Every edition of Dungeons & Dragons, ranked
What’s the best Dungeons & Dragons edition? It’s a pretty loaded question that has a lot of implications. Each edition of D&D has had a significant impact on the tabletop gaming world – whether its innovations and new mechanics, or simply the way it has shaped the culture of role-playing games.
It’s also worth noting that what makes the best edition of D&D is highly subjective. For example, a lot of people prefer older editions of the game because they’re more familiar with the rules and feel of those editions. So, with all that in mind, here is a ranking of all the Dungeons & Dragons editions.
The best editions of Dungeons & Dragons are:
The first edition of Dungeons & Dragons (or Original D&D) laid the foundation for what would come to be one of the most significant tabletop games in the world. Its rules were relatively simple and it was very different from the current version, but it was an essential stepping stone for what would follow.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons’ second edition was a success, bringing some successful changes and consolidations from the previous version. It’s from this edition that the system of alignments, ability scores, and classes that we’ve become accustomed to began.
Third Edition introduced significant improvements, including the popular d20 system that would be used by most D&D editions going forward. This was the edition that streamlined many of the rules and took the game in a more narrative direction.
During this period of time, there were also several supplementary books that were released, collectively known as 3.5 Edition. Ultimately, these books were responsible for some significant changes to the rules, including introducing a wealth of new classes and races. 3.5 is highly regarded by fans for the fine-tuning of the rules.
Fifth Edition, introduced in the mid-2010s, is without a doubt the favourite among players worldwide. This edition of D&D is easy to play, accessible, and offers a better balance between combat and exploration. The wealth of additional play material and adventures available is also a huge boon for players.
Each month, there is new Unearthed Arcana and playtest material available for free on Wizard Of The Coast’s site. This is a great way for players to keep up to date with the latest changes and additions to the game.
Playtest materials from the upcoming edition of D&D are already available on the Wizards of the Coast website. The next version of D&D will be released in 2022.
Here are the best D&D playtest classes in 2022:
You can also check out a breakdown of the current D&D 5e playtest, to give you an idea of what’s currently in the works.
