Table of All D&D 4E Character Classes [Updated - Player's Handbook 3]

Posted on August 9, 2009 by RupertG

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With the release of the D&D 4E Players Handbook II the number of character classes has doubled to 16. Now that all the classes are spread over two books, we thought that it might be easier to see what is available if it were included in a table view showing you power source, character role and reference page in the respective manual. Once content gets spread over two books, it is often a lot harder to get a real picture of what is available and hopefully this table will help.

Update: Inclusion of non-core classes from other source books due to popular demand…

Update: Inclusion of classes from the Player’s Handbook 3.

Class Power Source Role Reference
Ardent Psionic Leader PHBIII (22)
Avenger Divine Striker PHBII (32)
Barbarian Primal Striker PHBII (48)
Bard Arcane Leader PHBII (66)
Battlemind Psionic Defender PHBIII (42)
Cleric Divine Leader PHBI (60)
Druid Primal Controller PHBII (82)
Fighter Martial Defender PHBI (75)
Invoker Divine Controller PHBII (100)
Monk Psionic Striker PHBIII (62)
Paladin Divine Defender PHBI (89)
Psion Psionic Controller PHBIII (80)
Ranger Martial Striker PHBI (103)
Rogue Martial Striker PHBI (116)
Runepriest Divine Leader PHBIII (98)
Shaman Primal Leader PHBII (118)
Seeker Primal Controller PHBIII (116)
Sorcerer Arcane Striker PHBII (136)
Warden Primal Defender PHBII (152)
Warlock Arcane Striker PHBI (129)
Warlord Martial Leader PHBI (143)
Wizard Arcane Controller PHBI (156)
Non-core and entirely optional classes*…
Artificer Arcane Leader EPG (44)
Assassin Shadow Striker Dragon Magazine 379
Swordmage Arcane Defender FRPG (24)

* Non-core classes included here for the sake of completeness – consult your GM first before using…

Abbreviations

PHBI – Player’s Handbook
PHBII – Player’s Handbook II
PHBIII – Player’s Handbook III
EPG – Eberron Player’s Guide
FRPG – Forgotten Realms Player’s Guide

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About RupertG

RupertG has been playing roleplaying games ever since he discovered Dragon Warriors at the age of 12. Since those days he has played many different RPG's, collected not insignificant Dwarf and Tomb Kings armies for Warhammer Fantasy Battles and even worked as a games designer in the heady days of the late 90's building a CCG. Now he runs a gaming blog and is a participant in the Grand Gaming Experiment
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  • Ellisthion

    I think this should really include the Swordmage, from the Forgotten Realms Players Guide. Apart from being a wonderful class, it is treated similar to PHB and PHBII classes: it’s discussed equally on forums, and it has its own chapter in Arcane Power.

    Swordmage also means Arcane has all four roles, making Martial the only Power Source thus far to not cover all the roles.

  • Ellisthion

    I think this should really include the Swordmage, from the Forgotten Realms Players Guide. Apart from being a wonderful class, it is treated similar to PHB and PHBII classes: it’s discussed equally on forums, and it has its own chapter in Arcane Power.

    Swordmage also means Arcane has all four roles, making Martial the only Power Source thus far to not cover all the roles.

  • http://www.diceofdoom.com RupertG

    I didn’t include the Swordmage as it is a campaign specific class and is not considered to be a core class. I understand that there are GM’s that allow its use and that it is also popular on various forums. I do not think that popularity on forums make a class core however.

  • http://www.diceofdoom.com RupertG

    I didn’t include the Swordmage as it is a campaign specific class and is not considered to be a core class. I understand that there are GM’s that allow its use and that it is also popular on various forums. I do not think that popularity on forums make a class core however.

  • Ellisthion

    It’s not mere popularity, it’s acceptance by the community. Glancing at the official D&D forums, at this instant a whopping 8 of 30 threads on the first page of the Defenders forum have Swordmage in their titles: that’s nearly 1 in every 3 threads.

    It’s inclusion in Arcane Power is no side note: it is presented alongside the Wizard, Bard, Warlock, and Sorcerer, with Class Features, Powers, and Feats.

    The Swordmage is a firm archetype that cannot be properly duplicated through other classes or multiclass feats. I’m sure that if it hadn’t been put into the FRPG, then it would certainly have appeared in the PHBII.

  • Ellisthion

    It’s not mere popularity, it’s acceptance by the community. Glancing at the official D&D forums, at this instant a whopping 8 of 30 threads on the first page of the Defenders forum have Swordmage in their titles: that’s nearly 1 in every 3 threads.

    It’s inclusion in Arcane Power is no side note: it is presented alongside the Wizard, Bard, Warlock, and Sorcerer, with Class Features, Powers, and Feats.

    The Swordmage is a firm archetype that cannot be properly duplicated through other classes or multiclass feats. I’m sure that if it hadn’t been put into the FRPG, then it would certainly have appeared in the PHBII.

  • Ellisthion

    PS: The Swordmage rocks

  • Ellisthion

    PS: The Swordmage rocks

  • http://www.diceofdoom.com RupertG

    Just because it ‘rocks’ doesn’t necessarily mean it should get its own line in the table above… ;)

    Also, ‘Official D&D Forums’ means, ‘Officially Hosted Place Where Any One Can Comment’ – it doesn’t make it ‘official’.

    While it may have been included in the PHBII if it wasn’t in the FRPG, it wasn’t, so its hard to say.

    Having said all that, if you send me the info, I will put it on its own ‘non-core’ section of the table…

  • http://www.diceofdoom.com RupertG

    Just because it ‘rocks’ doesn’t necessarily mean it should get its own line in the table above… ;)

    Also, ‘Official D&D Forums’ means, ‘Officially Hosted Place Where Any One Can Comment’ – it doesn’t make it ‘official’.

    While it may have been included in the PHBII if it wasn’t in the FRPG, it wasn’t, so its hard to say.

    Having said all that, if you send me the info, I will put it on its own ‘non-core’ section of the table…

  • George

    Hi
    Doesn’t psionic also have a complete set of roles?

    Ardent – leader
    Battlemind – defender
    Monk – striker
    Psion – controller

  • George

    Hi
    Doesn’t psionic also have a complete set of roles?

    Ardent – leader
    Battlemind – defender
    Monk – striker
    Psion – controller

  • http://www.diceofdoom.com RupertG

    Yep, it sure does. The observations were made after the release of PHBII, and I forgot to update them after the release of PHBIII – something which I will attend to shortly…

    Thanks for pointing it out :)

  • http://www.diceofdoom.com RupertG

    Yep, it sure does. The observations were made after the release of PHBII, and I forgot to update them after the release of PHBIII – something which I will attend to shortly…

    Thanks for pointing it out :)

  • Thunderforge

    Could you please add on the Assassin class available through DDI? The class is a Shadow power source and Striker role, if I remember correctly.

  • Thunderforge

    Could you please add on the Assassin class available through DDI? The class is a Shadow power source and Striker role, if I remember correctly.

  • http://www.diceofdoom.com RupertG

    Yep! Sure can :)

  • http://www.diceofdoom.com RupertG

    Yep! Sure can :)

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  • http://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.murphy.39 Joseph Alan Murphy

    Can you include the Vampire Class from Heroes Of Shadow. It uses the Shadow power source and is a Striker class.