D&D 5th Edition Books: A Glossary
Way back in the olden days of 2014 5th Edition was released. It was a simpler time where there were three books: The Dungeon Master's Guide, The Player's Handbook and the Monster Manual. You instinctively knew where you stood with those titles really. 'I'm a Player... I'll need the Player's Handbook then'...
As the edition grew, so did the amount of source books. Fantastical names popped up like Volo, Xanathar and Mordenkainen which really doesn't help newcomers. I'm going to try and help you work out who the books are aimed at and which books you'll need for specific tasks.
Playable Races
The races you can choose from when building your character.
Player's Handbook
Princes of the Apocalypse (Elemental Evil Handbook)
Volo's Guide to Monsters
Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
Player Classes
Your character's adventuring style, such as Bard/Fighter/Wizard etc.
Player's Handbook
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica (Two sub-classes)
Player Backgrounds
Your character's life before adventuring.
Player's Handbook
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
Tomb of Annihilation
Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
Player Feats
Player customisation features for Variant Humans or boons at specific levels instead of Stat increases.
Player's Handbook
Princes of the Apocalypse (Elemental Evil Handbook)
Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Spells
Your magical options if you are so inclined.
Player's Handbook
Princes of the Apocalypse (Elemental Evil Handbook)
Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Lore
Canonical history from Wizards of the Coast.
Player's Handbook
Dungeon Master's Guide
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
Volo's Guide to Monsters
Tales From the Yawning Portal
Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
Monsters
Stuff for your players to fight or be wary of.
Monster Manual
Volo's Guide to Monsters
Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
* Most pre-built adventures will have statistics blocks for special monsters/antagonists in the back of the book too.
Magic Items
Stuff for you players to pick up and/or be cursed by...
Dungeon Master's Guide
Xanathar's Guide to Monsters
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
* Pre-built adventures will have the properties of special items in the back of the book too.
Adventures and Dungeons
Official materials that you can run as a campaign or one shot in 5th Edition.
The Starter Set
Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Rise of Tiamat
Princes of the Apocalypse
Out of the Abyss
Curse of Strahd
Storm King's Thunder
Tales From the Yawning Portal (Updated hits from previous editions)
Tomb of Annihilation
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica (A ten page adventure to give you a feel for the setting)
Waterdeep: Dragonheist
Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
So that's how the source books are pertinent to you and what you should expect when you open the covers. Hopefully you'll only get what you need and not spend money on books you don't need.
May you roll well!
