How many classes are in Dungeons & Dragons?
Twelve in the core Player's Handbook — or thirteen if you count the Artificer. But the number that really matters is 48: the subclasses that decide how your hero actually plays.
All twelve, at a glance
Filter by how they play, then tap a class for its hit die, key ability and four subclasses.
Fighter
MartialThe most flexible weapon user — and the only class that gets extra attacks this early.
The short answer
The 2024 Player's Handbook lists twelve classes: Barbarian, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock and Wizard. That dozen has been stable since the 2014 edition.
A common “thirteenth” is the Artificer, a magic-item inventor — but it lives in other books (Eberron and Tasha's Cauldron of Everything), not the core handbook, so whether D&D has 12 or 13 classes depends entirely on which book you're holding.
Why the real number is 48
A class is only half the decision. At low level each class picks a subclass — a specialisation that reshapes how it plays. The 2024 book gives every class exactly four, so 12 × 4 = 48 distinct builds before you factor in species, feats or multiclassing.
That four-each symmetry is new. The 2014 Wizard had eight schools to choose from; the 2024 rebalance trimmed every class to a tidy four, promoting fan favourites like the Rogue's Soulknife and the Fighter's Psi Warrior into the core book in the process. Tap any class in the explorer above to see its four.
Martial, caster, or both
The twelve sort cleanly by how they spend a turn. Martial classes (Barbarian, Fighter, Monk, Rogue) swing weapons and rely on hit points and attacks. Casters (Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard) shape the battlefield with spells. And the hybrids — Paladin and Ranger — do both, which is why beginners often gravitate to them.
Hit dice track that split: the front-line Barbarian rolls a d12 for hit points, while the fragile Sorcerer and Wizard roll a d6. Use the role filter in the explorer to see the groupings.
Know your classes?
How many classes are in the core 2024 Player's Handbook?
Sources
- D&D Beyond — Updates in the 2024 Player's Handbook. Twelve classes, four subclasses each.
- EN World — All 48 subclasses (2024). The complete subclass list used in the explorer.
- EN World — Deep dive into the 2024 PHB. 12 classes, 48 subclasses, 16 backgrounds, 10 species, 75 feats.
More from the table
Twelve classes, 48 subclasses, one campaign — the only wrong answer is the character you never roll up.