Classes FAQ
What are the classes in D&D?
A class is the main rules framework that determines how a D&D character develops: Hit Dice, proficiencies, class features, spellcasting or other resources, and access to a subclass or similar specialization. D&D Portal includes standard Fifth Edition classes alongside published third-party and homebrew classes. Because those entries can use different rules bases, sources, and level structures, check the class's provenance and campaign availability before building around it.
A class is the main mechanical framework of a D&D character. It determines much of what the character gains while leveling, including hit points, proficiencies, signature features, spellcasting or class-specific resources, and the point at which the character chooses a subclass or another form of specialization. A character's species, background, equipment, feats, and subclass can all change how that framework is used, but the class remains the largest single part of the character's level progression.
The standard Fifth Edition class family
The standard pre-2024 Fifth Edition class family represented in D&D Portal includes:
Artificer Barbarian Bard Cleric Druid Fighter Monk Paladin Ranger Rogue Sorcerer Warlock Wizard
Artificer was published after the original 2014 Player's Handbook but belongs to the official pre-2024 Fifth Edition rules family used by the Wiki.
These classes cover a wide range of roles.
Some are primarily martial, some are full spellcasters, some mix weapons and magic, and some rely on a unique resource such as Rage, Ki, Sorcery Points, Pact Magic, or Infusions.
Additional classes in D&D Portal
D&D Portal also contains additional class pages beyond the standard official class family.
The current D&D Portal class library includes:
Blood Hunter Captain Champion Gunslinger Illrigger Messenger Monster Hunter Mournbound Pugilist Scholar Shinobi Treasure Hunter Vampyr Vanguard Warden
These additional classes do not all share the same provenance.
Some are published third-party material.
Some are campaign homebrew.
Some may use a different level structure or different terminology from the standard 1-to-20 class chassis.
For that reason, a class should never be labelled homebrew merely because it is not one of the original Player's Handbook classes.
For additional classes, source and campaign availability matter just as much as the class name.
Classes are not just combat roles
It can be useful to describe a class as a tank, striker, healer, controller, face, scout, or support character, but those labels are only summaries.
A Fighter can be defensive, aggressive, ranged, or highly tactical.
A Cleric can heal, but may also function as a heavily armored front-line caster or battlefield controller.
A Rogue can be a scout, investigator, social specialist, ranged attacker, duelist, or magical infiltrator depending on build and subclass.
A class defines the mechanical toolkit.
The character concept determines how that toolkit is expressed.
Subclasses change the specialization
Most classes eventually choose a subclass or equivalent specialization.
The exact terminology depends on the class.
Examples include:
Barbarian → Primal Path Bard → Bard College Cleric → Divine Domain Druid → Druid Circle Fighter → Martial Archetype Monk → Monastic Tradition Paladin → Sacred Oath Ranger → Ranger Archetype Rogue → Roguish Archetype Sorcerer → Sorcerous Origin Warlock → Otherworldly Patron Wizard → Arcane Tradition Messenger → Messenger Path Shinobi → Shinobi Path Pugilist → Fight Club
Other classes may use their own terminology.
The subclass does not replace the class.
It adds a specialization on top of the base class progression.
Which classes are available in a campaign?
The presence of a class in the Wiki does not automatically mean every party uses it.
D&D Portal supports multiple campaigns, published third-party material, optional rules, and homebrew content.
A player should therefore confirm a class's source and campaign availability before building around an option.
This matters especially for additional classes, setting-specific material, experimental homebrew, and any class whose rules differ from the campaign's normal edition basis.
In short
A class defines the character's core progression.
D&D Portal contains both the standard Fifth Edition class family and additional supported classes.
The class index is a catalogue of content supported by D&D Portal. It intentionally includes official classes, published third-party classes, and homebrew classes, so the entries do not all share one publisher, sourcebook, rules edition, or campaign availability.