What Does Xanathar’s Guide to Everything Include? is a comprehensive expansion for D&D players and dungeon masters alike, offering a wealth of new options and rules clarifications to enhance your gameplay. At CONDUCT.EDU.VN, we understand the importance of having access to reliable and detailed information when navigating the complex world of Dungeons & Dragons, so let’s delve into the contents. This guide explores character customization, DM tools, and new spells to enrich your gaming experience, making it an invaluable resource for both novice and experienced players. Discover new subclasses, backgrounds, and magical items within this supplement, enhancing your character options and storytelling opportunities.
1. Introduction: A Treasure Trove for D&D Enthusiasts
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything is a supplementary rulebook for the 5th edition of Dungeons & Dragons, published by Wizards of the Coast in 2017. It serves as an expansion to the Player’s Handbook and Dungeon Master’s Guide, offering a wide array of optional rules, character options, and DM tools. The book compiles and refines content that was previously playtested in the Unearthed Arcana series, addressing feedback from the D&D community to provide a polished and balanced addition to the core rules. The intent behind Xanathar’s Guide is to offer more customization and flexibility for both players and DMs, enhancing the overall storytelling and gameplay experience. Its design emphasizes optionality, allowing groups to pick and choose which rules and options best fit their play style.
- Origins in Unearthed Arcana: Many of the rules and options in Xanathar’s Guide were originally presented in the Unearthed Arcana online series, which allowed the D&D community to playtest and provide feedback on new content.
- Community-Driven Development: The final version of the guide incorporates feedback from thousands of players and DMs, ensuring that the new rules and options are well-balanced and enjoyable.
- Supplemental Nature: Xanathar’s Guide is not intended to replace the core rulebooks but rather to supplement them with additional content that can be used to customize your D&D experience.
2. Detailed Character Options: Expanding the Possibilities
One of the most significant aspects of Xanathar’s Guide to Everything is the expansion of character options. It introduces new subclasses for each of the twelve core classes, offering players a wider range of character concepts and playstyles. In addition to subclasses, the book provides detailed tables for character backgrounds, including life events, origins, and quirks, enabling players to create richer, more compelling backstories. These options enhance the depth of character creation and roleplaying opportunities in D&D.
- New Subclasses: Each core class receives new subclasses, allowing for more specialized and diverse character builds.
- Background Details: Detailed tables offer random events and origins to flesh out a character’s backstory.
- Racial Feats: Additional feats tied to specific races offer further customization and unique abilities.
2.1. Subclasses:
The guide introduces a variety of subclasses, each tailored to the core classes. Here’s a brief overview:
| Class | Subclass | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Barbarian | Path of the Zealot | A furious warrior driven by divine power. |
| Bard | College of Swords | A martial artist who uses weapons and performance in tandem. |
| Cleric | Grave Domain | A cleric who guards the line between life and death, ensuring the dead rest peacefully. |
| Druid | Circle of the Shepherd | A druid who calls forth nature spirits to aid their allies. |
| Fighter | Arcane Archer | A fighter who combines martial prowess with arcane magic. |
| Monk | Way of the Drunken Master | A monk whose fighting style mimics the unpredictable movements of a drunkard. |
| Paladin | Oath of Redemption | A paladin who seeks to redeem those who have strayed from the path of righteousness. |
| Ranger | Gloom Stalker | A ranger who specializes in hunting in the darkest places. |
| Rogue | Mastermind | A rogue who excels at intrigue and manipulation. |
| Sorcerer | Divine Soul | A sorcerer with a spark of divine power in their bloodline. |
| Warlock | The Hexblade | A warlock who draws power from a sentient weapon or a shadowy entity. |
| Wizard | War Magic | A wizard who combines arcane power with martial training. |
2.2. Character Backgrounds:
Xanathar’s Guide offers a comprehensive set of tables to help players flesh out their characters’ backstories. These tables cover various aspects of a character’s life before adventuring, including:
- Personal Life Events: These tables provide a series of random events that could have occurred in a character’s past, such as encounters, relationships, and significant moments.
- Family and Origins: These tables help determine a character’s family background, social status, and the circumstances of their birth.
