New D&D Player's Handbook art is a promising start to the game's big update

2024-05-15

Tabletop GamingDungeons and DragonsNew D&D Player’s Handbook art is a promising start to the game’s big updateWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Game Informer)

The D&D cover art, as shown on Game Informer

The new D&D Player’s Handbook cover is out in the wild, along with a dragon’s hoard of artwork from inside.

Whereas previous editions of the book showed off nameless adventurers, this version of the D&D Player’s Handbook depicts established heroes from across the game’s 50-year history. Warriors that started life as 1980s action figures stand shoulder to shoulder with a character from one of its first settings, for example.

(Image credit: Game Informer)

The cover artwork for Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook

Speaking of the rear cover, that has also been unveiled. Even though it features original adventurers going on a quest (as is only right for one of thebest tabletop RPGs), the new Player’s Handbook seems more intent on spotlighting characters we know. According to Game Informer’s piece, many of the chapter openers throughout the book will include iconic heroes. As D&D studio art director Josh Hartman says, “a lot of our chapter openers are famous heroes… Almost every chapter opening features a different hero, or group of heroes in a different setting. So, you’ve got Dragonlance, and other ones, like Ravenloft; you’ve got a whole suite of them.”

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The heroes used here better reflect the game’s incredibly diverse player-base as well. That’s a refreshing contrast to previous editions, or even the last Player’s Handbook, so does a good job of letting everyone who sees it know that D&D is foreveryone.

Image1of2(Image credit: Game Informer)(Image credit: Game Informer)

Image1of2

(Image credit: Game Informer)(Image credit: Game Informer)

(Image credit: Game Informer)

A band of adventurers flying on the back of a dragon in artwork from the Game Informer reveal

(Image credit: Game Informer)

Dungeons & Dragons characters explore a ruin while monsters look on in artwork from the Game Informer reveal

This article revealed some details about the other core rulebooks, too. While the Player’s Handbook focuses on heroes to better represent the player experience, the Dungeon Master’s Guide will instead look at the game’s many villains. DMs spend a lot of time working out what their parties will cross blades with, after all, so that makes sense.

As for the Monster Manual, the new core rulebooks offered an opportunity to revise beloved monsters. For instance, Herman tells Game Informer that “we went through all 10 [dragon types]. We have new designs for all of those and there will be a lot of that in the Monster Manual for sure. We are trying to update those designs to be something in which players could see that dragon’s personality or what biome they live in, or where they fit in the cast of all of the dragons.”

You’ll be able to pre-order the new core rulebooks as of June 18, and each book will apparently cost $49.99. Alternate covers are going to be available for these, and while we don’t know much about them, the Player’s Handbook variant will apparently feature “a gorgeous scene of elves and a sinuous gold dragon, all printed in a gold foil treatment.”

With the core rulebooks starting to arrive in September, hopefully we’ll get a better look at the Dungeon Master’s Guide and Monster Manual soon. As soon as details emerge, you’ll find them here!

For an idea of what to play while you wait for the new rulebooks, check out our guide to thebest Dungeons and Dragons booksand thebest board games.

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