Dungeons & Dragons is experiencing a remarkable resurgence in popularity. From the influence of Stranger Things to the success of Honor Among Thieves, and the explosion of D&D podcasts and YouTube channels, not to mention the massive popularity of Baldur's Gate 3, it's a fantastic time to join the game.

However, navigating the wealth of 5th Edition (5e) content, especially the vast offerings from third-party creators, can be daunting for newcomers. This guide focuses primarily on official Wizards of the Coast publications, omitting the essential Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual (updated in 2024), assuming you've already acquired these core rulebooks. If not, obtain them first! Find the latest editions below, or skip to our recommended sourcebooks.

Player's Handbook Core Rulebook

$49.99 at Amazon

Dungeon Master's Guide Core Rulebook

$49.99 at Amazon

Monster Manual Core Rulebook

$49.99 at Amazon

Recommended Sourcebooks and Adventures:

Xanathar's Guide to Everything (Sourcebook)

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A crucial sourcebook (2017) offering expanded player options: subclasses, racial feats, spells, and DM tools. Highly beneficial for players seeking diverse character builds.

Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (Sourcebook)

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Similar to Xanathar's, this expands player options and core rulebook concepts, including class features, spells, and DM rules for sidekicks and environments.

Waterdeep: Dragon Heist (Adventure)

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A compelling adventure emphasizing intrigue, social encounters, and political conflict, offering multiple antagonists for replayability. Its sequel, Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage, provides a contrasting dungeon crawl experience.

Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse (Sourcebook/Adventure Bundle)

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An excellent exploration of the Planescape setting, including a setting book, monster manual, and adventure, offering a rich multiversal experience.

Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk (Adventure)

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A significant expansion to The Lost Mine of Phandelver, offering a lengthy campaign with cosmic horror elements and a nostalgic return to Phandalin.

Eberron: Rising from the Last War (Sourcebook/Adventure)

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A unique setting with floating castles and airships, featuring new Dragonmark species options and a pulpy post-war atmosphere.

Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen (Adventure)

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Introduces the Dragonlance setting (also featured in The Practically Complete Guide to Dragons), focusing on large-scale combat and dragon encounters.

Curse of Strahd (Adventure)

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A classic gothic horror adventure featuring vampires and creepy elements. Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft offers supplementary material.

The Wild Beyond the Witchlight (Adventure)

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A Feywild adventure emphasizing roleplaying and problem-solving with multiple options, including new playable species and backgrounds.

How often do you play D&D?

Once a weekOnce every two weeksOnce a monthOnly when everyone can get together

Noteworthy Third-Party Content (briefly):

• Strongholds and Followers (MCDM Productions): Rules for player bases and NPCs.
• Flee, Mortals!/Where Evil Lives (MCDM Productions): Redesigned and new monsters, plus a dungeon.
• Tome of Beasts/Creature Codex (Kobold Press): Extensive monster manuals, especially useful for high-level play.
• Grim Hollow (Ghostfire Gaming): A dark fantasy setting.

These recommendations provide a strong foundation for your D&D journey. Let us know your thoughts and favorite titles in the comments!