- Motivations and Beliefs: These tables offer insights into a character’s core values, goals, and motivations, helping players to define their character’s personality and drive.
2.3. Racial Feats:
In addition to subclasses and backgrounds, Xanathar’s Guide introduces new racial feats that allow players to further customize their characters based on their race. These feats provide unique abilities and benefits that are specific to certain races, adding another layer of depth to character creation.
- Dwarves: Dwarven Fortitude enhances a dwarf’s resilience and ability to withstand physical hardship.
- Elves: Elven Accuracy improves an elf’s precision and skill with ranged attacks.
- Halflings: Bountiful Luck allows halflings to share their natural luck with their allies.
- Gnomes: Gnomish Cunning enhances a gnome’s intelligence and resistance to magical effects.
- Dragonborn: Dragon Fear allows a dragonborn to unleash a terrifying roar, intimidating their enemies.
- Tieflings: Flames of Phlegethos enhances a tiefling’s fire-based spells and abilities.
3. Dungeon Master’s Tools: Enhancing the DM’s Arsenal
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything provides a wealth of tools and resources for Dungeon Masters. It includes expanded rules for traps, downtime activities, and magic item creation. There are also guidelines for creating balanced encounters, managing monster encounters, and adjudicating complex game situations. The book aims to empower DMs with more options for crafting engaging and challenging adventures.
- Trap Design: Guidelines for creating and implementing a variety of traps, from simple snares to elaborate contraptions.
- Downtime Activities: Expanded rules for what characters can do between adventures, including crafting, training, and social interactions.
- Magic Item Creation: Rules and guidelines for DMs who want to allow players to create their own magic items.
3.1. Expanded Rules:
The guide provides clarifications and expansions on existing rules to address common questions and edge cases that arise during gameplay. These include:
- Falling: Detailed rules for determining the damage and effects of falling from various heights.
- Sleep: Clarifications on how sleep works and the effects of sleep deprivation.
- Tool Proficiencies: Expanded rules for using various tools, such as artisan’s tools and musical instruments, to perform tasks and gain advantages.
- Adamantine Weapons: Rules for the properties and effects of adamantine weapons, which are exceptionally strong and durable.
3.2. Encounter Building:
Xanathar’s Guide offers guidance on building balanced and challenging encounters for players of all levels. It includes:
- Adjusting Encounter Difficulty: Advice on modifying encounters to make them easier or harder based on the party’s strength and experience.
- Using Multiple Monster Types: Guidelines for creating encounters that feature a variety of different monsters with complementary abilities.
- Avoiding One-Hit Kills: Suggestions for designing encounters that are challenging but fair, avoiding situations where a single monster can instantly defeat a character.
3.3. Traps:
The guide offers a variety of traps to challenge players and add excitement to dungeons and other environments. These traps range from simple mechanical devices to elaborate magical constructs and have varying levels of deadliness.
| Trap Name | Description | Save DC | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poison Dart Trap | A hidden dart shoots out when a creature steps on a pressure plate. | 15 | 2d10 poison |
| Pit Trap | A hidden pit opens beneath a creature’s feet, causing them to fall into the darkness below. | 12 | 1d6 bludgeoning |
| Rolling Boulder | A large boulder rolls down a narrow passage, crushing anything in its path. | 15 | 4d10 bludgeoning |
| Lightning Rune | A magical rune activates when a creature touches it, unleashing a bolt of lightning. | 17 | 8d6 lightning |
| Fireball Trap | A magical trap that casts the fireball spell when triggered, engulfing the area in flames. | 15 | 8d6 fire |
3.4. Downtime Activities:
Xanathar’s Guide introduces a range of downtime activities that characters can engage in between adventures. These activities allow players to develop their characters, earn money, and build relationships with NPCs.
- Crafting: Characters can use their skills and tools to create items, such as weapons, armor, and potions.
- Training: Characters can spend time training to improve their skills and abilities.
- Socializing: Characters can visit taverns, attend social gatherings, and build relationships with other characters.
- Gambling: Characters can try their luck at various games of chance, risking their money for the potential of a big win.
4. Spells: Expanding the Arcane Arsenal
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything introduces a collection of new spells for various classes, offering additional magical options for players. These spells range from combat-oriented abilities to utility spells that can be used in a variety of situations. Each spell is designed to be balanced and flavorful, adding depth to the game’s magical repertoire.
