Looking at the D&D Essentials Kit

Last month, the D&D Essentials Kit started to appear in Targets around the U.S. It’s priced at $24.99, and it will be exclusive to Target until September 3^rd.

Now that I’ve got my hands on it, let’s take a look!

What’s in the box?

The Essentials Kit is a pretty decent-sized box. I think it’s around the same size as other boxed sets that Wizards has released for 5e. The art on the front is cool as always, and it easily contains everything inside. You could probably keep your session notes in here, too, if you just wanted to use the box as transport.

Here’s what’s inside:

• The rulebook

This 64-page rulebook is for DMs and parties of 1^st to 6^th level. It’s not the full Player’s Handbook, and it doesn’t have every option, but it seems like plenty for a group just starting out. For example, it presents the Champion and the Eldritch Knight fighter subclasses but omits the more complex Battle Master.

There’s a section towards the back dedicated to sidekick rules, which appeared in a previous Unearthed Arcana (my post about it is here). Hence the “For 2 to 6 Players” phrase; there are rules for just one DM and one player.

The booklet has a nice glossy feel to it. Some of the iconic art from the PHB is present, but they’ve also inserted some smaller line art illustrations here and there. Flipping through it, the booklet strikes a good balance between prioritizing space and breaking up long passages of text.

• Intro adventure: Dragon of Icespire Peak

This 64-page (no, really, I don’t know why but the books are the same length) adventure serves as an introductory adventure. It also has some additional rules for the DM and a bestiary in the back pages.

The make is the same as the rulebook. Most areas seem to have a half-page map illustration. On the back cover is the map key, which explains the various symbols used on every map.

I really like the cover illustration. I mean, it’s called Dungeons & Dragons, why wouldn’t you want to fight a dragon for your first adventure arc?

• Poster map

The double-sided poster map is of the Sword Coast and the town of Phandalin. The size is ideal for spreading out on a desk or small table. It’s a minor detail, but I like that you only have to unfold it twice. Weird, I know, but I tend to struggle with managing the larger maps that require a lot more unfolding.

• DM’s screen

This DM screen has a really fun illustration of an adventuring party on it. I’m totally not biased due to the elf bard or the little cat.

The DM-facing side has several charts of helpful information, like conditions, actions in combat, cover rules, and so on.

The screen is made out of flimsier materials than other DM screens. Though it might not last for years of regular use, again, the priority here is that it’s enough to start out with.

• Character sheets (6)

The character sheets are printed on nice paper. They feel similar to the character sheets included in the Character Sheets folder. They’re double-sided, and they don’t include an additional spellcasting sheet.

• Set of 11 dice

These are clear red dice. There’s two d20s, two d10s, four d6s, and one d4, d8, and d12. They come packaged in a plastic pouch, so you might want another solution for storing them (besides just having them loose in the box).

• Cards:
  • Magic items

There are five sheets of magic item cards. The fronts have the name of the item, and the back has the item’s description.

There’s a neat spread of items represented here. You’ve got sending stones, some potions of healing, and some +1 equipment alongside the cloak of many fashions and dust of disappearance.

• Conditions

There are two sheets of condition cards. The fronts have an illustration of the condition and its name, and the back provides the rules for those conditions. These are awesome and a really elegant way for when PCs run into conditions. “Take this. You’re charmed now.”

Also on one of the pages are a Magic Charm card (a facet of the introductory adventure) and three Combat cards. The Combat cards have the “Combat Step by Step” list.

• Sidekicks

There’s one sheet of NPCs intended for use as sidekick characters. The fronts have a nice color portrait of the NPC, and the back contains a short description and a Personality Trait, Ideal, Bond, and Flaw for each. There are five humans, one moon elf, two halflings, and a shield dwarf.

• Initiative

Numbered 1 through 9, for keeping track of who goes after whom during combat! The front has the number, and the back just says “Initiative.”

• Quests

One sheet of quest cards, so nine quests in total. The front says “Quest” on each of them, and the back has the title and description of the quest, short and sweet.

• Little box for cards

Also included is a small, flat box you can fold out to store the cards in once you separate the sheets. It’s a nice detail. The Essentials Kit box is big enough so that this small box will fit inside even when expanded.

• Codes:
  • 50% off digital version of PHB
  • Digital version of intro adventure
  • Supplementary content for intro adventure past 6^th level

There’s a thin, glossy sheet with three codes and QR codes, as well as information on how to redeem those codes. There’s also social media URLs for WotC and the Dungeon Master’s Guild URL. The other side of the sheet showcases other D&D products like the three core rulebooks.

This set seems like a good way to introduce a group to D&D, especially at half the retail price of one of the core rulebooks. I’d definitely make use of the cards and DM screen if I ran an in-person D&D game (hopefully… one day…!).

Depending on what you’re looking for, this set could be a pretty nice purchase. The starter adventure and rule booklet might also make starting out easier for a beginner DM. The various codes also add some value, especially if you enjoyed the adventure and like using D&D Beyond for your group.

Have you seen or purchased the Essentials Kit? What do you think? Let me know in the comments!