What a class does
Your class defines your character’s main abilities: how many hit points you gain, which armor and weapons you are trained with, and which special features you unlock as you level. It also decides whether you cast spells. The core fifth edition player rules include twelve classes, and some sources add a thirteenth, the Artificer. If you are new to character building, start with the D&D character basics first, then return here.
A common way to sort classes is into three groups: martial classes that fight with weapons and physical skill, hybrid classes that mix weapons with some magic, and full spellcasters.
Martial classes
- Barbarian: A fierce fighter powered by rage. Barbarians have high hit points and can take hits that would drop others. They are straightforward to play.
- Fighter: A flexible weapon expert, trained in all armor and weapons. Fighters are consistent and often recommended to beginners because the rules for them are simple.
- Monk: A martial artist who relies on speed, unarmored defense, and special energy points. Monks have more moving parts than a Fighter.
- Rogue: A stealthy, skilled character who deals extra damage with Sneak Attack under the right conditions. Rogues are strong with skills and can play a variety of roles outside combat.
Hybrid classes
- Paladin: A holy warrior who mixes heavy armor and strong weapon attacks with divine magic.
- Ranger: A wilderness hunter and tracker who uses weapons and a smaller amount of nature-based magic.
- Bard: A performer and spellcaster who supports allies and has many skills. In the rules Bards are full spellcasters, but they are often grouped here for their mix of skills and support.
- Artificer: An inventor who uses magic through crafted items. It appears in some books but not in the core three.
Full spellcasters
- Cleric: A divine caster who can heal, protect, and, depending on the domain, fight in melee.
- Druid: A nature-themed caster who can also change shape into animals.
- Sorcerer: A caster with innate magic who knows fewer spells but can shape them with special options.
- Warlock: A caster who gains power through a pact with a patron. Warlocks have fewer spell slots, but they recover them quickly.
- Wizard: A scholar with the largest spell list, who records spells in a spellbook. Wizards are flexible but have lower hit points.
Choosing a class
Think about what you want to do during a session. If you want to hit things and keep the rules light, a Fighter or Barbarian may suit you. If you enjoy planning and solving problems with magic, consider a Wizard or Cleric. If you like talking, scouting, or tricks, look at a Rogue or Bard. It also helps to look at what the rest of the party plans to play, so the group has a mix of fighting, healing, and utility.
Your choice of class also affects which ability scores matter most, and which armor you can wear. For the latter, read D&D 5e armor class explained.
What is the hardest class?
Opinions vary, and the honest answer depends on experience. Classes with many spells to choose from, such as the Wizard, or with many resources to track, such as the Monk, are often described as more demanding for beginners. Fighters and Barbarians are often described as easier to start with. Most players find that any class becomes easier with a few sessions of practice.
Classes and skills
Skills represent specific things your character may be good at, like Stealth, Perception, or Persuasion. Your class lets you choose some skills to be proficient in, and your background grants others. Skills are tied to ability scores, so a Rogue with high Dexterity will usually be good at Stealth.
Subclasses
Each class offers a subclass, a specialization chosen at a certain level, which changes how the class plays. Two Fighters can feel very different depending on the subclass they pick. When you create a new character, you might not need to choose right away, but reading the options in advance can help you plan.
Once you pick your class, you can fill out your character’s personality using our character questions.