One D&D is the next iteration of Dungeons & Dragons, slated for release in 2024. Until then, Wizards of the Coast is releasing playtest documents to allow players to test the game piece by piece and give their feedback all the way through the process. This process mimics the development cycle that produced D&D Fifth Edition.
In many ways, the One D&D playtest heavily resembles D&D 5e in both rules and design philosophy. However, One D&D isn't just a tweak. There are some significant differences in the game's rules that will have major ramifications on the way tables play.
Updated July 6th by Isaac Williams: One D&D has had one of its biggest-ever updates with the Player's Handbook Playtest 6. This has given a more in-depth look at classes and mechanics than previous playtests, as well as finally revealed all twelve base classes. Some of its changes rank among the biggest tweaks One D&D has made to the D&D 5e ruleset.
20 Bard Spell Lists
Bards have undergone many changes in One D&D, many of which have been reverted in later playtests. Their Bardic Inspiration is no longer a reaction ability tied to their proficiency bonus. However, the most recent One D&D document has made a sweeping change to bard spellcasting.
Bards are no longer arcane casters in One D&D. Instead, the player chooses from any of the three spell lists at first level. When the bard gets their Magical Secrets ability at tenth level, they can prepare spells from all three of One D&D's spell list. This lets them cast almost any spell in the game, besides those specific to certain classes.
19 Warlocks
One D&D has changed many D&D 5e classes, but none as severely as warlocks. They're already one of D&D 5e's more unique classes, using short rest-based Pact Magic instead of long rest-based spellcasting. To resolve the balance issues this causes, One D&D makes the warlock regain spell slots on a long rest like other casters. It is now a half-caster, gaining spells at half the rate of other Mage classes.
Warlocks have received other tweaks to compensate for this. Mystic Arcanum is now a type of Eldritch Invocation that warlocks take to gain one cast of a higher-level spell per day. In addition, they now gain their Pact Boon at first level and their Patron at third. Their Pact Boon also determines their spellcasting modifier. Warlocks can now cast with Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma, depending on their choice.
18 Cunning Strikes On Sneak Attack
Rogues have remained largely unchanged for much of One D&D. However, the most recent playtest document has made a huge addition to their most iconic ability. Sneak Attack functions much as it does in D&D 5e. If a rogue has advantage on an attack or hits a creature within five feet of an ally, they deal additional d6s of damage depending on class.
However, One D&D has upgraded Sneak Attack with Cunning Strikes. From fifth level onwards, a rogue can sacrifice d6s from Sneak Attack to debilitate enemies in different ways. At lower levels, these include abilities like tripping or disarming. At higher levels, One D&D rogues can even blind foes with Cunning Strikes.
17 Barbarians
One D&D barbarians have fewer changes than many other D&D 5e classes. However, those few changes have a big impact on the class. Like other martial classes, they benefit from Weapon Mastery to make them especially proficient in certain weapon types. Unique to the class, One D&D barbarians Rage in a different way.
Barbarian Rage is solely a combat ability in D&D 5e. It provides combat buffs and requires attacking or taking damage to maintain. One D&D barbarian Rage offers non-combat benefits to checks like Perception, Intimidation, and Stealth. It also requires a bonus action each turn. Barbarians are slightly more flexible in combat, since Rage damage bonus and Reckless Attack affect thrown weapons and melee. The berserker subclass is now focused on bonus damage rather than extra attacks.
16 New Subclasses
Most of One D&D has been dedicated to testing new mechanics and rebalancing D&D 5e. However, the most recent playtest has introduced new content. The bard and the druid have received new subclasses in D&D 5e, in line with the stated goal of having four subclasses for each class in the finished product.
The One D&D druid gets the Circle of the Sea, based around a storm aura, flight, and combat spells. The One D&D bard gets the College of Dance. This is a class that fights unarmed and unarmoured, with an emphasis on mobility and buffing allies.
15 Druids
The druid has been a Dungeons & Dragons mainstay for many editions. D&D 5e increased the druid's focus on magical power rather than shapeshifting, and One D&D changes the class yet again. Druids now closer resemble clerics in how their abilities are laid out.
