Summary
Dungeons and Dragonsis testing a brand-new class in the form of the Psion, an Intelligence spellcaster who focuses on mental abilities such as telekinesis and telepathy. Featuring four subclasses, 20 levels of progression, and Wild Talent feats, the Psion is the first new class to come toDungeons and Dragonsin nearly six years.
The Psion, sometimes called the Psionicist, is a psychic class that has appeared in manyDungeons and Dragonseditions in the past. In 2017,D&Dplaytested a version of this concept called the Mysticfor5th Edition, and though it never saw print, parts of it manifested in official subclasses like the Psi Warrior Fighter and the Soulknife Rogue.
Now,Dungeons and Dragonsis taking another swing at a psionic class.This Unearthed Arcana playtest documentintroduces the Psion as a brand-new base class – the first of its kind since the Artificer was released in 2019. The Intelligence spellcaster can use Psionic Energy dice to perform feats of mental prowess and empower their rolls, and can enter an Offensive and Defensive Psionic Mode to adapt to combat. Players can further customize the class with Psionic Disciplines, which provide more ways to use Psionic Energy to perform special attacks or to enhance their spells and ability checks.
Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition Psion Class Highlights
The Psion has four subclasses available to it: the Metamorph, Psi Warper, Psykinetic, and Telepath. Metamorphs can temporarily modify their flesh, extending their limbs and transforming parts of their body into weapons or armor, while the Psi Warper bends reality to teleport themselves, their allies, and their foes around the battlefield. Meanwhile, the Psykinetic is a master of telekinetic protection and destruction, with a strong focus onpowerfulDungeons and Dragonsspells like Shield, Telekinetic Crush, and Telekinesis, and the Telepath is the ultimate mentalist, able to more effectively read minds, communicate telepathically, and shatter psyches.
Beyond the Psion, this Unearthed Arcana also introduces Wild Talents, a new category ofDungeons and Dragonsfeatsbased on niche forms of psionics. From the emotional Empath and divining Clairsentience to the elemental mastery of Cryokinesis and Pyrokinesis, these feats all grant useful traits inspired by their psionic area of expertise, and include access to a handful of flavorful spells as well. Though they have no other prerequisites, these feats are all mutually exclusive – once a character takes a Wild Talent, they cannot take another.
It is unclear where the Psion might officially appear, as none of thecurrent in-developmentDungeons and Dragonsbooksseem to fit the psionic theme. The survey for the Psion opens on June 3, so fans interested in shaping this class ahead of its full release should be sure to provide feedback after that point.
