The Best DnD Gifts Ideas (From a Professional DM)!
Published on November 4, 2022, Last modified on November 29th, 2022
If you’re looking to buy a gift for someone that likes Dungeons & Dragons this holiday season, we’ve got the guide for you. Whether you’re doing a gift exchange with your DnD group, pitching in with your group to buy your DM a gift, or don’t play DnD and are looking for a gift for a DnD player, this guide has something for everyone!
Table of Contents
Buying DnD Gifts in 2022
This list has been carefully selected to only include the best DnD gifts out there, and each choice is explained in detail. So, even if you don’t play DnD, you’ll be able to find that perfect gift for that special DnD player in your life. There are quite a few gifts that will get any DnD player excited. However, some gifts are more universal than others. In this guide, we will be outlining which gifts will go over best with which specific type of DnD player.
First, who are you buying for?
Before you buy DnD players gifts, you need to find out some information:
- Are they a DM (Dungeon Master) or a player?
- Do they play online or in person?
- Do they use a virtual tabletop, battlemaps, and miniatures, or are they a “theater of the mind” group?
- Do they use printed books or a digital toolset like DnD Beyond?
- Do they have any favorite Dungeons & Dragons Podcasts?
Now that you have (very sneakily) rooted out all the necessary information, let’s get into the best DnD gifts.
Who am I to be giving DnD gift recommendations?
I’ve been playing DnD for a couple of years now and run this site to help Dungeon Masters and players have the most fun possible when playing Dungeons & Dragons. On top of running Arcane Eye, I’m a contributing writer to DnD Beyond and a best-selling DM’s Guild author. I also have a lot of DnD stuff. Like, a lot. Check out my DnD nerd wall if you don’t believe me.
I update this guide yearly, as more recent, applicable gifts may have supplanted some gifts that were recommended last year. This year, the big news is that Wizards of the Coast bought DnD Beyond and made it the official digital toolset for Dungeons & Dragons. This has opened up the gates for physical + digital bundles, as well as the notion that products purchased on DnD Beyond will be useable for many years to come.
Best DnD Gifts for DMs and Players
DnD Dice
Dice are a universally fantastic DnD gift. Nobody can ever have enough dice, and a nice set of dice is something that most people don’t typically buy right off the bat.
DnD dice come in all shapes, sizes, and materials, ranging from basic acrylic to mammoth ivory. To help parse the vast array of dice-makers out there, our guide to the best DnD dice covers a number of the top suppliers, their product offerings, budget ranges, and geographies.
Bag of Holding
Amazon – $29.99
The Bag of Holding is an excellent option as it is thematic and comes with all the dice any party could want. This comes with a nice felt bag and 140 acrylic dice guaranteed to form 20 complete sets of d4, d6, d8, d10, d00, d12, and d20.
Antique Silver 16mm Polyhedral Dice Set
FanRoll – $5.99 – $39.99
Upgrade your giftees dice game with this solid zinc, shiny-polished, nickel-plated, 16mm metal dice set. You’ll want to include a rolling tray if you gift these dice, as they can damage surfaces quite easily.
Published Core DnD Books and Supplements
Physical copies of these books can be purchased from your local game store or other book retailers like Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Now that DnD Beyond has been made the official digital toolset of Dungeons & Dragons, going digital can have a lot of benefits. If your giftee already plays using DnD Beyond and doesn’t care much about having the physical book to put on their bookshelf, this option can be more economical while still providing a ton of value.
Personally, I use DnD Beyond for all my campaigns, but I much prefer reading the physical copy of the books.
Dungeons & Dragons Core Rulebooks Gift Set
Amazon – $78
Dungeons & Dragons has a set of core rules that are needed to play the game. Most groups will have (or need) the Dungeon Master’s Guide, the Monster Manual, and the Player’s Handbook. If the person you are buying for is playing in a group that already has these books but doesn’t own them themselves, they can still make great coffee table books.
DnD Starter Set: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Amazon – $20
The new Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set is the perfect introduction for the aspiring DnD fan in your life! This set comes with a paired-down set of rules, easy-to-play characters, and an introductory adventure that teaches players and DMs how to play the game. The adventure can be purchased digitally on DnD Beyond or, if you want physical character sheets and a set of dice to play with, can be purchased at your local game store or Amazon.
DnD Supplements
Like the core rulebooks, these books are published by Wizards of the Coast. However, these supplements contain ways to expand your games. In order, we recommend purchasing the following:
Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
Amazon – ~$30
Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos is a source setting for the magical university of Strixhaven. This means it will provide DMs with the resources and materials to run games in the world of Strixhaven. This book is a little different from other source settings because it provides 4 short adventures that can be turned into a full campaign for DMs that don’t want to homebrew their own adventure. While we typically caution gifters to avoid giving these types of books as a gift, this one will be a massive hit if your giftee is a DnD fan who also loves Harry Potter.
