Everything You Need to Know About Heroes of the Borderlands, D&D’s New Starter Set

D&D’s Most Accessible Starter Set Yet?

Wizards of the Coast has unveiled the Heroes of the Borderlands Starter Set, a new introduction to Dungeons & Dragons designed to welcome new players and Dungeon Masters alike to the 2024 Core Rules. Justice Ramin Arman, the lead game designer for this set, describes it as their “biggest and best D&D starter set ever.”

The set introduces an innovative character creation system using mix-and-match tiles, simplifying the process for newcomers. It also includes three adventure booklets—The Caves of Chaos, The Keep on the Borderlands, and The Wilderness—each providing guidance to ease players into the game.

To further support new players, the set offers a variety of physical components such as game pieces, multiple sets of dice, booklets, and cards, making D&D into a much more visual experience.

Heroes of the Borderlands is part of D&D’s 2025 release schedule and is slated to hit shelves in September 2025, with pricing details yet to be announced.

For a closer look at the set and insights from Justice Ramin Arman, you can watch the official announcement video below:

Board Game-ifying D&D for Beginners

One of the biggest selling points in Heroes of the Borderlands is its board game-inspired approach to learning the game. Justice Ramin Arman, the lead designer on the project, described it as “we are really laying into using components to teach people how to play.” This visual, component-driven approach bears a striking resemblance to classic board games like HeroQuest (1989), and the inclusion of maps, standees, and tiles further reinforces the board game-like experience.

The set comes packed with physical components designed to streamline gameplay and make D&D more approachable. Character creation is simplified using a card-based system: each player selects a class board—such as Fighter, Cleric, Wizard, or Warrior—then adds a species card and a background card. These choices dictate which equipment and spell cards the player receives. For example, a Fighter would take cards for Chainmail, a Greatsword, a Lantern, and one additional item. The class boards and equipment cards clearly indicate the rules for the item and what dice to roll for attacks and other actions, making them extra approachable for those unfamiliar with the game.

On top of further immersing players in their characters and the adventure, Heroes of the Borderlands seeks to reduce the need for flipping through rulebooks and instead presenting information in an easy-to-use format, ensuring that players can focus on the fun.

A Reimagined Classic Adventure

Heroes of the Borderlands is set in a familiar yet evolved world. Inspired by B2: The Keep on the Borderlands, one of the most iconic introductory adventures in D&D history, this new Starter Set reimagines the setting with fresh content while retaining the spirit of the original. Players will explore three distinct locations:

• The Keep on the Borderlands, a fortified outpost that serves as a home base for adventurers.
• The Wilderness, where the dangers of the unknown lurk beyond the safety of the Keep.
• The Caves of Chaos, a sprawling dungeon filled with monsters, treasure, and adventure.

Each of these locations is presented as a separate, self-contained booklet, making it easy for players to pick up and play without feeling overwhelmed. The modular structure allows DMs to introduce content at their own pace, and each booklet includes tutorial-style guidance to ease new players into the mechanics of D&D.

Additionally, the set includes a 10-page DM guide that provides essential rules and tips, ensuring that even first-time Dungeon Masters can run the game with confidence. Each of the three main areas also comes with a large battlemap, giving players a clear, visual representation of their surroundings. Monsters are represented by tokens and corresponding monster cards, helping the DM track combat quickly and efficiently.

Designed for Replayability

One of the key features of Heroes of the Borderlands is its replayability. The modular adventure structure allows different groups to experience the story in their own unique way, and the simplified character creation system encourages players to experiment with different combinations of species, backgrounds, and classes. The set even includes built-in support for multiple Dungeon Masters, meaning that players can take turns running the game, further lowering the intimidation factor for first-time DMs.

Additionally, time has passed since the events of the original Keep on the Borderlands adventure. This means that returning players familiar with the old module will find new surprises waiting for them, making it an exciting experience for both veterans and newcomers alike.

Bringing New Players Into the Fold

To further support first-time adventurers, Wizards of the Coast will be releasing a how-to-play video alongside the boxed set, similar to the How to Play Dungeons & Dragons videos they released with the Dragons of Stormwreck Isle Starter Set.

How Much Will the New Starter Set Cost?

D&D’s last Starter Set, Dragons of Stormwreck Isle, was priced at 17.99 when it was first released. But, it stands to reason that Heroes of the Borderlands will feature a higher price point, considering all of the included physical components. Still, being a means to introduce new players to the wide world of Dungeons & Dragons, Wizards of the Coast will likely want to price the module competitively to encourage adoption.

Get a Sneak Peek from the New York Toy Fair 2025

The new starter set was previewed at the New York Toy Fair 2025, you can see many of the physical components and here more about how the game is structured in the video below.