Bonus Action 5e Insights and Strategies

In D&D 5th edition, bonus actions are a crucial part of combat and gameplay. They provide players the ability to take an additional action during their turn, allowing use of unique abilities, spells, and other features that can be used to turn the tide of battle.


While not every turn in battle will involve the use of a bonus action, understanding how to use them effectively can be the key to victory in many challenging encounters. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, it’s important to master the use of bonus actions. The bottom line is that they’re a fun and rewarding aspect of gameplay that can help you get the most from your DnD one shots or ongoing RPG campaign.

Bonus Action 5e

Get Ahead in D&D: Understanding Bonus Actions 5e

The use of bonus actions in D&D 5e can be a game-changer. Whether you’re a wizard looking to cast a quickened spell, or a fighter hoping to get in an extra attack, understanding when and how to use bonus actions can greatly enhance your effectiveness in the game.


Examples of Bonus Actions by Class

Classes and subclasses have specific features and abilities that can be used as bonus actions, allowing players to customize play style and tactics. Here are some examples of bonus actions for each class:


  • Barbarian: Rage, Second Wind
  • Bard: Bardic Inspiration, Healing Word
  • Cleric: Spiritual Weapon, Healing Word
  • Druid: Shillelagh, Wild Shape (when applicable)
  • Fighter: Second Wind, Shield Master’s Shove
  • Monk: Flurry of Blows, Patient Defense
  • Paladin: Lay on Hands, Divine Smite
  • Ranger: Hunter’s Mark, Two-Weapon Fighting
  • Rogue: Cunning Action, Second Wind (if your subclass permits)
  • Sorcerer: Quickened Spell, Metamagic
  • Warlock: Hex, Eldritch Blast (with Agonizing Blast invocation)
  • Wizard: Arcane Recovery, Quickened Spell (if your subclass permits)


Primary Types of Bonus Actions

Bonus actions can be used in various scenarios. Of course, there are primary categories for what bonus actions actually “do,” so we’ll take a look at those first.


Dealing Additional Damage

One of the most common and effective uses of a bonus action 5e is to deal additional damage to enemies on your turn. Several classes have bonus action abilities and spells that allow for explosive turns. The rogue’s Sneak Attack or the cleric’s Spiritual Weapon, for example, allow you to maximize your character’s damage output, and take down enemies more quickly.


Healing and Support

Bonus actions can also be used to provide healing and support to allies. Several classes have abilities that allow them to use their bonus actions to heal themselves or other party members, such as the paladin’s Lay on Hands or the cleric’s Healing Word. Even though bonus action heals aren’t as powerful as those from primary actions, they’re still incredibly useful, especially during difficult encounters, and can absolutely help your party avoid a TPK.


Movement and Positioning

Oftentimes, battles can be won or lost simply because the party has superior positioning over their foes, or they’re simply able to attack, when their enemies are not. Several classes have abilities that allow players to use their bonus actions to disengage, dash, or hide, such as the rogue’s Cunning Action, or the monk’s Step of the Wind.


Buffs and Debuffs

One of the best ways to take advantage of your bonus action 5e is to buff yourself or allies, or debuff enemies. Several classes have abilities that allow them to use their bonus actions to cast spells or abilities that provide buffs or debuffs, such as the bard’s Bardic Inspiration or the warlock’s Hex. Though buff and debuff modifiers are often quite small, they certainly add up over the course of a combat encounter.


Interactions and Utility

Bonus actions also allow players to interact with their environment in unique ways, and perform utility actions. Several classes have abilities that allow them to use their bonus actions to use object or open doors, without “using up” primary actions, such as with the rogue’s Fast Hands.

Unleashing Devastation: Bonus Action Combos

Some bonus actions can be optimized by combining them with other actions or features:


  • A fighter might use Shield Master’s Shove as a bonus action to knock an enemy prone, and then follow up with an attack as their regular action with advantage.
  • A sorcerer might use Quickened Spell to cast a spell as a bonus action and then follow up with a regular spell as their primary action.
  • A rogue could use their Cunning Action bonus action 5e to hide and then use their Sneak Attack feature to deal extra damage to an enemy.
  • A paladin may use their Lay on Hands ability to heal themselves as a bonus action and then use their Divine Smite ability to deal extra damage on their regular attack.


Powerful Bonus Action Combos with Your Allies

Combining bonus actions between classes can also be an even more powerful strategy in D&D. Certain classes complement each other well, and combining their bonus actions can result in devastating effects.


