The New 2024 Player’s Handbook (Deep Dive)

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First released back in 2014, the fifth edition of the Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook (often referred to simply as the PHB) has remained virtually untouched since it was first published. The book itself, however, continues to be an essential part of D&D, offering up the basic rules which govern character creation, combat, exploration and other key elements of gameplay.

Now a brand new revised version of the 2024 Player’s Handbook has arrived, with the book available now on D&D Beyond and Amazon. (As a full disclosure, we received a review copy from Wizards of the Coast, but have received no other monetary compensation).

So just what’s included this new and improved PHB? Below, we dig into all the details

Table of Contents

• What is the New Player’s Handbook?
• Is the New Player’s Handbook Fifth Edition?
• How is the new PHB different from the old one?
• When will the new PHB be released?
• How much is the new Player’s Handbook?
• What are the covers for the Player’s Handbook?
• Is the new 2024 PHB worth picking up?
• Final thoughts and review score

What is the New Player’s Handbook?

The new PHB is the end result of the One D&D initiative, a comprehensive playtest that Wizards of the Coast conducted throughout 2022 and 2023 that was open to player feedback and was designed to retool the D&D fifth edition rules set. In this sense, the new 2024 Player’s Handbook will contain some major adjustments, but at its core still retains the majority of existing D&D 5e rules.

In fact, Wizards of the Coast has said that the primary purpose of the new PHB is really to enhance the rules in order to make the game easier to learn, faster to play and generally more fun overall. The team has also said that much of the new content has been shaped by player feedback, particularly surveys which were provided as part of the Unearthed Arcana playtest.

Notably, the new PHB has been released as part of the Dungeons & Dragons 50th anniversary celebration, and will soon be joined by a new Dungeons Masters Guide and new Monster Manual with the three books collectively referred to as the new “2024 Core Rules” by Wizards of the Coast.

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Is the new Player’s Handbook still 5th edition?

Yes. The new 2024 Player’s Handbook still uses the D&D 5e core rule and is compatible with all previously published 5e materials. In this sense, it is not a “5.5” edition (something which happened with the 3rd edition of D&D, which released a “3.5” version). That being said, a number of significant DnD 2024 changes have been made to the 5e rules, including updates to classes, races, spells, feats, background and and combat.

Notably, players and Wizards of the Coast seem to be divided on what to call this new revised version. Wizards of the Coast is referring to it simply as “Dungeons & Dragons 2024,” (preferring to drop any mention of edition entirely, along with the term “One D&D”), while players online have considered various terms, including “D&D 5.1”, “D&D 5.24” (to indicate the year) or simply continuing to refer to it solely as “D&D 5th edition.” Ultimately, the most popular name seems to be “DnD 2024.”

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How is the 2024 Player’s Handbook different from the previous 5e version?

The updated to the 2024 Player’s Handbook has seen some major changes to the previous 2014 version, including:

Content Has Been Reorganized

The 2014 PHB clocks in at around 320 pages. The new 2024 PHB is 384 pages and includes some significant changes to the way content is presented. First and foremost, it includes a more beginner-friendly approach that starts with the basics of how to actually play the game. The book also introduces a much more streamlined approach with advice and rules on how to make a DnD character, with a new character sheet labelled to make it easy for first-time players to understand where to write down abilities and key stats.

The 2024 PHB also included a new rules Glossary at the back of the book, which is something that was definitely lacking from the 2014 rules, making it far easier to quickly find and use specific rules at the table.

Changes to Classes

The new PHB will include all 12 DnD 5e classes: Barbarian, Bard, Cleric, Cruid, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock and Wizard (notably, he Artificer will not be a base class). However, all of the classes have see marked changes in the way they function. 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.

Changes to Backgrounds

One of the biggest changes in the 2024 PHB is how DnD Backgrounds work. While they still grant your extra skill and tool proficiencies along with starting equipment, 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 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.

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.

