Phandelver & Below: The Shattered Obelisk: Deep Dive
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We take a closer look at the updated 2023 Phandelver Campaign for Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition
During the “Wizards Presents” annual event in August of 2022, Wizards of the Coast announced a roadmap for new D&D game books in 2023. That roadmap included the heist-themed adventure anthology Keys from the Golden Vault, the giant-inspired supplement Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants, the spell and magic-item driven collection The Book of Many Things and the new D&D 5e reboot Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse. Also announced at that time was Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk, an update of the popular mini-campaign Lost Mines of Phandelver, originally published in 2014 as part of the D&D Starter Box Set.
The book was released on September 19th, 2023 and is currently available for order from Amazon and D&D Beyond.
So just what’s included in this new D&D fifth edition adventure? We deep dive to find out what really lurks below.
Table of Contents
- What is Phandelver and Below about?
- How is it different from Lost Mine of Phandelver?
- What is the plot of Phandelver and Below? (SPOILERS)
- What are the Black Obelisks? (SPOILERS)
- When is Phandelver and Below coming out?
- How much is Phandelver and Below?
- What other tie-in products will be available?
- Is Phandelver and Below worth picking up?
What is Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk about?
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk is an updated version of the Lost of Mine of Phandelver mini-campaign that came with the 2014 D&D Starter Set. But while that adventure took players from levels 1 to 5, this new 2023 version takes take characters from Level 1 to 12 when played in its entirety. It’s important to note, however, that Phandelver and Below is not a sequel, but rather an updated version of the original campaign, along with all new materials that have never been introduced before.
It’s also worth noting that the campaign includes a hefty dose of horror, with players exploring the Underdark while battling strange mutations and other sinister beings. Much of these elements of horror are linked to the titular Black Obelisks, which have appeared in numerous adventures set in the Forgotten Realms that have been released over the past decade.
How is Phandelver & Below Different from the Lost Mines of Phandelver?
The original Lost Mine of Phandelver from 2014 remains one of the best DnD 5e campaigns of all time. Included in the Starter Set box, it’s really designed to teach new players and DMs the basics of running a Dungeons & Dragons adventure. The campaign itself (which was printed in a single softcover booklet that came with the box set) clocks in at 64 pages and was broken out into four chapters that are designed to take characters from Levels 1 to 5.
The new 2023 Phandelver and Below campaign expands on this original booklet, clocking in at a whopping 220 pages. And while it includes the original four chapters (with some minor tweaks) it also adds a new introduction, plus four new chapters and several new appendices. When combined this new expanded campaign takes players from Levels 1 to 12.
In addition to all of the new and existing adventure materials, Phandelver and Below also includes:
- A new bestiary with two-dozen new creatures that showcase psionic magic, body horror and more.
- A new magic appendix that includes consumable metamagic items, Netherese amulets and duergar magic
- A double-sided poster map with the Phandalin region on one side and the town of Phandalin plus key encounters in the adventure on the other
- New tables for encounters, adventure hooks and character backgrounds
- New interior and cover artwork (including the new alternative cover, which showcases the horror aspects of the campaign)
What is the Adventure in Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
–SPOILERS AHEAD —
The story is set in Phandalin, a small town located in the Sword Coast region of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting and is broken out into the following chapters. Notably, the first four chapters are all from the original Lost Mine of Phandelver campaign, and have been left largely as-is in Phandelver and Below.
Chapter 1: A Dangerous Journey
The adventure begins with the characters being hired in Neverwinter by a dwarf named Gundren Rockseeker to deliver a package to the town of Phandalin. Along the way, the characters are ambushed by a group of goblins who they soon learn have kidnapped Gundren and his companion, a warrior named Sildar Hallwinter. The characters must deal with the ambush and then learn that Grundren and his brother have discovered an infamous lost dwarven mine known as Wave Echo Cave.
Chapter 2: Trouble in Phandalin
After arriving in town, the characters run afoul of a gang of bandits known as the Redbrands, who are led by a thug named Glasstaff. The players end up assaulting the Redbrands lair and learn that Glasstaff is taking his orders from a mysterious figured known only as “The Spider.” During this chapter, the players also get a better sense of the various NPCs and locations in and around Phandalin.
Chapter 3: The Spider’s Web
The players take on a series of explorations in the region while searching for clues about the location and identify of the Spider, as well as where Wave Echo Cave might be. In this chapter, the players have a few different options, including investing a strange wizard, taking on a dangerous banshee, battling a group of bandits or exploring a nearby set of ruins. Eventually, the players find the location of Cragmaw Castle, the home of the goblins terrorizing the region. They learn that the Spider is in fact a drow named Nezznar, while recovering a map to the location of Gundren’s lost mine.
Chapter 4: Wave Echo Cave
The players follow the map and reach Wave Echo Cave. Unfortunately, the ancient dwarven mine that is now overrun with undead and strange creatures. A classic dungeon crawl experience occurs and the players also have the opportunity to take down the Spider and his minions, who have also now infested the mine.
Chapter 5: Paths of Peril
In this chapter (which is all new material appearing for the first time), the players return to Phandalin, only to discover that a new group of goblins has been terrorizing the town, kidnapping a large number of individuals and destroying local landmarks. The players track the invaders down to an abandoned duergar mining post located deep in the mountains. There they will have to face down a psionic goblin chieftain named Ruxithid the Chosen. In the aftermath, they learn that the goblins are being controlled by a group of Illithids who are worshippers of the Far Realm, a horrific plane of existence that drives visitors insane. The Illithids are on the hunt for pieces of an ancient obelisk that can help harness the power of this dark dimension.
