Best D&D Starter Set: Which Box to Buy First

What are the official D&D starter sets?

Wizards of the Coast has released four beginner boxes for fifth edition. Three of them use the 2014 rules. The newest, Heroes of the Borderlands, is the first built on the 2024 rules. Prices change often, so check the current price at your local game store or online before you buy.

Every box includes dice, but you can also roll everything you need with our free d20 roller and the other dice pages, which is handy if a box only has one die of each type.

What's in each D&D starter set?

Starter Set: Heroes of the Borderlands (2025)

Released on September 16, 2025, this is the largest box by far. It plays more like a board game than the older sets: instead of printed character sheets, each class has player boards, and choices like species, background, spells and gear come as cards.

• Dice: 11 dice.
• Characters: 8 player boards covering four classes (Cleric, Fighter, Rogue and Wizard). Characters run from level 1 to level 3, choosing a subclass at level 3.
• Adventures: three booklets, each with a different focus (combat, exploration and roleplaying).
• Rules: a quick-start guide plus a reference booklet for the Dungeon Master.
• Extras: 200+ game cards, 200+ tokens, 20+ poster maps, a combat tracker and in-world handouts.
• Players: a DM plus a small group. The official listings differ slightly on the exact count (one says 2–4 players, another 3–5).

Starter Set: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle (2022)

This box first appeared as a Target exclusive in July 2022 and reached other stores on October 4, 2022. It is the slimmest set and the easiest to read in one evening.

• Dice: 6 dice, one each of d4, d6, d8, d10, d100 (percentile) and d20. There is no d12.
• Characters: 5 premade characters: cleric, fighter, paladin, rogue and wizard.
• Adventure: a 48-page booklet for levels 1–3.
• Rules: a 32-page rulebook.
• Players: one DM and 1–5 players, best with 4–5 characters.

Essentials Kit (2019)

The Essentials Kit launched at Target in June 2019 and went to all stores that September. Its big difference: players create their own characters instead of using premade ones, and it includes sidekick rules so a single player can adventure with one DM.

• Dice: 11 dice.
• Characters: 6 blank character sheets; the 64-page rulebook covers character creation for levels 1–6.
• Adventure: Dragon of Icespire Peak, a set of short quests the DM picks from.
• Extras: a DM screen, a double-sided poster map and 81 cards for magic items, sidekicks, conditions and more.

D&D Beyond now lists the Essentials Kit as legacy content and points new buyers to Heroes of the Borderlands, so new copies may be hard to find.

D&D Starter Set (2014)

The original fifth edition box, released in July 2014, contains the adventure Lost Mine of Phandelver. Lost Mine of Phandelver is one of the most widely played fifth edition adventures.

• Dice: 6 dice.
• Characters: 5 premade characters with backgrounds tied to the adventure.
• Adventure: a 64-page booklet that takes characters from level 1 to level 5.
• Rules: a 32-page rulebook.

Which D&D starter set should you buy?

The right box depends on your group and what you already know. Here is a quick guide by situation:

• Brand-new group, buying one thing: Heroes of the Borderlands. It teaches the 2024 rules, which match the current Player's Handbook and the free rules on D&D Beyond.
• Tight budget or just curious: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle. It is the smallest official box, and its short adventure can be finished in a few sessions.
• Only two people (one DM, one player): the Essentials Kit, thanks to its sidekick rules, if you can find a copy.
• Players who want to build their own characters: the Essentials Kit, since it has no premade characters.
• A group that wants a longer story: the original Starter Set. Lost Mine of Phandelver runs from level 1 to 5, longer than Stormwreck Isle or Heroes of the Borderlands.
• Families or groups who like board games: Heroes of the Borderlands, whose cards, boards and tokens make the rules easier to see at a glance.

If you choose a 2014-rules box, you can still move to the 2024 rules later. The two editions are built to be compatible, though premade character sheets will not match 2024 class features exactly. Our guide to the 2024 changes covers the main differences.

Do you need a starter set at all?

No. A starter set is a convenience, not a requirement. Wizards of the Coast publishes the 2024 Free Rules on D&D Beyond at no cost, including all twelve classes (each with one subclass), plus the core rules for play. A free account also lets you build characters online.

With the free rules, you only need three more things:

1. A way to roll dice. A physical set works, or use an online roller such as our d20 page.
2. Character sheets, printed or digital.
3. An adventure. The DM can write a short one, or use a free introductory adventure.

What a starter set really buys you is a ready-made adventure written for new DMs, premade characters so nobody gets stuck building one, and maps or handouts. If your DM is nervous about running a first game, that prep is worth a lot. If you already have an experienced DM, the free rules plus a dice roller are enough. Our how to play D&D guide explains a first session step by step.

Do starter sets come with enough dice?

Usually not for the whole table. The 2014 Starter Set and Stormwreck Isle include just six dice, a single die of each type, and Stormwreck Isle skips the d12. The Essentials Kit and Heroes of the Borderlands include 11 dice, which is still less than one full set per player. Players often share dice in the first session, or use a digital roller. See how many dice are in a D&D set for what a full set contains and how many you really need.

What should you buy after a starter set?

Once your group finishes the box and wants to keep going, the usual next steps are:

• Player's Handbook: every class, subclass, species, background and spell. Buy the 2024 edition if you want the current rules.
• Dungeon Master's Guide: advice for running games and building adventures, useful once your DM wants to make their own content.
• Monster Manual: creature stats for running encounters beyond the box.
• A longer adventure book: a published campaign gives the group a ready path to higher levels.
• Dice for each player: a seven-die set per person makes play faster.

You don't need all of these at once. Most groups start with one Player's Handbook to share and add the rest as needed. If you're still deciding whether D&D is for you, start with our D&D for beginners guide.

FAQ

Which D&D starter set uses the 2024 rules?

Starter Set: Heroes of the Borderlands, released in September 2025, is the official starter box built on the 2024 rules. The original Starter Set, the Essentials Kit and Dragons of Stormwreck Isle all use the 2014 rules.

Is the D&D Starter Set enough to start playing?

Yes. Each official starter box includes rules, an adventure and dice, so one DM and a few players can play several sessions without buying anything else. You only need the core rulebooks once you want more classes and options.

Can you play a D&D starter set with two people?

Yes. The Essentials Kit is designed to work with one DM and one player using sidekick rules, and Dragons of Stormwreck Isle supports one to five player characters. Heroes of the Borderlands is aimed at a small group, but the official listings differ on the exact player count.

Do you need a starter set to play D&D?

No. Wizards of the Coast publishes free rules on D&D Beyond, and an online dice roller can replace physical dice. A starter set mainly saves the DM prep time by bundling a ready-made adventure, maps and premade characters.

Can you still use a 2014 starter set with the 2024 rules?

Yes, with small adjustments. The 2014 and 2024 rules are designed to be compatible, so the adventures still run fine, but premade character sheets will not match 2024 class features exactly.

Related

• Roll a d20
• D&D for Beginners: What You Need to Start Playing
• How to Play D&D: A Beginner's Guide
• How Many Dice Are in a D&D Set (and Do You Need Your Own)?