Tabletop GamingDungeons and DragonsEverything different in DND 2024: All major changes to Dungeons & Dragons 5eWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Tabletop GamingDungeons and DragonsEverything different in DND 2024: All major changes to Dungeons & Dragons 5eWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Benjamin Abbott)
Jump to:ClassesSpecies/RacesBackgroundFeatsNew rules
Jump to:ClassesSpecies/RacesBackgroundFeatsNew rules
With that in mind, I’ve compared the differences between Dungeons & Dragons 5e as seen in 2014 and 2024, and put together this page to lay out all the important, major changes to the way you play DND. The GamesRadar+ team and I will also be updating this page when the new core rulebooks come out, so keep your eyes peeled for future info on DND 2024 in real time!
Everything different in DND 2024 and how Dungeons & Dragons 5e has changed
(Image credit: Benjamin Abbott)
The new differences in DND 2024 for 5e’s rules are largely (but not exclusively) on the player-side so far, focused on quality of life improvements, streamlining gameplay, balancing changes and responding to certain requests from the playerbase. In effect, the result is as though the last ten years of 5e – which is widely considered as one of thebest tabletop RPGsalready – have been used as a long-term beta test for an update that’s finally arrived.
Consequently, Dungeons & Dragons 2024 has changed a fair amount of the 5e rules from what they were when they came out in 2014,though the two versions of the game are still very similar and – more importantly – compatible. This means that for the most part, players should still be able to run old modules and adventures using the 2024 rules,with only minor changes needed… at least in theory.
Below, I’ll cover all the differences to DND 2024’s rules in detail, broken up into sections that you can easily navigate using the chapter tags at the side of the page. Or if you want a very specific rule, try using the search function on your browser to leap straight to it!
What’s different about Classes in DND 2024?
(Image credit: Benjamin Abbott)
The DND 2024 classes have all been changed to some degree, some more than others. The broad trend I’ve noticed was that the new redesigns, beyond aiming for greater balance, seem designed to be crowd-pleasing, building on popular trends in play in DnD culture. There’s also an emphasis on class powers being more easily recharged, obtained, or harder to waste than before – effectively trying to ensure that characters can always do something cool.
Here’s all the major changes to DND classes in 2024:
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Obviously there’s a huge amount to cover here, so if you want further detail, we have a page onhow have DND classes changed for the 2024 Player’s Handbook.
What’s different about Species/Races in DND 2024?
(Image credit: Rollin Bishop)
Species is the new term that DND 2024 uses for the peoples of the world instead of 2014’s Races,owing to it being “a problematic term”. There’s also plenty of other changes, with the removal of several previous options, and addition of others.
Here’s all the major changes to DND Species in 2024:
What’s different about Backgrounds in DND 2024?
(Image credit: Benjamin Abbott)
Here’s all the major changes to DND Backgrounds in 2024:
What’s different about Feats in DND 2024?
(Image credit: Benjamin Abbott)
Feats in DND 2024 have a slightly larger emphasis, and have been categorised into several different types.
New rules in DND 2024
(Image credit: Rollin Bishop)
Dungeons & Dragons 2024 comes with a wide swathe of general rule changes both major and minor, the most significant of which we’ve listed below.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5
Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1
Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”