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything
Amazon – $30
A wonderful collection of additional classes, spells, magical items, and rules. If the person you are buying for is a long-term DM or player that doesn’t have this book, they will LOVE it. If you’re not sold, check out our Xanathar’s Guide to Everything Review to see if this book will be suitable for the person you are gifting it to.
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
Amazon – $30
This could be considered the sequel to Xanathar’s Guide to Everything. Containing over 24 new subclasses and the artificer class, this rules expansion is a hot commodity for experienced Dungeons & Dragons groups looking to expand their game. Check out our Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything Review for a breakdown of what is included.
Monsters of the Multiverse
Amazon – $29.99
Containing over 250 monsters and 30 playable character races, Monsters of the Multiverse can bring a ton of variety to an established, long-term game. Keep in mind that the races and monsters included in this book are compiled from other Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition sources, so if the person you are buying for owns a lot of books, it can be repetitive. That said, there’s something nice about having all of these options in one book rather than having the flip around multiple books, so it still might be a good option.
Keep in mind that these supplements are recommended purchases for experienced groups only. Also, if you aren’t sure which books the person you are buying for has, it would be best to stay away from these.
DnD Dice Rolling Trays
Dice rolling trays are a great gift idea for any Dungeons & Dragons player. If they have never played with one before, their dice rolling is about to get much easier. If they already have one, there are plenty of ways to upgrade.
There are three main tiers of dice rolling trays:
DIY / Hollowed Out Book
Etsy / Used Book Store
I like this method for a couple of reasons. First, it can be personalized a lot more easily. Maybe their character is a wizard, so you find a lovely old, leather-bound book at the thrift store!
Second, these feel heavy and sturdy to roll in. You can also use a magnet to keep it closed so dice can be kept inside during transit.
You can also purchase pre-made hollowed-out books like the one above from bluishstudio.etsy.com.
Folding Dice Tray
Amazon – $8.99
The gold standard for sub $10 dice rolling trays are the felt ones with the click-up corners. These are easy to transport as they can lie flat and are sturdy enough to play in.
Cherry Personal Dice Tray
Wyrmwood Gaming – $70
Wyrmwood is the best in the industry for all things woodworking and nerdy. They have a collection of personal dice rolling trays and tabletop dice rolling trays. These, along with some nice metal dice, are the Cuban cigars and whiskey of any Dungeons & Dragons player’s repertoire.
DnD Dice Towers
When talking about fun, customizable DnD gifts, it would be amiss to leave out dice towers. For those unaware of their purpose, these devices are used as a way to make sure the die is given a really good “roll.” These towers are usually tall and have enough room in the funnel for multiple dice in case the player loves to cast fireball. The materials for dice towers range widely from 3D printed to cheap craft wood to custom-made solid wood.
Dice Towers
Various sellers
Amazon has a good selection of cheap (sub $50) dice towers. If you want better quality but higher priced ones (and to support small creators), Esty has a great selection of dice towers. If you want top-of-the-line dice towers, Wyrmwood has you covered. They even have a model that works with the personal dice rolling tray noted above.
DnD Podcast Merch
Podcast merch, in my opinion, would always make a fantastic gift for a Dungeons & Dragons player. If you know for a fact that somebody is into a particular podcast, gifting them a piece of merch would be very meaningful. Not only is it a gift they would definitely rep, but it means that you have taken the time to familiarize yourself with their hobby.
Not sure if the person you are buying a gift for listens to podcasts? Check out our list of the best DnD podcasts to see if any sound familiar.
Here are the merch stores for the top 3 popular Dungeons & Dragons Podcasts:
Erasable DnD Battlemap
If your giftee still uses chart paper to map out their combat encounters, an erasable battlemap is a great gift!
DnD Campaign Case: Terrain
Wizards Online Store – $65
This case features 5″ × 5″ terrain tiles that can be decorated with illustrated clings to create intricate dungeons, buildings, and other DnD battlemaps. I suggest buying this from the Wizards of the Coast store, as it’s the same price as Amazon and includes a DnD Beyond version of the Dungeon Master’s Guide, which is awesome added value.
Chessex Battlemat
Amazon – $39.99
Chessex has the most popular battlemap at around $40, which will suit the needs of most Dungeons & Dragons parties.
