Updates in the Player’s Handbook (2024)

Tags Player's Handbook

This article outlines what has changed between the 2014 and 2024 versions of the Player’s Handbook. For an update on changes to the D&D Beyond toolset, see the D&D Beyond changelog.

Using This Book with Older Books

When you play D&D with the 2024 Player’s Handbook, it replaces all rules, classes, subclasses, spells, feats, equipment, species, and backgrounds in the 2014 version of the book. There are a few exceptions; the following options don’t appear in the 2024 book and are still usable from 2014:

  • Knowledge Domain (Cleric subclass)
  • Nature Domain (Cleric subclass)
  • Tempest Domain (Cleric subclass)
  • School of Conjuration (Wizard subclass)
  • School of Enchantment (Wizard subclass)
  • School of Necromancy (Wizard subclass)
  • School of Transmutation (Wizard subclass)
  • Half-Elf (species)
  • Half-Orc (species)
  • Dungeon Delver (feat)
  • Linguist (feat)
  • Martial Adept (feat)

Any subclass, spell, or feat from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything or Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything that appears in this book replaces the version that appears in the Everything book.

Classes

The 2024 Player’s Handbook includes twelve classes for player characters, and each class includes four subclasses.

New Subclass Names

The Updated Subclasses table lists new names for some subclasses.

Updated Subclasses
Class 2014 Subclass 2024 Subclass
Barbarian Path of the Totem Warrior Path of the Wild Heart
Monk Way of Mercy* Warrior of Mercy
Monk Way of Shadow Warrior of Shadow
Monk Way of the Four Elements Warrior of the Elements
Monk Way of the Open Hand Warrior of the Open Hand
Sorcerer Aberrant Mind* Aberrant Sorcery
Sorcerer Clockwork Soul* Clockwork Sorcery
Sorcerer Draconic Bloodline Draconic Sorcery
Sorcerer Wild Magic Wild Magic Sorcery
Warlock The Archfey Archfey Patron
Warlock The Celestial† Celestial Patron
Warlock The Fiend Fiend Patron
Warlock The Great Old One Great Old One Patron
Wizard School of Abjuration Abjurer
Wizard School of Divination Diviner
Wizard School of Evocation Evoker
Wizard School of Illusion Illusionist

*First appeared in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

†First appeared in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything

Barbarian

The Barbarian class includes the following updates:

  • Revised starting equipment
  • Seven new class features and seven revised class features, which are listed in the Barbarian Class Features table
Barbarian Class Features
Level Feature Status
1 Rage Revised
1 Weapon Master New
2 Danger Sense Revised
2 Reckless Attack Revised
3 Primal Knowledge New
7 Feral Instinct Revised
7 Instinctive Pounce New
9 Brutal Strike New
11 Relentless Rage Revised
13 Improved Brutal Strike New
15 Persistent Rage Revised
17 Improved Brutal Strike New
18 Indomitable Might Revised
19 Epic Boon New

Subclass Changes

Barbarian subclasses include the following updates:

  1. Path of the Berserker: Three revised features
  2. Path of the Wild Heart: Three revised features
  3. Path of the World Tree (New): Four new features
  4. Path of the Zealot (New): Imported from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything with one new feature and three revised features

Bard

The Bard class includes the following updates:

  • Revised starting equipment
  • Revised weapon proficiencies
  • Revised spell list
  • Two new class features and seven revised class features, which are listed in the Bard Class Features table
Bard Class Features
Level Feature Status
1 Bardic Inspiration Revised
1 Spellcasting Revised
2 Expertise Revised
5 Font of Inspiration Revised
7 Countercharm Revised
10 Magical Secrets Revised
18 Superior Inspiration Revised
19 Epic Boon New
20 Words of Creation New

Subclass Changes

Bard subclasses include the following updates:

  1. College of Dance (New): Four new features
  2. College of Glamour (New): Imported from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything with one new feature and three revised features
  3. College of Lore: Three revised features
  4. College of Valor: Two revised features

Cleric

The Cleric class includes the following updates:

  • Revised starting equipment
  • Revised spell list
  • Six new class features and four revised class features, which are listed in the Cleric Class Features table
Cleric Class Features
Level Feature Status
1 Divine Order New
1 Spellcasting Revised
2 Channel Divinity Revised
3 Cleric Subclass Revised
5 Sear Undead New
7 Blessed Strikes New
10 Divine Intervention Revised
14 Improved Blessed Strikes New
19 Epic Boon New
20 Greater Divine Intervention New

