Summary

• Warlocks are complex but versatile due to Eldritch Invocations, offering a mix of martial and arcane damage.
• Monks prove engaging for advanced players with unique Ki abilities and a high skill ceiling for strategic play.
• Rangers are straightforward, but offer a variety of options with animal companions and spellcasting.

Sometimes, after playing your fourth or fifth campaign as a player in Dungeons & Dragons, it can feel like you've run out of classes to play. Maybe you've played a handful of campaigns and you're not sure which class to try out next, and are in need of inspiration. Whatever the case may be, DND 5e always has great options at your disposal when it comes to selecting and customizing classes.

If you're trying to figure out what class to play next as an advanced player, we've broken down several classes by difficulty in this list. Here are the best classes for expert players, ranked.

10 Sorcerer

With the introduction of spellcasting, classes tend to get a little more complicated. However, sorcerers are some of the easiest spellcasters you can play in Dungeons & Dragons.

Outside of their Metamagic abilities, their spellcasting is pretty straightforward, and their spell lists often just include attack spells rather than a great deal of utility. Still, there's some fun to be had by picking unique Metamagic options and regaining spell slots.

9 Ranger

As half-casters, half martial characters, rangers can offer some more interesting levels for expert players. Depending on which subclass you pick, you can also gain features like animal companions, which can allow you to get creative during combat or roleplay scenarios.

Still, thanks to their limited magic abilities, rangers are relatively straightforward unless you pick unconventional subclass options like horizon walker or monster hunter. Rangers are probably better suited for multiclass options for advanced players.

8 Druid

Druids are similar to sorcerers in terms of complexity, in that their spellcasting is pretty streamlined. However, a lot of druid subclass features, and their Wildshape ability, allow for a higher skill ceiling for longtime players.

For the most complexity and creativity as a druid, the circle of stars offers a lot of fun in terms of roleplay and the Starry Form feature, which allows you to assume either a higher damage output role or the role of a flex support depending on what's needed.

7 Paladin

Paladins get slightly more complex as far as half-casters go thanks to their Divine Smite features and the types of spells they have on offer. Divine Smite offers compelling strategy in deciding when is best to use it versus when it's best to save your spell slots for healing your party. Paladins also have access to a lot of interesting roleplay and utility spells that can buff or nurture your party.

Lastly, paladins are fun for more advanced players in that their role in the party is very flexible. They can tank, have high damage output, and can heal. You can customize your paladin build to your playstyle, which is always a plus.

6 Monk

Monks can prove highly engaging and rewarding for advanced players thanks to their numerous features and abilities. If placed in the right hands, a high-powered monk can prove game-breaking for some Dungeon Masters. Placed in the wrong hands though, it can prove too difficult to be fun.

The best part of playing a monk as a high-skill player is uncovering how their various abilities work in tandem with each other. For example, burning through ki points to close the distance between you and opponents, and then stunning strike them, can prove immensely fun and can even turn the tides of battle when you need it most.

5 Warlock

Warlocks have advantages and disadvantages to them in terms of difficulty. For one, they don't have as many spell slots, meaning you don't have to manage a giant list of spells. However, because you can customize your features, creating an even split of martial damage and magical damage, you can turn this class into a highly intense, complex character for yourself.

Plus, because you can tailor your Eldritch Invocations to your needs as a player, there's a decently high skill ceiling on offer for playing a warlock. For those looking to up their roleplay game, warlock patrons are also great for stretching your skills as a roleplayer.

4 Wizard

Wizards have very straightforward spellcasting abilities, and can work for beginners to the game. But, ultimately, the skill ceiling for wizards is so high thanks to their highly varied spell lists, and their ability to multiclass nicely with other classes, that it makes them worth it for top tier players.

Consider using the unearthed arcana bladesinger subclass for some highly unique features. If you've played a wizard before as an advanced player, trying a new unearthed arcana subclass might just be the extra thing you needed to refresh your taste for this class.

3 Bloodhunter

Bloodhunters can prove complicated, especially for new players, but what makes this class really special for expert players is the added challenge. Because you'll have to be constantly hemorrhaging your own HP to use your abilities, playing a bloodhunter becomes a highly specified, resourceful class to play.

There are also far more subclasses you can play as a bloodhunter now than there were when the class was first released via Critical Role. So, even if you tried blood hunter once, it might be worth revisiting and giving it another go.

2 Artificer

Artificers can prove rewarding for seasoned D&D players thanks to their weapon infusions and interesting subclasses. Depending on what role your party needs, you can choose between various subclasses like artillerist or alchemist to play more of a DPS or support character, respectively.

The combination of magical infusions, spellcasting, and ranged weapon damage (depending on your subclass pick) can make for a highly unique character profile. For an extra challenge, you can also multiclass artificer with other classes like rogue or fighter to make for an even more singular combination.

1 Gunslinger

Though technically a subclass of fighter, gunslingers are far and away the best option for veteran Dungeons & Dragons players. Your firearm proficiency and related features bring in mechanics like resource management, weapon maintenance, and more in addition to your standard fighter abilities like Second Wind.

This means you'll not only get the challenge of mastering a complex and in-depth class, but you're undoubtedly going to be playing one of the more unique characters at your table, which is always a great reward for high-tier players.