The 10 Biggest DnD 2024 Changes
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It’s been almost a decade since a new version of Dungeons & Dragons has come out, and while the new 2024 Player’s Handbook is really designed to retain the core rules and essence of the fifth edition of DnD, it also introduces a number of significant changes that impact key mechanics such as combat, spellcasting and character creation.
So what exactly has changed in DnD 2024? Below, we break out ten of the most significant updates, starting with the least impactful to the most impactful in terms of overall gameplay.
10. Content Has Been Reorganized
While this might seem like a superficial change to DnD 2024, the way the new Player’s Handbook has been structured is actually significant. This includes a more beginner-friendly approach that starts with the basics of how to actually play the game (something missing in the 2014 version, which began with instructions on character creation). The book also introduces a much more streamlined approach with advice and rules on how to make a DnD character, with a sample character sheet labelled to make it easy for first-time players to understand where to write down abilities and key stats.
The crowing jewel of the new PHB, however, may just be the new 2024 rules Glossary at the back of the book. This marks a significant step up from the 2014 index, and makes it quick and easy to find and use important rules at the table.
Notably, this type of reorganization is also the case with the Dungeon Master’s Guide and Monster Manual, which have been similarly restructured to make it easier for DMs find the rules they need to build out their own campaigns.
9. New Crafting Rules
Another unique and much-needed change in 2024 is the introduction of new DnD crafting rules which allow players to make their own weapons and items. The core idea behind this change is that each tool now has something known as a “Utilize Action” which tells how it can be used in crafting and in other situations. For example, using Cobbler’s Tools can be used to make shoes, but when combined with an Investigation check they can also be used to track an individual by their footprints. Each tool is also tied to one ability score, which also allows you to add your Proficiency Bonus if you’re proficient with that tool. Additionally, you gain Advantage on ability checks you make that use both a skill and a tool you are proficient with.
Using the new 2024 rules, Player’s will be able to craft potions, spell scrolls, weapons and armor. Additional rules for crafting magic items will also be included in the new 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide.
8. Minor Rules Changes
While there are some major rules changes in the new DnD 2024 rules, just as important are a number of minor but still impactful updates, including:
- Drinking a Potion is now a bonus action
- Exhaustion has been simplified from the 2014 rules.
- Surprise is now much easier to implement and impacts only initivate rolls
- Inspiration has been updated to the more impactful option of Heroic Inspiration
7. New and Updated Spells
The new 2024 DnD rules will also see some major changes to the way magic works. In fact, the new spell chapter in the Player’s Handbook spans over 100 pages and features nearly 400 spells. While many of the existing 2014 spells are largely unchanged, there have been a number of revisions. For example, Counterspell has been changed to make it far less powerful. There are also a number of new spells, such as Yolande’s Regal Presence, which essentially create a psychic barrier around you.
Spell level progression has also changed for some of the classes, such as the Warlock, which gains more invocations at earlier levels. There have also been some semantic changes. For example, the Wizard has done away with using the term “School” in favor of a simple title. For example, the “School of Evocation” subclass from the 2014 rules is now known as the “Evoker” in the 2024 rules.
6. Changes to DnD Classes
In the new 2024 rules all of the DnD 5e classes have seen changes. Some of these are dramatic (such as the Paladin and Monk), while others are relatively minor (such as the Bard and Cleric). Below is a brief list of the biggest changes, along with links to our guides for the new classes.
- New 2024 Barbarian: The way Rage works has been updated to make it more flexible and easier to use and recover, with options to now use Rage outside of combat.
- New 2024 Bard: In addition to enhanced magical abilities Bardic inspiration has also been updated to make it easier to use and recover.
- New 2024 Cleric: New Divine Order and Channel Divinity features have been added along with new options to turn and destroy undead.
- New 2024 Druid: The class-specific Wild Shape feature has been significantly changed and Druids now have enhanced combat and spellcasting abilities.
- New 2024 Fighter: In addition to the new Weapon Mastery system, the rules introduce tweaks to Fighting Styles, a number of new combat features.
- New 2024 Monk: Ki Points are now known as Focus Points, monk weapons have been changed and Stunning Strike has been significantly nerfed.
- New 2024 Ranger: New options have been added for magic and the Hunter’s Mark spell is now a major part of the class.
- New 2024 Sorcerer: A new Innate Sorcery feature has been added and the rules have been significantly overhauled how Meta Magic works.
- New 2024 Warlock: Spell restoration has been updated to provide more flexibility and Eldritch Invocations have been tweaked.
- New 2024 Wizard: The number of prepared spells has been updated along with the rules for how to create, use and replace spellbooks.