Subclass Changes

Cleric subclasses include the following updates:

  1. Life Domain: Three revised features
  2. Light Domain: Five revised features
  3. Trickery Domain: One new feature and four revised features
  4. War Domain: Five revised features

Druid

The Druid class includes the following updates:

  • Revised starting equipment
  • Revised weapon proficiencies
  • Revised armor training
  • Revised spell list
  • Six new class features and six revised class features, which are listed in the Druid Class Features table
Druid Class Features
Level Feature Status
1 Druidic Revised
1 Primal Order New
1 Spellcasting Revised
2 Wild Companion New
2 Wild Shape Revised
3 Druid Subclass Revised
5 Wild Resurgence New
7 Elemental Fury New
15 Improved Elemental Fury New
18 Beast Spells Revised
19 Epic Boon New
20 Archdruid Revised

Subclass Changes

Druid subclasses include the following updates:

  1. Circle of the Land: One new feature and four revised features
  2. Circle of the Moon: Four new features and one revised feature
  3. Circle of the Sea (New): Five new features
  4. Circle of the Stars (New): Imported from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything with one revised features

Fighter

The Fighter class includes the following updates:

  • Revised starting equipment
  • Revised skill proficiencies
  • Six new class features and three revised class features, which are listed in the Fighter Class Features table
Fighter Class Features
Level Feature Status
1 Fighting Style Revised
1 Second Wind Revised
1 Weapon Mastery New
2 Tactical Mind New
5 Tactical Shift New
9 Indomitable Revised
9 Tactical Master New
13 Studied Attacks New
19 Epic Boon New

Subclass Changes

Fighter subclasses include the following updates:

  1. Battle Master: Three revised features, four new maneuvers, and five revised maneuvers
  2. Champion: One new feature and three revised features
  3. Eldritch Knight: Two revised features
  4. Psi Warrior (New): Imported from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything with one revised feature

Monk

The Monk class includes the following updates:

  • Revised starting equipment
  • Revised weapon proficiencies
  • Seven new class features and eight revised class features, which are listed in the Monk Class Features table
Monk Class Features
Level Feature Status
1 Martial Arts Revised
1 Martial Arts Die Revised
2 Monk’s Focus Revised
2 Uncanny Metabolism New
3 Deflect Attacks Revised
5 Stunning Strike Revised
6 Empowered Strikes Revised
7 Evasion Revised
10 Heightened Focus New
10 Self-Restoration New
13 Deflect Energy New
15 Perfect Focus Revised
18 Superior Defense New
19 Epic Boon New
20 Body and Mind New

Subclass Changes

Monk subclasses include the following updates:

  1. Warrior of Mercy (New): Imported from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything with one revised feature
  2. Warrior of Shadow: One new feature and two revised features
  3. Warrior of the Elements: Five new features
  4. Warrior of the Open Hand: One new feature and three revised features

Paladin

The Paladin class includes the following updates:

  • Revised starting equipment
  • Revised spell list
  • Six new class features and six revised class features, which are listed in the Paladin Class Features table
Paladin Class Features
Level Feature Status
1 Lay on Hands Revised
1 Spellcasting Revised
1 Weapon Mastery New
2 Fighting Style Revised
2 Paladin’s Smite New
3 Channel Divinity Revised
5 Faithful Steed New
6 Aura of Protection Revised
9 Abjure Foes New
10 Aura of Courage Revised
14 Restoring Touch New
19 Epic Boon New

Subclass Changes

Paladin subclasses include the following updates:

  1. Oath of Devotion: One new feature and four revised features
  2. Oath of Glory (New): Imported from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything with four revised features
  3. Oath of the Ancients: Four revised features
  4. Oath of Vengeance: Three revised features

Ranger

The Ranger class includes the following updates:

  • Revised starting equipment
  • Revised spell list
  • Eight new class features and six revised class features, which are listed in the Ranger Class Features table
Ranger Class Features
Level Feature Status
1 Favored Enemy Revised
1 Spellcasting Revised
1 Weapon Mastery New
2 Deft Explorer New
2 Fighting Style Revised
6 Roving New
9 Expertise New
10 Tireless New
13 Relentless Hunter New
14 Nature’s Veil Revised
17 Precise Hunter New
18 Feral Senses Revised
19 Epic Boon New
20 Foe Slayer Revised

