The 10 Best Dungeons & Dragons Starter Sets (Updated 2022)

1. Dungeons and Dragons Essentials Kit

The Dungeons & Dragons essentials kit is exactly what it sounds like. A kit containing all the essentials for playing some of your first Dungeons & Dragons games. This kit, however, differentiates itself from the others by the fact that the character sheets contained within, are blank. Taking the proverbial training wheels off when it comes to character creation, now players will have to think of and create their own adventurer. Will you be an elf rogue? A human warlock? The choice is now truly yours.

The set once again contains everything you need to begin playing your first adventures, however, there are a few more secrets hidden within this starter kit. Cards to help remind players of the turn order while in combat, more cards to help explain the uses of magical items, and a map containing a massive world for players to explore.

In this cool campaign, you and your party are tasked with defeating the white dragon Cryovain, who has been driven from its home. Explore more of the sword coast and the perils of Icespire peak, with anywhere from two to six players.

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• Comes with 5 blank character sheets
• Cards to aid with magical items and the flow of combat
• two sided overworld map
• Includes DM screen

• Age Recommendation: 13 and up
• Franchise Name: Dungeons & Dragons
• Publishing Co: Wizards of the Coast

2. Dungeons and Dragons Players Handbook

The Dungeons & Dragons player’s handbook is exactly what any player needs, new or old. This book will guide you through the process of creating a character, and teach you the mysteries of magic. There is nothing that any aspiring player needs to know that is not contained in the pages of this book.

This book contains a list of all spells, equipment, and information essential to those wishing to experience Dungeons & Dragons in its fullest and most complete form. The player’s handbook also contains many different classes that other starter sets do not, taking beginner Dungeons & Dragons and transforming it into true Dungeons & Dragons.

The player’s handbook is the complete rule book for all of Dungeons & Dragons as well as a book that contains complete tutorials on all of the game’s mechanics. Unfortunately, unlike the others, this book is sold on its own, without any special quests or campaigns. However, the set does contain multiple sets of dice and necessary equipment for any new player.

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• Comes with six sets of dice
• Has multiple simple pre-made character sheets
• Contains the full players guide
• Includes email with printable extras

• Age Recommendation: 13 and up
• Franchise Name: Dungeons & Dragons
• Publishing Co: Wizards of the Coast

3. Dragons of Stormwreck Isle

Dragons of Stormwreck Isle is a great way to start off your Dungeons & Dragons adventure. Designed for characters level one through three, the starter set will take you and your party on a journey to the Stormwreck Isle, where you’ll be thrust into the center of a war between many ancient dragons, as you explore the land that has been their battlefield. The premade characters in the starter set all come with backstories and motivation for embarking on this dangerous quest, which will help players thirsty for role-playing learn the ropes of playing a character.

The starter set comes with everything an aspiring player or dungeon master needs to get started on their first game. These include a rulebook containing character equipment and 30 spells, as well as an adventure booklet, dice and five premade character sheets. The character sheets include the classes cleric, fighter, paladin, rogue, or wizard. The adventures within are designed for two to six players to enjoy.

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• Comes with all dice required
• Rule book and adventure book included
• 5 character sheets
• Includes everything needed to begin playing D&D

• Age Recommendation: 13 and up
• Franchise Name: Dungeons & Dragons
• Publishing Co: Wizards of the Coast

4. dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual

The Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual is an absolute must-have for any Dungeon Master or player new to the game. The monster manual contains information, lore, and stats on every monster in the game, making it that much easier to add them to your campaign. With this book at your disposal, all the knowledge regarding the monsters of Dungeons & Dragons is at your fingertips. There are many uses for this book, researching the different monsters the Dungeon Master may throw at you, and learning their weaknesses and the areas in which you may be most likely to encounter one, just to name a few.

