10 Huge Rules Changes in the 2024 Player's Handbook

We go over the major changes to the core rules of DR&D 5e in the new 2024 Player's Handbook.

Wizards of the Coast provided us with an advanced copy of the 2024 PHB for our review purposes. This video was NOT sponsored, endorsed, or approved by Wizards of the Coast, and we received NO financial compensation from Wizards for making this video.

TIME STAMPS

00:00 - Intro
00:52 - Subclasses
01:32 - Ability Scores & Backgrounds
02:34 - Backgrounds & Feats
04:07 - General Feats
05:31 - Healing Potions
06:46 - Spells per Turn
09:39 - Surprise
12:09 - Saving Throws
13:08 - Heroic Inspiration
14:11 - Exhaustion
17:50 - Final Thoughts

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[daneroberts]

Idk if it was intentional but I actually love the loophole of “can cast two levelled spells in a turn if one of them doesn’t consume a spell slot”, because the whole idea of those features that give you free uses of a spell is to make it seem like the spell is innate to you. Of course you can use it more easily than anyone else!

[axis]

The ability score increase for feats is my favorite one. I agonized over it when playing my classes. Worse when it was a MAD class.

[DnDDeepDive]

The only thing better than a new Dungeon Dudes video is when the same video is new TWICE! 🎉🎉🎉

[clarkside]

_Spell Scrolls, _ which are easier to make now, let you cast a spell without spending a spell slot.

[jamesshields]

8:40 the Aberrant Mind Sorcerer has Psionic Sorcery, which allows it to expend sorcery points instead of spell slots to cast one of their psionic spells. this ability has not been changed in the 2024 PHB, meaning using that method of interpreting the rules, the Aberrant Sorcery Sorcerer is now one of the most powerful casters in the game

[Misanthropisme]

I hate to be 'that guy' but in the 2024 players handbook RAW would be that exhaustion DOES apply to death savings throws, as it is a D20 test. However this does mean that things like Bless do indeed apply to that D20 test also.

I do have a homebrew at my table which might make this a little less oppressive: Death saves are a D20 +/- your CON mod. Reason: Con is your physical fortitude.


Source:
Exhausted [Condition]
D20 Tests Affected. When you make a D20 Test, the roll is reduced by 2 times your Exhaustion level.

D20 [Test]
D20 Tests encompass the three main d20 rolls of the game: ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws. If something in the game affects D20 Tests, it affects all three of these rolls. The DM determines whether a D20 Test is warranted in a given circumstance. See also chapter 1 (“D20 Tests”).

Saving Throw
A saving throw—also called a save—represents an attempt to avoid or resist a threat. You normally make a saving throw only when a rule requires you to do so, but you can decide to fail the save without rolling. The result of a save is detailed in the effect that allowed it. If a target is forced to make a save and lacks the ability score used by it, the target automatically fails. See also chapter 1 (“D20 Tests”).

Death Saving Throw
A player character must make a Death Saving Throw (also called a Death Save) if they start their turn with 0 Hit Points. See also chapter 1 (“Damage and Healing”).
Whenever you start your turn with 0 Hit Points, you must make a Death Saving Throw to determine whether you creep closer to death or hang on to life. Unlike other saving throws, this one isn’t tied to an ability score. You’re in the hands of fate now.


To summarise:
Exhaustion is a condition which affects D20 tests, and D20 tests are defined by ability checks, attack rolls and saving throws. Which a death saving throw, is a saving throw. Thus, exhaustion affects it as RAW.

Edit: This could of course change when the new DM's guide comes out.

[dhavaram]

I like that moving through an ally is not considered difficult terrain. In my group using 2014 5e, we made a house rule that on the first round of combat you could freely move through allies so you don't get the positioning bottleneck and the stack of held actions, but the new official rule makes it all the time.

[lugnutninetytwo]

The one spell with a slot per turn also prevents the exchange (where the first and third steps are cast by the same character). Probably an edge case, but it does happen.

[chrisscott]

Surprised you guys didn't mention that heroic inspiration can apply to your wild magic rolls... as fans of the wild magic table figured that would be a *mind blown* moment. :)

[MrDarkir]

Attacks of opportunity has been changed to no longer need a hostile creature. Its now just any creature that leaves your reach. This means you can combo it with warcaster to cast beneficial spells on your allies as they run past you.

[dhavaram]

The old surprise rule made it so it was such an overwhelming advantage to get surprise on the enemy. I think that DMs were reticent to give surprise to the party because it could basically end a combat before it started. Now, under the new rule, it is an advantage, but not so much that the DM is never going to give it to you.

[geoffreyperrin]

I predict that a quick house rule for backgrounds will be to make custom backgrounds. It sounds like all you need to do is:
1. Pick a name appropriate to what you are imagining
2. Pick an origin feat and explain why such a background would have it
3. Pick 3 ability scores that make sense for said background and do the +2/+1 or +1/+1/+1, or just take the +2 and +1 or 3 +1s in whatever you want.
4. Not sure, but maybe some gold for mundane items

[TheMemitim]

Something I didn't notice you mention about Heroic Inspiration, is you can reroll any die roll, not just a d20 test. So if you're a wild magic sorc and accidentally turn yourself into a potted plant? If you have it, you can just say "nah."

[PatThePauper]

Hey! Not messed up audio on another great video!
Keep it up you handsome fellows!

[bukharagunboat]

Mystic Arcanum doesn't use a Spell Slot, so now one of these spells can be used, followed by a spell with a Casting Time of a Bonus Action? Something other casters can't do with their high level spells.

[joatandimas]

Monty is getting in shape, damn. Monty Swole Martin.. Keep going man

[TonyFunsui]

Exhaustion no longer affecting Spell Save DCs (via playtest) keeps most Casters at near full power when exhausted.
...cool lol

[MumboJ]

To be fair, exhaustion level 5 is brutal on the old system too.
Disadvantage on everything, max hp halved, speed reduced to 0 (which also means you can't stand up if you fall over).

[fishizer]

I'd like to see Surprise work where the surprised creatures get an initiative of 1 (or DM discretion #). That way they don't skip a turn, but definitely go last do to being surprised.

[TonyFunsui]

One thing that wasn't brought up with the General feats is that a vast majority of them have a prerequisite of 13+ in a ability score.
So if you had 12 Dex and wanted to use your first and second Feat choices for two Dex half feats, you cannot select most of them until you take the ASI+2 Feat and have 13+ Dex.