Magic in Dungeons & Dragons is often thought of as something studied and learned, a craft that the player character pursues out of interest or need for power. Wizards dedicate their lives to the pursuit of understanding magic, while Warlocks offer themselves to powerful entities in exchange for abilities beyond their wildest dreams. For Sorcerers, magic is in their very blood.

For some, magic is genetic, possibly coming from the blood of ancient dragons in their family line that charges the power within. For others, it's more difficult to pinpoint the origin of their power. Perhaps they were touched by a demon as a child or blessed by a Fey spirit at birth. Whatever the origin of a sorcerer's connection to magic, that source influences the very nature of their power.

Updated on February 18th, 2024 by Louis Kemner: The sorcerer has some of D&D 5e's most disparate subclasses, with some of the strongest and some of the most underwhelming options in the game. This list has been updated to match CBR's current formatting standards and to give more information about the best Sorcerous Origins in D&D 5e.

9 Wild Magic Sorcerers Cast Unpredictable Magic

Wild Magic sorcerers break genuine mechanical ground in D&D 5e. No other subclass can match the randomness of their toolkit. However, this is a double-edged sword. D&D's Wild Magic Sorcerous Origin is unpredictable, with powerful abilities like giving creatures vulnerability to damage types or getting a second action. However, the player has no way to guarantee getting what they want.

In D&D 5e, a Wild Magic sorcerer can rarely guarantee getting anything. Their abilities trigger on a one in twenty chance caused by certain spellcasting. A sorcerer can go entire days without their defining feature happening. The possibility of a Wild Magic sorcerer hurting allies with its abilities and the generic nature of other features makes it one of the most frustrating Sorcerous Origins in D&D 5e, and definitely the worst sorcerous origin overall.

8 Storm Sorcery Sorcerers Reshape the Weather Itself

Storm Sorcery is one of D&D 5e's most specific Sorcerous Origins. Storm sorcerers master one element wholeheartedly and have little use for the others. Given the versatility of thunder and lightning spells, particularly with few enemies resisting these damage types, this is a valuable focus in D&D. However, this Sorcerous Origin's features fall short in several areas.

Resources are the D&D 5e Storm sorcerer's most pressing issue. Most of its abilities only trigger on leveled spells, particularly in the early game. Most other Sorcerous Origins in D&D 5e get impactful passive features that don't require resources. Storm sorcerers spend most of their time not getting value from their abilities, especially if they want to use Sorcery Points for Metamagic instead of spell slots.

7 Shadow Magic Sorcerers Cast Sinister, Tricky Spells From Shadowfell

Shadow Magic has one of the most thematic and aesthetically consistent toolkit of any D&D 5e Sorcerous Origin. Its abilities are all tied to the Shadowfell or death in some way. In addition, none of these abilities are bad or weak on their own. However, their mechanical synergy is underwhelming compared to their thematic resonance.

A Shadow Magic sorcerer in D&D 5e can shrug off lethal wounds, cast Darkness they can see through, summon a Hound of Ill Omen that attacks enemies and weakens their saving throws, teleport, and transform. This D&D Sorcerous Origin gives a grab bag of shadow-themed abilities that lack much synergy beyond benefits from shadow.

6 Runechild Sorcerers Love Glyphs and Runes to Access Cool Magic

The Runechild is a homebrew D&D 5e Sorcerous Origin popularized by the Critical Role podcast and available as part of their partnership with D&D Beyond. Runechild sorcerers automatically store arcane energy within their bodies. Mechanically, their D&D Sorcerous Origin features rely on a complex system of Essence Runes, a unique resource that interacts with Sorcery Points.

The Runechild's power as a D&D 5e Sorcerous Origin is not in line with its complexity, however. None of its features are useless, but many are situational or have better alternatives. Glyph of Aegis is a valuable feature for reducing damage, but it's almost useless when shielding another creature. Similarly, characters can spend many Essence Runes to bypass resistance or immunity to a damage type, or simply spend one Sorcery Point to use the Transmute Spell Metamagic and attack with a different damage type.

