestor ghosts.
- The College of Dance turns bards into frontline fighters with unarmored defense and unique abilities.
In Dungeons & Dragons, your character is defined by what class they take; however, there's always room for customization. After all, one wizard won't be the same as the next, and we're not just talking about their personality either. You may have your classes, but then you also have to make the choice of your subclass, which are niches that your particular class would focus on.
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PostsIt's the difference between a wizard who uses a sword and one who manipulates time. Some subclasses are better than others, with great abilities that can make any character that follows a particular subclass stand out. Whether it's the better cleric or the better bard, here's the absolute best subclass from every class in Dungeons & Dragons.
Updated on March 20, 2025, by Alfredo Robelo: For an article aiming to showcase the best subclass of every class, one of the most original classes are missing. We've updated this article to include the artificer, and the best subclass it can have for both the 2014 and 2024 rules.
13 Artillerist (Artificer)
It's All About The Cannon
Firearm by Chris SeamanBest 2014 Subclass
Best 2024 Subclass
Artillerist
Artillerist
Artificers are all about their subclass, becoming supports as an alchemist, tanks as an armorer, and damage dealers as an artillerist. Since it can't be denied that dealing damage is the main role players want to have in D&D, artillerist is by far the best artificer subclass for many players.
The 2024 version of the rules, at least as far as the Unearthed Arcana is concerned, has also improved artificers greatly while still letting them keep their old toys. Artillerist continue to function the same way, although they can now use their Eldritch Cannon to fire either the ballista, flamethrower, or protector options without having to declare it when creating it.
12 Path Of The Ancestral Guardian (Barbarian)
Great Buffs And An Ancestral Connection
A Fierce Warrior by Denman RookeBest 2014 Subclass
Best 2024 Subclass
Path of the Ancestral Guardian
Path of the World Tree
Barbarians are going to be beasts regardless of their subclass, but there's nothing wrong with a little help, and that's where Path of the Ancestral Guardians comes in. On top of offering some really great roleplaying opportunities by using the ghosts of a character's ancestors for aid in combat, the barbarian gets some massive buffs.
Ancestral Protectors, in particular, are very strong, making an enemy have disadvantage to attack anyone but you. It's a good thing that you're perfectly capable of defeating almost anyone in melee as a Barbarian.
If you have access to the 2024 Player's Handbook, the new Path of the World Tree subclass might be worth looking into. It serves a supportive role just like the Ancestral Guardians, but with a focus on mobility and enemy displacement rather than disadvantage and damage reduction.
11 College Of Dance (Bard)
A Monk With Charisma
Credit Katerina LadonBest 2014 Subclass
Best 2024 Subclass
College of Lore
College of Dance
Bards that want to be in the front lines are usually either torn apart, or part of the College of Valor. The 2024 Player's Handbook has added a new option for bards wanting to be the center of attention even in combat, and that is the College of Dance, a subclass that turns bards into monks.
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Want to know what it takes to play a bard? This guide covers what you need to know about building and playing a bard with the 2024 Player's Handbook.
PostsYou can still cast all the basic spells that bards are known to do, while also gaining unarmored defense and using unarmed strikes with your bardic inspiration die. If you want a more traditional bard, then College of Lore is your best bet, but it's hard to say no to the possibility of destroying a dragon with a dance routine.
10 Twilight Domain (Cleric)
Tons Of Utility For Clerics
Priest by Michael Broussard.Best 2014 Subclass
Best 2024 Subclass
Twilight Domain
War Domain
The cleric class has some fierce competition for the best subclass, but Twilight Domain remains superior. From some great bonus spells to having some of the best darkvision that you can get in the game, the subclass starts out strong and only grows stronger.
If you want to use only subclasses found in the 2024 Player's Handbook, then the War Domain is the better choice, letting you be the dedicated healer and tank without anyone else filling those roles.
The subclass can grant a very great Channel Divinity to end certain conditions or give out hit points as well as a flying speed; it's a fantastic subclass that has a lot of utility for any cleric.
9 Circle Of The Moon (Druid)
The Most Versatile Wild Shape Options
A Druid by Jessica Fong.Best 2014 Subclass
Best 2024 Subclass
Circle of the Moon
Circle of the Sea
It should be no surprise that the best subclass for a druid is the Circle of the Moon. Although newer subclasses have come out, nothing seems to top the original. Circle of the Moon druids utilize the powerful Wild Shape feature to the best of their ability, letting you use it as a bonus action and ignoring the max CR limit.
