D&D Encounters

A new adventure awaits in D&D Encounters—weekly ongoing play celebrating our latest releases and giving you a taste of what’s new and exciting. Gather your companions and join in each season!

What Is This?

Learn about the D&D Encounters program.

A Season of Magic Awaits

Take on the menace of the Red Wizards and thwart their schemes.

Begin Your Journey

Create a character for D&D Encounters.

Gather Your Party

Find out where to play D&D Encounters.

D&D Encounters Overview

D&D Encounters is seasonal play experience consisting of a mini campaign played over several weeks, with a light narrative connection. It consists of a season of play with two phases.

D&D Encounters Celebration

Celebration is a single event taking place alongside a spotlighted game release. The emphasis is on gathering to kick off a season with a larger event, and lead into weekly play. This play session is approximately 3 hours long.

D&D Encounters Weekly Play

These are smaller play sessions (about 4 per season), with each focused on a single adventure site. Connected by a light narrative. Play sessions are approximately 90 minutes – 2 hours long.

Jump In Anytime

Single-session adventures
Premade characters available each season
Easy DM prep with D&D Beyond
New adventures each season on D&D Beyond
Premium play kits with rewards for both players and Dungeon Masters at select game stores

Red Wizards’ Gambit

D&D Encounters this season highlights Arcana Unleashed and Arcana Unleashed: Deadfall with an adventure series called Red Wizards’ Gambit. This series is available as a bonus item in any bundle pre-order for Arcana Unleashed and will be available for purchase separately on September 15.

Included in the Adventure Series:

A special D&D Encounters Celebration event experience called “Stolen Spirits,” featuring play for one to four groups of adventurers working towards a collective goal, playable in 3 hours.
4 D&D Encounters weekly play sessions set in Rashemen, continuing the adventure set up in the Celebration event. Each session is playable in 2 hours or less.
6 quickplay maps for use on D&D Beyond's VTT.

Red Wizards’ Gambit

Included in the Adventure Series:

A special D&D Encounters Celebration event experience called “Stolen Spirits,” featuring play for one to four groups of adventurers working towards a collective goal, playable in 3 hours.
4 D&D Encounters weekly play sessions set in Rashemen, continuing the adventure set up in the Celebration event. Each session is playable in 2 hours or less.
6 quickplay maps for use on D&D Beyond's VTT.

Create a Character

Getting Started

Grab a premade character, featuring heroes from the Dungeon Masters official actual play series, all with options from Arcana Unleashed!

You can download the PDF with the characters below:

Choose Your Character

Build Your Own Character

You can build your own character as well!

Start at level 3. Use the rules options in the Player’s Handbook and Arcana Unleashed.
Ability scores are generated using either the Standard Array or Point Cost options detailed in chapter 2 of the Player’s Handbook.
Each time your character gains a level after level 1, their Hit Point maximum increases according to the Fixed Hit Points by Class table in chapter 2 of the Player’s Handbook.
Your character begins with their normal starting equipment plus one Common magic item of their choice from chapter 7 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Alternatively, they can select a Potion of Healing from the Player’s Handbook.
After completing “Stolen Spirits,” advance to level 4. After completing the week 2 play session “The Depth of Despair,” advance to level 5.

Better with D&D Beyond

D&D Beyond is the official toolset of Dungeons & Dragons. It helps you learn the rules, create and keep track of your characters, and run your games—so you can focus on the fun.

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