5 Draconic Bloodline Sorcerers Get Basic But Useful Buffs Like Damage Increases

The Draconic Bloodline is the closest thing to a default Sorcerous Origin in D&D 5e, and this shows through in its abilities. The Draconic Bloodline's abilities center on a specific D&D damage type, choosing from those related to dragons. Apart from this specific elemental focus, its abilities are reliable and generally useful.

D&D 5e's Draconic Bloodline Sorcerous Origin gives better Armor Class and more hit points from first level. Later on, it gives equally evergreen abilities like increased damage, optional damage resistance, and flight. Draconic Presence is its only spectacular and situational feature. The Draconic Bloodline is one of D&D 5e's most reliable Sorcerous Origins, even if it lacks the flashier nature of most others. Thus, the Draconic Bloodline subclass ranks in the middle among the sorcerous origins, a comfortable middle-of-the-road pick for new and/or casual D&D players.

4 Lunar Sorcery Sorcerers Rely On Certain Moon Phases To Be Powerful

Lunar Sorcery is the newest Sorcerous Origin in D&D 5e. It takes after a newer school of design, wherein sorcerers get a large number of bonus spells to supplement their meager spells known. This gives it a clear advantage over many of D&D 5e's earlier Sorcerous Origins. However, its abilities beyond that are restrained.

The Lunar Sorcery Sorcerous Origin bases all of its abilities around three phases of the moon. Each of Full Moon, New Moon, and Crescent Moon gives different features and spells. However, none of these are especially impactful in their own right. Overall, Lunar Sorcery falls short of more powerful Sorcerous Origins from later in D&D 5e.

3 Divine Soul Sorcerers Can Borrow Cleric Spells

The Divine Soul's defining trait in D&D 5e is enough to make it one of the most unique and powerful Sorcerous Origins. The Divine Soul sorcerer doesn't get many free spells like other D&D Sorcerous Origins. Instead, it gains access to two entire spell lists. Between them, the cleric and sorcerer spell lists cover a vast swath of the game's spellcasting. The Divine Soul sorcerer gets access to it all.

This is immensely flexible, particularly when coupled with a sorcerer's Metamagic. The Divine Soul sorcerer can specialize in buffing, utility, damage, or battlefield control more than other D&D 5e Sorcerous Origins. Its other features — like a saving throw buff, empowered healing, flight, and an automatic revival — simply add to its power.

2 Aberrant Mind Sorcerers Can Cast Spells Via Sorcery Points

The D&D 5e Sorcerous Origins introduced in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything have a significant advantage over most others. They each get a vast number of bonus spells, with close to twice as many options as most other Sorcerous Origins in D&D 5e. The Aberrant Mind sorcerer can switch these spells out for others, creating a flexible and customizable character.

This alone makes it one of D&D 5e's best Sorcerous Origins. However, its other features push it even further. It can cast its spells with Sorcery Points instead of spell slots, giving it far more resources to work with than most other D&D 5e sorcerers. Its later features, such as transforming body parts for new abilities, are esoteric but not weak in the slightest.

1 Clockwork Soul Sorcerers Focus on Order and Flexible Spellcasting

The Clockwork Soul Sorcerous Origins in another Tasha's Cauldron of Everything sorcerer subclass that gives a significant spellcasting advantage. Clockwork Soul sorcerers have a vast pool of reliable and non-situational extra spells that they can switch out for others if they want. Its other features are similarly always useful.

The Clockwork Soul D&D 5e Sorcerous Origin lets a sorcerer prevent advantage or disadvantage, protect creatures from harm, prevent low rolls, and summon allies for aid. These are invaluable in many situations throughout D&D 5e. Even though they aren't as flashy as some other Sorcerous Origins' features, they cement the Clockwork Soul as D&D 5e's best sorcerer subclass.