Dungeon Tiles
Amazon – $19.99
If you really want to take their game up a notch, these erasable, connectable dungeon tiles are awesome for creating varied, modular battlemaps. While these aren’t as aesthetically impressive as the tiles and clings in the new DnD Campaign Case: Terrain, it’s a solid, budget option.
Miniatures
We have an entire guide on buying DnD minis, but the information below will give you the gist!
DnD Campaign Case: Creatures
Wizards Online Store – $65
This case features illustrated clings, which you can attach to the included weighted discs, creating a token for a particular monster. This is one of the best value-for-money options for creating monster tokens and is quick to set up and easily transportable. I suggest buying this from the Wizards of the Coast store, as it’s the same price as Amazon and includes a DnD Beyond version of the Monster Manual, which is incredible added value.
Miniature Booster Pack
Amazon – $15
Miniatures are a solid option when it comes to DnD gifts. If the person you are buying for is still using metal washers or coins, a “Booster Pack” of miniatures is a great place to start. These packs from Wizards of the Coast come with a random assortment of well-painted miniatures that are reasonably good quality.
Reaper Miniatures
reapermini.com – Price varies
Reaper Miniatures is another good place to look for specific, inexpensive, high-quality miniatures. Please remember that these will need to be painted.
Check out our Guide to Buying DnD Minis for info on how to get a great deal on bulk minis from Reaper’s “Bones” Kickstarters.
Hero Forge
heroforge.com – Price varies
A Hero Forge Custom Miniature is the best DnD gift you can get if you are buying for someone who is playing in a long-term campaign. These guys have a legitimately insane number of options, and the miniatures are of fantastic quality. If the person you’re buying for would geek out to see their character come to life, this is the gift to get. If you don’t know precisely what their character looks like, you can also buy them a gift card so they can go through the fun of making it themselves.
Check out our Hero Forge Product Spotlight for more info.
DnD Boardgames
It is a safe bet that most Dungeons & Dragons players are also avid board game players. Below, we explore the best options for officially licensed Dungeons & Dragons board games. We also have compiled a list of board games that DnD players will love if you’re looking for something more DnD-adjacent.
Lords of Waterdeep
Amazon – $30
Personally, my favorite official Dungeons & Dragons board game, Lords of Waterdeep, is easy to learn, features quick games, and has incredible replay value. This board game doesn’t use any DnD mechanics, but it uses the famous Dungeons & Dragons location of Waterdeep and involves hiring adventurers to complete quests.
Dungeon Delving Games
Amazon – Price Varies
There is an entire subsection of official Dungeons & Dragons games devoted to exploring dungeons, slaying monsters, and looting treasure. These games feature famous settings and monsters but use a paired-down system to streamline gameplay. I would recommend purchasing in this order:
- Wrath of Ashardalon: The most balanced and features dragon-slaying, which makes it the best start to Dungeons & Dragons dungeon crawl games.
- Castle Ravenloft: The hardest, but in my opinion, has the most replay value because of the challenge.
- The Legend of Drizzt: The player characters in this game are overpowered compared to the monsters, making for an unsatisfying experience.
Framed DnD Maps
Printed and framed maps can be a really, really cool DnD gift because of their many uses. Not only will it serve as sweet decor for a gaming room or office, but it can be used as a prop in games. With a sturdy enough frame and set of dry-erase markers, the party can keep track of their travels, plan adventures, and see the world unfold before them!
Custom Map
DIY – Price Varies
If the campaign that your giftee is playing in has a map and is high enough quality that you can print it off and frame it, it will make for some gorgeous, personalized decor they will undoubtedly display with pride. Shout out to Russ, one of my players who sometimes DMs. He made the awesome map shown here for one of his short-term campaigns.
Map of the Sword Coast
Amazon – $35
The Sword Coast is where the majority of official fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons take place. If your group is running adventures like Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Lost Mine of Phandelver, Storm King’s Thunder, or Rime of the Frost Maiden, this poster can give your party a bird’s eye view of the surrounding area.
DnD Apparel
Generic Dungeons & Dragons Apparel will always get a solid reaction as a DnD gift. I prefer themed t-shirts to be a bit subtle so they are usable for daily wear.
Tee Public
Price Varies
Tee Public has a huge selection of DnD-focused designs that you can get on t-shirts, hoodies, stickers, mugs, and masks.
Hellfire Club Raglan
Netflix Shop – $30
If your DnD fan also happens to be a Stranger Things fan, this shirt will become an immediate favorite. Worn by the Hellfire DnD club featured in Stranger Things fourth season, this shirt is the perfect uniform for your giftee’s adventures ahead.
