D&D’s Edgiest Subclass Rework May Arrive In 2026, & I Couldn’t Be More Hyped

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With the update to the Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition rules in 2024, many new character options and abilities have been added, and older ones have been revised to fit the new system. A good example of this is the recent update to character races in the Eberron: Forge of the Artificer book, released in late November 2025, which included changes to races like the Changeling, Kalashtar, and Warforged.

These creatures were already part of the game under the 2014 rules, but the recent Forge of the Artificer book officially brought them up to date for 2024. That book also revamped the Artificer class – often considered one of the strongest in Dungeons & Dragons – giving it four updated and one completely new subclass. With new books constantly being released, the game is always evolving, and this year looks especially promising.

Oathbreaker Paladin Rework May Be Released In 2026

Wizards Of The Coast Playtested The Subclass

Wizards of the Coast began testing the Oathbreaker Paladin subclass last year, and it’s likely to appear in a Dungeons & Dragons book sometime in 2026. They used the Unearthed Arcana playtest on D&D Beyond, updating it to work with the latest 2024 rules, and collected feedback from players. Currently, there’s no official announcement about when it will be released or which book will include it.

Oathbreakers are a popular choice for Paladin players, often appealing to those who enjoy a darker character concept. These Paladins have broken their sacred oaths and embraced a more sinister path. As seen in games like Baldur’s Gate 3, Oathbreakers typically lean towards evil or, at the very least, have a rebellious nature and questionable morals.

Reworked Oathbreaker Is Already One Of D&D’s Best Subclasses

The New Paladin Subclass Is Getting More Self-Sufficient

In the 2014 version of the game, the Oathbreaker Paladin subclass was very powerful, but it had a notable weakness: its ability to control undead creatures relied on finding one already existing in the game world. Recent updates, previewed in the Unearthed Arcana playtests for 2024, have replaced this ability with Conjure Undead. This new ability lets Oathbreakers create undead creatures, which works much better with their Aura of Hate ability.

To match the latest rules for character classes in 2024, the Oathbreaker has gained new spells. The updated Dread Lord ability now works well with the Paladin’s Aura of Protection. In general, the Oathbreaker feels much improved – it’s now more self-reliant and works better as a whole. Its ability to create its own undead minions significantly strengthens it, addressing a key weakness in the original 2014 rules.

Content from Unearthed Arcana isn’t always included in the final game. For example, the Purple Dragon Knight fighter subclass was tested last year but replaced with the Banneret. While the Oathbreaker is expected to be released, it might have some minor differences from the playtest version.

The Heroes of Faerun expansion introduced the Scion of the Three Rogue subclass, which is known for its dark and brooding themes due to its ties to the Dead Three. However, I think the Oathbreaker Paladin is even more thematically intense, and it might become one of the most powerful subclasses in Dungeons & Dragons again.

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2026-02-08 16:18