Summary

• New D&D players can start with free official adventures on D&D Beyond to learn the game without spending money.
• Lost Mine of Phandelver is a great introductory adventure for newcomers to D&D, offering a full campaign experience.
• This free adventure not only provides a beginner-friendly gameplay experience but also serves as a gateway to longer campaigns.

Dungeons & Dragons can be daunting for new players. Staring down the barrel of a 320-page book that contains thousands of rules and stat blocks and ultimately determines the fate of all the players in the game is a prospect that can put even enthusiastic players off the idea. Players who have already connected with a Dungeon Master might not have the option to choose their adventure. The DM probably has ideas on what adventure would best suit the party from their perspective. For new players who do have the option to have input on their story, though, there is a best option.

DnD's developer, Wizards of the Coast, has released several free, official adventures for players who need content to run but don't have the disposable income to buy every brand-new book that comes out. Since the Dungeon Master's Guide and Player's Handbook are also free-to-read on Wizards of the Coast's DnD portal, D&D Beyond, these free adventures make a great jumping board for new players. They allow new players to try out the game without investing any money, just in case they find out this isn't for them.

The Best Free D&D Adventure for New Players Is Lost Mine Of Phandelver

Published For The 5e Starter Set

Playing Lost Mine of Phandelver delivers well on its promise to be designed specifically for new players, and being free makes it all the better for introducing newbies to the scene. Lost Mine of Phandelver is available on D&D Beyond for free, allowing players to integrate their table with the D&D Beyond platform if desired. The best part of Lost Mine of Phandelver is that it provides everything an uninitiated Dungeons & Dragons player would expect to see in an entire campaign but in one succinct adventure.

This book has goblins, bandits to fight, and even an eponymous dragon makes an appearance. Outside of monsters, Lost Mines of Phandelver has a quest for untold treasures, secret hideouts to explore, evil wizards to topple, and many other features that new players associate with the concept of Dungeons & Dragons. It also introduces many of the core mechanics in a digestible and hands-on way that allows players to learn as they go instead of sitting down and powering through a massive book of numbers.

Lost Mine Of Phandelver Is A Great Introduction To A Longer Campaign

The Adventure Takes A Party Up To Level 5

Additionally, Lost Mine of Phandelver allows players to expand their universe easily. Many one-shot or similarly brief adventures end up as insulated tales without much tie-in to overarching campaigns. However, this one-shot is part of the greater Phandelver campaign. Players who enjoy it can further their experience with the setting by playing other Phandevler-related stories, including a cosmic-horror-themed sequel set in Phandalin, making this the perfect adventure for a fledgling Dungeons & Dragons party of new adventurers.

Source: D&D Beyond