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D&D 2024 Player's Handbook: Release date, early access and biggest changes

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Summary

  • The D&D Player's Handbook 2024 updates do not require learning a new game system, just new tools and rules.
  • Early access to the guide will be available through D&D Beyond subscriptions starting September 3, 2024.
  • New rules for classes, spells, and core rules in the manual are intended to balance gameplay and improve character development.



The 2024 Dungeons & Dragons Player's Guide will be released soon and will bring some changes. Unlike previous updates for D&Dthis new round of sourcebooks is not the end of the fifth edition, they are more like an update. Players do not have to learn a whole new game system; instead they are simplysome new tools and a set of updated 5e rules to provide some welcome updates to the D&D Experience.

Although some lucky players have already Player Handbook 2024most have to wait until it is officially released. For those who don't want to wait that long, there is also a way get early access to several new Dungeons & Dragons Sourcebooks including the new Dungeon Master Guide And Monster Manual. Players and Dungeon Masters alike are likely excited about the new rules this latest round of books will bring D&Dand how they can use it to create new characters.


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D&D 2024 Player's Handbook – Release Date and Price

The 2024 Player’s Handbook will be released in September

The Player Handbook 2024 will be released on September 17, 2024This is the first of the new sourcebooks. While it will be exciting for players to start planning their characters sooner, there are probably many DMs who wish the Dungeon Master Guide could be released in parallel so that they can start planning campaigns around the new rule changes. Of course, the new book is still largely compatible with D&DThis is the fifth edition of “The Fifth Edition”, so it probably won’t be too much of a problem to integrate new characters into the old rules.


A physical copy of the Player Handbook 2024 costs $49.99, while a digital copy costs only $29.99 through D&D Beyond. Players can also get the digital version for the same price on the popular virtual tabletop Roll20. D&D Beyond also offers a bundle with the digital and physical versions for $59.99, which is a solid discount for players who want both versions.

If players all new D&D source books together, you can also purchase the 2024 Digital & Physical Core Rulebook Bundle. This The package costs $179.97 and includes both the digital and physical versions of all three new books. While this saves players $60 if they want both versions of each book, it is more expensive than buying all three in just one format. If players only want three physical books, and especially only three digital books, they should stick with buying them individually.


D&D 2024 Player's Handbook: How to Get Early Access

Players can get early access with a D&D Beyond subscription

D&D beyond

Dungeons & Dragons Players who were lucky enough to attend Gen Con had a chance to grab the new Player's Handbook back in early August, but players who weren't able to attend the convention still have a chance to get the books early. Those who sign up for a D&D Beyond subscription or existing subscribers canstart with the Player Handbook 2024 as early as September 3, 2024.


Players can get one week of early access – starting September 10, 2024 – with the lowest D&D Beyond subscription, which costs just $2.17 per month depending on the pricing plan chosen. To get access to the full two weeks of early access, one must sign up for the Master tier, which costs just $4.58 per month. Whether these are worth the price depends on how much players integrate D&D. In addition, with their games. Those who play in person or through other virtual resources will not get much out of it.

Class Updates in the D&D 2024 Player's Handbook

Class formation and individual lessons have received new rules

Drow Barbarian Art from the 2024 Player's Handbook

There are a large number of changes to the classes in the new Player's GuideWizards of the Coast has a major rebalancing of classes and seems to be trying to change some of the ways the game is played. For examplePell casters do not have such easy access to armor or weapons as in D&D's Fifth Edition, making them seem less overpowered than combat classes.


One class that players have been wanting to see major changes to for some time is the Ranger. The Player Handbook 2024 has made good progress in making Rangers a better optionlike giving them more spell slots and the ability to cast spells at level one. However, the Beastmaster subclass still ties animal companions' actions into a bonus action. While the class has seen some improvements overall, one of its most popular subclasses is still a bit of a disappointment.

Druids are another class that has received a notable update, as they now have expanded options for the types of animals they can transform into. If players want a more in-depth look at these and the many other changes in the new book, they should check out YouTuber d4: D&D Deep Dive's video on the subject. This way, players can start planning their new characters early, or discuss with their DMs what changes they will and will not implement in their existing games.


Some changes have also been made, makeCreating characters of each class is easier for newer players. Each class now has suggested skill scores instead of just a few suggested attributes. This can be useful for groups of players who are just learning and for individual players who have never created their own character before.

Further changes in the D&D 2024 Player's Handbook

Basic rules have been changed and spells added

Dragonborn holding a sword and wearing armor in an image from the 2024 Player's Handbook.

In addition to the changes to the player classes, Player Handbook 2024 also contains many other great resources. There are now almost 400 spells in the Player's Guidewhich contains revised versions of spells from supplementary sourcebooks, such as Xanathar's Guide to Everything And Tasha's Cauldron of Space. Having all these spells in one place makes character creation much easier, especially when you are in D&D Adventurer's League, which limits the number of sourcebooks players can use when creating characters.


The new Player's Guide also includes many handy resources that make it a one-stop shop for players. For example, the book now includes stat blocks for mounts, familiars, and summoned creatures. Having all of this information in one place helps keep the game moving, rather than having players wait for their DM to go through a stack of books.

Some changes to the game will also be familiar to players who have been playing for a while Baldur’s Gate 3For example, healing potions are now a bonus action. Inspiration can also be used to reroll a roll instead of granting roll advantage. Dungeons & Dragons Players will likely want to read this sourcebook thoroughly to learn about any new changes when it is released.

Sources: D&D Beyond, d4: D&D Deep Dive/YouTube


Dungeons & Dragons Game Poster

Dungeons and Dragons

Original release date
1974-00-00

editor
TSR Inc., Wizards of the Coast

Designer
E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson

Number of players
2-7 players