Dungeons & Dragons is experiencing a remarkable resurgence in popularity. From the influence of Stranger Things to the success of Honor Among Thieves, and the explosion of D&D podcasts and YouTube channels, not to mention the massive popularity of Baldur's Gate 3, there's never been a better time to join the game.

However, navigating the wealth of Fifth Edition (5E) content, especially the vast offerings from third-party creators, can be daunting for newcomers. This guide focuses primarily on official Wizards of the Coast publications, excluding the essential Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual (updated in 2024), assuming you already possess these core rulebooks. If not, acquire them first. You can find the latest editions linked below.

First-Party Content Recommendations:

Player’s Handbook Core Rulebook

$49.99 at Amazon

Dungeon Master’s Guide Core Rulebook

$49.99 at Amazon

Monster Manual Core Rulebook

$49.99 at Amazon

Xanathar’s Guide to Everything (Sourcebook)

See it at Amazon

A crucial sourcebook (2017), expanding player options with subclasses, feats, spells, and DM tools. Highly beneficial for players seeking diverse character builds.

Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything (Sourcebook)

See it at Amazon

Similar to Xanathar's, offering expanded player options, new spells, and DM rules for sidekicks and environments. Great for class diversity.

Waterdeep: Dragon Heist (Adventure)

See it at Amazon

A roleplaying-focused adventure with intrigue and social encounters, offering multiple antagonists for replayability. A sequel, Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage, provides a dungeon-crawl extension.

Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse (Sourcebook/Adventure Bundle)

See it at Amazon

A comprehensive exploration of the Planescape setting, including a setting guide, monster manual, and adventure. Highly detailed and engaging.

Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk (Adventure)

See it at Amazon

A significant expansion to The Lost Mine of Phandelver, introducing cosmic horror elements and a compelling conspiracy.

Eberron: Rising from the Last War (Sourcebook/Adventure)

See it at Amazon

A unique setting with airships and floating castles, offering new playable races (Dragonmarks) and a post-war atmosphere.

Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen (Adventure)

See it at Amazon

Introduces the Dragonlance setting, focusing on large-scale combat encounters with dragons and draconians.

Curse of Strahd (Adventure)

See it at Amazon

A classic gothic horror adventure with vampires and creepy environments. A supplement, Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, offers additional content.

The Wild Beyond the Witchlight (Adventure)

See it at Amazon

A roleplaying-heavy adventure set in the Feywild, offering multiple solutions and new playable races and backgrounds.

Brief Mention of Third-Party Content:

While this guide primarily covers first-party content, notable third-party options include Strongholds and Followers (MCDM Productions), Flee, Mortals! and Where Evil Lives (MCDM Productions), Tome of Beasts/Creature Codex (Kobold Press), and Grim Hollow (Ghostfire Gaming).

This list offers a strong starting point for expanding your 5E experience. What are your favorite D&D books? Share your thoughts in the comments!