Summary
Ever since the introduction of theD&D2024 update,Dungeons and Dragonshas been subject to an array of changes. Revised versions of the core rulebooks — thePlayer’s Handbook,Dungeon Master’s Guide, andMonster Manual— began rolling out in September of last year. These books have updated and streamlinedD&D5E’s game mechanics, essentially creating a new edition for the tabletop game. With an overhauled gameplay system, Wizards of the Coast is opening the door for even more new content throughout this year and in the near future.
Most ofDungeons and Dragons' new content comes in the form of new setting books likeEberron: Forge of the Artificerand adventure modules like theDragon Delves Anthology. However,D&Dhas also continued its tradition of releasing playtest material through Unearthed Arcana. Unearthed Arcana has been a highlight ofD&D5E. It gives players early access to upcoming features and mechanics, all while letting the game’s development team test out and get feedback on said features before officially implementing them in a source book. Though Unearthed Arcana’s content primarily consists of subclasses and spells,WOTC’s latest UA dropis set to shake upDungeons and Dragons' future in a much more substantial way.
D&D’s Newest Class Ends Six Years of Waiting
The last time thatD&Dintroduced an official new class was in 2019, when the Artificer was added viaEberron: Rising From the Last War. With 13 classes and over 100 subclasses split between them,D&D5E certainly isn’t lacking in variety for its character creation. Despite that, many players have been disappointed that 5E has only introduced one new class in the almost 11 years since the edition was first released. However, Wizards of the Coast is finally bringing a 14th class to the game in the form of the Psion.
What the Psion Brings to D&D
The Psion is a new caster class that derives its powers from the mind, using psychic magic like telekinesis, telepathy, and more to dominate the battlefield. This isn’t the first appearance of psionic abilities in 5E.D&Dsubclasseslike the Psi Warrior Fighter, the Soulknife Rogue, and the Aberant Mind Sorcerer can all be found in the 2024 Player’s Handbook, but the Psion is the first class solely devoted to this skill set.
The Psion currently has four subclasses: the Metamorph, the Psi Warper, the Psykinetic, and the Telepath. A Metamorph Psion is able to use their mental prowess to supersede the limits of their physical form, gaining spells like Stoneskin and the ability to reshape their limbs into organic weapons. The Psi Warper is a master of teleportation, rewriting reality to reposition themselves and others during combat. The Psykinetic has the ability to create psionic constructs, which can be used to deflect attacks or deal heavy damage. The Telepath uses their psionic skills to enhance allies' mental defenses while also probing enemies' minds to gain the upper hand.
What the Psion Means For D&D’s Future
It’s unknown when the Psion will be officially released in a sourcebook, but players have plenty of new playtest content to tinker with in the meantime. WithD&D2024 already releasing arevised version of the Artificerand the Psion within the first year of its release, WOTC seems keen on picking up the pace with new class additions. In a decade, 5E had only added one new class to the game.D&D2024 has doubled that number in less than a year.D&D2024 likely won’t be reaching 4E numbers when it comes to classes, but with WOTC’s haste, the development team could be willing to add even more classes in the future.
