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Where to Start?
Whether you want to learn how to play, or become the next great Dungeon Master, getting started playing Dungeons & Dragons has never been easier. As with most things, it’s best to start with the basics. The best part? It’s completely free to start playing right now! The Basic Rules for D&D 5th Edition cover everything from character creation, to rules for combat and exploration, to how to be a Dungeon Master.
Get the Basic Rules PDF here right now for free!
Should I Buy Any Books?
If the Basic Rules didn’t quite satisfy your desire for character options or cool magic items, there is an endless supply of awesome content available to expand your collection. There’s no need to buy them all at once but, once you dive in to D&D, you’ll certainly want to explore new options at some point. This list will focus on official content published by Wizards of the Coast, however, there is tons of other great 3rd party content you can check out here as well!
The Core Books
You have to start somewhere and the best place to do that is with the three core rulebooks. These are staples to every D&D collection and will provide you with hundreds of new monsters, character options, and instructions for running an awesome game!
- The Player’s Handbook (PHB): Essential for any player or Dungeon Master, the PHB covers lots of additional character creation options as well as more rules for how to play the game.
- The Dungeon Master’s Guide (DMG) – As the name suggests, the DMG is the ultimate guide for DMs! Inside you’ll find tons of additional guidelines and magic items for running a fun and epic adventure for your players.
- The Monster Manual (MM): Of course, you need some crazy and conniving creatures for your players to battle. The MM gives you stat blocks and lore for dozens of classic monsters like Dragons, Beholders, and even a Lich!
If you’re an aspiring DM, you can also get all three core books bundled with a DM screen at a discount!
Rules and Monster Expansions
Beyond the core books, there are even more important expansions for both players and Dungeon Masters. These next three books cover expanded character options, monsters, and some additional rules for taking your game to the next level!
- Xanathar’s Guide to Everything (XGE): This is another book considered by many as an essential expansion for any DM or player. XGE covers 3-4 new subclasses for every class, tons of guides for DMs, and a horde of new magic items and spells.
- Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything (TCE): Tasha’s was the first major reimagining of the 5e ruleset. On par with XGE’s expansion, TCE includes updated rules for more immersive character creation, additional subclasses and class features, and even more spells, magic items, and help for DMs.
- Monsters of the Multiverse (MotM): This book is an updated version of the original Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes (discontinued). MotM builds on the Monster Manual bestiary to offers dozens of new and exotic monsters to add to your game as well as expansive lore about each creature.