Other Gimmicky DnD Stuff
Gimmicky stuff is always hit or miss when it comes to giving DnD gifts. Some things that will almost always hit are:
Official DnD Cookbook
Amazon – ~$20
For the Dungeons & Dragons enthusiast who also likes to cook! This book provides 80 recipes inspired by the fantastical world of DnD. The recipes are divided into human, elf, dwarf, halfling, uncommon, and elixirs. These recipes would fit in at any traveler’s inn, dwarven great hall, or quiet elf glade.
Fantasy Inspired Candles
Firelight Fables – $15 – $25
These fantasy-themed candles are sure to set the mood just right for your table. I have the Ancient Library one, and I highly recommend it. They also have a tealight sample pack, so you can mix and match or test them out to find which scent you like best!
Wooden Tankard
Amazon – $40
I actually purchased a couple of my party members these wooden tankards, and they love them! Very useful for setting a tavern-esque mood around your table. I prefer the mugs with a wooden exterior and a stainless steel interior, mixing the warm aesthetics that wood provides with the easy clean-up stainless steel.
Polyhedral Sugar Dice Set
SugarAndDiceCrafts – $20
Don’t like your roll? Eat your dice!
This edible Dungeons & Dragons dice set is sold by SugarAndDiceCrafts and is gluten-free and vegan.
Gelatinous Cube Soap
Bugbear Bubbles – $20
These soaps by Bugbear Bubbles contain the bones of unfortunate adventurers…and a complete set of dice! Made with natural vegetable skincare oils, oat protein, and 20% Vegetable Glycerin. Gluten-Free. Soy Free. No Animal Testing. No Animal Products.
Field Notes 5e Gaming Journals
Amazon – ~$18.95
These nifty little books can provide note-happy DMs and players with a structured, efficient layout to record their session/planning notes. There are currently 3 types of journals: Character Journals for players, Game Master journals for GM’s note-taking, and Monster/Encounter journals for prepping and running encounters. These are neat and effective tools for tables looking to move away from technological solutions.
What Not to Buy
DnD Adventure Books
I would stay away from gifting DnD adventure books. Typically, this is the DM’s realm, and they will have an idea of what modules they want to run. If one of their players were to buy them an adventure, they could take it the wrong way, and it might seem to them that the player is looking to move away from their campaign.
DnD House Decor
I would refrain from gifting house decorations (posters, doormats, etc.) as they tend to be a lot more miss than hit. Generally, anything that would just be clutter/has no purpose (e.g., not everyone likes funko pops). The exceptions to this rule are if it has use (i.e., the tavern-style tankards) or meaningful, sentimental value (a portrait of the campaign’s characters, a framed map of the campaign, etc.).
Hope you liked the gift guide!
If you have any ideas for DnD gifts, we’d love to hear about them in the comments below. You can also check out our DnD Christmas article if you’re looking for more Christmas DnD adventures and ideas!
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Thanks so much for this article! Got boyfriend who’s a DM and this was a great source of ideas for his b-day gift. While researching dice trays I actually ended up finding out about dice towers, which were just the perfect gift
We’re glad you found the article helpful!
Yesss! My friends and I are more casual players since it’s been really difficult to get together (stupid being adults), but my husband has his own group that meets every week… I was having a serious mental block trying to figure out what to get him this Christmas and this list was SUPER helpful! Thank you for putting this out there!
Glad you liked it Kate!
Thank you was at a loss for what to buy my son that plays online DnD, ordered the Yeti mic! Any additional ideas for the online Dnd crowd is highly appreciated
We’re glad the article helped Tamara! I think your son will love the Yeti 🙂 As for additional ideas, I would try to find out if he likes any D&D podcasts and buy him merch from those podcast’s stores. Not only are you supporting artists he cares about but it will mean a lot that you took the time to get acquainted with his hobby!
This helps so much!!! My Dad and little brother are really into DND and I was really unsure what to get. Thank you so much!!!
Glad you liked the article 🙂
Another gift option is gelatinous cube soap from bugbearbubbles.com
Super fun and unique gift.
These look so cool! I’ve added them to the list 🙂
This guide is incredibly helpful–I think I’m going to get my brother dice tray for his upcoming birthday! I’ve been doing a lot of looking around the internet, and I’m finding a lot of dice trays with Celtic Knots or the Celtic Tree of Life engraved. Is this widely accepted as a DnD symbol?
Glad you found it helpful 🙂 That’s an interesting find. I wouldn’t say that the Celtic Knot or Tree of Life has anything more to do with D&D than a tangential relationship. I’m guessing that those symbols look “fantastical” and are tied to legends and myths that are at the root of modern fantasy.
The most common symbols associated with D&D are the icosahedron (the “d20” dice) and the ampersand in the “D&D” logo.