Worst Classes In D&D 5e, Ranked

In the beginning of Dungeons & Dragons, there were only three classes – Mage, Fighter, and Thief. The game has since evolved to include more than twenty, depending on what module is being played, and if players are counting new subclasses, the number is even more substantial.

Depending on the discussion, more classes aren’t always a good thing. Players often complain that some of them are repetitive, not useful, or boring. Some players might have fun with a class that’s only playable with a long-term plan when it comes to gear and Feats, but for most, it’s a disincentive. A dull class that doesn’t really fill any role is the worst sin of all, and even broken builds can be fun, but the following classes are some of the worst in D&D.

5

Monk

No Weapons, No Armor, No Point

• It might sound great on paper, but not so much in tabletop reality

In a game that players like because of the highly customizable characters when it comes to weapons and gear, it’s fair to ask why the Monk even exists. Certain players might enjoy the novelty of playing a class that uses martial arts as their main weapon at first, but as the adventure wears on, it makes the Monk seem like a superfluous, one-note character that’s easy to replace.

The Monk’s shortcomings can be avoided by building them to fill a specific role, but almost all they can do is healing or DPS, which almost every other class does better anyway. Monk Healers are decent, but Clerics, Druids, and Paladins are better.

Some of the subclasses improve this a bit, and details like a narrow choice for weapons and AC improvement can be corrected with certain Feats, but why even bother when versatile classes like Fighters and Rangers can do almost all the same things?

4

Bard

Sing Through That Melee Strike

• When they appear in other RPGs, it’s often as satire

The Bard character was inspired by historical figures, like the Pied Piper of Hamelin or the classical poet Homer. It sounds compelling, and it can’t be denied that music has its own type of magic. In practice, the image of one character playing music while everyone is fighting seems silly, because it is silly. One of Blizzard’s most infamous April Fool’s Day jokes was about introducing a new Bard class.

In a live-action movie or a novel, the Bard is a great character. They’re always the best-looking, often acting as the party face, and it’s their quips and jokes that make them convenient comic relief. In an actual TTRPG, however, with the DM reading from behind their screen and other players rolling dice, this hardly ever happens.

Some D&D-based games like Baldur’s Gate 3 improve this with detailed cinematic scenes that any player can get, but a TTRPG obviously won’t have that. The reality is that the Bard is simply a sub-par healer or a support class without an interesting backstory or riveting personality. It works best when multiclassed with another Charisma-based class, like a Paladin or Warlock, but then again, a player might as well just start with another class in the first place.

3

Rogue

Lockpicking, And What Else?

• They used to be a unique class, but not so much anymore

It used to be that every party needed a Rogue because of essential skills like lockpicking, backstabbing, and stealth. Now, thanks to subclasses, Feats, and certain magical items, various classes have these powers, and the Rogue has become completely replaceable by any character with a high Dexterity and the Sleight of Hand ability.

High Dexterity means high DPS, or at least it should, but other than melee DPS, a Rogue isn’t used for much these days. Players have had some success with ranged builds, but if that’s the case, just roll a Ranger or a Fighter that’s more Dexterity than Strength.

That means even Rangers and Bards can take the role often reserved for the Rogue. These classes can also carry similar weapons, plus they can heal and buff, which a Rogue can’t do. Even the spellcasting subclasses seem useless, because why not just roll a Warlock or Wizard instead and either multiclass them, or simply give them the Sleight of Hand Feat?

2

Ranger

The Perpetual Support Class

• Perhaps an example of a class that’s too versatile

The Rangers of The Lord of the Rings inspired this class, made famous by the gritty but heroic Strider, and this connection to everyone’s favorite high-fantasy epic is the best thing the class has going for it. Drizzt Do’Urden, the famous Drow Ranger, stars in a series of books that are some of the most popular in the D&D franchise, but not every character can star in their own novel.

The Ranger is similar to the Hunter class in other RPGs, which has given the class more specific powers when it comes to pets, animal companions, and weapons. A player with an overwhelming attention to detail and a talent for planning several levels ahead can make the D&D Ranger a better, more playable class. However, there’s little motivation to do so when a Druid or Fighter can do most of the same but with so much less work.

1

Paladin

A Glorified Cleric

• Another class lost in the modern frenzy of subclasses and skills overlap

Paladins, like Barbarians and Rangers, are exciting as part of the story, but not so much to play. Now that Clerics have subclasses like Tempest and War, which give them the ability to wield larger weapons and wear heavy armor, why do Paladins even still exist? Plus, they don’t get to choose a god like a Cleric, which takes away a potentially interesting feature.

A class that could both wear armor and heal themselves always felt somewhat overpowered anyway, and for years, every Paladin had to be of a Lawful Good alignment. This didn’t leave a lot of room for role-playing or backstory, and this is supposed to be one of the game’s most important features.

It’s important to give some credit to the Wizards of the Coast when they introduced a few subclasses to make Paladins more interesting and less one-dimensional. Paladins can now seek vengeance and break their loyalty oaths, but again, this is still a class of extremes when most players are looking for nuanced choices.