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The Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Kit is a boxed set for the 5th edition of Dungeons & Dragons. It is intended for new players, and contains both a booklet of basic rules and an adventure, The Dragon of Icespire Peak.

The D&D Essentials Kit is a new introductory product meant to bring D&D to audiences interested in jumping into a fantasy story.

This box contains the essentials you need to run a D&D game with one Dungeon Master and one to five adventurers. A newly designed rulebook on-boards players by teaching them how to make characters, and the included adventure, Dragon of Icespire Peak, introduces a new 1-on-1 rules variant.

Contents[]

Essentials Kit Rulebook

A 64-page booklet containing a basic set of rules for adventurers levels 1–5.

  • Introduction
  • Chapter 1: Creating a Character
  • Chapter 2: Playing the Game
  • Chapter 3: Equipment
  • Chapter 4: Spells
  • Appendix A: Sidekicks
  • Appendix B: Conditions
Dragon of Icespire Peak

A 64-page adventure booklet.

  • Running the Adventure
  • Axeholm
  • Butterskull Ranch
  • Circle of Thunder
  • Dragon Barrow
  • Dwarven Excavation
  • Falcon's Hunting Lodge
  • Gnomegarde
  • Icespire Hold
  • Logger's Camp
  • Mountain's Toe Gold Mine
  • Shrine of Savras
  • Tower of Storms
  • Umbrage Hill
  • Woodland Manse
  • Ending the Adventure
  • Creatures

Summary[]

Dragon of Icespire Peak[]

This introductory campaign is designed to take characters from levels 1 to 6. The scenario involves a young white dragon, Cryovain, who has recently arrived in the region from the north (thus setting the adventure as a tentative sequel to the events of Storm King's Thunder) and begun hunting and attacking sites all across the map. Similar to Lost Mine of Phandelver (the adventure from the Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set), this adventure takes place around the town of Phandalin, and makes use of the same cast of town inhabitants as well as the same basic map of the Sword Coast North. However, rather than playing through a narrative, the Essentials Kit provides a blueprint for a sandbox style of play by delivering most quests to the players via a "quest board" managed by Phandalin's townmaster, Harbin Wester. Players do not need to complete all quests available to them, and more challenging quests become available as easier ones are completed. Other quests or adventure locations are only hinted at through rumors, and can be integrated into or left out of the campaign as desired.

Adventurers are called on initially not to fight the dragon, but just to help the town of Phandalin protect itself while dealing with other consequences of the dragon's arrival. The initial three quests involve warning the outlying locals about the dragon, and in turn helping them to resolve additional conflicts. These quests send the party to visit: a dwarven excavation of a temple to Abbathor (as orcs attack), the rock gnome enclave of Gnomengarde (being terrorized by a mimic), and the local midwife at Umbrage Hill (being attacked by a manticore). Completing two of these three quests unlocks three follow-up quests: to go to Butterskull Ranch (following an orc attack), to deliver supplies to a logging camp (amidst attacks by ankhegs incited by orcs), and to escort a mine overseer to Mountain's Toe gold mine (which has been infested with wererats driven from their home by orcs). After completing two of these three quests, a final series of quests become available which begin to lead to a confrontation with the dragon: clearing out a dwarven ruin called Axeholm, seeking a dragon slayer sword at the Dragon Barrow of Tanamere Alagondar, and fighting orcish spellcasters called the Anchorites of Talos who have been attacking Falcon's hunting lodge in Neverwinter Wood. Each quest involving orcs, along with a few adventure sites not linked to the quest board, help the adventurers piece together that Cryovain has claimed the orcs' old stronghold of Icespire Hold on Icespire Peak as its lair. With this knowledge and the experience gained from their many quests, the party can confront the dragon once and for all.

Sequels[]

A follow-up series of adventures called Beyond the Dragon of Icespire Peak was made available in three parts exclusively through D&D Beyond, and subsequently for various virtual tabletop platforms. These were: Storm Lord's Wrath, Sleeping Dragon's Wake, and Divine Contention. Each could be purchased as a standalone product, or could be accessed for free using QR codes included with the purchase of a physical copy of the Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Kit.

