First, the formatting below is admittedly terrible...but for a free tool to hold a list of free stuff, it works for the author.
Second, IF YOU'RE NEW TO D&D, JUST START HERE: Essentials Rulebook. It's all you need to get started. Although a set of cheap dice also helps, someone at the table will be willing to share (and if you're playing online, there's digital dice rollers). Once you've played a few games, then you can dig into the list. Until then, the below will most likely be a confusing rabbit hole.
Changelog at bottom.
There seems to be a million sites out there listing free D&D resources. Even when looking at just the free stuff published by WotC, none I've found come close. This is my feeble attempt at a list of free D&D resources specifically from WotC (either on their own website, for free through DMSGuild, or through a couple other distribution channels and licensed partners such as D&D Beyond and Idle Champions). Adventures, Monster Stats, Magic Items / Spells, Player Options, and Maps have color-coded headings.
DDB Free Claims
Adventures: Intro to Stormwreck Isle, Prisoner 13
Monsters: Monstrous Compendium 1: Spelljammer
Miscellaneous: Honor Among Thieves (NPCs, dice set, magic items), Baldur's Gate 3 (dice, character sheet), Lego (dice)
CORE RULES
- Free Rules (2024): PHB and DMG
- Player's Handbook (2014): Spell List
- Starterset Rulebook: Player Options, Spells (subset of the Player's Handbook)
- Pregenerated characters: 2014 and 2022
- Adventure: Drowned Sailors (2022 starter set)
- Glossary, Quick Reference, Difficulty Class Examples, Ability Checks
- Essentials Rulebook: Player Options, Spells (subset of the Player's Handbook, with Sidekick rules)
- Adventure: Dragon of Icespire Peak, Gnomengarde (levels 1-3)
- Monster Manual: Challenge Rating List, Monster by Type List (MM only, MM and Volo's)
- Monster Stats: Intellect Devourer (CR 2 aberration), Umber Hulk (CR 5 monstrosity)
- Dungeon Master's Guide (2014): Magic Items by Rarity
- Core Rules Combined:
- System Resource Document: Monster Stats, Magic Items / Spells, Player Options (includes majority of the stats/tables from Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual)
- Basic Rules: Monster Stats, Magic Items / Spells, Player Options (includes a subset of the stats/tables and descriptions from Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual)
- Stranger Things Rulebook: Monster Stats, Magic Items / Spells, Player Options (includes a very small subset of the stats/tables and descriptions from Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual)
- Sage Advice (with Erratas)
- 5e Conversion Guide
- Nerds Quick Reference Card
SOURCE BOOKS / ADVENTURES
- Acquisitions Incorporated:
- Monster Stats: Cartographer, Decisionist, Documancer, Hoardsperson, Loremonger, Obviator, Occultant, Secretarian
- Maps: Lottie's Palace (one, two), Horn Enclave (one, two)
- Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus:
- Monster Stats: Zariel (CR 26 devil), Hollyphant (CR 5 celestial)
- Maps: Sea of Swords (one, two), Baldur's Gate (one, two), Elfsong Tavern (one, two), Vanthampur Villa (one, two), Under the Villa (one, two), Crypt of the Hellriders (one, two)
- Cartoons: Avernus
- Candlekeep Mysteries
- Maps: Fistandia's Mansion (one, two), Amberdune Hideout (one, two), Chalet Brantifax (one, two), Harrn Mausoleum (one, two), Vermeillon (one, two), Mayor Duvezin's House (one, two), platinum mine (one, two), Firefly Cellar (one, two, three), Temple of the Restful Lily (one, two, three, four), The Barn Door (one, two)
- Curse of Strahd: Handouts