These are just a few examples of the many possible combinations of bonus actions between classes. The key is to look for ways to complement each other’s strengths and abilities and to communicate and coordinate effectively with your party. By doing so, you can create powerful synergies and make the most of your bonus actions in D&D 5e.


Rogue and Ranger

The rogue can use their bonus action to hide, which grants them advantage on their next attack. The ranger, in turn, can use their bonus action to attack with advantage, resulting in both classes unleashing a big turn of increased damage.


If you can combo with your ally to deal a burst of damage to an enemy, it increases the chances they won’t receive healing or defensive effects in time to save them, which can end the fight with a flair.


Cleric and Paladin

On the defensive side, a cleric and paladin can synergize very well together to keep allies alive.


The cleric can use their bonus action to cast a spell that grants temporary hit points or healing to an ally. Meanwhile, the paladin can use their bonus action to provide additional healing. Together, especially if primary actions are used to heal or defend allies, the two can practically bring an ally back from the brink of death, in even a single turn.


Sorcerer and Warlock

Spell casters come with a wide variety of effects they can employ. For example, a sorcerer can use their bonus action to cast a quickened spell, which allows them to cast a spell as a bonus action instead of a normal action. The warlock, in turn, can use their bonus action to activate an Eldritch Invocation, such as Hex or Armor of Shadows. This combination allows the casting team to deal additional damage to foes and also buff themselves, or debuff enemies, in the same turn.


Fighter and Barbarian

For raw, in your face damage output, a fighter and barbarian team are almost unmatched. The fighter can use their bonus action to make an additional attack thanks to their Action Surge ability. The barbarian can then use their bonus action to rage, which grants them resistance to damage and increases their damage dealt.


Against enemies who are within reach of your physical attacks, Action Surge and Rage provide an intimidating increase to your offensive capabilities.

Bonus Action 5e Undead Nemesis

What Are Bonus Actions in D&D 5e?

Ok, back to the basics for a second, in case you need to learn these facts. A bonus action 5e is a special type of action that players can take during their turn in addition to their regular action. Bonus actions are typically shorter and less powerful than regular actions, but can be used to perform specific actions that can give players an edge in combat or other situations.


How Do Bonus Actions Work?

Players can take one bonus action per turn, provided they have a valid action to use it with. Additionally, abilities, spells, and features may have specific requirements or triggers to use bonus actions, so it’s important to read the description of each bonus action carefully.


Players should also note that bonus actions cannot be used to take the same action that was used for their regular action, meaning that they cannot cast the same spell twice – as an example.


Timing Is Key: When to Use Bonus Actions in D&D 5e

When it comes to using bonus actions in D&D 5e, timing is everything. You should carefully evaluate your options on a turn-by-turn basis. While bonus actions can provide powerful benefits, they’re limited in availability, so it’s important to determine when to use your bonus actions to gain an advantage. Many bonus actions require a short rest, per use, and characters can only use one bonus action per turn.

Dungeon A Day Article

Bonus Actions in D&D 5e vs. Eternity TTRPG

In D&D, bonus actions often require some kind of recharge period (usually a short rest) between uses, meaning that many bonus actions can only be used once per battle. Additionally, players only get one bonus action per turn.

 

In the Eternity TTRPG Game System, the term is different, and the restrictions are actually less, but the concept of a bonus action is the same. In Eternity TTRPG, an “Instant Action” is any action that can be used – as the name suggests – instantly. In some cases, instant actions are restricted to being used on your character’s turn, but in most cases, they can be used at literally any time.

 

Since Eternity TTRPG also uses a dynamic Initiative Tracker for combat (as opposed to a “static initiative, where everyone’s turns are in a stable order once combat begins), instant actions provide a great deal of things your character – or other peoples’ characters – can “do” even when it isn’t specifically your turn.

 

What Classes in Eternity TTRPG have Bonus Actions?

Being able to engage with the game directly, even when it isn’t your “turn,” is one of the core game design concepts of the Eternity TTRPG Game System. So, every single class has an instant action/ bonus action of some kind. Probably half of all classes have a bonus action that provides only a self-buff, but at least half of all classes have a very dynamic bonus action that can be used offensively, to heal allies, move, increase range on attacks, etc.

 

Since there are simply too many instant actions to list, here’s a sample of some of the game’s most iconic bonus action-like core class spells and abilities:

 

Assassin – Core Class Ability

Ambush: this ability can only be used at the start of a battle, before Initiative is rolled. Instant Action, take one Action of any kind. When you use or critical this ability, you can’t use any more Wisdom this turn. 1Day Recharge.

