Dungeons & Dragons makers Wizards of the Coast has put a robust focus psychic powers since 2023’s Baldur’s Gate 3 pitted adventurers of the Forgotten Realms towards a mind-flayer invasion. WotC embraced the sport’s success in its 2024 ruleset with an emphasis on psionics, with aberrant sorcerers, psychic warriors and soulknives all showing within the Participant’s Handbook. And Thursday’s Unearthed Arcana continued that development, placing out guidelines for the psion class for the primary time since 4th version.
The psion dates again to earliest days of and D&D, talked about within the first version Participant’s Handbook and absolutely developed with the 1991 launch of The Full Psionics Handbook. Whereas a model of a psion known as a mystic was examined for 5e in a 2017 Unearthed Arcana, it was by no means formally printed. The quantity of psion-focused artwork shared in a 9-minute video with the designers makes it really feel extra probably that this class is a keeper, probably debuting in Forgotten Realms Gamers Information releasing later this yr.
The psion is a loyal spellcaster, like a wizard, however doesn’t converse arcane phrases or use particular materials elements. Their spells are enhanced by a nicely of inside power that manifests as bonus cube in the identical method because the soulknife and psychic warrior subclasses. At first degree, a psion can expend the cube to telekinetically propel creatures across the battlefield or prolong their pure telepathy. The quantity and measurement of their cube broaden as they degree up together with the methods a psion can use them to assault or defend themselves.
The playtest presents choices for 4 subclasses. The telepath is essentially the most basic psion, a defensively robust class centered on psychically linking their celebration to bolster them. They will additionally subtly infiltrate ideas to collect info. Psykinetics are good at using forcefields and blasting folks with telekinetic energies whereas psi warpers manipulate the battlefield by repositioning themselves and their allies. The metamorph is essentially the most twisted possibility, letting the psion flip their physique right into a weapon by rising bone blades, extending their limbs, and flinging bolts of bile.
Gamers who simply desire a style of psionics with out absolutely committing to a devoted class or subclass can attempt one of many 10 new wild expertise feats. The empath positive aspects emotional sense they will use to affect others together with the power to psionically forged appeal individual and calm feelings, whereas a pyrokineticist can change the injury of their assaults and spells to fireside and forged some hearth spells. The playtest additionally introduces just a few new spells, together with the possibility to summon a psionic entity.
Gamers can obtain the psion guidelines free of charge on the D&D Past web site and supply suggestions by June 3.