The 2024 DnD Core Books: What to Expect

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We take a closer look at the three essential books in the new fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons

When it comes to Dungeons & Dragons, virtually every edition of the game has presented the rules in three key books: The Player’s Handbook, The Dungeon Master’s Guide and The Monster Manual. Collectively, these three titles are known as the DnD Core Books, and contain all of the game mechanics and materials that both players and DMs need to actually run a complete game.

The last versions of the DnD Core Books were published back in 2014 as part of the official launch of the fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons. Since then, they’ve been left untouched, despite changes in player tastes, new character options, new game materials, new online formats and some criticisms from fans.

As a result, Wizards of the Coast is planning to release an update to these three cornerstone titles, with all-new versions coming out in 2024 as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of Dungeons & Dragons. So just what can we expect to find in these new and improved DnD Core Books? Below we break out all the details.

Are the New 2024 DnD Core Books 6th Edition?

It’s important to note that the new 2024 DnD Core Books are not a DnD 6th edition. Rather they’ll be an update to the existing fifth edition rules set and are a part of Wizards of the Coast’s official One D&D initiative, an ongoing project and playtest designed to streamline game mechanics and make DnD easier to learn and more fun to play. This means that all three books will also be completely compatible with any existing official DnD 5e materials, so the change isn’t as dramatic as past versions, such as the shift from DnD 3.5 to DnD 4th edition (a move, which saw the rules completely changed across the board).

Notably, the new version of DnD fifth edition is being referred to by Wizards of the Coast as “Dungeons & Dragons 2024” and the “DnD 5e update.” Players and social media influencers, however, have suggested a variety of informal names, including “DnD 5.1,” “DnD 5.5,” and “D&D 5.24” as a way to identify the new core rules. It remains to be seen, however, just what the final product will be referred to as, both officially by Wizards of the Coast and among the player base.

The New 2024 Player’s Handbook: What to Expect

Arguably the most important part of the DnD Core Books in any edition, the Player’s Handbook (often referred to as the PHB), offers the key mechanics for character creation, combat, exploration and level advancement. It’s essentially the “rulebook” that governs how both Dungeon Masters and players run the game.

The new PHB will be released on September 17th, 2024 and is designed to retain the core elements of the DnD 5e rules while making the game more accessible and enjoyable for both new and experienced players. It’s worth noting that many of the updates to have been driven by fan feedback, with playtest survey content released over the past few years via Wizards of the Coast’s Unearthed Arcana.

Some of the key changes in the new 2024 PHB including new art, chapter restructuring and changing the term “race” to “species.” More substantive updates to the rules, however, include:

• Changes to Classes: All DnD 5e classes, from the raging Barbarian to the iconic Wizard, are undergoing revisions. For example, the new 5e Warlock class introduces updated level progression and abilities, while the Druid 5e class update will include changes to the way Wildshape works, along with class’s spells and key abilities.
• New Subclasses: The 2024 PHB will features 48 subclasses. While many of these will be familiar to current DnD 5e players, the core rules will also introduce a number of rules changes. In addition they will introduce new subclasses: the Circle of the Sea for Druids, the College of Dance for Bards, and Path of the World Tree for Barbarians.
• New Backgrounds: The updated PHB will include 16 new DnD backgrounds, which now provide ability score modifiers (rather than races as per the 2014 rules). Additionally, background features have been replaced by more versatile Origin Feats.
• Weapons & Combat: Combat will receive a significant update in the 2024 Player’s Handbook. In particular, the game will introduce a new Weapon Mastery system that allows players to perform additional moves designed to speed up combat and create more cinematic encounters.
• Magic & Spell Progression: Spells will also be recategorized into Arcane, Divine and Primal categories, with retooled spell progression for several classes and alterations to existing spell effects. Additionally, the PHB will introduce 12 new DnD spells.
• Incorporation of Other Books: Expanded rules from other DnD 5e books, including Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything and Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, will be incorporated into the new PHB, offering further options for races, spells and subclasses.

Learn more about the 2024 Player’s Handbook.

