Dungeons & Dragons announces new reference cards for spells, magic items, and monsters

Wizards of the Coast plans to release 8 boxes of reference cards for Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E later this summer. The new D&D Reference Cards will contain references for magic spells, magic items, and monsters. Spell decks for Level 0 (Cantrips) through Level 5 will be released, with each deck containing two levels' worth of spells. The magic item reference decks will be split between common and uncommon items and rare and very rare items. The monsters will be split into three different categories - "Animals and NPCs", "Mystical and Menacing", and "Fearsome and Ferocious". The spell decks will cost $19.99 and the other decks will retail for $24.99. The decks will be released on August 18th.

D&D reference cards aren't unusual - Gale Force 9 released a series of popular reference cards for 5E a while ago. However, these are the first released specifically by Dungeons & Dragons, and each card also uses official artwork pulled presumably from the new 5.5E core rulebooks.

 

[wicked cool]

This is the 1 thing I have never loved about this and daggerheart. Cards are just not my thing. Feels like a backwards step in everything

 

[Piperken]

These look to be a further iterated on version of what's in Heroes of the Borderlands, which was already pretty great, IMO.

Do you happen to have the box set and if so, describe what the spell cards feel/look like?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Do you happen to have the box set and if so, describe what the spell cards feel/look like?

I do. I've run the adventure several times.

The cards are very sturdy, much sturdier than the Gale Force 9 cards. They're not slick and shiny in the same way, either.

On one side of the card is the name, a symbol and simple description of the card, along with its levels and the basics, like range and area. In some cases, a simple diagram of the area of effect is on the front. On the back is the more traditional write-up, not repeating the stats on the front of the card to save space. (And in some cases, like with Thaumaturgy, it's still a tight fit.)

 

[Vexorg]

One monster deck is beasts and NPCs. Are the " mystical and menacing" and "fearsome and ferocious" decks specific creature types?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

One monster deck is beasts and NPCs. Are the " mystical and menacing" and "fearsome and ferocious" decks specific creature types?

The Monster Reference Cards: Fearsome and Ferocious put every Challenge Rating (CR) 0–5 Aberration, Construct, Dragon, Giant, Ooze, Plant, and Undead from the 5.5e Core Rules right at your fingertips. Each card features a full stat block and evocative art, keeping Dungeon Masters and players immersed in the action.

The Monster Reference Cards: Mystical and Menacing put every CR 0–5 Celestial, Elemental, Fey, Fiend, and Monstrosity from the 5.5e Core Rules right at your fingertips. Each card features a full stat block and evocative art, keeping Dungeon Masters and players immersed in the action.

 

[Bilzlebub]

I can see that the magic items appear to be generic in a sense. It is an 'enspelled weapon' not a 'enspelled long sword'.

There is also blank ones.

@LaTia J , is there any indication if you can use wet erase markers on the cards?

They're not dry erase, I'm afraid.

 

[Bilzlebub]

I wonder if these cards will actually contain the full spell text or at least a usefully abridged version this time around. The Gale Force 9 cards left a lot to be desired on that front.

They contain the full text

 

[Sulicius]

They contain the full text

Thanks! Did you manage the beholder/death tyrant?

 

[Echohawk]

Thanks! Did you manage the beholder/death tyrant?

Neither of those monsters is CR0-5, which is what the first three sets of monster cards cover.

 

[Sulicius]

Neither of those monsters is CR0-5, which is what the first three sets of monster cards cover.

Interesting! There’s 3 more CR 0-5 monsters in these cards not in the PHB then.