Summary
A major rules update is on the way for the fifth edition ofDungeons and Dragons, one that looks to be codifying all the minor evolutions the system has seen over the decade. In addition, this update will come with some big changes toDungeons and Dragonsin response to fan critiques.
This update toD&D’s rules will come with a new release of the game’s three core books. The most important of these, thePlayer’s Handbook, will be released in late 2024. The rest ofD&D’s new rulebooks will also arrive soon, with the remasteredDungeon Master’s Guidecoming in late 2024 and the revisedMonster Manualreaching fans in early 2025. All three books will be taking on some key changes, which have been clarified across OneD&D playtests, interviews, statements, and declarations at Wizards of the Coast’s 2023 Creator Summit. Fans can also look at the changes made in recent sourcebooks and adventure modules for clues to further changes.
What D&D Fans Can Expect From 2024’s Updated Player’s Handbook
A Variety of Small Rule Changes
There are many things thatcould be tweaked aboutD&D 5e, and the upcomingPHBis looking to provide. The current playtests have confirmed multiple small-scale rule changes, such as the Exhaustion mechanic—which was reworked in the OneD&D playtest to be more consistent. Assuming the most recent playtest materials hold up, the 2024PHBwill also confirm that players can voluntarily fail saving throws, introduce new actions like Study, Search, Magic and Influence, bring about the Dazed condition, and much more.
Attempts To Bridge The Martial-Caster Divide
Fans who are into the weeds of 5e’s design will have heard of thedivide betweenD&D’s martials and casters. This describes the idea that martials (barbarians, fighters, monks, and rogues) are far less powerful than casters (bards, clerics, wizards, etc.), sporting far fewer options given their lack of spellcasting. There are multiple ways that the existing playtest material for the 2024PHBhas tried to bridge this gap, with the most notable being weapon masteries. Weapon masteries are traits that allow martial characters extra bonuses when they attack—such as AOE damage, moving enemies, or imposing disadvantage.
Of course, with reworks to all classes comes buffs to many martials. Players have voiced approval for the new rogue which, in addition to receiving weapon masteries, will be able to spend sneak attack damage dice on debuffs by level 5. The real star of the show, however, isD&D2024’s revised monk. One of 5e’s weaker classes, the monk is finally getting the boost it deserves. From more efficient abilities that cost less to use, to the ability to regain resources when inititiative is rolled, to more utility from class abilities like Deflect Attack, the new monk will be a gamechanger if it sticks to what’s been laid out in its UA.
No Artificer
Jeremy Crawford, the lead rules designer for WOTC, has confirmed that the artificer will not be one of the core classes coming with the revisedPHB. This is something of a missed opportunity, especially considering howfew new classes have come out forD&Din recent years, with the artificer being the only non-PHBclass to officially release for 5e. Still, fans can find many third-party classes on sites like DMsguild and through independent publishers like Ghostfire Games and MCDM.
Sensitivity Changes
The2024PHBwill be taking steps to address someproblematic aspects ofD&D, notably by switching the term ‘race’ to ‘species’ and separating ability score bonuses from species. The fantasy humanoids fans play as don’t really fit the term ‘race’, and the use of coding in their cultures while designating some as wholly ‘evil’ is arguably colonialist. In addition to removing bioessentialist lore and mechanics, monks will see their Ki points renamed to ‘discipline points’ in an effort to prevent the exoticization of Asian cultures.
Dungeons and Dragons
Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.
