One D&D: Everything you need to know about the next Dungeons & Dragons edition
Dive into new dungeons.
The next evolution of Dungeons & Dragons, the most popular tabletop roleplaying game in existence, is coming.
Announced this summer, One D&D is the next - and possibly last - major edition of the tabletop RPG.
Set to be released via a collection of core rulebooks in 2024, One D&D has the potential to alter the face of Dungeons & Dragons completely through changes to elements like character creation, combat rules, spells and the way that certain classes work.
To get ahead of all the potential changes and prepare yourself for the next version of the tabletop RPG, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about One D&D.
One D&D: Everything you need to know
What is One D&D?
One D&D is the next upcoming tabletop roleplaying game in the Dungeons & Dragons series. The codename for the latest release in a line of titles that have been coming out since the original D&D first appeared in 1974, One D&D will provide both old and new players alike with a fresh set of rulebooks that teach people how to play the game.
The most recent version of D&D is called Fifth Edition – or 5E – and was released in 2014 by publisher Wizards of the Coast. Every new version of the tabletop RPG makes changes or additions to the way it is played, alongside new options for players to choose from when making their characters and new story content for DMs to use. One D&D – which Wizards does not consider to be an ‘edition’ of D&D - will include new changes, options and content for both players and DMs to use in their games.
How these updates will be implemented is yet to be confirmed, but considering that Wizards of the Coast now owns D&D Beyond and is looking to launch a virtual tabletop platform - enabling DMs and players to experience Dungeons & Dragons remotely with voice chat and a virtual play space - it's quite possible that future changes will be made digitally.
How is One D&D different to 5E?
One D&D will be different to the current Fifth Edition of Dungeons & Dragons in many ways, some of which we don’t know yet. The specific rule changes to the version are yet to be confirmed and are currently being tested out by players through extensive playtesting.
Players and dungeon masters can test the various proposed rule changes in One D&D via a series of playtest versions being released on D&D Beyond, the online platform that contents all official content released for 5E.
Examples of proposed rule changes include having players who roll 1s or 20s on their d20 experiencing immediate failures – in the case of 1s – or immediate successes, whenever they roll a 20, in every situation, instead of the rules just applying to combat situations.
However, the fluid state of One D&D means that every proposed rule won’t necessarily make it into the finished game, as seen by the previous U-turn made by Wizards of the Coast – who recently rolled back this proposed rule change in favour of something else. You can keep up-to-date with the proposed rules via our overview of all the changes proposed in One D&D.
Besides the rule differences and the new additions – including new playable species and sub-classes, or specialised versions of classes – easily the biggest difference between One D&D and 5E is the fact that, according to Wizards, the new version will likely be the last major edition of the fantasy RPG. Whilst big changes and content have always been applied to Dungeons & Dragons through the release of new editions, One D&D will see the series being changed and added to through various updates.
When is One D&D coming out?
Though a playtest version of One D&D is available to play right now, the official release of One D&D will arrive via three core rulebooks coming in 2024.
There is no exact release date for One D&D currently available beyond 2024. What we do know is that dungeon masters and players can expect a new Player’s Handbook - the book players need to make their characters and learn how to play the game - Dungeon Master’s Guide, the book that DMs need in order to run their games; and the Monster Manual: a collection of enemies, creatures and characters for players to potentially interact with.
Digital versions of the three upcoming rulebooks are likely to be released via D&D Beyond, with players able to use them to make their characters and DMs using them to help plan and run their games.
The official virtual tabletop for One D&D is yet to receive an official release date.
How to get One D&D
The digital playtest of One D&D – an unfinished collection of proposed rules, changes and content that players and DMs can try out – is available to download for free from D&D Beyond right now.
These versions of One D&D are not the finished product and may feature rules that are dropped from the official Dungeons & Dragons ruleset. Wizards has stated that it will continue to release monthly playtest updates until at least the end of 2023.
The official release of One D&D will be released as a set of three core rulebooks in 2024, with players only needing to get the Player’s Handbook to start – while DMs will need at least the Dungeon Master’s Guide and Player’s Handbook in order to run their games. The Monster Manual is an optional purchase.
