D&D is more popular than ever!
For over 40 years, this tabletop role-playing game has been captivating players with its unique blend of storytelling and strategy. In a world of constant change, one thing remains the same: Dungeons & Dragons is AWESOME!
And 2022 is no exception!
This year, D&D fans can look forward to exciting new releases that will take them on thrilling adventures across multiple new locations, settings, and planes of existence!
I’ll be updating this article throughout the year with each new release announcement!
Dungeons & Dragons Rules Expansion Gift Set
Release Date: January 25, 2022
Do you want to take your Dungeons and Dragons game to the next level?
Especially if you’re new to D&D, it can feel intimidating. We’ve had nearly a decade of content, settings, rules, and more for D&D 5e at this point.
But fret no more!
With this gift set, you’re getting 5e’s most important rules expansions: Xanathar’s Guide to Everything and Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything.
Plus, this set gets you early access to the debut of another upcoming 2022 book, Monsters of the Multiverse – a comprehensive resource for players and Dungeon Masters alike. This book is a full compilation of playable races and fierce monsters to encounter in your game. Because it’s included in this gift set before its standalone release in May, we’ll go over this book in more detail in its section of this article.
The special foil covers on all three books and the special DM screen make this set look as good as it plays.
Especially for those looking to build out their D&D 5e collection, this is a great deal. The included books are perfect for both players and DMs and are essential addition to your D&D library.
Get ready to take your D&D game to new heights with this gift set today!
Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep
Release Date: March 15, 2022
The first adventure of 2022 takes players to Critical Role’s world of Exandria.
If you’re a fan of Critical Role, then this is an adventure module you won’t want to miss. It’s the first major adventure from CR and takes players from levels 3-12.
Even for those who aren’t Critters but enjoy sweeping epic adventures with vividly imagined settings, this is a fantastic experience.
The adventure spans the scarred Wastes of Xhorhas, introduces the continent of Marquet and the massive metropolis of Ank’Harel, before plunging players into the darkness of the Netherdeep—a terrifying cross between the Far Realm and the deep ocean.
As fate calls, can the party save the imprisoned champion of Exandria from his eternal torment before it’s too late?
You’ll find tons of lore within these pages as well as all new art depicting Exandria. Plus, there are new magic items and terrifying creatures to discover as well as a fun new mechanic: rival NPCs.
While this is a must for any fan of Critical Role, it also offers an exciting experience for any group looking for adventures that take them through a wide variety of epic locations.
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
Release Date: May 17, 2022
Originally released as part of the Rules Expansion Gift Set in January, Monsters of the Universe gathers up over 30 playable races and over 250 monsters into one book.
The races and monsters in this book have also gotten some updates. Specifically, their lore is being refocused onto the D&D Multiverse instead of tying them down to particular worlds.
As D&D continues to expand its settings and own lore, this is more than just a combination of Volo’s Guide to Monsters (2016) and Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes (2018). It’s the updated collection that also shows us where D&D as a game and system are going. If you haven’t picked up those books yet, you will want to make sure you grab this one!
Additionally, many of the monsters actually receive buffs in their damage output and/or overall toughness. For DMs that like to challenge their players in combat, this will be very useful.
Statblocks and lore galore await you in Monsters of the Multiverse!
Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel
Release Date: July 19, 2022
Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel is an anthology of standalone adventures similar to last year’s Candlekeep Mysteries. In total there are 13 adventures in this collection. Each is intended for different player levels from 1 to 14.
Each adventure offers new takes on the settings, genres, and playstyles that make D&D what it is. Some focus more towards horror elements while others bring fantastical feelings of whimsy and comedy to the table.
Every adventure in Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel was created by people of color. From POC writers, illustrators, developers and more, this book is a huge moment in D&D’s history. Expect deep influences from real-world cultures to manifest in these adventures in rich, meaningful ways!
The first of these adventures is “Salted Legacy” centers on two rival families in a night market. Pulling from Thai culture and introducing a mystery and aesthetic that favor the legendary Studio Ghibli (of Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro fame) vibe, I’m especially excited for this one.
Campaign Cases
Creatures Case Release Date: July 19, 2022
Terrain Case Release Date: August 16, 2022
Kick off or enhance your summer D&D game with the new Campaign Cases available for D&D 5e!
Especially if you find yourself doing a fair bit of traveling for your D&D games, these are simple and elegant ways to make your games epic without needing to hire a team to help you load and unload.
There are two cases available: Creatures and Terrain.
The Creatures case includes a large collection of 64 creature tokens (40 medium, 20 large, and 4 huge). There are 5 pages of creature clings that can be attached to the tokens and easily removed for maximum reusability while taking up minimum space.
In fact, the case includes 2 removable storage trays and a storage folder that all fit perfectly inside it!
The Terrain case gives Dungeon Masters everything they need to build encounters on the fly. 30 double-sided 5″ x 5″ tiles (which interlock by the way!) can be used for building terrain for encounters in dungeons, cities, or wilderness locations.
Adding extra flair to the tiles while keeping them versatile, the Terrain case includes 5 sheets of clings with special features that can be added to the Terrain tiles. This includes things like piles of rubble, campfire and tents for a campsite, and ancient tombs.
Each case has a magnetic closure and rope handle which make it easy to transport.
These are great for any DM who wants to provide an experience with miniatures and terrain but is tired of trying to haul their collection around to make it happen.
Spelljammer: Adventures in Space
Release Date: August 16, 2022
If you have ever wanted your game to take to the stars, the popular Spelljammer setting has got you covered!
Exploring the Astral Plane, there is no telling where a Spelljammer campaign may take you. You might venture into the Forgotten Realms for a while then follow that up with a trip to Theros, Exandria, or some other setting. An entire multiverse is before you!
Fans of D&D have been asking for and eagerly awaiting this release for quite some time now. The time has finally come!
This release is very different from typical releases in 5e. Rather than being a single book that tries to cram an entire multiverse of content into it, this is available as a set.
I have to say, for all that is being included it’s a pretty reasonably priced set at that!
Spelljammer: Adventures in Space includes an adventure titled Light of Xaryxis for characters levels 5-8 in addition to Boo’s Astral Menagerie which includes over 60 creatures you might encounter in Wildspace or the Astral Sea.
But it wouldn’t be a proper release without a campaign setting full of new and exciting options! The Astral Adventurer’s Guide includes the campaign setting with plenty of imaginative lore, space-themed character options, spells, and magic items.
Ships and rules for spacefaring in them? You know those are here too!
You’ll also be getting a DM screen with beautiful art and handy rules for helping you run a Spelljammer adventure in addition to a double-sided poster map of the asteroid-city known as the Rock of Bral.
2022 Release Schedule – Rumors, Hopes, and Thoughts
We’ve been seeing a major focus from D&D releases on expanding and adapting settings over the last few years. There’s certainly no small amount of people hoping for some fan-favorite settings that have yet to make it into D&D 5e.
Spelljammer for 5e is now officially a thing. Is 2022 the year that we also get Dragonlance?
Only time will tell, but I’ll be keeping this updated throughout the year. (Of course, you can also join my newsletter below to get all of the latest D&D news, DM tips, player guides, and more!)
With the recent return to Kamigawa in Magic: The Gathering, I have a faint hope that we might get a Kamigawa setting book. With the releases of Mythic Odysseys of Theros and Guildmaster’s Guide to Ravnica, it might be possible. Unlikely, but possible.
What are you most excited for in 2022? Let’s chat in the comments!
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