Playing a Mystic in a DnD 5e game is no easy task. With a class like this, which often comes with some stereotyping and prejudice, you might find it hard to fit in with your party. However, I wrote this guide to help you play a Mystic, as well as have one at your table.
Let’s begin by giving you a quick look into what a Mystic really is.
In terms of role-playing, Mystics can be considered priests, but it’s most important to look at them as characters with the ability to channel and use psionics. Shortly, psionics is a type of magic that uses a person’s mind to draw power from, similar to how a druid draws their power from nature. Technically, psionics isn’t really magic, but in terms of gameplay mechanics, they’re pretty much equal.
I said this class comes with some prejudices, and there is a good reason for it – this is a really good class and can seem overpowering. This is especially noticeable with an inexperienced Dungeon Master. Mystics tend to give out a similar vibe to those edgy rogues everyone loves playing but hates playing with.
This preconceived notion that Mystics are these overpowerful characters does have some parts of truth to it because you can do a lot. The main issue is knowing how to play so you don’t overshadow, override, or just flat-out ignore your tablemates’ enjoyment of the game.
So, What Is the Mystic Class All About in DnD 5e?
As mentioned earlier, Mystics rely on psionics to be effective. This unique source of magic brings a likewise unique set of rules for playing this class. For the actual specifics of these rules, I advise you to check Unearthed Arcana book, as the Mystic class is described there in detail. There are simply too many particularities for sub-classes for this text, but I will cover the basics and, more importantly, give you advice on how to fit in within a party.
At each level, you have a certain number of Psionics Talents which you can choose from a table. These Talents offer a variety of uses, so you can definitely be an all-around character if you choose wisely. You can use this feature at will, so they are a relatively straightforward equivalent to cantrips in spellcasting classes. There are fewer options, though, but one can argue that those options are more powerful than cantrips, so there’s that.
Another way a Mystic class differs from other DnD 5e classes is that its specification, or sub-class, comes immediately at level one. When you make your character, you get to choose a Mystic Order. I’ve heard an argument that this can be seen as a mirror of Wizard’s Schools of Magic, but I’ll let you decide on that. Regardless, each Order brings with it a certain set of Disciplines, which are similar to spells, as well as a few other features that you gain as you level up.
In general, a Mystic will have decent buffs as they gain levels and, as such, offer plenty of options for optimization. At the second level, you gain Telepathy which is exactly as it sounds, and at the fourth level, you can change your Saving Throw proficiencies after a rest. Later you get a boost to your attacks, as well as a temporary increase for your Psi Points.
What are Psi Points, you ask? Well, you didn’t think Wizards of the Coast would make an overpowerful class just like that, without any sort of limitation, did you? Essentially, everything you do with Psionics requires Psi Points, and naturally, the amount of these points go up as you level. One can compare it to Sorcerer’s Sorcery Points.
So Many Great Options – Which One Is for Me?
Here’s where the gist of my advice arrives. As an ardent DnD player (and a DM), I believe in communication between a player and a DM, and a very open and transparent one at that. However, this can be tough to achieve as this requires a certain maturity and experience.
I recommend that you only play a Mystic if you’re a bit more experienced and if you have trust in your DM. Likewise, I’d advise DMs to make sure that a player will be respectful and know their role as Mystic.
Because this class offers such a wide variety of options, it can take pretty much any role within a party. Therefore, I suggest you take a more adaptive approach and make your Mystic only when you’ve already seen what other members of the party will play. For example, if your party has a lot of martial classes who’re all gung-ho about the combat, then I wouldn’t advise choosing the Order of the Soul Knife because that sub-class offers pretty substantial buffs to melee fighting.
As a Mystic, you will be different, both in role-playing sections and in combat, and it’s up to you to choose exactly how you will diverge your gameplay from your party members. Again, I advise you to work closely with your DM to create a good and unique story for your character.