  • (Life-Ender) You also gain two (2) stacks of “Lethality.” 
  • (Infiltrator) You also move your Speed value.
  • (Expert) You can use this ability twice before it goes on Recharge (but not during the same battle). This Critical still takes only 1Wisdom to use.

 

Cryomancer – Core Class Ability

Icy Enervation (Magic): 4Range, this spell automatically hits. Every time the target attacks, roll d20. If you roll 18-20, they take 1damage (deals 2damage to pyromancers). You can only deal damage with this spell once per turn, per target. You can instead choose to continually maintain this spell as an aura for 3Intelligence, per target you want to cast at, making it an Instant Action at the start of every battle. 

  • (Frost Knight) The target also has -13Strike Bonus and -13Faith for their next attack.
  • (Spells of Everwinter) Up to 3 enemies in 4Range.
  • (Elemental Ice) Roll 15-20. You can instead choose to continually maintain this critical as an aura for 6Intelligence (and 0Wisdom), per target you want to cast at, making it an Instant Action at the start of every battle.

 

Legionnaire – Core Class Ability

Blood Draw: weapon Range, Strike Bonus vs. Dodge. If this ability hits, roll d20 on every one of the target’s turns. If you roll 18-20, they take 1damage. Once the target drops to half of their max HP (rounded up), this ability cannot be dispelled or removed in any way, and you only need to roll 14-20 to hit, causing them to take 1damage. You can instead choose to continually maintain this ability as an aura for 3Intelligence, per target you want to use it on, making it an Instant Action at the start of every battle.   

           (Double-Hit): roll 5 numbers less to hit.

  • (Bringer of Balance) Roll 15-20 when the target has more than half of their max HP (rounded up). Roll 7-20 when the target has only half of their max HP left (rounded up). You can instead choose to continually maintain this critical as an aura for 6Intelligence (and 0Wisdom), per target you want to use it on, making it an Instant Action at the start of every battle.
  • (Art of War) Even if this ability misses, +7Strike Bonus vs. Resilience, Taunts the target for 2turns. This critical effect cannot Double-Hit or give a Block.
  • (Blade Disciple) Even if this ability misses, +7Strike Bonus vs. Resilience, the target also has -3Speed. You can instead choose to continually maintain this critical as an aura for 6Intelligence (and 0Wisdom), per target you want to use it on, making it an Instant Action at the start of every battle. 

 

Pyromancer – Core Class Ability

Meltdown (Magic): Instant Action. 4Range, -7Faith vs. Resilience, the target is Locked for 1turn. If you hit with this spell while you are affected by “Fire Augmentation,” it also allows you the chance to apply that effect.

           If you critical this spell, you can’t use any more Wisdom this turn. “Meltdown” cannot Double-Hit or give a Block. 3turn Recharge.

  • (Flames of the Abyss) Even if this spell misses, you gain +3Faith.
  • (Magic of the Silver Lands) Up to 3 enemies in 4Range, Faith vs. Resilience, all affected targets are Locked for 3turns.
  • (Elemental Fire) You can only use this critical if you have “Arcane” selected. You also attack the enemy using a non-critical “Arcane Burn” in the same turn.
Heroes are made with Bonus Actions

Additionally, here are some of Eternity TTRPG’s most iconic specialization/ critical option instant actions:

 

Berserker – Specialization/ Critical Option

Mortal Throw: throw your main hand and off-hand weapons 4Range, -7Strike Bonus vs. Dodge to hit (Strike Bonus not debuffed by “Dual-Wield”), deals 1damage. Move your Speed value -3 before or after this attack. After you throw your weapon, it returns to you, even if the attack misses.

           (Double-Hit): deals 2damage.   

  • (Dauntless Fury) You can use this critical as an Instant Action when you drop to 0HP. When you use this critical, you can’t use any more Wisdom this turn.

 

Fallen Paladin – Specialization/ Critical Option

Life Eater (Magic): after you cast this spell on yourself, whenever an ally or enemy in 12Range takes damage, roll d20. If you roll 16-20, heal one ally in 4Range, +1HP. This spell allows the target to heal 1HP above their normal max HP. You can only cause healing with this spell once per turn. Healing from this effect also Fatigues the target, giving -1Resilience, -1Dodge, and -1Will for 1Day Duration (can stack without limit). You can instead choose to continually maintain this spell for 2Inspiration.

  • (Sword of Shadows) You also take an additional non-critical Instant Action the next time you attack a target. You can instead choose to continually maintain this critical for 5Inspiration (and 0Wisdom), until this effect takes place.

