Dungeons & Dragons 5e has a strong array of classes in the official material, but some of the best classes in the game are homebrew. Homebrew classes are creations developed specifically for DnD that did not come from one of the official rulebooks published by Wizards of the Coast. In some cases, in a more colloquial sense, it usually signifies a fanmade class or realm. With the release of the game’s fifth edition in 2014, fans have more tools than ever to develop their own unique classes and skills with the games’ mechanics.
The best DnD 5e homebrew classes lean into ideas that official material doesn’t properly explore, allowing players looking for a different approach from the usual classes to fulfill their fantasies. From brawny spellcasters to intelligent physical classes, the best homebrew classes can explore unusual ideas without breaking the balance of the game. Although DnD underwent major evolutions in 2024 with the introduction of new core rulebooks, a focus on backward compatibility means that players can still utilize their favorite homebrew 5e classes.
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Troubador (By Somanyrobots)
Doubling Down On Bard
Playing a classically musical bard can be a lot of fun, but it often feels like the melodies can take a backseat to more typical fighting. Enter the Troubador, a homebrew class that never loses sight of that element. These “magical musicians” use songs to assist their allies, making it possible for them to fill a similar role to a support-focused Paladin rather than playing purely for their own entertainment.
From a Rollicking Rondo that speeds up allies to a Taunting Tarantelle that distracts foes, there’s no shortage of opportunities for Troubadors on the battlefield. It can be a lot for everyone to keep track of, but if the player and the party are both game, it’s a tuneful way to shake up the standard battlefield experience.
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Accursed (By Ross Leiser)
An Afflicted Class That Uses Its Curse To Their Advantage
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Custom Image by Lee D’Amato -
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Curses are, generally speaking, not a desirable trait in a character class. The Accursed homebrew class by Ross Leiser turns this on its head, making it a class to be reckoned with. The Accursed is described as “a class that turns its struggles into its strengths” and the type of curse determines the direction the character will evolve.
There are five potential curses that the Accursed can be afflicted with: Lycanthropy, Misfortune, Possession, Armament, or Vampirism. Each comes with its own strengths and weaknesses, like the Curse of Misfortune making its owner skilled at manipulating luck and cheating fate. The class also comes with 16 brand-new spells that can be used by the various brands of Accursed and can even be adapted to a few other classes (mainly Warlock).
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The Cipher (By LightningOpal)
An Adaptation Of A Pillars Of Eternity Class
Pillars of Eternity was a 2015 RPG by Obsidian that served as a spiritual successor to Baldur’s Gate at the time. One of the classes in the game was the Cipher, a rare magical being with the power to reach into the minds of others and manipulate their souls. LightningOpal has recreated the class for Dungeons and Dragons, to be played and enjoyed in the tabletop game.
The class is still undergoing tweaks, but it’s meant to act as a psion-like half-caster whose magical abilities hinge on physical attacks. In practice, this means that the Cipher has nothing stopping it from going on a killing rampage in order to boost its magic attack power, except morals, of course.
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Swordmage (By The Arcane Athenæum)
The Best Of Both Magic And Physical Fighting World
The D&D world has plenty of users that dabble in both magic and physical attacks and skills. The trope is so common that it has its own word, the “gish,” from the Githyanki term for this kind of fighter. Unfortunately, the fighter who dabbles in magic (or vice versa) is under-represented in the official class roster of Dungens and Dragons at the moment.
The Arcane Athenæum sets out to change this through the invention of the homebrew Swordmage class, lovingly referred to by the community as the “Arcane Gish.” As the name implies, the Swordmage is inspired by the 4th edition class of the same name, with a bit of the Paladin and the magus class from Pathfinder thrown into the mix. Some may consider the end result a bit too overpowered, but with some tweaking, this magical sword wielder is a blast to play with.