The New 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide: What to Expect

Since the earliest editions of DnD, The Dungeon Master’s Guide (also known as the DMG) has been an essential resource for Dungeon Masters, offering guidance on world building, campaign development and rules management. One of the major criticisms of the 2014 DMG, however, is that it’s difficult to use, poorly organized and often overwhelming for new DMs.

The new Dungeon Master’s Guide will be released on November 12th, 2024 and aims to address these issues with reorganized content that’s designed to make it more user-friendly for both new and experienced DMs. The book will also include new artwork, maps and indexes, with the following updated chapter structure:

• Chapter 1: The Basics: Provides essential information for new DMs, covering what makes a good DM and fundamental aspects like using a DM screen.
• Chapter 2: Play Walkthrough: Guides DMs through common issues, including scheduling, player conflict and improvising adventures and encounters.
• Chapter 3: Rules Compendium: Features an alphabetized rules compendium, covering additional rules not found in the Player’s Handbook.
• Chapter 4: Adventure Building: Offers advice on creating adventures, including building one-shots and ongoing campaigns, with examples and step-by-step guidance.
• Chapter 5: Campaign Building: Explores world-building, plotting and campaign resolution, using an original campaign to provide specific examples.
• Chapter 6: Cosmology: Details the DnD multiverse, including the various planes of existence and the powerful entities that inhabit them.
• Chapter 7: Magic Items: Provides information on magic items, covering everything from Rare and Legendary artifacts to uncommon magic items.
• Chapter 8: A Surprise: A mysterious chapter that Wizards of the Coast has kept under wraps. More details are expected to be announced closer to the book’s release date.
• Appendices: Includes new maps, a glossary, an index and DnD lore from past and current editions of the game.

Learn more about the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide

The New 2025 Monster Manual: What to Expect

The Monster Manual (often abbreviated to MM) has been a key part of every edition of DnD, offering up the wide range of deadly creatures that players encounter during their adventures. Over the years, many of these monsters have become synonymous with the game itself, with beings like beholders, mimics, liches and mindflayers becoming iconic parts of DnD lore and spawning a slew of official and third-party DnD monster books

The new Monster Manual will be released on February 18th, 2025 and seeks to and expand on the many monster options that were originally included in the 2014 version of the book. The new MM will include a variety of new creatures, integrate new game mechanics and includes content from other DnD 5e publications, such as Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes and Volo’s Guide to Monsters.

In terms of more substantive changes, the 2024 Monster Manual will also include:

• More Monsters: The book will feature over 500 monsters, representing a substantial increase from the 300+ monsters included the 2014 version of the book.
• Changes to Challenge Ratings: The book will include new changes to creatures with a Challenge Rating (CR) of 10 or above, offering more difficult encounters for high-level parties. Corrections to the CR calculation guide are also expected to be included in the book.
• New Lore & Backgrounds: The book will delve deeper into the lore and backgrounds of monsters, offering insights into their ecology and lairs, and seek to provide narrative and adventure hooks that go beyond the stat blocks.
• New Artwork: The 2024 Monster Manual will also include all-new art, with Wizards of the Coast indicating that it there will be more illustrations than in past editions from a variety of different artists.
• New Monster “Families”: The book will also introduce the new concept of monster “families,” as another way to categorize creatures and offer more narrative options during adventures.

Learn more about the 2024 Monster Manual

Final Thoughts

The new 2024 DnD Core Books mark a major milestone in the history of Dungeons & Dungeons, so it’s fitting that they’re being launched as part of the game’s 50th anniversary celebrations. The three book ares also unique in that they mark one of the rare instances in which an update is made to an existing edition rather than a complete substantive overhaul.

It remains to be seen, however, just how well the new Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual will be received by fans, many of whom remain skeptical about Wizards of the Coast’s actions given recent issues like the OGL scandal and mass layoffs. At the same time, the original 2014 core books are definitely showing their age, so there is the potential to offer something truly unique and breathe new life into the game.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on these three books as we get closer to launch and will update this page with new information as it’s made available.

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