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Character Class Reference

This is a rough reference of the various character classes available in 4e, both currently and with information up to the Eberron Player’s Guide. The official classes are organized below by book, power source, and role. Following that are links to 3rd party classes, fan-made classes, and other useful links for classes.

Much of the information about upcoming classes comes from Ondo’s thread on ENWorld, who has my thanks.

According to the PHB, the following are all the power sources: Martial, Arcane, Divine, Psionic, Shadow, Primal, Elemental, and Ki. (Ki has been removed as per the Monk Design & Development article).

* = This information is speculative and has not been definitively confirmed.

OFFICIAL CLASSES BY BOOK

Player’s Handbook

  • Cleric (Divine Leader)
  • Fighter (Martial Defender)
  • Paladin (Divine Defender)
  • Ranger (Martial Striker)
  • Rogue (Martial Striker)
  • Warlock (Arcane Striker)
  • Warlord (Martial Leader)
  • Wizard (Arcane Controller)

Forgotten Realms Player’s Guide

  • Swordmage (Arcane Defender)

Player’s Handbook 2

Eberron Player’s Guide

Player’s Handbook 3

  • Ardent (Psionic Leader)
  • Battlemind (Psionic Defender)
  • Monk (Psionic Striker)
  • Psion (Psionic Controller)
  • Runepriest (Divine Leader)
  • Seeker (Primal Controller)

Dragon Magazine

Player’s Option: Heroes of Shadow (March 2011)

  • Necromancer (Shadow, Unknown Role)
  • Hexblade (Shadow, Unknown Role)
  • ???

OFFICIAL CLASSES BY POWER SOURCE

ARCANE

Artificer, Bard, Sorcerer, Swordmage, Warlock, Wizard

DIVINE

Avenger, Cleric, Invoker, Paladin, Runepriest

MARTIAL

Fighter, Ranger, Rogue, Warlord

PRIMAL

Barbarian, Druid, Seeker, Shaman, Warden

PSIONIC

Ardent, Battlemind, Monk, Psion

SHADOW

Assassin, Hexblade, Necromancer

OFFICIAL CLASSES BY ROLE

CONTROLLER

Druid, Invoker, Psion, Seeker, Wizard

DEFENDER

Battlemind, Fighter, Paladin, Swordmage, Warden

LEADER

Ardent, Artificer, Bard, Cleric, Runepriest, Shaman, Warlord

STRIKER

Assassin, Avenger, Barbarian, Monk, Rogue, Ranger, Sorcerer, Warlock

3RD PARTY CLASSES

Advanced Player’s Guide

  • Martial Artist (Divine Striker)
  • Nature Priest (Divine Controller)
  • Savage Warrior (Martial Defender)
  • Troubadour (Arcane Leader)
  • Spellbinder (Arcane Controller)

Forgotten Heroes: Fang, Fist, and Song

  • Barbarian (Primal Defender)
  • Bard (Arcane Leader)
  • Druid (Primal Controller)
  • Monk (Martial Striker)

Shrouded Classes: The Witch Doctor

  • Witch Doctor (Spirit Controller)

FAN-MADE CHARACTER CLASSES AND VARIANTS

OTHER USEFUL CLASS LINKS

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