 

Judge – Specialization/ Critical Option

God Save the King (Magic): weapon Range, +7Strike Bonus vs. Resilience or 4Range, +7Faith vs. Resilience, Taunts the target for 2turns. “God Save the King” cannot Double-Hit or give a Block.

  • (Swift Justice) You can use this critical if an ally takes damage. Instant Action. When you use this critical, you can’t use any more Wisdom for 1turn. 1turn Recharge.

 

Oracle – Specialization/ Critical Option

Greater Dispel (Magic): 4Range, Faith vs. Resilience, removes all stacks of one ongoing Magic, maintained effect, or status effect from the target (excluding summons), at your choice. Or alternatively, 4Range, +5Faith vs. Resilience, deals 1damage to a summoned unit.

           This spell is cast on any target you’d like, but the roll is made against the character who cast the spell or used the ability you are attempting to remove, unless the target is a summon.

           (Double-Hit): removes all stacks of 2 ongoing Magic or maintained effects (excluding summons). Or alternatively, if cast at a summon, deals an additional 1damage to the summoned unit.

  • (Memories of Eternity) Instant Action. When you use this critical, you can’t use any more Wisdom this turn. 1turn Recharge.
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Strategies for using Bonus Actions in Eternity TTRPG

As a powerful debuff against spell casters, Silence allows you to prevent magical healing, zero out enemy spell damage, and even interrupt ongoing magical buffs or debuffs.

 

Immediately Buff Yourself and Allies

In the Eternity TTRPG Game System, it’s basic to start off every fight with maxed out buffs, based on your character’s stats. Since buffs can be “Maintained” via your character’s “Inspiration” stat, you can effectively instant action buff yourself at the start of every fight – and you absolutely should, as you can count on enemies doing the same.

 

Cast Debuffs at the Perfect Time

Sometimes, it’s best to instant action debuffs on enemies from the very start of every combat encounter, especially if that debuff compounds in power over time. However, it’s sometimes best to wait until your enemy’s about to cast a big spell or unleash a powerful attack on your or an ally to lower their attack chance, for example.

 

With instant actions, you can choose when to interrupt spells, abilities, attacks, movement – really anything you want. The only limit to finding the perfect timing for breaking down your enemy’s strategy is your own creativity.

 

Overwhelm Enemies

I personally enjoy building characters with super low initiative. The reason is that by avoiding any stats increases into initiative, I can load up on other stats like my hit chance or defenses. Plus, it doesn’t matter that I have low initiative, so long as you build with instant actions.

 

Classes like the revenant, for example, have all kinds of status effects they can bonus action cast on enemies, all simultaneously. So, even though my character is super slow, I may actually start every battle with 3-4 instant cast spells. Finally, in Eternity TTRPG, debuffs also trigger every time the target of your spell takes their turn, meaning that if I’m slow and they take turns more often than me, they actually get almost double-debuffed from my spells.

 

Give Yourself Force Multipliers

Consider situations where you can multiply the beneficial effects that you gain from instant cast spells and abilities. For example, the “Haste” archon spell gives you extra turns. Well, if you also give yourself a relic that provides you with the fallen paladin “Blood Spiller” ability, then you get a chance to deal extra damage whenever you attack, plus you get extra turns that also give you the “Blood Spiller” effect, again.

 

Finish Off Powerful Enemies

Healing in Eternity TTRPG is pretty simple, and it’s powerful. It does come with some long-term drawbacks, but if you’re fighting a major villain who has henchmen that can heal him when he drops to low HP, you may have a problem on your hands.

 

One of the best ways to use instant/ bonus actions is to quickly deal a burst of damage large enough to drop the enemy to 0HP in one fell swoop. If you can save your instant action burst for an opportune moment, though you may be itching to use it through the entire encounter, you’ll be the hero of the battle once that final blow is dealt.

 

Save Allies from the Brink of Death

As defensive powers, instant actions are also game-changers. Some classes, such as the paladin, have instant heal effects that bring an ally back from 0HP. These effects are also incredibly useful as they heal an ally back to 1HP even if they took damage from a massive attack that would otherwise have left them far in the negatives.

 

Try Out the Eternity TTRPG Game System

Whether you’ve played D&D for many years or you’re new to TTRPGs, check out the Eternity TTRPG Game System. Eternity is a self-published game that I created back in college, and even now, continues to receive regular updates.

 

Eternity TTRPG is a GM-less game where all players at the table can contribute to the game’s world, overall story, and overall individual quests as much or little as they like. You can pick up a PDF copy at the Eternity TTRPG shop.

 

Finally, I know that getting into a new game system comes with a bit of a learning curve. However, if you enjoy the idea of contributing to your game’s story without always being the sole dungeon master, and if you like highly tactical combat, then I know you’ll enjoy Eternity. Happy gaming!