- New Spells: A variety of new spells for different classes, offering unique magical options.
- Balanced Design: Spells are designed to be balanced and flavorful, fitting into the game’s existing magical system.
- Versatile Applications: Spells range from combat-oriented abilities to utility spells with a variety of uses.
4.1. Spell Examples:
The guide provides a diverse set of spells, catering to different classes and playstyles. Here’s a brief overview of some of the new spells:
| Spell Name | Level | School | Class | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absorb Elements | 1 | Abjuration | Sorcerer, Wizard | Reduces damage from elemental attacks and enhances the caster’s next attack with the same element. |
| Mind Sliver | 0 | Enchantment | Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard | Deals psychic damage and imposes a penalty on the target’s next saving throw. |
| Toll the Dead | 0 | Necromancy | Cleric | Deals necrotic damage to a creature, with increased damage if the target is already injured. |
| Find Greater Steed | 4 | Conjuration | Paladin | Summons a powerful celestial, fey, or fiendish steed to serve the paladin. |
| Summon Lesser Demons | 3 | Conjuration | Warlock, Wizard | Summons demons to fight for the caster, but they can become uncontrollable. |
4.2. Spellcasting Rules:
The guide includes clarifications and optional rules for spellcasting, such as:
- Spell Areas of Effect: Visual aids and guidelines for determining the area of effect of spells on a grid.
- Identifying Spells: Rules for identifying a spell as it is being cast, allowing players to react accordingly.
- Verbal and Somatic Components: Clarifications on the requirements for verbal and somatic components, and how they can be affected by certain conditions or abilities.
5. Appendices: Additional Resources
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything includes two appendices that provide additional resources for players and DMs. Appendix A covers shared campaigns, offering guidelines for coordinating and managing campaigns with multiple groups of players. Appendix B provides a collection of character names from various cultures and races, assisting players in creating believable and immersive characters.
- Shared Campaigns: Guidelines for coordinating and managing campaigns with multiple groups of players.
- Character Names: A collection of character names from various cultures and races to assist in character creation.
5.1. Shared Campaigns:
Appendix A provides guidance on running shared campaigns, where multiple groups of players interact with the same world and storyline. This can be a complex undertaking, requiring coordination and communication between the DM and the players.
- Establishing a Shared World: Guidelines for creating a consistent and immersive world that all groups can interact with.
- Coordinating Storylines: Tips for coordinating storylines and ensuring that the actions of one group have meaningful consequences for the others.
- Managing Player Interactions: Suggestions for managing interactions between different player groups, such as joint adventures and cooperative missions.
5.2. Character Names:
Appendix B offers a collection of character names from various cultures and races, providing inspiration for players who are struggling to come up with a name for their character.
- Human Names: Names from various real-world cultures, such as English, French, Egyptian, and more.
- Nonhuman Names: Names for various D&D races, such as elves, dwarves, dragonborn, and tieflings.
- Family and Clan Names: Suggestions for family and clan names, adding depth to a character’s background and identity.
6. Why Xanathar’s Guide is Essential for D&D Players and DMs
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything is an invaluable resource for both players and DMs, offering a wealth of new options, rules clarifications, and DM tools to enhance the D&D experience. For players, the guide provides a plethora of new character options, including subclasses, backgrounds, and racial feats, allowing for greater customization and roleplaying opportunities. For DMs, the guide offers expanded rules, guidelines for encounter building, and a variety of traps and downtime activities to create more engaging and challenging adventures. Overall, Xanathar’s Guide is a must-have addition to any D&D library.
- Enhanced Customization: The guide provides a wealth of new options for character creation, allowing players to create more unique and personalized characters.
- Improved Gameplay: The expanded rules and guidelines help to clarify complex game situations and ensure a smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience.
- Engaging Adventures: The DM tools and resources empower DMs to create more challenging and rewarding adventures for their players.
- Community-Driven Content: The guide incorporates feedback from thousands of players and DMs, ensuring that the new rules and options are well-balanced and enjoyable.
