The biggest single change to the Sorcerer in 2024 is that its subclass selection is moved to 3rd level.
Most of the class remains intact and unchanged, though. Here’s the breakdown of changes.
Core Class
Starting Equipment is changed completely and now comprises two Daggers, an Arcane Focus, Dungeoneer’s Pack, and some Gold. As usual, you can forgo the listed gear and take a larger sum of Gold, from which you’ll “purchase” items from the standard equipment list.
Sorcerers can now Prepare slightly more spells than before. Spellcasting still unlocks at 1st level, and the number of Prepared spells first exceeds the 2014 count at 3rd level; by 20th level the Sorcerer knows 22 spells, compared to a maximum of 15 before. The number of spell slots and cantrips remain the same, but cantrips can now be changed when gaining levels.
A new 1st level feature, Innate Sorcery gives Advantage on spell Attack rolls and a +1 to the spell save DC for 1 minute. It can be used twice per Long Rest.
Font of Magic, 2nd, removes the Bonus Action requirement for converting spell slots into Sorcery Points, this is now a free action. Buying spell slots with Sorcery Points still requires a Bonus Action.
Metamagic
The core Sorcerer feature, moves from 3rd level to 2nd and has some changes and additions to its options.
- Careful Spell - the automatic save granted by this option now cancels all damage from successful saving throws that would result in half damage
- Extended Spell - now also grants Advantage on rolls to maintain Concentration on the affected spell
- Heightened Spell - the Sorcery Point spend is reduced from 3 to 2 Points
- Quickened Spell - language is added to enforce the “one leveled spell per turn” rule
- Seeking Spell - this first appeared in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, but has had its Sorcery Point spend decreased from 2 to 1 Point
- Subtle Spell - expanded to include casting without Material components, in addition to Verbal and Somatic. Materials with specified costs must still be supplied for casting, even with this option.
- Transmuted Spell - first appeared in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything; for 1 Sorcery Point, change the damage type of Acid, Cold, First, Lightning, Poison, or Thunder to one of the same
- Twinned Spell - the text is changed to a clarifying restatement of the option’s effect. Basically, if a spell’s base form has a single target and up-casting allows for more targets, this option increases the level of the cast spell for 1 Sorcery Point without expending a higher-level spell slot.
Sorcerous Restoration moves from 20th level to 5th and, once per Long Rest, restores spent Sorcery Points equal to half the Sorcerer level on a Short Rest. This used to restore 4 Sorcery Points on every Short Rest.
Sorcery Incarnate, 7th, if all uses of Innate Sorcery are expended, a 2-Sorcery Point spend as a Bonus Action will activate Innate Sorcery. It also enhances Innate Sorcery with the ability to use up to 2 Metamagic options on a spell.
An Epic Boon is unlocked at 19th level.
Arcane Apotheosis is the new 20th feature, granting one free Metamagic option per turn without requiring a Sorcery Point spend.
Sorcery Spellbook
The spellbook picks up some new options in PHB24. Check the Spells Topic for more details on additions to the core set of spells.
Added Spells
- Cantrips - Elementalism, Mind Sliver, Sorcerous Burst, Thunderclap
- Level 1 - Grease, Ice Knife
- Level 2 - Arcane Vigor, Dragon’s Breath, Flame Blade, Flaming Sphere, Magic Weapon, Mind Spike
- Level 3 - Vampiric Touch
- Level 4 - Charm Monster, Fire Shield, Vitriolic Sphere
- Level 5 - Bigby’s Hand, Synaptic Static
- Level 6 - Otiluke’s Freezing Sphere
- Level 8 - Demiplane
Subclass Options
As with all classes in 2024, subclasses have all been moved to 3rd level.
Sorcerer subclass naming has been unified include an adjective and the word “sorcery”.
Aberrant Sorcery
This subclass first appeared in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything.
The Aberrant Origins table has been removed for PHB24 and all features have had their minimum level increased to 3rd. Otherwise, this subclass appears without any material changes from how it was originally published.
Clockwork Sorcery
This subclass first appeared in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything.
All features have had their minimum level increased to 3rd.
Restore Balance now has usable times equal to your Charisma modifier, rather than Proficiency Bonus.
These are the only changes made for the PHB24 version of this subclass.
Draconic Sorcery
Draconic Resilience now begins at 3rd level, rather than 1st. In '14, this provided +1 max HP per level beginning at 1st level. With its move to 3rd, it now grants a one-time +3 and ongoing +1 per level, resulting in no functional difference. The base Armor Class, when not wearing armor, was previously 10 + Dexterity modifier - it is now 10 + Dexterity mod + Charisma mod.
Draconic Spells, 3rd, provides some always-prepared spells at certain levels:
- Level 3 - Alter Self, Chromatic Orb, Command, Dragon’s Breath
- Level 5 - Fear, Fly
- Level 7 - Arcane Eye, Charm Monster
- Level 9 - Legend Lore, Summon Dragon
Draconic Ancestor was a 3rd level feature in PHB14 that has been removed. It had the player select a chromatic or metallic dragon type which would dictate certain qualities for the character. This was largely replaced with…
Elemental Affinity, 6th. Choose an elemental damage type from Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, or Poison to have Resistance to. Spells of this type add your Charisma modifier to their damage.
Dragon Wings, 14th, gets a 1 hour duration (previously until dismissed) and a Fly speed of 60, rather than the character’s Speed. The clothing and equipment restrictions from 2014 are removed, and use of it can now be replenished with 3 Sorcery Point spend.
Draconic Presence, 18th, is removed and replaced with Draconic Companion, allowing you to cast Summon Dragon without Material components or expending a spell slot. This is usable once per Long Rest and can cast without requiring Concentration, but doing so reduces the duration to 1 minute.
Wild Magic Sorcery
Wild Magic Surge, 3rd, still has the player roll a d20 to determine whether a Wild Magic Surge occurs on casting a spell. the WMS now happens on a 20, not a 1, and Metamagic options are expressly prohibited.
Tides of Chaos, 3rd, has its use replenished on either Long Rest (as in '14) or on casting a Sorcerer spell, but forces a WMS on the first Sorcerer spell cast after its use it no Long Rest was taken.
Bend Luck, 6th, has its cost reduced from 2 Sorcery Points to 1 Sorcery Point.
The 18th level Spell Bombardment feature is removed. It previously provided additional damage dice in an “exploding criticals” sort of way.
Tamed Surge, 18th, is a new feature that lets the Sorcerer choose their WMS, rather than roll for it, when applying one. The 97-00 result is prohibited from being chosen, and this can only be invoked once per Long Rest.
The effects in the Random Effects Table have all been replaced with the PHB24 version of the table.