New & Updated Subclasses

The 2024 PHB feature 48 subclasses. Each main class has access to at least four subclasses (with more options for the new Cleric and the new Wizard). All of the existing subclasses have seen changes (some of which are more significant than others). One thread that runs through all subclasses, however, is that they’re now chosen at level 3, regardless of your class. This is a major change over the 2014 rules, in which some subclasses (such as the Warlocks) were selected at level 1.

In addition the new PHB includes three brand new subclasses: the Circle of the Sea for Druids, the College of Dance for Bards, and Path of the World Tree for Barbarians. All three of these have appeared in Unearthed Arcana playtest materials, but they’re now officially part of the core rules.

Weapons & Combat

The new PHB will also be making a fairly significant update to combat. One of the biggest changes is the introduction of a new Weapon Mastery feature while gives each weapon a unique “Mastery Property” which provides martial classes with additional options for use in combat. Martial players who are proficient in that weapon can then tap into these Mastery Properties whenever they wish. There are 8 properties in total:

• Graze: If you miss a creature with your weapon, you deal damage equal to the ability modifier you used to make the roll.
• Nick: You can make an additional attack against a target creature if your first attack was made while wielding two Light weapons.
• Push: You can launch a creature you hit (up to a Large size) 10 feet away from you.
• Sap: An enemy you hit has Disadvantage on their next attack roll before the start of your next turn.
• Slow: When you hit a creature and deal damage, you can reduce its Speed by 10 feet until the start of your next turn.
• Topple: When you hit a creature, you can force it to make a Constitution saving throw or fall Prone. The DC for this save is 8 plus the ability modifier used to make the attack plus your Proficiency Bonus.
• Vex: When you hit a creature and deal damage, you gain Advantage on your next attack roll before the end of your next turn.

DnD Weapons in the new 2024 rules still retain the Properties (such as Light and Finesse) from the 2014 rules, but the introduction of Mastery Properties is designed to add a more tactical level to the game (although some critics have pointed out that it also the potential to slow things down).

Changes to Feats

The new Player’s Handbook DnD Feats, are no longer optional and 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.
• 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.

Magic & Spell Progression

The new 2024 PHB also introduces major changes to the way magic works, with a chapter that 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 12 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.

Changes to Races

One culturally significant change in the new PHB is how the rules approach the concept of DnD races. First, the book will now refer to “races” as “species.” The book will also be doing away with “half” races (notably the half-orc and the half-elf). Racial modifiers are also longer present. Instead, players will choose a Background which determines ability score bonuses. In this sense, the character’s stats will be influenced by their biological, cultural and socioeconomic roots, rather than simply race and class.

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.”

Notably, the book also introduces three new base species. Aasimar, Orcs and Goliaths. While all three did appear as optional playable races in 2022’s Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse, they have been changed in the 2024 PHB rules.

Minor rules changes

While there are some major rules changes in the 2024 Player’s Handbook, there are also a few minor rules updates. For example, Inspiration has been updated to the more impactful option of Heroic Inspiration. Confusing and overly complex rules such as Exhaustion and Surprise have also been streamlined simplified from the 2014 rules.

Finally, the rules incorporate a number of minor tweaks such as the fact that drinking a potion is now a bonus action (something many groups had been using as a house rule for years).

New Art

Art also plays a major role in the new 2024 PHB. In addition to new covers, the book will include a range of high-quality artwork from a variety of illustrators. While some of the art has received mixed reactions from fans (such as the controversial “Mexican orcs“) in general the art is incredibly well done.

Each Class includes a full color illustration and there is far more art on each page than was found in the 2014 version. One of the most impressive is the illustrations that accompany the Backgrounds, which really feel like they could help inspire your character’s origin story.

New Crafting Rules

The new 2024 PHB also introduces new DnD crafting rules which allow players to make their own weapons and items. 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.

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When will the new Player’s Handbook be released?