5. New and Updated Subclasses
The DnD 2024 rules feature 48 subclasses, including three brand new options:
All three of these have appeared in previous Unearthed Arcana playtest materials, but they’re now officially part of the core rules. Additionally, all of the existing subclasses have been retooled.
4. New Weapon Mastery Properties
One major criticism with DnD 5e is just how slow combat can be. DnD 2024 seeks to tackle this issue with its new Weapon Mastery system. These new rules allow martial classes to tap into 8 “Mastery Properties,” each of which is associated with a particular ranged or melee weapon. For example, a battleaxe has the “Cleave” property, which allows you to target another nearby creature after you make a successful attack, while a crossbow has the “Slow” property, which allows you to reduce a target’s movement speed.
Mastery Properties also have a variety of unique triggers. For example, the “Graze” property triggers when you miss a creature with an attack roll, while the “Topple” property only triggers when you hit a creature. There are no limits to the number of times a mastery property can be used and the new system allows for a lot of flexibility in terms of strategy and character builds.
3. Changes to DnD Feats
In the 2014 DnD rules, Feats were an optional gameplay mechanic that you could choose to take instead of the usual Ability Score improvement granted when you level up. The only caveat was that you could only take a Feat once and had to meet certain pre-requisites.
The new 2024 DnD Feats, however, have changed significantly in a number of important ways. First and foremost, they are no longer optional and are now built-in mechanic. They can also be selected more than once. Even more importantly, they now come in four different varieties: Origin Feats: (which are granted by your Background), General Feats (which are taken from Level 4 and up), Fighting Style Feats (which are gained if you have the Fighting Style trait provided to martial classes) and Epic Boons (which you choose when you hit Level 19).
In addition, Feats in the new DnD 2024 rules now providing certain unique powers and granting an ability score improvement. The caveat, however, is that you are locked into what ability scores can be increased. For example, the Athlete Feat lets you choose between a +1 increase to either your strength or Dexterity, in addition to providing other unique features.
2. Changes to DnD Races
One of the most talked about changes in DnD 2024 is related to terminology rather than rules, with Wizards of the Coast changing the term “races” to “species.” This isn’t the only change to how species function, however. In fact, the new 2024 rules have removed racial ability score modifiers, such as the +2 Dexterity bonus that Elves received in the 2014 rules. Instead you now receive your ability score bonuses from your Background.
In addition, WotC has also removed any “half” species (including the half-orc and half-elf) and the introduced three new options to the 10 starting DnD 2024 species: Goliaths, Aasimar and Orcs. All of the starting species have also seen updates to how they function. For example, the Dwarf’s Darkvision has increased from 60 feet to 120 feet, their base walking speed has increased from 25 feet to 30 feet, and they now have a new ability called “Tremorsense.”
1. Changes to DnD Backgrounds
The biggest change to DnD 2024 is undoubtedly the introduction of new Backgrounds. In the 2014 version of DnD 5e, Backgrounds were really designed to help you flesh out your character’s personality and provided only a few in-game benefits in the form of skill and tool proficiencies, starting equipment and, in some cases, minor abilities.
In the new 2024 Player’s Handbook, however, Backgrounds are now an essential part of the game. While they still grant your extra skill and tool proficiencies along with starting equipment, the biggest change is that Backgrounds now also grant ability score bonuses. This is a massive shift from the 2014 rules, in which your race provided your ability score modifier.
There’s also much more flexibility in how you assign these bonuses, with the option to increase one score by 2 points and another by 1, or increase all three by 1. For example, the Sage background offers you the ability to increase your Constitution, Intelligence or Wisdom scores.
In addition, Backgrounds grant you an extra Feat (known as an Origin Feat) which provides further in-game abilities. Notably, there are 16 backgrounds in the new DnD 2024 rules and while some (such as the Acolyte, Charlatan, Criminal and Entertainer) have been ported over and updated from the 2014 rules others (such as the Farmer, Guard, Merchant and Wayfarer) are completely new.
Final Thoughts
The changes in the DnD 2024 rules mark a major shift in the game after over a decade. And while the core of fifth edition is still more or less intact, these new mechanics really do alter how DnD plays. It remains to be seen, however, just how the larger Dungeons & Dragons community will respond.
You can find the new rules in the 2024 Player’s Handbook, which is available now on D&D Beyond and Amazon.
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Cameron Nichols is a Senior Editor who lives in Boston, Massechustes, and has been playing D&D since the early 90s, when he was introduced by his older brother and cut his teeth on AD&D 2nd Edition. Since then he’s played virtually every RPG he could get his nerdy little mitts on (including a weird Goth phase in the early 2000s when he rocked Vampire: The Masquerade pretty hard). His favorite D&D campaign setting is the Forgotten Realms and his favorite character to play was a Half-Orc Barbarian named Grug (who was unfortunately devoured by a gelatinous cube).
