Choosing Your D&D Character’s Class

Choosing Your D&D Character’s Class

One of the most exciting parts of starting a new D&D game is figuring out your character’s class. It’s more than just picking what kind of weapon you’ll wield or which spells you’ll cast—it’s about deciding how your character approaches challenges, how they see the world, and what role they’ll play in the group.

Every class in Fifth Edition D&D brings something different to the table. Barbarians are known for their rage in battle, but they’re also connected to primal instincts and wild lands. Bards combine creativity with magic, turning art and performance into tools of power. Clerics draw strength from their faith and serve as both warriors and healers. Fighters are masters of weapons and tactics, while rogues rely on stealth and cleverness to get what they want.

Then there are classes like the warlock—who’s made a pact with something beyond this world—and the sorcerer, whose magic is literally in their blood. Wizards are the bookish scholars, painstakingly learning every nuance of the arcane, while druids commune with nature and can even become part of it. Each class has its own unique feel and flavor, which can shape the entire tone of your campaign.

To help narrow down these choices, it can be helpful to think about how you want to play. Do you want to rush into battle, or stand back and cast spells? Do you like the idea of being self-sufficient, or do you want to inspire others? Do you see your character as someone who’s driven by personal ambition, or by a cause greater than themselves?

For me, I like to treat this process like a kind of decision tree. I’ll imagine my character—like my example character, Ezra Wright—and ask: How does he react to danger? What’s he most curious about? Does he want to learn, to protect, to prove something? These questions help me figure out which classes feel like a natural fit.

At the end of the day, there’s no single “right” class. It’s all about what’s fun for you—what feels like it clicks with the character you want to play. And if you’re curious to hear how I’ve worked through these decisions and what I love about each class, check out the video above.

Cheers,
Brian