Dungeons & Dragons – How to get started

The game Dungeons & Dragons is all about telling stories in worlds filled with magic, dangerous adventures, and epic battles. Like all role-playing games, D&D is based on imagination – the ability to visualize, for example, castle ruins in the middle of a dark forest and a bold adventurer tackling all the challenges such a setting brings. There are no limits in this fictional world.

Dungeons & Dragons provides a framework and rules for these stories – a way to better determine the outcome of your adventurers' decisions. Players roll dice to see if their attacks hit or miss, if they manage to scale a cliff, dodge magical lightning, or complete another dangerous task. Anything is possible – but the dice decide if luck is on your side.

If you are new to the world of D&D or want to learn more about the game rules, you will find a few options and tips here on how to get familiar with the game and start playing.

Want to try Dungeons & Dragons?

For those who want to start with D&D, Wizards of the Coast regularly prepares starter sets. The classic Starter Set and its successor, the Essentials Kit, are currently almost impossible to find. For fans of TV series, limited editions focusing on their favorite heroes are released. We have seen, for example, a Starter Set in the style of Rick and Morty or Stranger Things. Currently, the best option for beginners is the revamped Dungeons & Dragons Starter Kit subtitled Dragons of Stormwreck Isle.

Dragons of Stormwreck Isle Starter Kit

The D&D starter set Dragons of Stormwreck Isle Starter Kit contains everything you need to play the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.

Inside the box you will find:

• A 48-page adventure book containing everything you need to play your first adventure
• A 32-page rulebook for playing characters at levels 1–3
• 5 character sheets with pre-generated characters ready for play
• 6 polyhedral dice

What's next? Core Rulebooks

The sets mentioned above provide a full Dungeons & Dragons experience. Their stories can be played multiple times – you will be surprised how many situations can differ within individual games. However, one of the most joyful parts of D&D is creating your own characters and worlds – the beautifully illustrated hardcover rulebooks will help you with that:

Core Rulebooks

If you want a wider range of diverse characters or need to fill your adventures with more interesting monsters, check out the fifth edition Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual. These books will introduce you to the entire D&D universe and help you create unique characters and worlds.

• Player's Handbook: This player's guide provides -everything- you will ever need to create diverse characters.
• Dungeon Master's Guide: This guide is intended for the narrator, the Dungeon Master. It will help them create truly unforgettable adventures and stories.
• Monster Manual: A guide designed to populate your adventures with the most interesting (and dangerous) creatures.

We offer all three books together in a convenient bundle.

Young Adventurer's Guides

A great stepping stone for young fantasy fans who aren't quite ready for heavy reading but love pictures. Thanks to these illustrated guides, you will dive deeper into the wondrous worlds of Dungeons & Dragons. The atmosphere is also brought to life by entries describing individual parts of the game and rules – including maps, illustrations, and interesting insights.

• Warriors & Weapons: An introduction to several types of characters you can play, including the necessary weapons and adventure gear.
• Monsters & Creatures: Unique entries on the most terrifying and well-known monsters.
• Dungeons & Tombs: Unique lessons on the lairs and dangerous traps that the game is famous for.
• Wizards & Spells: A quick overview of wizards, sorcerers, and other magic users of this world – including how spells work in the game.
• Beasts & Behemoths: Another beautifully illustrated book focused on monsters and beasts. You will find a load of the most famous creatures here, from the smallest to the gigantic.