- Player Options: Character Backround Options (version 1, version 2)
- Adventure: Death House (levels 1-3)
- Cartoons: Castle Ravenloft, Barovia
- Eberron: Rising From the Last War
- Monster Stats: Living Spells (CR 1 construct, CR 5 construct, CR 7 construct); Expeditious Messenger & Iron Defender (CR 1/8 construct & CR 1 construct); Valenar Hawk & Valenar Hound (CR 1/8 fey & CR 1/2 fey)
- Maps: Fallen Colossi (one, two), Sharn, Khorvaire (one, two, three), Demon Ruins (one, two, three), Fortress (one, two)
- Explorer's Guide to Wildemount:
- Adventure: Frozen Sick (levels 1-3)
- Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
- Maps: Black Dragon Lair (one, two), Bronze Dragon Lair (one, two), Red Dragon Lair (one, two), Emerald Dragon Lair (one, two), Green Dragon Lair (one, two)
- Ghosts of Saltmarsh: Saltmarsh Region
- Maps: Saltmarsh (one, two), Sinister Secrets House (one, two), Sahuagin Lair (one, two, three, four), The Styes (one, two), Azure Sea (one, two), Styes Warehouse (one, two), Firewatch Island Hermitage (one, two, three, four)
- Monster Stats: Juvenile Kraken (CR 14 monstrosity), Udaak (CR 16 fiend)
- Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
- Monster Stats: Brain in a Jar (CR 3 Undead)
- Maps: Cauldron Caves (one, two); Caves of Hunger (one, two), Frost Giant Ice Lodge (one, two), Cackling Chasm (one, two), Karkolohk (one, two), The Black Cabin (one, two), Easthaven Town Hall (one, two), Sunblight (one, two)
- Cartoons: Ten Towns
- Infernal Machine Rebuild:
- Adventure: Infernal Machine Rebuild (levels 5-10)
- Monster Stats: Neo-Otyugh (CR 7 aberration), Thessalar (CR 12 human)
- Maps: Temple of Moloch (one, two, )
- Cartoons: Temple of Moloch
- Keys from the Golden Vault:
- Adventure: Prisoner 13 (level 4)
- Lost Laboratory of Kwalish: Additional rumors
- Maps: Monastery of the Distressed Body, Daoine Gloine (one, two)
- Mordenkainen's Fiendist Folio Volume 1
- Monster Stats: Forlarren (CR 3 fey)
- Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes: The Blood War
- Monster Stats: Moloch (CR 21 devil)
- Mythic Odysseys of Theros: Arena
- Out of the Abyss:
- Player Options: Character Background Options
- Maps: Oozing Temple (one, two), The Lost Tomb (one, two), Blingdenstone (one, two), Velkynvelve (one, two), Hook horror Lair (one, two), Sloobludop (one, two), Neverlight Grove (one, two), Troglodyte Lair (one, two)
- Princes of the Apocalypse:
- Player Options: Elemental Evil, Player's Companion
- Monster Stats and Magic Items / Spells: Elemental Evil, Princes of the Apocalypse Supplement
- Spelljammer:
- Monster Stats: Monstrous Compendium vol 1: Spelljammer Creatures
- Strixhaven:
- Storm King's Thunder: Pregen Character Sheets, Items in a giant's bag, Appendix A (linked adventures), Wilderness Encounters
- Monster Stats: NPC's
- Adventure: A Great Upheaval (levels 1-5)
- Maps: Great Worm Cavern (one, two)
- Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide:
- Player Options: Roguish Archetypes
- Maps: Sword Coast (small, medium, large)
- Tales from the Yawning Portal: Table of Contents, Book Intro, Sunless Citadel Intro, Tomb of Horrors Intro, Geyser and Chains
- Monster Stats: Kalka-Kylla / Kelpie (CR 3 monstrosity / CR 4 plant)
- Maps: White Plume Mountain (one, two, three, four), Against the Giants (one, two, three, four, five, six, seven), Tomb of Horrors (one, two), Frost Giant Stronghold (upper level, lower level), Geyser and Chains (one, two), Hall of the Fire Giant King
- Cartoons: Steading of the Hill Giant Chief (one, two, three), Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl (one, two, three), Tamoachan, White Plume Mountain, Tomb of Horrors