Subclass Changes

Ranger subclasses include the following updates:

  1. Beastmaster: Three revised features
  2. Fey Wanderer (New): Imported from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything with one revised feature
  3. Gloom Stalker (New): Imported from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything with four revised features
  4. Hunter: Two new features and three revised features

Rogue

The Rogue class includes the following updates:

  • Revised starting equipment
  • Revised weapon proficiencies
  • Revised skill proficiencies
  • Six new class features and five revised class features, which are listed in the Rogue Class Features table
Rogue Class Features
Level Feature Status
1 Thieves’ Cant Revised
1 Weapon Mastery New
3 Steady Aim New
5 Cunning Strike New
7 Evasion Revised
7 Reliable Talent Revised
11 Improved Cunning Strike New
14 Devious Strikes New
15 Slippery Mind Revised
19 Epic Boon New
20 Stroke of Luck Revised

Subclass Changes

Rogue subclasses include the following updates:

  1. Arcane Trickster: Three revised features
  2. Assassin: One new feature and three revised features
  3. Soulknife (New): Imported from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything with two revised features
  4. Thief: Four revised features

Sorcerer

The Sorcerer class includes the following updates:

  • Revised starting equipment
  • Revised weapon proficiencies
  • Revised spell list
  • Two new metamagic options and six revised metamagic options
  • Four new class features and five revised class features, which are listed in the Sorcerer Class Features table
  • A revised Wild Magic Surge table with new options
Sorcerer Class Features
Level Feature Status
1 Innate Sorcery New
1 Spellcasting Revised
2 Font of Magic Revised
2 Metamagic Revised
3 Sorcerer Subclass Revised
5 Sorcerous Restoration Revised
7 Sorcery Incarnate New
19 Epic Boon New
20 Arcane Apotheosis New

Subclass Changes

Sorcerer subclasses include the following updates:

  1. Aberrant Sorcery (New): Imported from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything with two revised features
  2. Clockwork Sorcery (New): Imported from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything with two revised features
  3. Draconic Sorcery: Two new features and three revised features
  4. Wild Magic Sorcery: One new feature and three revised features

Warlock

The Warlock class includes the following updates:

  • Revised starting equipment
  • Revised spell list
  • Ten new eldritch invocations and thirteen revised eldritch invocations
  • Three new class features and four revised class features, which are listed in the Warlock Class Features table
Warlock Class Features
Level Feature Status
1 Eldritch Invocations Revised
1 Pact Magic Revised
2 Magical Cunning New
3 Warlock Subclass Revised
9 Contact Patron New
11 Mystic Arcanum Revised
19 Epic Boon New

Subclass Changes

Warlock subclasses include the following updates:

  1. Archfey Patron: Two new features and three revised features
  2. Celestial Patron (New): Imported from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything with four revised features
  3. Fiend Patron: Five revised features
  4. Great Old One Patron: Three new features and two revised features

Wizard

The Wizard class includes the following updates:

  • Revised starting equipment
  • Revised weapon proficiencies
  • Revised skill proficiencies
  • Revised spell list
  • Four new class features and three revised class features, which are listed in the Wizard Class Features table
Wizard Class Features
Level Feature Status
1 Ritual Adept New
1 Spellcasting Revised
2 Scholar New
3 Wizard Subclass Revised
5 Memorize Spell New
18 Spell Mastery Revised
19 Epic Boon New

Subclass Changes

Wizard subclasses include the following updates:

  1. Abjurer: One new feature and three revised features
  2. Diviner: Two revised features
  3. Evoker: Three revised features
  4. Illusionist: Two new features and two revised features

Origins

The 2024 Player’s Handbook lists sixteen backgrounds and ten species for player characters, including the following new options:

Backgrounds

  1. Farmer
  2. Guard
  3. Guide
  4. Merchant
  5. Scribe
  6. Wayfarer

Languages

  1. Common Sign Language

Species

  1. Aasimar
  2. Goliath
  3. Orc

Feats

The 2024 Player’s Handbook contains seventy-five feats, including thirty-seven new feats and thirty-five revised feats. Feats are divided into four categories: Origin, General, Fighting Style, and Epic Boon.