The new 2024 Player’s Handbook is slated for a release on September 17th, 2024. This is much later than some had anticipated, as an official social media post from Wizards of the Coast had been published in November 2023 that indicated that the book would be released in May 2024. That post was quickly taken down and the now official release date was released a few months later.

As with other current D&D 5e books, if you pre-ordered it on D&D Beyond, you would have received digital copy in advance on September 3rd, 2024. This is also the case if you pre-ordered the physical copy from a local game store that had opted into Wizards of the Coast’s early access program.

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How much in the new Player’s Handbook going for?

The new 2024 Player’s Handbook retails for $49.99 USD for the physical print version and $29.99 USD for the digital version on D&D Beyond.

As with other DnD 5e books, there is also a physical-digital bundle, which in this case is all three Core Rulebooks, which retail for $179.97 if you purchase it on D&D Beyond. This represents a savings of $60 (given that all three books would otherwise retail for $240 USD).

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What are the covers for the new 2024 Player’s Handbook?

As with other DnD 5e products, Wizards of the Coast has released two versions of the book: a standard version by artist Tyler Jacobson (who has previously illustrated several other DnD products, including the original 2014 PHB). Sharp eyed fans might recognize the characters on the cover from DnD lore, including the Elf Queen Yolande the Paladin Strongheart, the dwarven Fighter Elkhorn, the Cleric Mercion, and the Rogue Molliver. Facing them is a noble gold dragon (a possible nod to the 50th anniversary of D&D).

The alternate cover for the Player’s Handbook is created artist Wylie Beckert and has a much more subdued and neutral tone to it. Notably, Beckert also illustrated the alternate cover for Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything. Unfortunately, there was a delay in the alternate cover outside the US, but this is expected to be corrected in the coming months.

Is the new 2024 Player’s Handbook worth picking up?

If you’re thinking of making the leap from DnD 2014 to DnD 2024, there are a few things to bear in mind with the new PHB:

Pros

• New art and layout: The new structure of the book is amazing for both new and returning players, the glossary is a much needed addition, and the art (despite a few misses) looks fantastic and helps bring the book to life.
• Backgrounds, Species & Feats: The shift in ability score bonuses from species to backgrounds is a solid idea and offers more flexibility in terms of character creation. The new approach to Feats also opens up limitless potential for character builds.
• Rules tweaks: Changes to 2014 DnD rules like Exhaustion, Surprise, Grappling and Inspiration are simple yet incredibly impactful and really do help the game run smoother. Also bonus points for making potion drinking a bonus action.

Cons

• Power creep: Virtually all of the changes to the classes and subclasses run the risk of making characters far more powerful than they were in 2014 (an issue that DMs have already been struggling with for over a decade).
• Weapon mastery: Part of the appeal of DnD 5e is how streamlined and simple it is. The introduction of weapon mastery seems like an unnecessarily complex option that could slow down combat even further.
• Limited new character options: While there is plenty of fan favorite content ported over from 2014, there’s little in the way of new content. The book features just three new subclasses, three new races and just a dozen new spells.

Final Thoughts

When Wizards of the Coast first announced plans to retool the D&D fifth edition core rules, fans were worried about the impact on the game and that an entire decades worth of materials would suddenly become unsupported. Fortunately, those fears seem to be unfounded.

The new 2024 Player’s Handbook is not the start of a D&D 6e. Instead, it’s a clever and inspired attempt to address some of the minor issues found in the current fifth edition rules set. It also directly addressing fan feedback with rules enhancements that genuinely improves the quality of the game. While not every element in the new PHB is a winner, the vast majority of what it presents is an important evolution that also maintains the legacy and fun of the game both now and into the future

Final Review Score: 19 out of 20

The new 2024 Player’s Handbook is available now on D&D Beyond and Amazon.

Below is also a video from the official Dungeons & Dragons YouTube channel that offers a closer look at what’s included in the book. You can also check out our own recent video which explores the 9 Biggest Changes to the 2024 PHB.

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