- Tasha's Cauldron of Everything: Puzzles: Display of Daggers, Eight Rings
- Tomb of Annihilation: Player Handouts. city of Dungrunglung. Puzzlecubs (one. two), Monster Info: Batiri
- Monster Stats: Quetzalcoatlus (CR 2 beast), Ras Nsi (CR 7 monstrosity)
- Maps: Chult 1, Dungrunglung (one, two), Omu, Port Nyanzaru (one, two), Merchant Prince's Villa (one, two), Ataaz Muhahah (one, two), Camp Righeous (one, two), Firefinger (one, two), Heart of Ubtao (one, two), Hrakhamar (one, two), Jahaka Anchorage (one, two), Tomb of Nine Gods (lvl 1a, lvl 1b, lvl 2a, lvl 2b, lvl 3a, lvl 3b, lvl 4a, lvl 4b, lvl 5, lvl 6a, lvl 6b), Nine Shrines (one, two), Nangalore (one, two), Camp Vengeance (one, two), Wreck of the Star Goddess (one, two), Fiane of hte Night Serpent (one, two)
- Cartoons: Port Nyanzaru
- Tyranny of Dragons:
- Monster Stats and Magic Items / Spells: Horde of the Dragon Queen Supplement, Rise of Tiamat Supplement
- Adventure: Chapters 1-3 (levels 1-3)
- Maps: Hunting Lodge (one, two, three, four), Neronvain’s Stronghold (one, two)
- Cartoons: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten
- Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft
- Maps: House of Lament (one, two), Falkovnia (one, two), Hazlan (one, two), Lamordia (one, two)
- Spirit Board, Character Creation Guide
- Volo's Guide to Monsters: Table of Contents, Preface, Monster Info: Giant Lore, Hag Traits
- Player Options: Firbolg Player Race
- Monster Stats: Froghemoth (CR10 monstrosity), Stone Giant Dreamwalker (CR 10 giant), Annis Hag (CR 6 fey), Slithering Tracker (CR 3 ooze)
- Waterdeep: Dragon Heist: Friendly Faces Handout, Code Legal
- Monster Stats: Laeral Silverhand (CR 17 human)
- Maps: Converted Windmill (one, two), Kolat Towers (one, two)
- Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage:
- The Wild Beyond the Witchlight:
- Maps: The Witchlight Carnival
- Adventures: level 0 prelude
ADVENTURE LEAGUE (official season material)
- Adventures
- Season 1: Tyranny of Dragons
- DDEX1-1, Defiance in Phlan (level 1)
- DDEX1-2, Secrets of Sokol Keep (levels 1-4)
- DDEX1-3, Shadows over the Moonsea (levels 1-4)
- DDEX1-4, Dues for the Dead (levels 1-4)
- DDEX1-5, The Courting of Fire (levels 1-4)
- DDEX1-6, The Scroll Thief (levels 1-4)
- DDEX1-7, Drums in the Marsh (levels 1-4)
- DDEX1-8, Tales Trees Tell (levels 1-4)
- DDEX1-9, Outlaws of the Iron Route (levels 1-4)
- DDEX1-10, Tyranny in Phlan (levels 5-10)
- DDEX1-14, Escape from Phlan (levels 5-10)
- Other Seasons
- DDAL09-01, Escape from Elturgard (levels 1-2, Baldur's Gate)
- DDAL10-00, Ice Road Trackers (levels 1-2, Icewind Dale)
- DDAL00-05, Winter's Splendor (levels 1-4, Waterdeep)
- DDHC-TOA-09, Ruins of Matolo (levels 5-10, Chult)
- Other Adventure League Materials
- Season 1, Tyranny of Dragons: Narrative - Phlan
- Season 2, Elemental Evil (Princes of the Apocolypse): Narrative - Mulmaster, City Guide - Mulmaster
- Maps: Season 2 Maps
- Season 3, Rage of Demons (Out of the Abyss): Narrative - Hillsfar
- Season 4, Curse of Strahd: DDAL04-02 The Beast Expansion
- Player Options: Expanded Dark Gifts Table
- Season 5, Storm King's Thunder: Narrative - Parnast, Stagwick, & Beregost
- Season 7, Tomb of Annhilation: Narrative - Port Nyanzaru
- Season 9, Avernus Rising (Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus): Infernal War Machine Rules, Vehicle Chase Rules
- Season 11: WBW Adaptation Rules
- Rules
MAGIC THE GATHERING CROSSOVERS
- MTG Pregen characters
- Plane Shift Setting Supplements (Monster Stats and Player Options): Kaladesh, Amonkhet, Dominaria, Zendikar, Innistrad, Ixalan
