Heroes of the Borderlands Starter Set Price Point Revealed

The new Heroes of the Borderlands D&D boxed set will be significantly more expensive than past Starter Sets. Pre-order pages up on D&D Beyond and Amazon confirm that the new Starter Set, made to introduce the new version of 5th Edition rules to newcomers, will cost $49.99. Previous starter sets, such as the Essentials Kit or the Dragons at Stormwreck Isle, had much lower price points ranging from $19.99 to $24.99.

One reason for the price increase is that the new Starter Set will contain many more components than previous Starter Sets. A trailer (seen below) shows off many of the cards, tokens, and handouts that are included in the boxed set in addition to the standard quickstart guide and character sheets. Per Amazon, the new Starter Set will contain 3 adventure booklets, 8 character class boards featuring iconic D&D classes, 1 quick-start guide, a reference booklet, 5 in-world immersive handouts (including a tavern menu and shop catalogs), 9 double-sided poster maps, a combat tracker, 11 dice, 210 game cards (including spells, magic items, and equipment), and 273 tokens (including monsters, terrain, and resources).

One twist for this new boxed set is that it will include tiles that will add a modularity to character creation. Players will choose their background and class and then build a character sheet using corresponding tiles.

Hasbro also previously stated that the Starter Set was produced in China, so the increased price could be impacted by the current tariffs imposed by the US on foreign-made goods.


The new Heroes of the Borderlands Starter Set will be released on September 16th, 2025.

 

[Mark Craddock]

Charging full price for both items wouldn't help stores either. It would slow down the growth of the game.

At the price of the box, just buy a PHB or a DMG too.

 

[Nikosandros]

So I am curious as to how often a table of completely inexperienced people get into TTRPG. It's a larger topic than for here. But what I mean is, how common is it for a given table of say 5 complete gaming virgins to decide to buy an intro product or perhaps receive one as a gift and start playing? Because I have to think that overwhelmingly, someone who is already in the hobby brings people in.

Just an anecdote, but that's exactly how I got into D&D. Back in 1985, I received the Mentzer "Red Box" for Christmas, I read it, ran through the solo adventures and then I began to DM for a group of friends.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Not for local game stores.

My feel is this is aimed at being sold through mainstream retailers (which would be Waterstones in the UK) rather than specialist stores. After all, people only seek out specialist dealers once they are already hooked.

 

[kayakingpoodle]

If - as some people claim - 'Lost Mine of Phandalver' is somehow the best 'adventure' WotC has ever produced, then the rest must be really really crappy. I played through the module, and was not impressed.

Ok fair, but what other first party 5e published adventure(s) do you think are better?

 

[abazaba]

Ok fair, but what other first party 5e published adventure(s) do you think are better?

Good point, and I don't have a real answer. The point I was trying to make, was that I only played through 'Lost Mines' (with no other experience), and was honestly surprised that some people considered that to be the best WotC has ever produced. Which means that either (as others have pointed out) my personal tastes are different and I might like other adventures better, or I am going to be even more disappointed with the rest.

To be fair though, I do like D&D 5e (2014 or 2024), but again just was surprised that people thought it was the best there is.

 

[Spellslinging Sellsword]

If adjusted for inflation, the price point is what I paid to get the Basic and Expert D&D sets when I started in the 80s. On the one hand it has lots of components which they didn't have. On the other hand those sets were the full rules for levels 1-14.

 

[kayakingpoodle]

@abazaba

"Good point, and I don't have a real answer. The point I was trying to make, was that I only played through 'Lost Mines' (with no other experience), and was honestly surprised that some people considered that to be the best WotC has ever produced. Which means that either (as others have pointed out) my personal tastes are different and I might like other adventures better, or I am going to be even more disappointed with the rest."



To be fair though, I do like D&D 5e (2014 or 2024), but again just was surprised that people thought it was the best there is.



LMoP from the starter set is one of my favorites, however the the way it was adapted for Phandelver and Below is not to my tastes. I was so excited for it being available in a hard back printed book, but I wish they'd left it unadulterated.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I am not disputing that what is in the box is worth $50. What I am arguing is that it should be a loss leader. Or to point out another simple fact, why would I recommend this product when the PHB is the same price?

You can't play D&D with only a PHB?

You CAN play D&D with this Starter? With a whole group of friends?

 

[Stormonu]

So I am curious as to how often a table of completely inexperienced people get into TTRPG. It's a larger topic than for here. But what I mean is, how common is it for a given table of say 5 complete gaming virgins to decide to buy an intro product or perhaps receive one as a gift and start playing? Because I have to think that overwhelmingly, someone who is already in the hobby brings people in.

I can only speak for myself and the times I started - back in '80 my gaming group came into it blind, and I do recall ending up helping one other group that came into it blind as well. That seemed pretty common pre-internet. When I came back in 5E, I didn't go to a table that was already playing, I just dove in (and found I had a lot to learn that was different from the old ways).

I'm the experienced one these days, so by the time new folks come to me I've already got the experience so I don't really know if there's folks trying D&D out cold much anymore. However, from a few conversations I've overheard in my local book store (not so much my FLGS), it does sound like it still happens on occasion - both with younger folks and those coming back from older editions.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Not for local game stores.

Speaking as a Local Game Store - Meh. It's not big deal.