The monster manual is any Dungeons & Dragons player’s guide to the vast array of monsters populating the worlds of Dungeons & Dragons. Though this book may not come with any special campaigns or characters, the book will do a great deal of work in helping you to build your own worlds and stories. The information that it provides will aid in populating the worlds of all your future campaigns with a vast array of monsters and creatures ready to encounter a group of unwitting adventurers. The monster manual is also perfect for those who love writing and world-building.

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• Contains an A to Z list of all the 5th edition D&D monsters
• Holds lore about all the games monsters
• Contains every monsters stats
• Breaks down the different kinds of dragons

• Age Recommendation: 14 and up
• Franchise Name: Dungeons & Dragons
• Publishing Co: Wizards of the Coast

5. D&D Dungeon Master’s Guide

The Dungeon Master’s guide is exactly what it sounds like, a guide for new dungeons masters. This tome contains all the knowledge needed to begin DMing your own Dungeons & Dragons game. Within the pages, you’ll find advice and tips on world-building, and storytelling, as well as lists of items, optional rules, and more. This book is much more specifically targeted than the previous entries on this list, being aimed much more toward the dungeon master as the name implies. The contents contained in these pages will teach you how to weave a narrative and provide encounters for your players that will leave them speechless. Learn how to create an amazing story, and improvise on the fly when your players test the boundaries of your world and plans for the tales you wish to tell.

The repertoire of any new Dungeon Master will be forever incomplete without this book of extensive information designed to teach you to become an amazing DM. This book will teach you how to create the perfect villain, how to create monsters, and even interesting non-playable characters. The dungeon master’s guide, spanning almost one hundred pages, contains an extensive list of treasures, from magical weapons to a king’s horde. This book is truly a necessary addition to any Dungeon Master’s collection.

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• Mass amount of information for DMs
• List of magical items and enchantments
• Tips to teach you story telling
• Helps teach world building

• Age Recommendation: 13 and up
• Franchise Name: Dungeons & Dragons
• Publishing Co: Wizards of the Coast

6. Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set

When it comes to Dungeons & Dragons Starter sets, you can’t go wrong with the one simply titled “Starter set”. Once again coming with a multitude of premade quests and characters, this set is sure to provide fun and educate new players on how to play Dungeons & Dragons. This adventure takes new players on a journey close to the city of Nevrwinter, located on the sword coast. Players are tasked with aiding in reopening and defending a mine containing a magical dwarven forge from centuries past, though that is easier said than done.

Once again, the starter set is designed for six players, with five players and one dungeon master, the premade characters include a halfling rogue, elven wizard and more. The starter set comes with a bag of six dice, a rulebook and the adventure book for the “Lost Mines of Phandelver”.

This campaign starter set is great for those starting out in Dungeons & Dragons, whether as a player of a Dungeon Master.

This starter set is great for introducing players to the world of the Forgotten Realms, and the cities and lands along the Sword Coast, getting players used to the lands which they’ll get to explore in more depth as their skill in Dungeons & Dragons grows.

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• Introduces classes not in some starter sets
• Provides players access to the mainland
• Introduces players to more of the races seen around the game world

• Age Recommendation: 13 and up
• Franchise Name: Dungeons & Dragons
• Publishing Co: Wizards of the Coast

7. Stranger Things Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set

The Stranger Things Dungeons & Dragons Starter set is perfect for any fan of stranger things and any newcomer to Dungeons & Dragons. Explore the decrepit lands of the Upsidedown in a hunt for Demogorgon. Perfect for players both new and old, the stranger things D&D adventure contains all the essential rules for players wanting to jump into Dungeon & Dragons in a familiar way.

The starter set includes the stranger things adventure book, a rulebook, five stranger things themed character sheets, a set of dice, and two demoforgon figures. A fan of the show is sure to have a blast with this exclusive set, and any newcomer to Dungeons & Dragons is sure to learn the ropes in a fun and unique way, as you explore the unique overworld in search of Demogorgon in the shoes of some of television’s most iconic characters

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• Comes with two unique Stranger Things Demogorgon figures
• Includes special Stranger Things themed character sheets
• Contains a unique adventure
• Comes with all dice needed to play

• Age Recommendation: 14 and up
• Franchise Name: Dungeons & Dragons
• Publishing Co: Hasbro

8. Dungeons and Dragons The Adventure Begins

Dungeons & Dragons The Adventure Begins is a cooperative board game designed to introduce new players to the world of Dungeons & Dragons, as they explore the land of Neverwinter. Though this product may be more of a family-oriented board game, it is still designed as a way for those who have never played Dungeons & Dragons before to get a taste of what the game can offer.

