Beauty and Guile are in the Eyes of the Beholder

“I don’t understand the attraction of gods. Why would anyone worship anything other than me?”—The Xanathar

The beholder Xanathar, Waterdeep’s most infamous crime lord, is known to hoard information on friend and foe alike. He catalogs lore about adventurers and ponders methods to thwart them. His twisted mind imagines that he can eventually record everything.

The first major rules expansion to D&D fifth edition, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything provides a wealth of additional options for both players and Dungeon Masters.

Amid all this material, the Xanathar also offers bizarre observations about whatever his eyestalks happen to glimpse. Pray they don’t come to rest on you!

More Character Options

“I’ve always liked druids because they are made of natural ingredients. And I believe that everyone should have such a healthy diet.”—The Xanathar

Over 25 Added Subclasses

Xanathar’s Guide to Everything introduces additional subclasses for each of the classes in the Player’s Handbook—including the College of Glamour for bards, Circle of Dreams for druids, Hexblade for warlocks, and Way of the Drunken Master for monks.

It also contains popular subclasses previously released in Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, like the Swashbuckler and Mastermind roguish archetypes.

20 Racial Feats

In this book you’ll also find a collection of racial feats for players who want to further explore their character’s lineage.

Pass on some halfling luck to your friends with the Bountiful Luck feat. Or deepen your tiefling’s connection to their infernal bloodline with Infernal Constitution, getting special damage resistances and other perks.

More Spells

“You know one of the great benefits of living underground? No weather. Don’t mess this up for me.”—The Xanathar

Expand your magical repertoire with a book full of spells of every level, including charm monster, mass polymorph, illusory dragon, and many more.

Among them, you’ll find spells originally introduced with the Elemental Evil storyline. Release a magical tornado and strike your enemies with flashing bolts of lightning with storm sphere, or try out handy elemental cantrips like create bonfire.

DM Tools & Optional Rules

"Pit traps are hilarious! Because when one of you walking things steps on one you fall down! And get hurt! That's the best part."—The Xanathar

Design Traps & Balance Encounters

Xanathar’s Guide to Everything provides additional tools and optional rules that help Dungeon Masters run certain parts of the game more smoothly.

It delves deeper into encounter building, downtime, and how to create your own traps. It also provides rules for handling a variety of situations—from tying knots to falls in combat.

Magic Item Tables

Use the magic item tables to easily find the perfect ring for the party’s mage. The tables are separated by rarity, divided into minor and major items, and contain more “common” magic items to choose from.

Random Encounter Tables

Yeti attacks in the arctic and luminescent fungi in the Underdark—roll on encounter tables tailored to the party’s current environment and character level.

Playing Dungeons & Dragons

Become an Adventurer

Adventurers come in all shapes and sizes. Find one that’s fun for you.

An elvish cleric, driven from society for trespassing on tradition. A dwarven paladin, atoning for an ignominious past. The Player’s Handbook provides the skeleton for your characters. Flesh them out however you choose.

Join the Party

D&D brings people together and forges new friendships. Silly moments spawn inside jokes; moving battles leave treasured memories—whether in the heat of battle, embroiled in social intrigue, or solving clever puzzles, your party has your back.

Choose Your Own Path

The woods are growing dark. Behind a mass of ivy, you see the stones of a crumbling castle. What do you do?

In D&D, your options are limitless. Because the Dungeon Master, as narrator of your tale, can improvise in reaction to any choice you make, what happens next is entirely flexible. Do you dare go on?