D&D Adds Baldur’s Gate 3 Dark Urge-Style Subclasses

The time of heroes is over, as the latest Dungeons & Dragons playtest document is providing options for evil characters, including new subclasses, meaning that people who loved the wicked Dark Urge route in Baldur’s Gate 3 can recreate their scions of darkness in tabletop form.

Dungeons & Dragons players are usually heroic characters, which is where the famous Alignment system comes into play. Most characters are Lawful//Neutral/Chaotic Good, with the occasional fully Neutral character there to have bland opinions.

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Those who want to embrace the dark side of the Alignment table will get their chance, as the latest Unearthed Arcana playtest article on D&D Beyond has options for evil player characters.

Dungeons & Dragons Now Has Evil Subclasses & Feats

The “Villainous Options” playtest document features four new subclasses: Pestilence Domain for Clerics, Circle of the Titan for Druids, Hell Knight for Fighters, and Demonic Sorcery for Sorcerers. Like all subclasses in the new Dungeons & Dragons 2024 rules, these can be selected at level 3.

Pestilence Clerics are masters of disease, while shielding themselves from their worst effects, bringing enemies down with spells that rot them away from the inside. Circle of the Titan Druids evokes the power of ancient beasts, transforming into Kaiju-style monsters in battle. Hell Knight Fighters can tap into infernal magic to make their weapons more fearsome in combat, gaining mastery over hellfire itself. Demonic Sorcerers have chaos magic flowing through their veins, allowing them to unleash the horrors of the Abyss in battle.

The new playest also features two new paths: Path of the Dark Knight and Path of the Lich, which come with their own Feat sets. Starting at level four, these evil archetypes can select Feats that give them new powers. The Death Knight gains evil Paladin abilities, much like the Oathbreaker from Baldur’s Gate 3, while the Lich begins the process of removing their soul and becoming an undead master of magic.

It bears mentioning that not all groups allow the use of evil characters, as they can often perform horrible deeds that make players uncomfortable. D&D groups really need to set boundaries with evil party members, in order to make sure the game remains fun for everyone.