D&D Beyond brings back a la carte purchases in the form of Starter Packs

D&D Beyond is returning to piecemeal purchases in the form of new Starter Packs that allow for access to class rules, as well as a limited number of subclasses and species rules. The new Starter Packs, available for all 12 core classes, and now available for sale on D&D Beyond. Each Starter Pack comes with character rules for a specific core class, three subclasses (the three from the Player's Handbook that are not available via the Basic Rules), and two species from Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse. Also included are seven feats, including several general feats.

D&D Beyond originally had a la carte purchases in which users could individually purchase subclasses, spells, or even monsters for a modest fee. Wizards of the Coast removed this site feature in 2024, meaning that a user needed to purchase an entire rulebook if they wanted to access to any single bit of content from that rulebook. While these Starter Packs aren't quite the same as true a la carte purchases, this does mark the first time in years where individual chunks of content have been available at a lower price point for users.

 

[Dire Bare]

Interesting. Now do a starter pack for the artificer!

 

[EternalDungeonMaster]

I'm surprised that the article doesn't mention that buying a $4.99 starter pack gives the purchaser a $5.00 discount off of the purchase of the digital 5.5 Player's Handbook.

 

[Remathilis]

I'm surprised that the article doesn't mention that buying a $4.99 starter pack gives the purchaser a $5.00 discount off of the purchase of the digital 5.5 Player's Handbook.

That's not a terrible deal, considering the PHB at $30 is equivalent to six of those packs. Though I don't think you get the extra PHB spells, so that's still a strike against casters.

 

[plecostomus]

These have a mix of 5.5 and 2014 content. For example the Cleric Starter Pack has the 5.5 War, Light, Trickery domains, some 5.5 feats and backgrounds, and the 2014 MOTM Githzerai and Tortle species.

edit: Says that in the summary above I suppose, but I was still surprised to see that Tortle!

 

[Remathilis]

Interesting. Now do a starter pack for the artificer!

Maybe after Ravenloft comes out.

Though the Eberron species are a pack, so who knows.

 

[Remathilis]

These have a mix of 5.5 and 2014 content. For example the Cleric Starter Pack has the 5.5 War, Light, Trickery domains, some 5.5 feats and backgrounds, and the 2014 MOTM Githzerai and Tortle species.

WotC seems to have grandfathered MotM for the majority of the species as 5.5. I think it's the only real 5.25 book.

 

[Reynard]

It is definitely a smart move in their quest to get everyone in that ecosystem from day 1. A new player joins a game and only has to spend $5 to get on board with their character. I assume that you can access the SRD info -- which is most spells IIRC -- and so you should be good to go.

 

[bedir than]

WotC seems to have grandfathered MotM for the majority of the species as 5.5. I think it's the only real 5.25 book.

They keep doing things that counter the "it's not compatible" claims that super online players insist is reality.

 

[WhatTheEyeSees]

Here is the support article that provides a little bit more information on how the credit works if you end up buying the book on DNDBeyond:

https://dndbeyond-support.wizards.com/hc/en-us/articles/48712242305044-D-D-Beyond-Starter-Packs

I think this is a great way to get someone to dip their toes into a game at a FLGS or convention and wonder if this is in preparation for the return of the Encounters program.