As popular as it has ever been, Dungeons & Dragons continues to get new players from all of the media, continuing to prove the might of the tabletop game. If you're looking to get into D&D this year, it can be a bit intimidating when you see how many books have been released and how many are available.
Luckily you don't need every single book to get started. With just a few core sourcebooks, you can create and play through any Dungeons & Dragons adventure you can think of. Here are the best sourcebooks for D&D you need in 2023.
Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook – Fifth Edition
Begin your adventures in Dungeons & Dragons with the Fifth Edition Player's Handbook. This sourcebook has everything you'll need to create a character for the world's most popular tabletop roleplaying game. The Player's Handbook includes a step-by-step guide to building your character and basic rules for playing the game, advancing your character, skills, exploration, a character sheet, and so much more.
- Title
- Dungeons & Dragon's Player's Handbook
- Genre
- Games
- Publication Date
- August 20, 2019
- Age Range
- Recommended 22+
- Number of Pages
- 320
- Publisher
- Wizards of the Coast
- Has everything you need to play fifth edition D&D
- Can usually be found on sale
- Perfect for beginners
- Some information may be outdated
You can't play a game of Dungeons & Dragons without a Player's Handbook, but you can play a game of D&D with only a Player's Handbook. The quintessential book to get you started, whether from the perspective of a Dungeon Master or a player, the fifth edition Player's Handbook is a must-have. From how to create a character to how to play the game itself, with information on every aspect of D&D, make a Player's Handbook your first purchase.
Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual - Fifth Edition
The Monster Manual for D&D includes the perfect monsters and enemies to fill your D&D campaign with. With over 100 ready-to-play monsters and over 400 stat blocks, you can find the perfect monster for any occasion with this core rulebook. Each monster contains detailed descriptions and game statistics to plug and play, creating the perfect reference for all your D&D monster needs.
- Title
- Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual
- Genre
- Games
- Publication Date
- June 4, 2020
- Age Range
- Recommended 22+
- Number of Pages
- 352
- Publisher
- Wizards of the Coast
- Flesh out any dungeon or campaign with the perfect monsters
- Learn lore and history of the different enemies you can use
- Practical for any campaign or situation
- More recent monster additions won't be included here
So you've got your adventure created, but you need to fill it with stuff. Whether you're crafting the perfect dungeon encounter or fighting in a brand new environment, the Monster Manual has a monster for every terrain type and location. A must-have for Dungeon Masters, grab ready-made stat blocks for instant encounters whenever you need them. Players can enjoy reading the lore and artwork in this book, meaning there's something for everyone.
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse (Dungeons & Dragons Book)
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse takes you on a trip with Mordenkainen himself as he recounts tails of his adventures, teaching you everything he knows along the way. This D&D fifth edition sourcebook comes with more than 250 monsters, including updates to original monsters to make them easier to use. Also included are more than 30 playable species, bringing all of them into one book for ease of access. Learn the lore of everything inside with the help of Mordenkainen in this must-have sourcebook.
- Genre
- Role Playing & Fantasy
- Number of Pages
- 288
- Publication Date
- May-00-00
- Publisher
- Wizards of the Coast
- Update your gameplay with new lore and information
- More than 250 additions to monsters
- More than 30 playable species all in one book
Dungeons & Dragons is constantly evolving, and Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse brings that evolution to the forefront of fifth edition. With new ways to calculate your ability score improvements based on species and an updated inclusion of tons of new species spread across other sourcebooks, you don't want to miss out on this sourcebook. It comes with even more monsters, species, rules, and ways for running adventures. Step into the future of Dungeons & Dragons with this book.
Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (Dungeons & Dragons)
A rules expansion sourcebook, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything has everything you need to enhance your latest D&D campaign. With New and expanded subclasses, tons of new character options, group patrons, artifacts, magical tattoos, and more, players will revel in all the new options they're afforded. Dungeon Masters aren't left out either, as expanded rules, puzzles, and guidance on running a session zero are also included. Supplement any D&D game with Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, with something for both players and DM's alike.