- Adventures
- X Marks the Spot (level 4)
- In Scarlet Flames (level 8)
- The Hidden Page (level 8)
- A Verdant Tomb (level 9)
- Deepest Night (level 9)
- From Cyan Depths (level 10)
- Monster Stats: Snapdax, Apex of the Hunt (CR18 monstrosity), Dakkon Shadow Slayer (CR 22 humanoid), Sivitri Scarzam (CR 21 human), Sol’kanar the Swamp King (CR 24 fiend)
OTHER MATERIALS
- Adventures
- Before the Storm (level 0)
- Monster Slayers: The Champions of the Elements (ages 6+)
- Monster Slayers: The Heros of Hesiod (ages 6+)
- Adventures with Muk (ages 6+)
- The Gribbits Detective Agency (level 1)
- Idle Champions: Mists of Ravenloft (level 1)
- Northern Palace (levels 1-3)
- Trouble in Waterdeep (levels 1-3)
- Frozen Sick (levels 1-3)
- Grammy's Country Apple Pie (levels 1-4)
- The Gribbits Detective Agency Part II (level 2)
- Adventure Zone: The Return to the Test of Initiation (level 2)
- Struggle in Three Horn Valley (level 3)
- The Hangover (level 3)
- Idle Champions: The Unfair Seas (level 3)
- The Crypts of Kelemvor (levels 3-5)
- Barber of Silverymoon (levels 4-6): Maps: (one, two)
- The Imminent Light (level 5)
- Elfhunt (level 5, Chult)
- Infernal Machine Rebuild (levels 5-10)
- Frozen Offerings (levels 7-10), Maps: one
- Idle Champions: A Fool's Errand (levels 8-10)
- Idle Champions: The Giant's Bane Tavern (levels 8-10)
- Six Faces of Death (levels 11-13): Maps: Interior (one, two, three)
- Idle Champions: The Trials of Mount Tiamat (levels 18-20)
- Monster Stats
- Belaphoss (CR 20, demon)
- Dennim (CR 3 Hobgoblin)
- Planescape Bestiary: Gronk (CR 1 monstrosity), Grilling (CR 1/2 monstrosity), Sohmien (CR 1 aberration), and Trelon (CR 2 monstrosity)
- Havoc Orb (CR 15 aberration)
- Vlaakith the Lich-Queen (CR 23 undead)
- Minion (CR 1/2 humanoid)
- Whazzit & Subknock (CR 1 demon & CR 1 devil)
- Who Shall Never Fail (CR 24 dragon)
- Terror of Undermountain (CR 6 monstrosity)
- Dragon Rat (CR 0 dragon)
- Zaknafein Do'Urden (CR 16 elf)
- The Fathomless (CR 5 dwarf, CR 4 elf, CR 3 fey, CR 1/4 beast, and numerous magic items)
- Feast of the Nightwalker (CR 9 human)
- Order of Shadows (CR 9 shadow monk)
- Zashtii (CR 13 undead)
- Malthraxis (CR 20 undead)
- Farideh (unrated tiefling)
- Scrapper (CR 7 construct)
- Magic Items / Spells
- Fedifensor (Greatsword, legendary)
- Treasures of the Yugoloths: Amulet of the Styx (rare wondrous item), Censer of Blood (lengendary wondrous item), Dhergoloth's belt (very rare wondrous item), Merrenoloth's Oar (very rare weapon), Octavo of Keeping (legendary wondrous item), Tol-Kendar (very rare pike), Ultroloth's Eye (legendary wondrous item), Staff of the lower planes (artifact)
- Codex of the Depths: Diminishing Repose (4th level transmutation), Mass Aquatic Transposition (7th level conjuration)
- Maps:
- Heroes of Battle: Get 'Em Out Alive, Cut the Supply Lines, Battle of Shaura Valley Map Keys
- Greyhawk: Ruins of Greyhawk (one, two, three, four), Green Dragon Inn (one, two, history)
- Forgotten Realms: Winterhaven
- Misc: Palace of Burning Ice, The Falling Star (one, two), Tolstoff Keep (one, two, three, four), Thief Encounter, Dog Encounter, Thug Encounter, Owlbear Run (one, two), Adventure Maps
OTHER
CHARACTER SHEETS (some also listed above)
- Blank Character Sheets: Standard, Icewind Theme, Ravenloft Theme, AL Rage of Demons
- Starter Set 2014 (lvl 1): Fighter, Human (2); Cleric, Dwarf; Rogue, Halfling; Wizard, High Elf
- Starter Set 2022 (lvl 1): Cleric, Hill Dwarf; Fighter, Wood Elf; Paladin, Human; Rogue, Lightfoot Halfling; Wizard, High Elf