Wild Shape and the subclass Circle of the Moon have gone through several changes in the 2024 Player's Handbook. It is still a fantastic subclass, but if you want to try something new, the Circle of the Sea uses the changes to the class in a great way.
This means that the druid can transform into all manners of creatures and still get a bunch of other features like Primal Strike that makes attacks in beast form magical and even the option to transform into elementals.
8 Battle Master (Fighter)
Learn Maneuvers And Enemy Weaknesses
Fighter by Nestor Ossandon Leal.Best 2014 Subclass
Best 2024 Subclass
Battle Master
Battle Master
Battle Master is the quintessential fighter. These fighters can learn maneuvers, which are abilities that enhance a character's fighting, whether it be being able to parry a creature, tripping them over, pushing them, or much more, as there are tons of great options.
But there are also features in the subclass that let you learn about an enemy and their abilities as well as getting other proficiencies like with artisan tools, which can be great for adding depth to a character roleplay-wise.
7 Warrior Of The Elements (Monk)
Become The Avatar
Warrior of the Elements by Katerina Ladon.Best 2014 Subclass
Best 2024 Subclass
Way of Mercy
Warrior of the Elements
The monk class received several overhauls in the 2024 Player's Handbook, making it one of the better classes in the book. Among the many changes, the Warrior of the Elements (previously known as the Way of the Four Elements) was simplified and turned into something worthy of a monk instead of a strange wizard apprentice.
Your attacks now can deal elemental damage; you can create explosions of fire, lighting, or whatever element you fancy, and you can even fly. If you are using the 2014 rules, however, you may want to leave the elements aside; the Way of Mercy is better in that case, offering a surprising amount of healing and damage to the party dynamic.
6 Oath Of Redemption (Paladin)
Provides The Best Roleplay Opportunities
A Devout Warrior by Michael BroussardBest 2014 Subclass
Best 2024 Subclass
Oath of Redemption
Oath of Vengeance
Alongside being another fantastic subclass to open up roleplaying opportunities, an Oath of Redemption paladin is excellent at its niche of being a redeemer, whether it's a character who is seeking redemption themselves or one who's simply trying to save others.
If you want to use only subclasses found in the 2024 Player's Handbook, then Oath of Vengeance is a great offensive tool, streamlined into being a great damage dealing tank.
Redemption paladins have an amazing channel divinity that can inflict the same damage an enemy deals back onto them, as well as an aura that can take damage for your allies. They even have an ability that lets you regain hit points passively. This is a paladin that can't be beaten.
5 Gloom Stalker (Ranger)
Increased Stats And Usage Make Gloom Stalker A Standout
A Wandering Warrior Imbued with Primal Magic by Chris RallisBest 2014 Subclass
Best 2024 Subclass
Gloom Stalker
Gloom Stalker
Rangers have had a controversial history in Dungeons & Dragons, to say the least, but thankfully, they've improved vastly with additional subclasses, especially with the addition of the Gloom Stalker.
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PostsThe idea of a ranger skulking in those dark places people don't go is great enough, but features like Umbral Sight that grants you improved darkvision, getting more attacks and bonuses to initiative already make this subclass so much more superior to the others.
4 Swashbuckler (Rogue)
Buffs, Debuffs, And Advantage On Rogue-Centric Abilities
A Dexterous Expert by Aurore Folny.Best 2014 Subclass
Best 2024 Subclass
Swashbuckler
Thief
It definitely isn't easy to pick a subclass for rogues, especially with some new great ones like the Soulknife out. However, nothing will beat the Swashbuckler subclass. The Fancy Footwork feature alone is almost enough to make this subclass stand out, but there are so many more great features.
If you want to focus on ranged combat, the 2024 version of the Thief subclass is ideal. With the stealth attack option for your cunning strike, you can remain hidden even when attacking as long as you are behind cover.
Swashbucklers get a bonus for their initiative, can make other creatures have disadvantage to attack them, and later on even get advantage on all Acrobatics and Athletics checks, making them the best a rogue can be.
