The wonders of the multiverse are vast, indeed!

We’ve got a chunky Unearthed Arcana article to dig into: a new character option, cleric subclass, backgrounds, feats, and spells.

Glitchling

Glitchlings are creatures associated with the cosmic forces of order. They look like humanoid machines with vestigial wings. Though they are constructs, their Living Construct feature allows them to benefit from certain spells like cure wounds. Their Armored Plating feature gives them a base AC calculation without armor, as befits a mechanical creature.

I especially like that glitchlings can use their little wings to temporarily fly.

The name “glitchling” is interesting here, as “glitches” are typically outside the normal order rather than a part of it. I’d love to see a bit more lore for these creatures if they make it to a published book!

Divine Domain: Fate

The Fate domain is all about the bonds of destiny. This domain emphasizes divination and features that allow you to manipulate the strings of fate. This domain gets Potent Spellcasting (bonus to cantrip damage).

I really like how you can use some of these features for either benefitting your allies or hindering your foes. Both the Ties that Bind feature and the Strands of Fate option for Channel Divinity offer that flexibility.

Backgrounds

If you (as the DM) allow one of these backgrounds, everyone gets a bonus feat! This is because these backgrounds come along with a feat, so to balance things out everyone can pick from a list of feats. We’ve been seeing feats get more love recently, so I’m curious to see what comes out of that. I’ve definitely heard of house rules that give a feat at level 1—maybe upcoming official adventures will grant that as well?

The Gate Warden background is for those who lived around a planar portal of some sort. These are characters accustomed to the deep weirdness surrounding planar shenanigans. They even get a unique trinket table!

The Giant Foundling background is for characters who were raised by giants—and often become quite large themselves. Their connection to giants allows them to wield the strength of these colossal entities.

The Planar Philosopher background is for those who ascribe to a particular way of thinking about the planes, and who wish to delve deeper into the truths of the multiverse. This background also has a custom trinket table!

The Rune Carver background is for characters learning the ways of runecraft, a magic that comes from scribing certain words or letters. This ancient practice originated with the Giants but has spread throughout the world.

Feats

Lots of new feats! Let’s talk about them in groups.

Scion of the Outer Planes

This feat connects you with the Astral Plane, the Outlands, or a Lawful, Chaotic, Evil, or Good Outer Plane. Your choice gives you resistance to a damage type and a cantrip. As well, depending on your choice, you can choose one of the following features at 4th or higher levels.

Agent of Order, Baleful Scion, Cohort of Chaos, Righteous Heritor, Outlands Envoy

These feats require the Scion of the Outer Planes feat first. They grant a +1 to an ability score (choices depends on which feat), plus a nifty feature to help you in combat or additional spells.

Planar Wanderer

This feat also requires Scion of the Outer Planes, and it grants benefits related to finding planar portals and suchlike.

Strike of the Giants

With this feat, you select a type of giant, and you can empower your attacks with their might. Depending on your choice, you also can access one of the following features at 4th or higher levels.

Ember of the Fire Giant, Fury of the Frost Giant, Guile of the Cloud Giant, Keenness of the Stone Giant, Soul of the Storm Giant, Vigor of the Hill Giant

These feats require the Strike of the Giants feat first. They grant a +1 to an ability score as well as an additional feature related to the type of giant you are aligned with.

Rune Carver Apprentice, Rune Carver Adept

These feats are related to runecraft. You have to take the Apprentice feat before taking the Adept feat. This gives you access to runes, which are tied to certain spells. The Adept feat also allows you to invoke certain benefits when using runes.

Scion of Elemental Air, Scion of Elemental Earth, Scion of Elemental Fire, Scion of Elemental Water

These feats connect you to a particular element. You gain an appropriate cantrip as well as an additional feature (like access to a spell, or a special bonus action).

Cartomancer

This feat (only for warlocks, wizards, and sorcerers) allows you to use cards as a spellcasting focus. When you cast a damaging spell with the cards, you get a limited, small bonus to its damage. You also get a special prestidigitation that can look like stage magic as you obfuscate the verbal and somatic components as normal card handling. Additionally, you can store certain lower-level spells in a card (one at a time, once per long rest).

This feat is sort of an odd one out here, but I really like this one!

Spells

New spells inspired by the Deck of Many Things!

I really like these; I hope they become official.

Make a giant card structure with house of cards!

More options for necromancy-themed characters with spirit of death, and summoner-type characters with summon warrior spirit.

Lean into the card-dealing theme with spray of cards, or antagonize your enemies witha spell literally called antagonize!

Very exciting stuff here.