Chapter 6: The Shattered Obelisk
The players learn that there are three pieces of the shattered obelisk scattered in the area: one located in an ancient dwarven temple, one located in a haunted crypt and one found in an abandoned crossroads in the Underdark. It’s up to the players to decide how to tackle these various locations, before taking on the leader of the Illithids, a ruthless mind flayer named Qunbraxel. They soon learn that the Illithids plan is to use the power of the Far Realm to transform the kidnapped inhabitants of Phandelver into an army of mindflayers.
Chapter 7: Rifts in Reality
The players learn that the illithids are operating out of a stronghold in the Underdark, which is about to complete the ritual to open a rift to the Far Realm and connect with an dark god named Ilvaash. Durign the ceremony, the inhabitants of Phandalin will be transformer into brain-suck mindflayers. The players will have to race to the fortress and stop the ceremony before it can be completed.
Chapter 8: Beyond a Lightless Star
The players must journey through a portal and into the Far Realm, where they’ll have to confront Ilvaash himself, while navigating an array of horrific creatures and an interdimensional labyrinth with the power to shatter players’ sanity. In the end, it will take everything the players have to stop Ilvaash and save the people of Phandalin from a fate worse than death.
–END OF SPOILERS —
What are the Black Obelisks?
–SPOILERS AHEAD —
The Black Obelisks first appeared in the campaign Out of the Abyss and later appeared in four D&D fifth edition adventures released between 2015 and 2020. The 2020 adventure Rime of the Frostmaiden revealed that the obelisks could alter time and reality and were somehow to a mysterious group known as The Weavers. The secret to making the obelisks was later stolen by the evil lich Vecna and then were used by the ancient Netheril Empire. In fact, one of the potential endings for Rime of the Frostmaiden involves the players getting caught in the obelisk’s magic and being sent back in time (a minor plot point that was never really followed up on).
After the release of Rime of the Frostmaiden, the D&D design team moved away from the Forgotten Realms for subsequent campaigns (with their primary focus on Dragonlance), leaving many fans to believe that was the last they’d see of the mysterious artifacts. Until now…
–END OF SPOILERS —
When did Phandelver and Below come out?
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk was released on September 19th, 2023. As with other D&D products, users who purchased the digital and physical bundle from D&D Beyond received early access on September 5th, 2023 (along wtith the Faction Digital Dice Pack, 10 frames for character sheets and 4 sheet backdrops).
How much is Phandelver and Below?
As with other DnD 5e books, Phandelver and Below retails for $59.95 USD (which is a noticeable increase in price over previous campaign books, something Wizards of the Coast has said is the result of increased inflation and production costs). The print and digital version on D&D Beyond is currently available for $69.96 USD.
What other tie-in products will be available?
The original Lost Mine of Phandelver is incredibly beloved and the only campaign book planned for 2023, so Wizards of the Coast is definitely putting plenty of weight being the release. Below are a few of the tie-in products:
- Legendary Edition box set: Available from Beadle & Grimms, this deluxe version features a box set that breaks the campaign down into easy-to-manage booklets, and includes area maps (including a canvas poster map of Phandalin and multiple dungeons featured throughout the adventure), 32 battle maps, 5 new faction badges, 5 WizKids painted minis, a unique DM screen, 19 player handouts, 60 encounter cards, 43 magic item cards and 4 bonus adventure encounters. The limited edition run is currently retailing for $355 USD.
- WizKid Miniatures: The popular toy marker is releasing 47 pre-painted minis featuring NPCs and monsters from Phandelver and Below, including Nezznar the Spider, the Otyugh Mutate and Ettin Ceremorph. You can pick these us as single boosters (each of which contains either 1 large miniature or 3 small/medium minis) or grab a brick that features each boosters in total.
- The Phandalin Post: Available for free on D&D Beyond, Wizards of the Coast has released a printable player handout which contains a copy of the latest issue of the Phandalin Post, a newspaper that covers events in Phandalin. It’s a nice touch and great to see WotC adding this kind of attention to detail to their products.
Is Phandelver and Below Worth Picking Up?
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk is an absolute masterpiece of a DnD 5e adventure. If you’ve never played the original Lost Mine of Phandelver before, it remains one of the best campaigns out of any DnD edition, and this is a great chance to play through it in a new and improved format. The expanded materials also do a fantastic job of upping the drama, horror and adventure with some incredible set pieces, unique villains and solid opportunities for roleplaying, combat and exploration.
In short, Wizards of the Coast has done nothing short of making one of their best campaigns ever, even better.
Review Score: 19 out of 20
Both versions of the book are currently available for from Amazon and D&D Beyond.
Below is also the official first look video from Wizards of the Coast.
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Ollie Delano is a Staff Writer who lives in Chicago, Illinois where he majored in Journalism at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He’s been playing Dungeons & Dragons for over 10 years and currently plays in a weekly game group where he rolls way too many natural 1s and chugs way too much Mountain Dew. His favorite D&D campaign setting is Eberron and his favorite character to play was a Tiefling rogue named Draxiss who enjoys both literal and figurative backstabbing.
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