7. Expanding Character Concepts
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything truly shines in its ability to expand character concepts, offering players and DMs alike a plethora of options to create more nuanced and engaging characters. The new subclasses provide unique twists on familiar classes, while the detailed background tables allow players to craft richer, more compelling backstories.
7.1. The Zealot Barbarian:
The Path of the Zealot subclass for barbarians exemplifies the guide’s ability to add depth to existing classes. Zealot barbarians are driven by divine power, channeling their rage into holy fervor. This subclass not only offers unique combat abilities but also provides a compelling narrative hook for players who want to explore themes of faith and devotion.
- Divine Fury: Zealot barbarians can channel divine energy into their attacks, dealing extra radiant or necrotic damage.
- Zealous Presence: Zealots can inspire their allies with a divine presence, granting them advantage on attack rolls and saving throws.
- Warrior of the Gods: Zealots are so filled with divine power that they can be brought back from the dead more easily than other barbarians.
7.2. The Grave Domain Cleric:
The Grave Domain subclass for clerics offers a unique perspective on the traditional role of the cleric, focusing on the balance between life and death. Grave Domain clerics are tasked with ensuring that the dead rest peacefully and that the line between life and death is not disturbed.
- Circle of Mortality: Grave Domain clerics can heal dying creatures more effectively and can sense the presence of undead.
- Grave Ward: Grave Domain clerics can protect their allies from harm by diverting attacks to themselves.
- Keeper of Souls: Grave Domain clerics can manipulate the boundary between life and death, granting temporary hit points to their allies and weakening their enemies.
7.3. The Monster Slayer Ranger:
The Monster Slayer ranger subclass is perfect for players who want to specialize in hunting and defeating dangerous creatures. Monster Slayer rangers are skilled trackers and hunters, adept at identifying and exploiting the weaknesses of their prey.
- Hunter’s Sense: Monster Slayer rangers can quickly analyze a creature to determine its strengths and weaknesses.
- Slayer’s Prey: Monster Slayer rangers can mark a creature as their prey, dealing extra damage and gaining advantage on attack rolls against it.
- Supernatural Defense: Monster Slayer rangers are resistant to the effects of supernatural abilities and can protect their allies from harm.
8. Implementing Optional Rules
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything places a strong emphasis on optional rules, allowing DMs to customize their games to suit their preferred play style. These optional rules can be used to add depth, complexity, or realism to the game, depending on the preferences of the DM and the players.
8.1. Tool Proficiencies:
The guide expands on the use of tool proficiencies, providing more detailed rules for how tools can be used to perform tasks and gain advantages. For example, a character who is proficient with mason’s tools might be able to use those tools to repair a damaged wall or to create a secret passage.
- Detailed Rules: The guide provides detailed rules for using various tools, such as artisan’s tools, musical instruments, and gaming sets.
- Task Resolution: The guide offers guidance on how to resolve tasks that involve the use of tools, including setting appropriate difficulty checks and determining the consequences of success or failure.
- Creative Applications: The guide encourages DMs and players to come up with creative applications for tool proficiencies, adding depth and realism to the game.
8.2. Downtime Activities:
The downtime activities introduced in Xanathar’s Guide provide players with meaningful ways to spend their time between adventures. These activities allow players to develop their characters, earn money, and build relationships with NPCs.
- Variety of Activities: The guide offers a variety of downtime activities, such as crafting, training, socializing, and gambling.
- Meaningful Consequences: Each downtime activity has meaningful consequences, affecting the character’s skills, resources, and relationships.
- Narrative Opportunities: Downtime activities provide opportunities for players to engage in roleplaying and to develop their characters’ backstories.
8.3. Trap Design:
The trap design guidelines in Xanathar’s Guide empower DMs to create more challenging and engaging dungeons and environments. The guide provides a variety of trap examples, as well as guidance on how to design traps that are both challenging and fair.
- Variety of Trap Types: The guide offers a variety of trap types, ranging from simple mechanical devices to elaborate magical constructs.
- Balanced Design: The guide provides guidance on how to design traps that are challenging but not overly deadly, ensuring that the players have a fair chance of surviving.
- Narrative Integration: The guide encourages DMs to integrate traps into the narrative of the adventure, creating a more immersive and engaging experience.
