The 10 Best DnD One Shots for 5e
Over the years there have been countless one shots created for DnD fifth edition, but which ones are worth your valuable time? We break out our top picks.
While playing in a full-fledged Dungeons & Dragons campaign over of the course of months or even years is an amazing experience, it can also be an incredible time commitment. Enter the DnD one shot, a short but satisfying standalone adventure that can usually be completed in a single session.
We’ve scoured the wilds of the internet, including sites like DMs Guild and Roll20 to put together the very best of the best one shots. As a caveat, our list includes only standalone adventures for DnD 5e that aren’t for part of a larger campaign (for example, the Cragmaw Hideout adventure is a popular one shot, but it’s also part of the larger Lost Mines of Phandelver campaign). Our other criteria in building out this list is that each adventure can be completed in a single sitting of 10 hours at the very most (although most are much less than that).
So with that out of the way, let’s dig into our list of… the 10 best DnD One Shots for 5e!
10. Shore of Dreams
Designed for 5th to 7th level characters, Shore of Dreams is an incredibly popular D&D 5e one shot that takes place in the remote jungles of Chult in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting (the same location as the popular DnD 5e campaign Tomb of Annihilation). The players are lured there by the promise of a vast fortune hidden away by the infamous pirate known as Captain Jadescale. The adventure then kicks off at the legendary tavern known as the Shore of Dreams which is run by a beautiful and enigmatic Triton who has secrets of her own. The end result is an incredibly satisfying adventure that features a sharp storyline, memorable NPCs, an epic dungeon crawl and a thrilling conclusion – all of which can be played in about 3-6 hours.
9. The Mountains of Kam’Arag & The Eternal Frost
One of the most versatile DnD one shots in recent memory, this adventure is unusually flexible in that it can be played by any group, of any level, in virtually any setting. At the same time, it’s an absolute blast to play as a single standalone adventure. The story finds the heroes exploring the frozen mountains of Kam’Arag where they soon join forces with a mysterious wizard on a quest to unlock a sealed magical gate located at the peak of the mountain. The one shot blends survival, combat, exploration, puzzle solving and a touch of horror into one satisfying whole that can be completed in about 6-10 hours.
8. Frozen Sick
This free one shot for DnD 5e has become incredibly popular over the years as it’s been made available for free on both D&D Beyond and the popular virtual tabletop platform Roll20. The action takes place in the Wildemount region of Exandria (the campaign setting developed by Matthew Mercer of Critical Role fame), and finds the characters trying to stop a bizarre plague that is spreading among the inhabitants of a remote ice-locked village. The adventure is designed 1st to 4th level characters and features plenty of exploration, combat, puzzle solving, a mystery and an amazing dungeon crawl, with the entire module reaching a satisfying conclusion in about 6-8 hours.
7. One-Page One-Shots
This collection from game designer Robert Peake (aka the Spontaneous Dungeon Master) features 10 amazing bite-sized adventures that run the gamut from dungeon crawls and urban adventures to wilderness explorations and role-playing heavy mysteries. Each adventure takes up just a single page yet is crammed with amazing puzzles, NPCs and plots. The best part though (and the reason this made our list) is that each adventure is ready to go right out of the gate without any real setup required for DMs. It’s a ton of fun in a small amount of space.
6. A Dragon’s Breath
A four-hour adventure designed for Level 1-4 characters, this amazing one-shot is perfect for players looking for a quick and fun session that’s heavy on roleplaying and character development. The story follows an ancient gold dragon who enlists the players to help track down a magical musical instrument that was last seen in the depths in a haunted forest. It features exploration, combat and a unique (and surprisingly heart warming) plot that really showcases the best of what DnD is all about. Notably, this is part of the Clover Group Series of one shot adventures, which are also fantastic and definitely worth running.
5. Wild Sheep Chase
If you’re looking for a one shot that’s a little more whacky, then Wild Sheep Chase has you covered. This adventure is perfect for characters level 1-4 and can be completed in about 3-6 hours, making it one of the best DnD one shots for new players. The story features a sorcerer that’s been magically transformed into a sheep, with the players then dodging assassins and a bitter ex-apprentice armed with a powerful magical artifact. Along the way there are hilariously bad puns, puzzle solving and some truly amazing set pieces. Best of all, it’s completely free.
4. Curtain Call: A Sharn Adventure
Co-written by noted gamer designer Keith Baker, this one shot is a perfect introduction to the Eberron campaign setting and is designed for characters of 1st to 4th level. The adventure takes place in the City of Towers and finds the characters on the hunt for a missing noble while dealing with cultists, spies, assassins and thieves. It’s an action-packed urban DnD 5e one shot that can be wrapped up in about 3-4 hours.
3. Blue Alley
Designed for characters from Levels 1-4, Blue Alley is an epic dungeon crawl, despite the fact that it can be wrapped up in about 3-4 hours. The adventure takes place in the city of Waterdeep and finds the players visiting the enigmatic Blue Alley, a hidden maze built by a reclusive wizard to torment adventurers with an array of tricks, traps, monsters and treasure. It’s an absolutely amazing one shot that every DM should try and run at least once.
2. Rise of the Redscales
One of the most unusual and entertaining one shots of all time, in Rise of the Redscales players take on the role of a party of kobolds who are members of a tribe serving a powerful dragon queen. But after the great wyrm abandons her lair, the kobolds find themselves at odds with another rival tribe, with both sides battling for control of the trap and treasure-filled tunnels. The end results is a mix of roleplaying, puzzle solving and wacky combat featuring kobolds wielding powerful magical artifacts. It’s the perfect one shot for players looking for something a little different than the usual DnD fare.
1. Scarab of Death
Arguably one of the greatest single-session adventures of all time, Scarab of Death is a D&D murder mystery one shot designed for characters of Levels 8-12 and can be completed in about 4-6 hours. The story takes place in the Raging Bull District of Waterdeep and finds the players investigating the death of a noble who was seemingly killed by a cursed scarab owned by a purveyor of magical artifacts named Nabulee. The resulting adventure has plenty of roleplaying, puzzles, action and an intriguing mystery that can’t be solved by magic alone. It’s a near-perfect one shot that has something for almost every kind of DnD player.
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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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