The Beyond the Dragon of Icespire Peak adventure makes reference to some events from Dragon of Icespire Peak and utilizes the same map and some of the same locations, but it is not a continuation of the same story. However, some elements of Dragon of Icespire Peak serve as direct foreshadowing for Beyond the Dragon of Icespire Peak, most notably the Tower of Storms optional location and the role of the Anchorites of Talos.

Index[]

Click here for page index

Characters[]

Adabra GwynnAlfonse KalazornAnder (Phandalin)AnverthBaatoriusBrakkis ElspaarCaramipCorwinCryovainDabbledobDaggermawDazlyn GrayshardDelebeanDimbleDobin NorethDon-Jon RaskinDonnabella FiascoDrethnaElmar BarthenFacktoréFibblestibFlenzGalandro LunaGaraeleGnerkliGorthokGrannocGustaf Stellern (Falcon the Hunter)Halia ThorntonHarbin WesterInverna NightbreezeJabarl the Orc-BiterJabbyJoybellKorbozLinene GraywindMiraalMoeskoNaruxNib AddlespurNorbus IronruneNyxPallabarPananaPellPetuniaPickled PetePogQuinn HightoppleQuippyRuby HammerwhackerRuna VokdottirShanjan KwanSyleen WintermoonTalon ThornwildTervaroundThistleTibor WesterToblen StonehillUllaUppendownVincent (ox)VyldaraXanthYargathZeleen VarnasterZook
Referenced only
AzdrakaDelsendra AmzarrKraTanamere Alagondar

Classes[]

barbarianbardclericfighterroguewizard

Creatures[]

ankhegbansheeblight (needletwigvine)boarcarrion crawlercentaurchickencowdeerdogdragon young white dragondwarf (shield dwarf)elf (moon elfsea elf)ghoulgiant crabgiant ratgiant spidergnome (rock gnome)goathalflinghalf-orcharpyhorsehumaninvisible stalkermanticoremimicochre jellyogreorcoxpigshark (hunter shark)stirgeundeadwill-o'-wispwereboarwererat
Referenced only
butterflyconchfishgreen dragon • human (Netherese) • possumratwinter wolf

Items[]

Adventuring Gear
backpackbedrollmess kitoil lamppoleroperationtentwaterskin
Armor
breastplatechainmailgauntlethelmethide armorleather armorplate mailshieldstudded leather armor
Clothing
cloakcowboy hatcrown
Food & Drink
aleberrybreadbuttercheesedried meatflourmushroom winewine
Furniture
bathtubbedframechaircotdeskmattressprivyrugthronewardrobewashbasin
Jewelry
amuletring (signet ring)
Kitchen Implements
cauldrondishwaregobletmugpotrolling pinstoveutensil
Musical Instruments
bellcowbell
Substances
gemstoneglueoilsolventwax
Tools
anvilbroombucketbutterchurncarpenter's toolscenserhammermoppulleysawsmith's toolsspike (tool)tinker's toolswinch
Vehicles
bargebarrel crabcartrowboatshiptoboggan
Weapons
axebattleaxeballistadaggergreataxehandaxeheavy crossbowjavelinlongswordmacesword
Other
barrelblanketbookcandlechainchandelierchestcoffercoinagedollfaucetflaskfootlockerhorseshoemannequinmapparchmentpaperpickaxepillowpipeweedsarcophagusspellbookstrawtapestrywell

Locations[]

Buildings & Sites
Barthen's ProvisionsButterskull RanchCircle of ThunderDragon BarrowFalcon's hunting lodgeIcespire HoldLionshield Coster (Phandalin)loggers' campMountain's Toe Gold MinePhandalin Miner's ExchangeShrine of LuckShrine of SavrasStonehill InnTower of StormsTownmaster's HallWoodland Manse
Bodies of Water
Neverwinter RiverSea of Swords
Forests
Kryptgarden ForestNeverwinter Wood
Hills & mountains
CragsIcespire PeakStarmetal HillsSword MountainsUmbrage Hill
Region
Sword CoastSword Coast NorthThe North
Ruins
AxeholmConyberrydwarven excavation
Roads
High RoadTriboar Trail
Settlements
GnomengardeLeilonNeverwinterPhandalin
Swamps
Mere of Dead Men
Wilderness
Triboar Trail
Referenced only
Baldur's GateDelzounDessarin ValleyLuskanMount HotenowNetherilTriboarWaterdeepYartar

Magic[]