Equipment

The 2024 Player’s Handbook provides the following changes to equipment:

  • Two revised weapon properties: Heavy, Light
  • Eight new weapon mastery properties: Cleave, Graze, Nick, Push, Sap, Slow, Topple, Vex
  • Two new weapons and three revised weapons
  • New crafting rules for nonmagical items, Potion of Healing, and Spell Scroll.
  • New options for using all Artisan’s Tools when taking the Utilize option
  • Revised adventuring gear, including three new items
  • Descriptions for all items of adventuring gear

Spells

The 2024 Player’s Handbook provides 391 spells, including thirty new spells. The 2024 Spells table lists new, redesigned, and revised spells.

2024 Spells
Level Spell
New Spells
0 Elementalism
0 Mind Sliver
0 Sorcerous Burst
0 Starry Wisp
0 Thunderclap
0 Toll the Dead
0 Word of Radiance
1 Divine Smite
1 Ice Knife
2 Arcane Vigor
2 Dragon’s Breath
2 Mind Spike
2 Summon Beast
3 Summon Fey
3 Summon Undead
4 Charm Monster
4 Fount of Moonlight
4 Summon Aberration
4 Summon Construct
4 Summon Elemental
4 Vitriolic Sphere
5 Jallarzi’s Storm of Radiance
5 Steel Wind Strike
5 Summon Celestial
5 Summon Dragon
5 Synaptic Static
5 Yolande’s Regal Presence
6 Summon Fiend
6 Tasha’s Bubbling Cauldron
7 Power Word Fortify
Redesigned Spells
0 Blade Ward
0 Chill Touch
0 Friends
0 Guidance
0 Resistance
0 True Strike
1 Chromatic Orb
1 Color Spray
1 Sleep
2 Barkskin
2 Enhance Ability
2 Enthrall
2 Find Steed
2 Prayer of Healing
2 Ray of Enfeeblement
3 Conjure Animals
3 Counterspell
4 Conjure Minor Elementals
4 Conjure Woodland Beings
4 Giant Insect
4 Grasping Vine
5 Animate Objects
5 Conjure Elemental
5 Contagion
6 Conjure Fey
7 Conjure Celestial
8 Befuddlement
Revised Spells
0 Acid Splash
0 Dancing Lights
0 Light
0 Poison Spray
0 Produce Flame
0 Shillelagh
0 Shocking Grasp
0 Spare the Dying
0 Thaumaturgy
0 Vicious Mockery
1 Animal Friendship
1 Bless
1 Command
1 Compelled Duel
1 Comprehend Languages
1 Cure Wounds
1 Dissonant Whispers
1 Divine Favor
1 Ensnaring Strike
1 False Life
1 Find Familiar
1 Goodberry
1 Hail of Thorns
1 Healing Word
1 Hex
1 Hunter’s Mark
1 Inflict Wounds
1 Jump
1 Ray of Sickness
1 Searing Smite
1 Speak with Animals
1 Tasha’s Hideous Laughter
1 Thunderous Smite
1 Witch Bolt
1 Wrathful Smite
2 Alter Self
2 Animal Messenger
2 Arcane Lock
2 Augury
2 Beast Sense
2 Blindness/Deafness
2 Calm Emotions
2 Cloud of Daggers
2 Cordon of Arrows
2 Darkvision
2 Detect Thoughts
2 Enlarge/Reduce
2 Flame Blade
2 Gust of Wind
2 Lesser Restoration
2 Magic Weapon
2 Mirror Image
2 Moonbeam
2 Phantasmal Force
2 Shatter
2 Shining Smite
2 Spider Climb
2 Spike Growth
2 Spiritual Weapon
2 Suggestion
3 Aura of Vitality
3 Bestow Curse
3 Blinding Smite
3 Call Lightning
3 Clairvoyance
3 Conjure Barrage
3 Crusader’s Mantle
3 Daylight
3 Fly
3 Gaseous Form
3 Haste
3 Hunger of Hadar
3 Leomund’s Tiny Hut
3 Lightning Arrow
3 Major Image
3 Mass Healing Word
3 Meld into Stone
3 Sending
3 Sleet Storm
3 Slow
3 Speak with Plants
3 Stinking Cloud
3 Tongues
3 Water Walk
3 Wind Wall
4 Arcane Eye
4 Banishment
4 Blight
4 Compulsion
4 Confusion
4 Dimension Door
4 Divination
4 Dominate Beast
4 Evard’s Black Tentacles
4 Ice Storm
4 Leomund’s Secret Chest
4 Locate Creature
4 Mordenkainen’s Faithful Hound
4 Phantasmal Killer
4 Polymorph
4 Staggering Smite
4 Stoneskin
5 Banishing Smite
5 Bigby’s Hand
5 Conjure Volley
5 Contact Other Plane
5 Dispel Evil and Good
5 Dominate Person
5 Dream
5 Flame Strike
5 Hold Monster
5 Mass Cure Wounds
5 Mislead
5 Rary’s Telepathic Bond
5 Reincarnate
5 Swift Quiver
5 Telekinesis
5 Wall of Stone
6 Blade Barrier
6 Circle of Death
6 Contingency
6 Eyebite
6 Flesh to Stone
6 Globe of Invulnerability
6 Guards and Wards
6 Harm
6 Heal
6 Heroes’ Feast
6 Mass Suggestion
6 Otiluke’s Freezing Sphere
6 Otto's Irresistible Dance
6 Planar Ally
6 Sunbeam
6 Transport Via Plants
6 Wall of Ice
6 Wind Walk
7 Forcecage
7 Mordenkainen’s Sword
7 Plane Shift
7 Prismatic Spray
7 Project Image
7 Simulacrum
7 Symbol
7 Teleport
8 Animal Shapes
8 Antipathy/Sympathy
8 Demiplane
8 Dominate Monster
8 Earthquake
8 Holy Aura
8 Power Word Stun
8 Tsunami
9 Imprisonment
9 Mass Heal
9 Power Word Heal
9 Power Word Kill
9 Prismatic Wall
9 Shapechange
9 Storm of Vengeance
9 True Polymorph
9 Weird
9 Wish