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The Illrigger (By MCDM)
Paladins But Darker
Created by MCDM Productions, a company founded by well-known DM Matt Colville, the Illrigger is a custom class that makes use of complex magical seals in combat. Illriggers are reminiscent of Paladins in some regards, but they don’t have as much of a propensity for noble ideals. These knights are in the service of archdevils, so they tend to be a good fit for darker campaigns.
The original version of the Illrigger was often considered overpowered, but a more recent revision addresses some criticism.
The big caveat to the Illrigger is that the revised version is officially a paid product, available for $11.99 through MCDM or $14.99 through D&D Beyond. When so many great homebrew classes are available for free, investing in the Illrigger can be hard to justify. Nonetheless, it’s a fascinating homebrew that’s earned a lot of attention over the years, so it deserves a mention.
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The Summoner (By Yojimno)
Inspired By Summoners From The Final Fantasy Games
The Summoner was created by Yojimno with inspiration from Final Fantasy games. Specifically, Yojimno cites the system used by summoners like Yuna in Final Fantasy 10. The homebrew D&D class The Summoner, as the name implies, is able to summon a monster to fight alongside them in battle.
There are several subclasses for the Summoner, which dictate what kind of monster they’re able to call forth into battle. Summons vary in style and skill, like the humanoid treant-like creature or even a sentient armor. The spellcasting takes inspiration from the Warlock, but the creator made sure not to give the Summoner too much power as a spellcaster, to keep the class distinct from other magic-wielding options.
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The Muscle Wizard (By The Finger)
A Punch-Focused D&D Spellcaster
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Custom image by Katarina Cimbaljevic
Wizards and warlocks may be contenders for the most powerful classes in DnD, but some players wonder what would happen if they could use brute force as well as magic. The appropriately named “Muscle Wizard” bluntly answers this question in a humorous way. Originally a joke concept, Reual Nathan Onyrian created guidelines for playing the class.
The Muscle Wizard’s signature spell is ‘Fist’, which allows a character to use either an action or a bonus action to give enemies a single powerful punch. Despite its obvious status as a joke, the Muscle Wizard’s off-key sense of humor manages to endear itself to plenty of DnD fans, and less serious campaigns might enjoy having a character cast Fist every now and then.
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The Artificer (By WeirdoWhoever)
Magic And Mechanics Combine
While many players have tried their hand at homebrewing an Artificer class for their own uses, WeirdoWhoever’s take on these magical inventors stands out from the rest. This iteration is actually WeirdoWhoever’s second pass at the concept, refined to fit better with the core rules of DnD and is different from the official 5e class.
This version of the Artificer can take on a variety of character builds as a battle artificer, from a ranged gunsmith to a tanky knight in mechanical armor. Weirdo Whoever even added a beast-taming specialization in the form of the Effigy Master, which commands mechanical beasts.
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Inventor (By KibblesTasty)
An Alternative Take On The Artificer
The Inventor is one of the first homebrew classes that KibblesTasty created, and it remains one of their most popular. This take on the original DnD Artificer gives the class more depth and playability. The Inventor is an ever-curious and evolving character who’s always honing their craft.
The Inventor has a craft specialty, from potions to gadgets, and their specialty shapes the way they grow over their journey. KibblesTasty’s homebrew class gives players more freedom in how far they take their creations, from crafting thunder-infused cannons to bringing their gear to life with the “forbidden craft of Flesh.” The Inventor isn’t for everyone, but fans of the Artificer will enjoy using this more versatile and creative version of the class.
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The Shaman (By Patrick Mitrega)
Ritual Power With D&D Flair
Patrick Mitrega’s take on the Shaman has gone through numerous reiterations and adjustments in attempts to balance out its features. As a Shaman, players harness the power of spirits to communicate with the dead and perform various rituals.
The fourth version of Patrick’s Shaman is available on DMsGuild as a pay-what-you-want offering, meaning players can make donations or download it for free. The class features two major subclasses: the Journey of Harmony focuses on healing, while the Journey of Wrath prioritizes combat. These two paths can lead to vastly different gameplay experiences, but both can be rewarding.