Items
boots of elvenkindcloak of billowingcloak of many fashionsclockwork amuletdragon slayer sworddread helmdust of disappearancegauntlets of ogre powergoggles of nighthat of wizardryholy symbolimmovable rodInstrument of illusionsmystery keynecklace of fireballspole of collapsingsending stonestaff of birdcallswand of pyrotechnicswand of secrets
Potions
potion of greater healingpotion of healingpotion of invulnerabilitypotion of superior healingpotion of water breathing
Spells
acid splashaidarcane lockaugurybeacon of hopeblessblightblinding smiteblindness/deafnessblinkblurburning handscharm personcommandcomprehend languagescrusader's mantlecure woundsdancing lightsdarknessdetect lifedetect magicdisguise selfdispel magicdivine favorfaerie firefearfeather fallfireballfire boltflaming sphereflyguidanceguiding bolthastehealing wordhold personidentifyinflict woundsinvisibilityknocklesser restorationlevitatelightlightning boltlongstridermage armormage handmagic missilemagic weaponmajor imagemass healing wordmendingminor illusionmisty steppoison sprayprestidigitationray of frostremove curseresistancerevivifysacred flamesanctuarysendingshattershieldshield of faithshocking graspsilencesilent imagesleepspider climbspirit guardiansspiritual weaponsuggestionthaumaturgythunderwavevicious mockerywarding bondweb
Other
conjurationtransmutationwild magic

Organizations[]

anchorites of TalosHarpersLionshield CosterStone-Cold ReaversWhiskered GangZhentarim
Referenced only
Alagondar royal line

Religion[]

AbbathorChaunteaMoradinTalosSavrasTymora

Miscellaneous[]

Architectural Features
arrow slitbelfryfireplacelighthousemurder holepalisadeportculliswindmill
Books
Elvish IdiomsMagick of Gnomengarde
Celestial Bodies
moonsun
Events
devastation taxeruption of Mount Hotenow
Games
DragonchessThree-Dragon Ante
Languages
commonelvishgnomishorcish
Materials
brassburlapcoppercoralgoldgraniteironleatherlimestonemithralplatinumsilversteel
Occupations
acolytecastellanguardminerpriestsheriffsoldiertownmaster
Vegetation
applecornGulthias treeherbivymushroomoakpinepumpkin
Vessels
Golden GullOrcaSea UrchinStar-Crossed LoverVainglory
Other
tenday

Appendix[]

Notes[]

  1. The description of the town of Phandalin in the Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Kit is the same as in the Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set, which is set in 1491 DR. This includes the same ages being given for both Elmar Barthen (p. 9 in the Essential Kit and p.16 in the Starter Set) and Linene Graywind (p. 9 in the Essential Kit and p. 17 in the Starter Set).

Gallery[]

Connections[]

5th Edition Sourcebooks
Core Rulebooks Dungeon Master's GuideMonster ManualPlayer's Handbook
Sourcebooks Acquisitions IncorporatedBigby Presents: Glory of the GiantsThe Book of Many ThingsFizban's Treasury of DragonsMordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the MultiverseMordenkainen's Tome of FoesSword Coast Adventurer's GuideTasha's Cauldron of EverythingVan Richten's Guide to RavenloftVolo's Guide to MonstersXanathar's Guide to Everything
Adventures Baldur's Gate: Descent into AvernusCurse of StrahdHoard of the Dragon QueenIcewind Dale: Rime of the FrostmaidenOut of the AbyssPhandelver and Below: The Shattered ObeliskPlanescape: Adventures in the MultiversePrinces of the ApocalypseSpelljammer: Adventures in SpaceStorm King's ThunderThe Rise of TiamatTomb of AnnihilationWaterdeep: Dragon HeistWaterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad MageThe Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Starter Sets Dungeons & Dragons Starter SetDungeons & Dragons Essentials KitDungeons & Dragons Starter Set (2022)
Anthologies Tales from the Yawning PortalGhosts of SaltmarshCandlekeep MysteriesJourneys Through the Radiant CitadelKeys from the Golden Vault
Supplements Elemental Evil Player's Companion
Playtest Confrontation at CandlekeepDead in ThayGhosts of Dragonspear CastleLegacy of the Crystal ShardMurder in Baldur's GateReclaiming BlingdenstoneScourge of the Sword CoastStorm over NeverwinterVault of the Dracolich
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