Dungeons & Dragons 5e – how to choose the right rulebook?

Dungeons & Dragons is an RPG phenomenon that dates back to 1974 and has been winning over new fans around the world ever since. If the name Dungeons & Dragons doesn't ring a bell, you can read more about this tabletop role-playing game in our article. The fifth edition (5e) of this game was released in 2014, and you can currently get your hands on over fifty official rulebooks. What should beginners choose? Which books are essential? And how do you pick the right one to bring you dozens of hours of fun and an engaging story?

New and improved Starter Set – Dragons of Stormwreck Isle

Wizards of the Coast regularly releases products that are perfect for beginners and their first introduction to the game. Traditionally, players had to choose between the classic Starter Set and the Essentials Kit. Both of these products are now a thing of the past, and the last remaining stock is selling out.

Themed Starter Sets are also released for special occasions. In the past, we've seen limited editions for Rick and Morty or Stranger Things, for example.

Currently, there is a perfect product for beginners that takes the best from its predecessors: the improved Starter Set subtitled Dragons of Stormwreck Isle. Inside, you'll find a rulebook to guide you through your first adventure, abridged rules for playing characters, pre-generated character sheets, and a set of polyhedral dice. Then, all you have to do is head out on an adventure!

Core Dungeons & Dragons rulebooks – what's inside?

All the Dungeons & Dragons rules you need to play can be found in the three core rulebooks – the Player's Handbook, the Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monster Manual. These beautifully illustrated hardcover books will provide you with hundreds of hours of fun on their own before you decide to supplement them with expansion books.

What will you learn in each book? Do you need them all? And in what order should you buy them? If you already know you enjoy the game, all three books can be purchased in a gift box, which will always look great on your bookshelf and even includes a Dungeon Master's screen.

However, if you're still not convinced or want to invest in the game gradually, definitely start with the Player's Handbook. This manual contains everything necessary for character creation and leveling up from level one to twenty. It also covers all the important rules for spellcasting, traveling, combat, and all the essential things your characters will be dealing with.

The Dungeon Master's Guide is the perfect tool for aspiring Dungeon Masters. The book helps you create your own world and provides advice on aspects you'll need during the game – how to build an adventure, how to handle random encounters, and it provides a list of magic items and treasures your heroes will want to loot.

If you already have experience running games and mainly need inspiration, the Monster Manual will come in handy – a massive database of monsters where you'll find all the stats important for the game. Beyond the numbers, each monster is accompanied by a description where you'll learn about its behavior, motivations, and how it interacts with other beings. An experienced storyteller will find enough inspiration in this book for many standalone adventures.

Expansion rulebooks – which one to get?

Xanathar's Guide to Everything, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, Monsters of the Multiverse, Volo’s Guide to Monsters – grand titles for beautiful hardcover books that bring a huge amount of bonus content to the game. Is it worth buying these books? And which one should you choose?

The answer to this question depends on your playstyle. The core rulebooks are perfectly sufficient for playing Dungeons & Dragons, but if you like adding new elements to the game and are looking for variety, each of these books will be a treasure trove of fun. Read our follow-up article to learn what's inside them and which one is right for you.

Campaign and adventure books – which one to choose?

Campaign and adventure books are the perfect tool for every Dungeon Master. Some contain descriptions of regions or entire worlds where you can play – the book provides details on differences, new races, unique inhabitants, and everything that comes with exploring an unknown land.

In campaign books, you'll find a series of pre-prepared adventures that are playable either as standalones or as a series of interconnected stories. Among the most famous representatives of these books are Curse of Strahd, Candlekeep Mysteries, or perhaps Guildmasters Guide to Ravnica, which transports Dungeons & Dragons players into the world of Magic: The Gathering. How do you navigate these books and which one should you pick? Check out our article that breaks down the individual adventure books.

5e compatible rulebooks – what does that mean?

In addition to the official rulebooks published by Wizards of the Coast, you may come across other books labeled as 5e/5th edition compatible. Such books offer new monsters, player races, classes, and even entire new worlds where you can play while still using the Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition rules. You can try playing in Arthurian legends, on islands inspired by Filipino culture, or play with Dungeons & Dragons rules in a modern world of international espionage. In short, compatible rulebooks offer you a ton of new possibilities.

author: Michal Dlouhý