- Young Adventurer's Guide (lvl 1): Zanizyre Clockguard-Warlock Gnome; Florizan Blank-Bard, Human; Whey-Shu-Monk, Kenku
- Dragon of Icespire Peaks (lvl 1): Talya-Half-Elf Cleric; Nekari-Half-Elf Monk; Erilon-High Elf Wizard; Whisper-Lightfoot Halfling Rogue; Brin Axetooth-Hill Dwarf Fighter; Grim, Dragonborn Fighter
- Adventure Cats (lvl 3): Zoe-Bard, Tabaxi; The Great Zeldini-Warlock, Tabaxi; Penny-Monk, Tabaxi; Coop-Monk, Tabaxi
- Sword Coast Legends (lvl 3): Bryn Lightfingers-Ranger Halfling; Hommet Shaw- Wizard, Human; Illydia Maethellyn-Cleric, Moon Elf; Jarhild Stoneforge-Fighter, Dwarf; Larethar Gulgrin-Rogue, Dwarf
- Monsters & Fables (lvl 5): Blanchette De'erig-Ranger, Human; Rapunzel-Warlock, Half Elf; Mowgli-Barbarian, Wildhunt
- Heroes of Baldur's Gate (lvl 6): Sorcerer, Moonelf; Rogue, Half Elf, Ranger; Human, Cleric, Human; Rogue, Halfling
- Force Grey (lvl 6-7): Hitch-Rogue, Human (lvl 6), Arkhan the Cruel-Paladin, Dragonborn (lvl 7), Jamilah-Barbarian, Human (lvl 7)
- Wafflecrew (lvl 8-9): Paultin Seppa-Bard, Human (lvl 8), Diath Woodrow-Rogue, Human (lvl 9)
- MTG Pregens (lvl 10 characters): Monk/Wizard, Human; Rogue, Human; Sorcerer, Human; Druid, Human; Warlock, Human
- Extra Life: Darkfire-Ranger, Human (lvl 12)
- Baldur's Gate (lvl 7): Neera: Sorcerer, Half Elf, Rasaadyn Bashir, Monk, Human (lvl 7)
- Rick and Morty (lvl 6): Keth Silverson, Rogue (Half Orc); Ari Strongbow, Ranger (Half Elf); Lyan Amaranthia, Cleric (wood elf); Kiir Bravian, Wizard (Half elf)
- Warriors of Waterdeep (each at lvls 4, 8, 12, and 16): Coriolis Rillevay, Sorcerer (Gnome); Halbenet Soladonel, Cleric (High Elv); Naomlen Girdaur, Rogue (Dwarf); Shevarith Kendia, Wizard (Human); Tommus Tallstep, Figher (Halfling)
- Drizzt Do'Urden-Fighter, Dark Elf (lvl 8)
- Gibbet-Ranger, Human (lvl 4)
- Standard Pregens (for lvls 1-10)
9/23/21 - including several updates for Dragon+ Magazine 39 and Adventure League rules updates.
10/8/21 - included Fizban's product and spiritboard for Ravenloft
10/12/21 - Added AL FAQ and DMG 11.0, and WBW AL prelude and adaptation rules
11/25/21 - Added maps for Strixhaven, Fizbans, and Candlekeep
12/20/21 - Added Dragon of Icespire Peak adventure and character sheets
1/31/22 - Added DDHC-TOA-09 Ruins of Matolo, DDEX1-2, Secrets of Sokol Keep
2/1/22 - Added two Storm King's Thunder docs: Appendix A (linked adventures), Wilderness Encounters
2/3/22 - Added Adventure Zone, Trouble in Waterdeep, Struggle in Three Horn Valley, Frozen Sick, Roguish Archetypes, COS backgrounds version 2
2/4/22 - Added Spider Shark
2/16/22 - Added Monster List by Type (MM and Volo's)
3/22/22 - Added Candle Keep maps: Temple of the Restful Lily (one, two, three, four), The Barn Door (one, two); and Fizbans maps: Emerald Dragon Lair (one, two), Green Dragon Lair (one, two); and Scrapper
4/22/22 - Added Monstrous Compendium vol 1: Spelljammer Creatures (on D&D Beyond and as a pdf when you log in to your library on wotc's website)
5/15/22 - Added Idle Champions adventures: Mists of Ravenloft and Unfair Seas, A Fool's Errand, The Giant's Bane Tavern, and The Trials of Mount Tiamat
5/19/22 - Added Lost Mine of Phandelver
8/3/22 - Added Starter Set 2022 (lvl 1) pregen characters from the 2022 starter set
9/22/22 - Added Drowned Sailors
11/24/22 - Removed numerous links that were taken down when WotC discontinued Dragon+ magazine.
11/25/22 - Replaced individual AL rule links with the AL page
4/5/23 - Added Before the Storm
5/11/23 - Added Stranger Things Rulebook
4/22/24 - Updated the list of free claims on DDB
11/28/24 - Removed numerous items no longer available for free. Added link to 2024 Free Rules
