Dungeons & Dragons players were introduced to the Lunar Magic Sorcerer subclass when Wizards of the Coast released playtest material designed to bring the classic Dragonlance setting to D&D 5e. With over 100 official subclasses released already, not every release has hit the mark.
Many subclasses seem promising in concept but are hindered by lackluster abilities, game masters often needing to change, add, or remove content to compensate. Players often feel underwhelmed by their choices, and fans on Reddit have pointed out which official subclasses feel the most underwhelming.
Wizard: Graviturgy
Released in Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, the Critical Role-partnered D&D book, the Graviturgy Wizard is a master of gravity. With abilities designed to control the battlefield, the subclass is far from weak.
With the Wizard being one of D&D's best magical classes, the features of their subclass tend to primarily add roleplay flavor, which is where the Graviturgy Wizard falls short; the abilities, particularly at lower levels, don't leave the player feeling like a gravity specialist. Reddit KDog1265 points out that the subclass was "sandwiched between two of the best subclasses" and it "does feel underwhelming in comparison."
Cleric: Tempest Domain
One of the original Player's Handbook subclasses, the Tempest Domain Cleric is viewed as a powerhouse built on the foundation of the already formidable Cleric, which gets access to some of D&D's best cantrips.
The features are powerful, but the subclass is noncommittal with its intent; Reddit Dizzy_Employee7459 says, "But the class all about Thunder and Lightning has four total thunder or lightning spells!?!" Several of the abilities lack synergy, mixing up the required damage types to use them. For those looking for a way to harness the power of storm, sky, and sea, the Tempest Cleric tends to fall short.
Rogue: Phantom
Originally known in playtest as the Revived, the Phantom Rogue was officially released in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. Originally producing bolts of energy, speaking to the dead and death itself, and slipping through the border between life and death like a ghost, fans such as Reddit PenguinDnD say the subclass "started out great and was whittled down to 'who gives a damn'."
The subclass was changed drastically between playtest and release, and some feel it was pared down too much, removing both power and flavorful abilities. This separates it, for many, from some of the D&D subclasses everyone should try.
Ranger: Beast Master (Player's Handbook)
Long the target of jokes and memes about D&D 5e, the Ranger, particularly Beast Master, received a number of optional variants in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything to make it more on par with other classes. Without the optional rules, fans still find the original features of the Beast Master underwhelming.
The Beast Master's companion animal, a beast with a maximum available level, was often the first slain in combat and was a drag on the speed of gameplay, making a player’s desire for a pet a strain on the game; Reddit Melodic_Row_5121 says, "You have to waste your entire action to get your pet to do anything."
Rogue: Assassin
One of the classic Player's Handbook subclasses, the Assassin Rogue falls short of the name's implication. Despite the success Liam O'Brien's Critical Role character Vax'ildan had with the subclass, much of his potency was a result of his acquired magic items.
The abilities that should set the subclass apart as a silent killer instead focus around infiltration and deception, with the primary combat ability being situational and difficult to set up. Reddit marcus_gideon points out that the ability "only has effect on the very first turn of combat, and only if you scored really well on Initiative."
Barbarian: Path of the Berserker
The angriest subclass of the angriest class, D&D fans expected more out of the Berserker Barbarian. Instead, the Player's Handbook subclass comes with potentially significant drawbacks to using its main ability and weak, situational abilities at higher levels; while Travis Willingham’s Critical Role character Grog Strongjaw made good use of the subclass, much of his combat potency was improved through magic items and feats.
Reddit one of D&D's most overpowered, the Path of the Totem Warrior.
Fighter: Arcane Archer
Lauded as a fun, thematic idea gone awry, Xanathar's Guide to Everything introduced the Arcane Archer Fighter. Meant to be a master of firing magic arrows, the subclass gave frustratingly few options and even fewer uses.
The concept of the subclass is one many players resonate with, but many flock to other options to accomplish their character; more determined fans have been proposing fixes to make the subclass more viable practically since its release. Reddit JudgeHoltman proposes that "Battlemaster is a better Arcane Archer than the actual Arcane Archer. Artificer is a better Arcane Archer."
Monk: Way Of The Sun Soul
Released in both the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide and Xanathar's Guide to Everything, the Way of the Sun Soul Monk is written as using meditation to harness one's inner light, creating effects using radiance and fire. Reddit Mister_Grins explains not only that "Monk is, without a doubt, the weakest chassis in the game," but that "their subclasses make them worse, because they also require ki in order to be used, so this limited resource is stretched even further."
The abilities are thematic, but they're quite weak when compared to other Monk subclasses, having subpar damage for abilities of similar or lower level and creating a drain on the Monk's main resource, ki.
Warlock Patron: The Undying
Released in the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, the Undying Warlock is presented as a pact with a powerful being that has unlocked the secrets of immortality. Reddit Quantext609 details why the subclass is "the single worst subclass in the game."
The abilities are underpowered and situational, with only a few additional spells, including one of the most useful D&D cantrips, to offer the subclass salvation. With the release of Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft's Undead Warlock Patron, a spiritual replacement, the Undying is all but officially dead.
Monk: Way Of The Four Elements
Released in the Player's Handbook, the Way of the Four Elements Monk subclass is one of the weakest in the game. It's presented as a harnesser of the elements, bending fire, water, earth, and air to their will.
In practice, the subclass gives the player one ability, granting uses of a limited amount of elemental spells that quickly drain the Monk's ki. Reddit Alternative-Sir-5699 points out that it "doesnt add to any pre-existing ki abilities and it doesnt add any abilities that dont use ki," and the fact that the ki-based abilities it does add are worse than the other available options.