Previous changes giving them a Channel Nature ability have been reverted, but the class gets alternate uses for Wild Shape from second level onwards. Druids are now more flexible than they were in D&D 5e. They can dedicate themselves to spellcasting, Wild Shape, or fighting with weaponry depending on their Primal Order and subclass. In One D&D, higher-level druids can also convert Wild Shape uses into spell slots and vice-versa.
14 Wild Shape
Wild Shape is a signature D&D druid ability. This is particularly true of Circle of the Moon druids, who use it for both combat and utility. In D&D 5e, Wild Shape asks a lot of the player. They take on almost the entire statblock of the beast they turn into. This gives a lot of flexibility but also needs a lot of bookkeeping.
One D&D takes a new approach. Earlier playtest documents had Wild Shape give the druid specific statblocks with less power. More recent versions have split the difference. Druids can shift into a limited number of forms and don't get to use the beast's hit points. Moon Druids get higher-CR shapes and specific buffs, including temporary hit points and the option to deal radiant damage with beast attacks.
13 Updated Content In The Base Book
One D&D is more than a rewrite of the D&D 5e Player's Handbook. As the playtest has continued, it has incorporated specific material from later D&D 5e sourcebooks such as Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. In particular, the most recent playtest encourages players to use Tasha's Cauldron of Everything subclasses — such as the Circle of Stars or the Oath of Glory.
However, One D&D includes more than just subclasses from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. It includes some of that book's optional features, such as Cunning Aim for the rogue. The One D&D Beast Master ranger uses updated rules for its Primal Companion rather than the original Player's Handbook rules. One D&D's spell list also includes spells from both Tasha's Cauldron of Everything and Xanathar's Guide to Everything, such as Mind Sliver and Toll the Dead.
12 Modular Orders For Cleric And Druid
One D&D has more of an emphasis on choice in character creation than D&D 5e. Few classes display this more than the druid and cleric. Like in D&D 5e, each gets a subclass in the form of their cleric Domain and druid Circle. In addition, both classes make another low-level choice in One D&D, in the form of Primal and Divine Orders.
These dictate the class' preferred playstyle. Clerics choose between the Protector's heavy armor and martial weapons or the Thaumaturge's extra cantrips and improved Religion checks. Druids have a similar choice between the medium armor-wearing and weapon-wielding Warden or the spellcasting-focused Magician. These are independent of both classes' higher-level options to buff their cantrip or weapon damage.
11 Divine Smite
Divine Smite is the paladin's most iconic feature in D&D 5e. It allows them to transmute their spell slots into raw divine power for attacks. However, One D&D takes a new approach to it. Divine Smite is no longer a unique ability that only requires an attack. It's now a spell much like Branding Smite or Banishing Smite. These all need a bonus action to cast, used when a paladin hits with an attack.
This does open up Divine Smite and other abilities in some ways. They no longer require weapon attacks and can function with unarmed strikes. However, smite spells that used to work with ranged weapons no longer do. In addition, only one can be used per turn. One D&D still lets paladins deal vast amounts of damage, but they can't burn through all of their resources to devastate a foe in one turn.
10 Fighters
One D&D fighters have been more modified than they have transformed. The fighter has been rebalanced to give it a standout identity and more valuable abilities. They benefit the most from the new Weapon Mastery system, letting them use the Mastery Properties of more weapons than any other class. They have unique features like Weapon Expert to capitalize on this.
Most other changes are less radical. Fighters now get their third Extra Attack at eighteenth level rather than twentieth. Indomitable provides a bonus on the rerolled saving throw equal to the fighter's level. Second Wind now has several uses per long rest rather than being short rest-based. One D&D fighters have a steady stream of buffs, but none overhaul the class.
9 Spell Lists
In 5th Edition, every class has its own spell list. There is plenty of overlap, but every D&D class has unique spells. One D&D does away with this. Instead, there are three overarching spell lists. Different classes get access to different ones. The spell lists are Primal, Arcane, and Divine.
The wizard, warlock, and sorcerer use the Arcane list, rangers and druids use the Primal list, and clerics and paladins use the Divine list. Previous One D&D rules restricting classes by school of magic have been dropped in recent playtests. However, certain spells are once again specific to one class, such as Hex for the warlock, Divine Smite for the paladin, and Hunter's Mark for the ranger.
8 All Classes Prepare Spells
D&D 5e spellcasting is divided between casters who learn their spells and those who prepare them. Prepared casters pick choices from a larger list daily and can change them after a long rest. Learned casters, like the bard and sorcerer, pick new spells when they go up a level and can't change them as readily.
