Path of the Ancestral Guardian

The Path of the Ancestral Guardian is a Barbarian subclass introduced in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything. This subclass focuses on protecting allies and summoning ancestral spirits to aid in combat. When a Barbarian chooses this path, they gain the ability to call upon the spirits of their ancestors, which manifest as spectral warriors. These ancestral guardians can provide both offense and defense, making the Barbarian a more versatile and supportive combatant.

One of the key features of this subclass is the ability to summon ancestral spirits during rage. These spirits can take the form of either a Warrior or a Guardian, each with unique abilities. The Warrior spirit is offensive, attacking enemies and dealing damage, while the Guardian spirit is defensive, protecting the Barbarian and their allies from harm. This duality allows the Ancestral Guardian to adapt to different combat situations, whether they need to deal damage or protect their party members.

Additionally, the Ancestral Guardian gains enhanced defensive capabilities. They can use their reaction to grant themselves or an ally advantage on a saving throw, further enhancing their ability to protect. This subclass also allows the Barbarian to heal allies during rage, making them a valuable asset to any party. The Path of the Ancestral Guardian emphasizes teamwork and protection, offering a fresh and strategic approach to the Barbarian class.

Overall, the Path of the Ancestral Guardian is a unique and powerful subclass that blends the Barbarian’s brute strength with the mystical connection to their ancestors. It offers a new layer of depth to the class, making it an excellent choice for players who enjoy a mix of combat and support roles.

Path of the Zealot

The Path of the Zealot is a Barbarian subclass introduced in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, offering a unique playstyle centered around fanatical dedication and unyielding resolve. Zealots are driven by a fierce passion for their cause, whether it be a deity, a creed, or a personal code of honor. This subclasses emphasizes endurance, resilience, and the ability to inspire allies while maintaining a relentless offensive.

One of the defining features of the Zealot is the ability to ignore damage that would reduce them to 0 hit points, instead dropping to 1 hit point and remaining in combat. This allows Zealots to stay in the fight even when on the brink of defeat, making them incredibly durable. Additionally, they gain resistance to damage while raging, further enhancing their survivability.

Zealots also gain the ability to inspire their allies through their unwavering determination. By spending a bonus action, they can grant nearby allies advantage on attack rolls or saving throws, boosting the party’s overall effectiveness in critical moments. This subclasses excels in both combat and leadership roles, making it a versatile choice for players who want to balance dealing damage with supporting their team.

Overall, the Path of the Zealot is ideal for players who enjoy a mix of resilience, inspiration, and raw combat power. It offers a unique take on the Barbarian class, blending tenacity with leadership to create a formidable and inspiring character on the battlefield.

Bard Subclasses

Xanathar’s Guide to Everything introduces two new Bard subclasses: the College of Glamour and the College of Whispers. These subclasses expand the Bard’s versatility, offering unique playstyles that blend performance, manipulation, and intrigue. The College of Glamour excels at enchantments and illusions, while the College of Whispers focuses on subtlety and psychological manipulation, adding depth to the Bard’s already dynamic role in the party.

College of Glamour

The College of Glamour, introduced in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, is a captivating subclass for Bards that emphasizes charm, illusion, and the art of shaping reality through performance. Bards of this college master the ability to weave powerful glamours, creating dazzling displays that captivate and manipulate the perceptions of others. This subclass is perfect for players who enjoy blending role-playing, strategy, and creativity in their gameplay.

One of the defining features of the College of Glamour is its ability to create elaborate illusions and enchantments. The subclass grants access to spells like Tasha’s Hideous Laughter and Modify Memory, which allow the Bard to manipulate the battlefield and influence the thoughts and actions of enemies. The Mantle of Inspiration feature provides temporary hit points to allies, making the Bard a valuable support character in combat scenarios.

As the Bard progresses, they unlock the Enthralling Performance feature, which enables them to command the attention of an audience, making them more susceptible to the Bard’s spells and abilities. This feature is particularly powerful in social encounters, allowing the Bard to charm and persuade with ease. Higher-level features include Compelling Presence, which forces creatures to make Wisdom saves or become charmed, and Dire Charm, which can turn enemies into temporary allies.

The College of Glamour offers a unique playstyle that combines performance, illusion, and psychological manipulation. It is an excellent choice for players who want to create a character that excels in both combat and social interactions, making them a versatile and dynamic addition to any party. This subclass truly embodies the Bard’s role as a master of both art and deception.

College of Whispers

The College of Whispers is a mysterious and intriguing Bard subclass introduced in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything. This subclass revolves around the themes of shadows, deception, and psychological manipulation, making it perfect for players who enjoy a more subtle and enigmatic playstyle. Bards of this college are masters of using their charm and illusions to outwit their enemies and manipulate those around them.

One of the key features of the College of Whispers is its emphasis on stealth and cunning. The Psychic Blade ability allows the Bard to channel psychic energy into their weapon attacks, dealing force damage and granting them advantage on attack rolls against creatures that rely on sight. This feature makes the subclass particularly effective in combat scenarios where precision and misdirection are key.

The Whispering to Shadows feature further enhances the Bard’s ability to operate in the shadows. At higher levels, the Bard can communicate with shadows, allowing them to gather information or set up ambushes. This ability is both flavorful and strategically powerful, fitting perfectly with the subclass’s theme of espionage and deception.

As the Bard progresses, they unlock abilities like Phantom Form and Word of Recall, which grant them increased survivability and mobility. These abilities make the College of Whispers a formidable subclass in both combat and role-playing scenarios, allowing the Bard to blend seamlessly into the shadows or manipulate the battlefield with ease.

The College of Whispers is ideal for players who enjoy playing a character that is both a performer and a master of secrets. Its unique blend of psychic powers, stealth, and deception makes it a standout choice for those who want to play a more cerebral and mysterious Bard.