Stat Blocks

The 2024 Player’s Handbook includes an appendix of fifty-one stat blocks: twenty-one new stat blocks and twenty-six revised stat blocks. There are also three stat blocks for Rangers who can summon beast companions and twelve stat blocks related to spells.

Rules

The Rules Glossary in the 2024 Player’s Handbook explains the following new and revised rules:

New Rules

  • Ally
  • Attitude
  • Bloodied
  • Burning
  • Curses
  • D20 Test
  • Dead
  • Dehydration
  • Emanation
  • Enemy
  • Expertise
  • Friendly
  • Hazard
  • Hostile
  • Illusions
  • Indifferent
  • Influence
  • Magic (action)
  • Magical Effect
  • Malnutrition
  • Object
  • Occupied space
  • Passive Perception
  • Per day
  • Possession
  • Round down
  • Shape-shifting
  • Simultaneous effects
  • Study
  • Target
  • Teleportation
  • Unoccupied space

Revised Rules

New Terminology

The 2024 Player’s Handbook uses some new terms, as shown in the Updated Terminology Table.

Updated Terminology
2014 Term 2024 Term
Armor proficiency Armor Training
Blowgun needle Needle
Branding Smite Shining Smite
Cast a Spell action Magic action
Cleansing Touch Restoring Touch
Crossbow bolt Bolt
Deflect Missiles Deflect Attacks
Destroy Undead Sear Undead
Diamond Soul Disciplined Survivor
Empty Body Superior Defense
Encumbrance Carrying capacity
Feeblemind Befuddlement
Flexible Casting Font of Magic
Guild Artisan Artisan
Guild Merchant Merchant
Improved Divine Smite Radiant Strikes
Inspiration Heroic Inspiration
Ki Monk’s Focus
Ki-Empowered Strikes Empowered Strikes
Ki Points Focus Points
Martial Archetype Fighter Subclass
Monastic Tradition Monk Subclass
Natural Explorer Deft Explorer
Otherworldly Patron Warlock Subclass
Path of the Totem Warrior Path of the Wild Heart
Perfect Self Perfect Focus
Primal Path Barbarian Subclass
Race Species
Sacred Oath Paladin Subclass
Shoving Unarmed Strike
Starvation Malnutrition
Stillness of Mind, Timeless Body Self-Restoration
Use an Object action Utilize action
Vanish Nature’s Veil
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