What is the Essential Kit?
The Essential Kit is one of Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition starter box sets. It is a great introductory product that gives you everything you need to play the game.
The kit currently retails for $24.99, while the included starter adventure, Dragon of Icespire Peak, also sells separately (digital) for $14.99.
Unboxing
Inside the box, you’ll find:
Blank character sheets
A full set of dice
A 64-page rulebook with a streamlined version of the Player’s Handbook (2014)
A Dungeon Master’s screen
A double-sided poster map
81 handy reference cards for magic items, characters, conditions, NPCs, and a box to store them.
The Dragon of Icespire Peak adventure.
Code for the main adventure + Storm Lord’s Wrath, Sleeping Dragon’s Wake, and Divine Contention.
At just $25, the Essential Kit is an excellent deal—even if you’re already using the new 2024 D&D rules. Not only do you get a complete starter adventure, but the box also includes a redemption code on D&D Beyond for the full adventure plus three bonus digital quests.
I remember paying a little bit more two years ago (around 35$) and even then, I felt it was good value. The cost may have dropped because a new starter set is releasing in less than a week, “Heroes of the Borderlands”, which looks fantastic (I pre-ordered it a while ago, stay tuned).
All in all, this is a great product.
Who is this for?
The simple answer is: anyone who wants to try D&D. You get everything to get started in the box, plus the digital adventure to play online.
For players who already own the core rules, dice, and accessories, the Essential Kit may not feel necessary. In that case, the digital adventure pack alone might be the better deal for $10 less. It really depends on whether you value the extra tools like the DM screen, map, dice, and cards.
The adventure
Dragon of Icespire Peak is a really good adventure, and not only for introducing players to the game. It is one of the rare adventure I have played that give the PCs some agency over what they want to accomplish and in which order.
You begin by choosing two out of three starting quests. After completing those (which each grant a level), you move on to four out of six mid-level quests, eventually reaching level 5.
The structure encourages exploration and choice, all centered around Phandalin (5e favorite town).
Along the way, you’ll pick up magic items and weapons to help face the final challenge: a young white dragon named Cryovain.
The adventure is gamemaster-friendly, not too many NPCs, not much prep to do at all, which is also great when playing solo because you can get right into it. (This is something I do appreciate with the limited time I have to play each session.)
If you want to get a feel of the adventure, take a look at my small playthrough session below.
Great write-up and review! Looking forward to your review of the new 2025 starter set: Heroes of the Borderlands when it releases this month!
Thanks for the write-up. My first DnD starter was the original 2014 Starter Set with the Lost Mines of Phandelver adventure. That's still one of the best adventures ever written for 5e, to be honest... except for the early goblin lethality.