Wizards of the Coast is publishing a revised set of its core trio of 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons rulebooks, which are meant to provide a more streamlined experience for new players. The 2024 versions of the Player’s Handbook (PHB) and Dungeon Master’s Guide (DMG) are now available, while the Monster Manual (MM) is now available to pre-order ahead of its Feb. 18 launch.
The revised literature contains multiple quality-of-life tweaks, from more illustrations, amended language, and improved structures compared to the original 2014 publications. Additionally, each rulebook features selected content from the 2022 rules expansions (Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, and Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse) to provide a more consolidated, yet still comprehensive experience.
The bulk of the changes made in the revised rulebooks are in the PHB, which features a lighter rules introduction, relegating its crunchier mechanics to a rules glossary. Character creation is also easier, with rules to create a character of any starting level. And, the 12 starting classes have been expanded into 48 subclasses (the largest number of subclasses included in a single 5th edition book). Other changes include a massive roster of redesigned spells, feats, plus new rules for a potent crafting system. The 2024 PHB is available to purchase in physical format for $49.99, while the digital option is available for $29.99.
The DMG has also been retooled to assist DMs in more quickly accessing relevant info during sessions, with the aid of professional DMs like Matt Mercer and Deborah Ann Woll. Other changes to this version of the DMG include more examples of NPCs, tips on how to plan encounters, and ways to streamline your prep for a new campaign. Also, in case new players aren’t familiar with concepts like “Magic Missile” or “Mordenkainen,” the new DMG provides a lore glossary to deliver helpful explanations. The physical version of the 2024 DMG is currently available for $49.99, while the digital version is available for $29.99.
The revised MM won’t be a comprehensive collection of every D&D beast, yet it will be the largest single Monster Manual ever published when it launches on Feb. 18. It contains over 500 monsters and 75 completely new additions with more flavor text and revised stat blocks not found in the previous version. The new Monster Manual is available to pre-order now in the $29.99 digital version or as a $49.99 physical version.
Other gameplay-relevant metrics from the 5th edition ruleset are untouched. This means your existing stack of sourcebooks, campaigns, and other materials will still remain relevant in the current standard. If you need to stock up, there’s a pre-order bundle containing physical versions of all three revised rulebooks for $149.97, while the digital bundle is available for $89.97. At this point, purchasing the bundle will grant you immediate access to both the Player’s Handbook and the Dungeon Master’s Guide, while the Monster Manual will unlock when it launches on Feb. 18.