- Genre
- Role Playing & Fantasy
- Number of Pages
- 192
- Publication Date
- November-00-00
- Publisher
- Wizards of the Coast
- Uusally on sale
- Lots of new subclass options for players
- Great additions for how to handle rules for Dungeon Masters
- Expanded rules cover a plethora of options
- Some class options can seem uneven
The best sourcebooks give options for players and Dungeon Masters. With new spells, customizations, and character options, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything is a popular sourcebook you should add to your collection. With tons of options for players, including new subclasses, backgrounds, and a how-to on creating custom origins, players are sure to hound to this book. Add in the Dungeon Masters tools included for puzzles, group patrons, sidekicks, and new spells, and you can see why Tasha's Cauldron of Everything is the perfect sourcebook to add to your collection.
Xanathar's Guide to Everything (Dungeons & Dragons)
Guided on your journey through this book by the Beholder Xanathar, learn everything there is to know about Dungeons & Dragon's fifth edition with the help of this sourcebook. Xanathar shares his thoughts and knowledge with you, imparting new spells, feats, backstory options, and more than 25 subclass options. Also included is insight for Dungeon Masters, with help for encounter building, traps, downtime activities, and clarifications for rules. Enjoy as Xanathar regales you with all of his knowledge, expanding gameplay at your D&D table.
- Genre
- Role Playing & Fantasy
- Number of Pages
- 192
- Publication Date
- November-00-00
- Publisher
- Wizards of the Coast
- Tons of new spells and subclass options for players
- More rules and clarifications for DMs
- Witty banter, told from the perspective of a Beholder
- Can usually be found on sale
- Information may be a bit outdated
With even more player options, Xanathar's Guide to Everything is another staple that should be a part of your D&D library. With intricate detail in player classes, you'll come away with a better understanding of how to play each role. Couple this with at least two to three new subclass options for each class, and you'll have a party excited to try new roles. Dungeon Master's tools include options for handling downtime, random encounters with suggestions for different types of terrain they may happen in, and even revisiting spellcasting, tools, and traps. Gain even more insight into D&D with Xanathar's Guide to Everything.
Strixhaven: Curriculum of Chaos (D&D/MTG Adventure Book) - Dungeons & Dragons
Set in Strixhaven, the famous university from Magic: The Gathering, Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos merges both worlds for the best possible result. Enroll as a student in this magical universe with new character options, spells, feats, and more. Taking adventurers through levels 1-10, Strixhaven provides players and characters with plenty of options for running its adventure or taking information from the source and putting it into your own adventure. Strixhaven brings a whole new way to play D&D.
- Genre
- Role Playing & Fantasy
- Number of Pages
- 224
- Publication Date
- December-00-00
- Publisher
- Wizards of the Coast
- A cool crossover betwen D&D and Magic: The Gathering
- Introduces a new way to play D&D
- A sourcebook with a full adventure included
- Less new information than an average sourcebook
- Feels more adventure book than sourcebook
Have Dungeons & Dragons crossover into Magic: The Gathering with Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos. This sourcebook doubles as an adventure, bringing your group into a magical university, the likes of which Magic players will be very familiar. Perfect for an introduction to Dungeons & Dragons, Strixhaven is the easily understandable magical school setting, great for easing new players into the game and entertaining advanced players. With new species options, new spells, and an entire full course adventure, Strixhaven is highly recommended as a sourcebook to bring to your table.
FAQ
What Are Sourcebooks In D&D?
Sourcebooks are books that add additions to the core rules presented in the Player's Handbook of Dungeons & Dragons. Unlike featured adventure books, source books don't usually contain adventures; instead, they focus on adding content to the core game, expanding on and simplifying rules and gameplay mechanics, and adding player options.
How Many D&D Sourcebooks Are There?
If you're looking for strictly fifth edition content, there are roughtly about 30 sourcebooks, not including unearthed arcana. Not all sourcebooks are as big, detailed, or deep as some mentioned here, as some may be small PDFs and others hardcover titles. You can see a full list of sourcebooks on dndbeyond.
What's The Difference Between A sourcebook And An Adventure?
Adventure books are premade adventures in a preset D&D world. They will include everything you need to run players through an entire adventure from beginning to end. Sourcebooks rarely have full adventures, instead filling their pages with new character options, spells, backgrounds, classes, monsters, and supplementary information for playing through an adventure.
What Are The Three Core Books For D&D?
The Player's Handbook, The Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monster Manual. You can play anything you want with just these three books, really.