A new kind of magic spell is coming toDungeons & Dragonsin 2025, with a possible tease appearing in the recently releasedWorlds & Realmsbook.Dungeons & Dragonshas big plans for 2025, with anewMonster Manualcoming out next month, followed by a new Starter Set featuring its revised Fifth Edition rules and several other books. While most ofD&D’s focus this year will be on further establishing and strengthening its new ruleset, there’s also some new content coming in the form of a “new kind of magic” appearing in one of this year’s later releases.
At the end of 2025, Wizards of the Coast will release a pair of books focused on the iconic Forgotten Realms, the best-known of its many campaign settings.The Forgotten Realms Player Guidewill provide players with new subclasses, backgrounds, feats, and spells,as well as a “new type of spell” that players can use. The description for theForgotten Realms Player Guidehad no other information, but another source released last year may contain a tease about this new kind of magic.
D&D’s New Magic’s Possible Ties to Thay
The Worlds & Realms Book Describes A New Kind Of Magic Being Developed In Thay
Late last year, Penguin Random House releasedDungeons & Dragons: Worlds & Realms, an art book written by Adam Lee that explored the D&D multiverse. The book is written from the perspective of Mordenkainen, a famouswizard fromD&Dlorewho monitors various emerging threats from across the multiverse. Mordenkainen mentions one such possible threat appearing in Thay, a country in the Forgotten Realms ruled by evil Red Wizards. According to the book,the Red Wizards of Thay are developing a “new kind of magic"with possible ties to the Abyss.
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InWorlds & Realms, Mordenkainen is presented with a burgundy gemstone that vibrates with a strange kind of magic, described as “intense, raw, and chaotic.” Mordenkainen notes thatthe magic feels similar to demonic magic, but was somehow contained in a gemstone. The wizard theorizes in the book that the zulkirs of Thay had somehow imprisoned the demon lord Eltab and were using him as a conduit for this new energy. Mordenkainen also notes that this “new and devastating form of magic” could allow the Red Wizards to terrorize both Toril and the multiverse.
What Other Hints Do We Have About D&D’s New Kind of Magic?
There Are Several Other Hints That The Red Wizards Will Be Involved in D&D’s Future
Although it’s possible thatWorlds & Realmsis simply dropping a plot hook to help inspire would-be DMs reading through the book, there are a couple of further hints that this new kind of magic will appear in otherD&Dbooks. For example,the section describing the new magic includes a new art piece of a Red Wizard by Lake Hurwitz. Almost every other piece of art inWorlds & Realmsis pulled from existingD&Dbooks (in fact, the Red Wizard is one of only three new pieces of art in the book), which makes this one stand out.
The Red Wizards plot hook could open the door for some kind of planar magic.
At one point, there were big plans for the Red Wizards, as they also heavily featured inDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. The Red Wizards' leader Szass Tam was established as apotential future villainfor theD&Dcinematic franchise, although those plans were seemingly put on pause due toHonor Among Thieves' mediocre performance at the box office.We also know that the Red Wizards will appear in an upcomingD&Dcampaign bookas the main villains. While no release date was given for the Red Wizards campaign book, it makes sense for theD&Dteam to introduce a new kind of magic used by the Red Wizards ahead of time.
What Is D&D’s New Kind of Magic Spell?
Dungeons & Dragons' New Magic Could Help Usher In A New Era
It’s possible that the Red Wizards plot hook could open the door for some kind of planar magic, which taps into the fundamental nature of theD&Dmutliverse.This would not only keep in theme with the D&D’s recent emphasis on the multiverse,but it would also allow forD&Ddesigners to bring back spells traditionally associated with specific alignments. In previous editions ofDungeons & Dragons, certain spells could either be used by or impacted characters of certain alignments. Planar magic would help repurpose some of these iconic spells now that alignment has no mechanical purpose inD&D.
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Other possibilities not related toWorlds & Realmsinclude some kind of group spells (spells that require more than one player character to cast) or perhaps soul magic that can only be used at some kind of mechanical cost to players. Ideally, the “new kind of magic” could add a fresh mechanic or concept toD&D.The revisions to Fifth Edition brought about some interesting changes to the game, but only a handful of truly new mechanics for players to try. A new kind of spell could help the new revised edition ofDungeons & Dragonstruly stand out and feel like a new era for the game.
