Choosing which class and subclass to play in Dungeons & Dragons can be intimidating, especially for new players. The schematics of combat are overwhelming as-is and can seem even more confusing with the addition of class-specific features that need to be balanced and maintained. But, there are a handful of classes that can offer newcomers very straightforward mechanics and abilities that do not require much time to master.
There is a misconception about the difficulty of classes when it comes to melee versus spellcasting. While most players are quick to pin most martial classes as beginner-friendly, and spellcasters for more advanced D&D players, both have their own set of challenges. Martial and melee classes start simple but grow increasingly more complex as they level up, and players must think of creative ways to use their linear powerups. Spellcasters grow more exponentially, and may seem difficult at first but can grow more powerful at a faster rate.
Often regarded as one of the simplest D&D classes to play, the Fighter is a great martial class for new players who don’t want to be overloaded during combat. Choosing the Champion subclass will further simplify the process with only a handful of features that are powerful yet straightforward. Fighters hit things and they hit them well, and the Champion subclass merely adds a bit of flavor and extra bonuses to strikes.
Dungeons & Dragons Classes And Subclasses That Are New-Player Friendly
If new players are interested in trying out a spellcaster class, they may want to consider playing a Cleric for their first dip into magic. Clerics have the simple, primary objective of healing, which gives new players an easy go-to place on the battlefield, and the potential to do quite a bit of damage. Taking the Arcana Domain will add little boosters to player’s spellcasting every few levels, and give them the ability to banish and turn away enemies. This is great for new Dungeons & Dragons magic users as it is a mechanic built in to give them more time to work with their spells.
There is a happy medium between spellcasters and melee classes, and that would be the small group of half-casters and third-casters. These classes can excel at both combat and spellcasting and can give players variety to their combat. Paladins are half-casters, meaning their spells only go up to level five at the highest. A Paladin’s flare is hitting things with a flurry of magic to increase damage, and the Oath of Devotion is a simple way to boost that even more. This sacred Paladin Oath features a lot of AoE features, meaning players can boost their party members and hinder enemies just by being near them – and they don’t have to worry about activation mechanics.
New players to D&D should never feel any hesitancy toward trying a class purely out of fear of complexity. The Dungeon Master’s goal, aside from guiding the story, is to be there to aid players, including helping in navigating their character sheets. While these Dungeons & Dragons classes and subclasses may be the most basic in their mechanics, any class can be new-player friendly given the right guidance.
