D&D 5.5’s Coolest New Subclass Is Getting A Major Free Upgrade

A popular character class in Dungeons & Dragons is receiving a significant free upgrade in the upcoming 5.5 edition, potentially making it a top-tier choice for players. While we haven’t seen any new official D&D books since November’s Faerûn releases, Wizards of the Coast recently shared plans for 2026, and it includes some exciting additions.

This June, fans of the popular tabletop role-playing game can look forward to the Ravenloft: The Horrors Within expansion, which will introduce new horror-themed adventures. Playtests suggest the new Ravenloft book will also bring back a familiar character class, along with other exciting content. Then, in September, two Arcana Unleashed books will be released, diving deeper into the game’s powerful magic system.

Hexblade Warlock Subclass Returns With D&D’s New 2026 Books

The Subclass Was Featured In Playtests Last Year

As a long-time D&D player and critic, one of my favorite things about new sourcebooks is seeing what they do with subclasses – especially when they revisit old favorites. And it sounds like the Hexblade Warlock might be making a comeback in the 2026 ruleset! I’ve been tracking this one closely; it first popped up in the 2025 playtests focused on horror themes, and then again on D&D Beyond’s Unearthed Arcana as part of the arcane subclass trials. It looks like these playtests were essentially previews for both Ravenloft: The Horrors Within and the upcoming Arcana Unleashed, which is fantastic news for Hexblade fans like me.

Given this, it’s likely the Hexblade Warlock class will be updated in one of the upcoming sourcebooks. The Hexblade’s dark and gothic themes align well with Ravenloft: The Horrors Within, though it could also be a good fit for Arcana Unleashed. Either way, we can probably expect to see the Hexblade subclass return in the next major update to Dungeons & Dragons, planned for 2026.

New Warlock Subclass Has A Major Free Update To Hexblade’s Curse

The D&D Subclass’s Main Feat Now Loops Into Certain Spells

Recent playtesting of the Hexblade Warlock class revealed some big updates, and the Hexblade’s Curse ability is generating a lot of excitement. Before, players had to spend their Bonus Action to apply the Curse to an enemy to get extra damage, critical hits on rolls of 19 or 20, and health back when the cursed enemy was defeated. Now, this upcoming D&D class, expected in 2026, can also trigger Hexblade’s Curse through certain spells.

If a spell involves cursing a target, like Hex or Bestow Curse, you can also apply the Hexblade’s Curse when you cast it. This means the target suffers the effects of both the original spell and the Hexblade’s Curse. At 3rd level, Hexblade’s Curse lets the Warlock regain hit points when the cursed target dies, and it grants a +2 bonus to Armor Class if the Warlock isn’t wearing armor or using a shield and is within 10 feet of the cursed enemy.

At 14th level, the Masterful Hex ability significantly enhances the Warlock’s Hexblade subclass in D&D. Players can now achieve critical hits on rolls of 19 or 20. When they damage a cursed target, a damaging explosion affects nearby enemies within 30 feet, and slows them down by 10 feet. Playtesting also reveals that Hexblade’s Curse recovers a use after a Short Rest or when the player uses the Magical Cunning feat.

One of the benefits of being a Hexblade Warlock is that you automatically have the Hex spell prepared, so it doesn’t take up one of your limited daily spell choices. Plus, Hex is cast quickly as a bonus action and doesn’t require the target to make a saving throw. This lets you curse an enemy and immediately start benefiting from both the Hex spell and your Hexblade’s Curse. Keeping this in mind will really maximize the power of the Hexblade subclass.

Hexblade Warlocks Will Be Broken In D&D 5.5e

This Developing Subclass Has Several Great Feats

The updated Hexblade Warlock isn’t just strong in one area. A key improvement is the Unyielding Will feat available at level 3. This feat benefits players no matter how their Concentration checks turn out: a success means dealing damage in a 10-foot radius, while a failure grants them temporary hit points as a safety net.

Reaching level 6 unlocks the Malign Brutality feat, featuring Harrowing Hex. This allows you to make an extra attack as a quick action (Bonus Action) after casting a spell that’s level 1 or higher as your main action. Malign Brutality also includes Hindering Curse, which makes it harder for enemies cursed by Hexblade’s Curse to succeed on their next saving throw if you hit them.

Malign Brutality includes the Inescapable Hex ability, letting you move up to your speed towards whoever is affected by your Hexblade’s Curse, as long as they end their turn at least 30 feet away from you. At 10th level, Hexblade Warlocks get their Armor of Hexes, which can now be used as often as you like and becomes more powerful as you gain levels.

Okay, so here’s the deal with the Hexblade Warlock. There’s a cool ability where you can use a Reaction to lessen the damage from the creature you’ve cursed, and the amount you reduce it by is equal to your Warlock level – pretty neat! Now, Hexblades haven’t always been the most powerful Warlock option, it really depends on how your Dungeon Master runs things, but they’re fantastic for building a really immersive character. But listen up, because here’s the big news: if these proposed changes go live in 2026, the Hexblade Warlock could seriously become one of the strongest subclasses you can choose in the game. Keep an eye on this one!

Keep in mind that what players experienced in the early tests might not be exactly what appears in the final release, as Wizards of the Coast is still refining and balancing the game. However, with this new subclass coming in the 2024 rules update, it’s an exciting time to be a Warlock player in Dungeons & Dragons.

2026-03-15 20:03