In One D&D, all classes are described as preparing spells. In some cases, this is an alternate depiction of the same rules. Sorcerers prepare spells but can only alter their choices when going up a level. However, it presents a significant versatility buff for D&D classes like the ranger, who can change one prepared spell every long rest.
7 Races Have Become Species
Race has become a contentious issue in Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition as the fans and developers alike have tried to move away from outdated and uncomfortable tropes regarding race. One D&D shows more significant changes to species than all of D&D 5e. The One D&D playtest consistently uses the word 'species' instead of 'race'.
In addition, the game no longer has species like half-elf and half-orc. Instead, One D&D gives guidance for players to hybridize any two species. Species no longer give ability score improvements. Most have some form of active ability for players to use. Subraces are now referred to as Lineages and have fewer effects.
6 Weapon Mastery
One D&D introduces an entirely new mechanic in Weapon Mastery. This represents the immense proficiency certain classes have over others in martial combat. Every weapon in One D&D has a Mastery Property that gives it a unique ability. These include easier dual-wielding, pushing enemies back, dealing damage on a miss, and knocking enemies prone.
Characters choose specific Weapon Masteries, where they choose weapons they can activate the Mastery Properties of. The One D&D fighter, barbarian, monk, ranger, rogue, and paladin benefit from Weapon Mastery. Even full spellcasters who can wield weapons effectively, such as the Warden druid or Pact of the Blade Warlock, lack access.
5 Feats Have Been Revamped
Feats are a strictly optional in 5e feature that DMs can allow players to take instead of an Ability Score Improvement at certain levels. One D&D changes feats quite a lot. They're now mandatory in the game, and every character starts with at least one in their background. All humans now gain an additional feat.
Feats have other changes beyond becoming a core part of One D&D. Many feats from D&D 5e are carried over but have been rebalanced. They're also restricted by level. Only a handful of feats are available from first level, with many more becoming available at fourth. In addition, every feat at fourth level now gives an ability score increase, which only a few did in 5e.
4 Individual Spell Tweaks
One D&D's new spell lists show an attempt to broadly change how spellcasting works compared to previous editions. However, there are more specific changes as well. Many D&D spells have been changed in One D&D. Some overpowered options have been nerfed, and more complex spells have been simplified to speed up the game.
Guidance is now a reaction spell cast when a creature fails an ability check. Find Familiar no longer summons a normal animal. Instead, it uses an immortal pre-existing statblock that improves with upcasting. Aid only gives temporary hit points. There are dozens of these tweaks, affecting many of D&D 5e's best spells.
3 Player-Created Backgrounds
Creating backgrounds is an option in D&D 5e, but the game doesn't give clear guidance on balancing them. As a result, most players go for one of the premade options. One D&D emphasizes players' ability to make their own backgrounds, simplifying the process and only providing a handful of pre-written ones as an example.
Backgrounds now give players ability score increases, skill proficiencies, certain equipment, and tool and language proficiencies. Most significantly, they give players a single first-level feat. These changes affect character creation and let players better reflect their character's background in their starting abilities.
2 Class Roles
In 5e, classes stand as their own entities. The One D&D playtest groups classes together, based on common mechanics and thematic roles. Bards, rangers, and rogues are Experts. Barbarians, fighters, and monks are Warriors. Sorcerers, warlocks, and wizards are Mages. The cleric, druid, and paladin are all Priests.
One D&D. Experts' unifying feature is Expertise, which replaces some class-specific abilities for the ranger. Priests are tied together by access to divine or primal magic. Mages wield arcane spells. Warriors are the only group where every class gets Weapon Mastery. However, the most recent One D&D playtest document didn't mention class groups, despite including several classes.
1 Overhauled Critical Successes
A classic part of D&D is what happens when players roll a natural 1 or natural 20. In One D&D, these have been termed critical failures and critical successes, respectively, and ensure success or failure regardless of the task's difficulty. More recently, critical failures also grant characters a point of inspiration.
Critical hits in combat have changed considerably over One D&D's lifespan. Early documents had NPCs unable to deal critical hits. In addition, they only doubled weapon damage, rather than spells or features like Sneak Attack. Later playtests have reverted the rules around critical hits to better-resemble D&D 5e.