The game includes miniatures of four different characters of different races, including a Dwarf, Elf, Human, and Dragonborn. Each player also gets one d20 and a small screen showing the details of their character. The role of dungeon master is not just limited to one person in this game. The role of dungeon master switches players each turn, allowing everyone to narrate and control portions of the game. Players are also allowed a big measure of customization. Allowing each hero to choose their battles and customize their character. This board game is a good introduction to the world of Dungeons & Dragons and the basic rules of the game, and teaches players about the area of Neverwinter.

This game is ideal for players at the very beginning of their time with Dungeons & Dragons, as it does only teach the base concepts of the game such as dice rolling and the lore of the world.

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• Contains a die for each player
• Allows players to try out the role of DM and player in one game
• Contains cards that aid players in narrating the experience
• Contains a miniature for each player

• Age Recommendation: 10 and up
• Franchise Name: Dungeons & Dragons
• Publishing Co: Hasbro Gaming

9. Curse of Strahd

Curse of Strahd is a campaign designed for players level one through ten, making it perfect for new and old players equally. The campaign takes you from the dark village of Barovia to the twisted spires of castle Ravenloft, and into the throne room of Strahd von Zarovich, the very first vampire. Throughout this story, players will uncover the secrets and backstory of Strahd, all while trying to escape from his dark realm, and save those living under his rule as well as themselves from becoming Strahd’s meal. That isn’t all you’ll be doing, however. Throughout the land, you may encounter werewolves, wereravens ghosts, and more as you explore the dark lands crushed under strahd’s blood soaked iron fist.

This campaign requires no prior knowledge of any of Dungeons & Dragon’s settings, as this story takes place in its own unique place. The adventure also holds vast amounts of replay value, as many integral quest items and NPCs are placed randomly throughout the game world of Barovia, making for a unique adventure with every replay. This campaign is a very good introduction to Dungeons & Dragons, due to its low-level requirements, and replay value.

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• Book containing multiple the main quest
• Lists and stats of unique monsters
• Double sided map of Castle Ravenloft and Barovia
• Themed DM screen

• Age Recommendation: 14 and up
• Franchise Name: Dungeons & Dragons
• Publishing Co: Wizards of the Coast

10. Ghosts of Saltmarsh

Ghosts of Saltmarsh is a campaign designed for players level one through twelve. The story takes place in the fishing village of Saltmarsh, which is situated on the coastline of the Azure sea. Throughout this adventure, players will encounter bloodthirsty pirates, undead sailors, and uncover the secrets causing such darkness to reign over this sleepy village. A quiet fishing town with a pirate problem isn’t all you’ll see, however. This campaign will allow players to glimpse the land of the Shadowfell, a dark mirror of Toril filled with shadowy creatures and mysteries.

Due to its low-level requirements, and story that’s easily laid out, this campaign is designed for new players and dungeon masters alike. The way the campaign structure is set up, even allows for a group to do a quest as a one-off adventure, really allowing new players to experience what Dungeons & Dragons has to offer, without making any kind of dedication to a larger narrative. Inside the book, the dungeon master will find rules for the monsters within the campaign, layouts for ships and rules for sailing as well as deck plans for those various ships that the players will encounter along their journey.

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• Rules for new and classic monsters
• Rules for ships and how to sail
• Includes deck plans for various ships
• Introduces some of the Shadowfell

• Age Recommendation: 14 and up
• Franchise Name: Dungeons & Dragons
• Publishing Co: Wizards of the Coast