9. Community Feedback and Refinement
One of the key strengths of Xanathar’s Guide to Everything is that it incorporates feedback from the D&D community, ensuring that the new rules and options are well-balanced and enjoyable. The content in the guide was originally playtested in the Unearthed Arcana series, allowing thousands of players and DMs to provide feedback on the new rules and options.
9.1. Addressing Community Concerns:
The guide addresses many of the concerns raised by the community during the playtesting process. For example, some players felt that certain subclasses were too powerful or too weak, and the guide has been adjusted to address these concerns.
- Balance Adjustments: The guide includes balance adjustments to ensure that the new subclasses and options are comparable in power to the existing ones.
- Clarifications and Errata: The guide includes clarifications and errata to address ambiguities and errors in the original Unearthed Arcana material.
- Additional Options: The guide includes additional options to provide more flexibility and customization for players and DMs.
9.2. Continuing Community Engagement:
Wizards of the Coast continues to engage with the D&D community, soliciting feedback on new products and updates. This ongoing engagement helps to ensure that D&D remains a vibrant and enjoyable game for players of all levels.
- Online Forums: Wizards of the Coast maintains online forums where players and DMs can discuss D&D and provide feedback on new products.
- Social Media: Wizards of the Coast uses social media to communicate with the D&D community and to solicit feedback on new products.
- Playtesting Programs: Wizards of the Coast continues to run playtesting programs, allowing players to try out new content before it is released to the public.
10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
10.1. Is Xanathar’s Guide to Everything necessary to play D&D 5th Edition?
No, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything is not necessary to play D&D 5th Edition. It is a supplementary rulebook that offers additional options and resources for players and DMs. The core rulebooks (Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual) are sufficient for playing the game.
10.2. Can I use the subclasses in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything with any race?
Yes, the subclasses in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything can be used with any race, unless otherwise specified. Some subclasses may have specific prerequisites or requirements, but these are generally tied to the character’s class rather than their race.
10.3. Are the rules in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything optional?
Yes, most of the rules in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything are optional. DMs can choose which rules they want to use in their games, depending on their preferred play style and the preferences of their players.
10.4. How does Xanathar’s Guide to Everything compare to other D&D 5th Edition supplements?
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything is similar to other D&D 5th Edition supplements, such as Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything and Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes, in that it provides additional options and resources for players and DMs. However, each supplement has its own unique focus and content.
10.5. Where can I purchase Xanathar’s Guide to Everything?
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything is available for purchase from a variety of retailers, including online stores, local game stores, and bookstores. It is also available as a digital download from online platforms such as D&D Beyond.
10.6. What is the difference between a subclass and an archetype?
In D&D 5th Edition, the terms “subclass” and “archetype” are often used interchangeably to refer to the specialized paths that characters can take within their chosen class. These paths provide unique abilities and features that differentiate characters within the same class.
10.7. How do I use the character background tables in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything?
The character background tables in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything are designed to help players flesh out their characters’ backstories. Players can roll on the tables randomly or choose specific events or origins that fit their character concept.
10.8. Can I create my own traps using the guidelines in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything?
Yes, the trap design guidelines in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything are designed to empower DMs to create their own traps. The guide provides a variety of trap examples, as well as guidance on how to design traps that are both challenging and fair.
10.9. How do I incorporate the downtime activities in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything into my game?
The downtime activities in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything can be incorporated into your game by allowing players to spend their time between adventures engaging in these activities. DMs can set appropriate timeframes for downtime activities and can determine the consequences of success or failure.
10.10. Is there anything about Xanathar himself in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything?
While the book is named after Xanathar, a beholder crime lord, the book doesn’t focus heavily on lore about him. There are some sidebars with his “thoughts” on certain topics, but it is primarily a supplemental rulebook.
In conclusion, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything is a valuable addition to any D&D 5th Edition library, offering a wealth of new options, rules clarifications, and DM tools to enhance the game. Whether you are a player looking to create a more unique and personalized character or a DM looking to create more engaging and challenging adventures, Xanathar’s Guide has something to offer. Remember, at CONDUCT.EDU.VN, we are committed to providing comprehensive and reliable information to help you navigate the world of D&D.
