D&D 2025: Essential Reading for Adventurers

Dungeons & Dragons is experiencing a remarkable resurgence in popularity, fueled by factors such as the success of Stranger Things, the Honor Among Thieves movie, and the widespread appeal of Baldur's Gate 3. This makes it an ideal time to delve into the world of tabletop roleplaying. However, navigating the wealth of 5th Edition (5e) D&D content can be daunting for newcomers. This guide focuses primarily on official Wizards of the Coast publications, leaving aside the vast array of third-party options, many of which cater to experienced players. We'll also omit the essential Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual (updated in 2024), assuming you've already acquired these foundational books. If not, acquire them first! You can find the latest editions linked below.

How often do you play D&D?

Once a weekOnce every two weeksOnce a monthOnly when everyone can get togetherAnswerSee Results

First-Party Content Recommendations:

Core Rulebooks:

• Player’s Handbook: $49.99 at Amazon
• Dungeon Master’s Guide: $49.99 at Amazon
• Monster Manual: $49.99 at Amazon

Sourcebooks & Adventures:

• Xanathar’s Guide to Everything: Expands player options with subclasses, feats, spells, and DM tools. Excellent for increasing player character diversity. 10 See it at Amazon
• Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything: Provides more player options, new spells, and DM tools for sidekicks, hazards, and more. Enhances class variety. 5 See it at Amazon
• Waterdeep: Dragon Heist: An intrigue-driven adventure focusing on social encounters and political conflict within the city of Waterdeep. Offers multiple antagonists for replayability. 3 See it at Amazon
• Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse: A three-book bundle exploring the Planescape setting, including a setting guide, monster manual, and adventure. Highly detailed and engaging. 4 See it at Amazon
• Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk: A significant expansion to The Lost Mine of Phandelver, introducing cosmic horror elements and a compelling conspiracy. Unique and memorable. 3 See it at Amazon
• Eberron: Rising from the Last War: A sourcebook set in a unique war-torn world with airships and floating castles. Includes new playable races (Dragonmarks). 9 See it at Amazon
• Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen: Introduces the Dragonlance setting, focusing on large-scale combat encounters and dragons. A lengthy adventure. 1 See it at Amazon
• Curse of Strahd: A gothic horror adventure featuring vampires and creepy encounters. A classic, updated for 5e. 5 See it at Amazon
• The Wild Beyond the Witchlight: A Feywild adventure with strong roleplaying elements and multiple solutions to challenges. Includes new playable races and backgrounds. 0 See it at Amazon

Notable Third-Party Content (brief mention):

While this guide primarily focuses on first-party content, some noteworthy third-party options include Strongholds and Followers, Flee, Mortals!, Tome of Beasts/Creature Codex, and Grim Hollow.

These recommendations offer a starting point for expanding your D&D experience beyond the core rulebooks. Let us know your favorite D&D books in the comments!