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Jacob Tegtman Eternity TTRPG Creator

Author - Jacob Tegtman

Dear reader, I hope you enjoyed this article. Tabletop gaming has been a passion of mine since I was 6 years old. I've played just about every game from Dungeons and Dragons to video games like Final Fantasy. These games have inspired me, made me laugh, made me cry, and brought me endless hours of enjoyment.


I started Eternity TTRPG - and the indie tabletop game that goes along with it (Eternity Shop) - to share my love of gaming with others. I believe that in our technology-driven age, tabletop games help bring a sense of magic and community back into our world.


If you love the site, please share it with others! I have lots of gaming-related material for you to peruse and use in your own gaming sessions. If you have any questions about the site or want to contribute, just send me a message using the "Contact" page, which you can find in the site's footer.

Three Quick Strange Things that Stranger Things Got Wrong About D&D

By Jacob Tegtman • January 15, 2026
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQLN8bvlo-Q Transcription If you’re like me, you just watched Stranger Things Season 5, and it was amazing. Personally, I felt like it really hit similarly to the first season – they did a great job. But you're watching Stranger Things, getting hyped about seeing D&D represented in mainstream media, when suddenly Mike declares he's casting a spell, as a paladin... at first level. And you're sitting there thinking, "Wait, that's not how that works." Well, you're not alone. Today we're diving deep into three quick, but glaring D&D mistakes – or, perhaps intentional and fun D&D alternations – that Stranger Things has made throughout its run. I love Stranger Things, so this is by no means a criticism of the show. If anything, some of these mistakes just makes me like it more. Because, let’s get real – most D&D games fudge something in the rules anyways. It’s part of the fun. And no one really wants to be a rules lawyer all the time. What's up, dice rollers! Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG where we explore everything that makes tabletop RPGs amazing. I'm your host, and today we're taking a critical but loving look at how Stranger Things – arguably the biggest mainstream representation of D&D we've ever had – got some pretty fundamental (and sometimes funny) things wrong about our favorite hobby. Now, before we dive in, let me be clear: I absolutely love that Stranger Things brought D&D into the spotlight. The show has introduced countless people to our hobby, and that's incredible. As D&D enthusiasts, we can appreciate the show while also having some fun pointing out where the Duffer Brothers maybe should have consulted their Player's Handbook a bit more carefully. So grab your dice, settle in, and let's explore three quick strange things that Stranger Things got wrong about D&D. Mistake #1: The Demogorgon Campaign Confusion I’m gonna call this “Mistake #1,” by the way, and you’ll find out why in just a minute. But let's start with this big one from Season 1. In the very first episode, we see the boys playing D&D, and Will's character encounters the Demogorgon. Now, the show treats this like it's some kind of final boss encounter, but here's the problem: a Demogorgon in D&D is a CR 26 creature. Basically, a Lv.26 monster. That's endgame content for level 20 characters. These kids are clearly playing low-level characters – probably somewhere between levels 1-5 based on their abilities and the campaign Mike’s describing. A real Demogorgon would obliterate their entire party in a single round without breaking a sweat. It would be like sending a group of mall security guards to fight Godzilla. What the show probably meant to use was a lesser demon or maybe just called it a "demogorgon" as a generic monster name. But for D&D players, it's like watching someone try to drive a car with a boat steering wheel – technically it's transportation equipment, but it's completely wrong for the situation. Is this really a mistake though? I’d say yes, technically. But also, we all know how kids get when playing games. Mike was probably like, “hey, you know what would be cool for my party of Lv.5 adventurers? Give them something that inspires them. Like this CR26 literal god.” It’s the type of move that every DM has done at some point – just go way, wayyy overboard. And again, that’s part of the fun with games like D&D. Mistake #2: The Paladin Spell Situation This one is really funny to me because it happens multiple times throughout the series. Mike's primarily the dungeon master for his group. But when he plays, his character is consistently referred to as a paladin, and we see him attempting to cast spells at what appears to be first level. Here's the issue: in every edition of D&D that would have been available when Stranger Things is set – we're talking late 70s to early 80s – paladins don't get spells until much higher levels. In AD&D (Advanced dungeons and dragons), paladins don't get their first spell until 9th level. Even in modern 5th Edition, paladins don't get spells until 2nd level. But the show has Mike casting spells right from the start. It's a small detail, but it shows a fundamental misunderstanding of how the class works. It would be like showing a wizard swinging a two-handed sword as their primary weapon – technically possible in some circumstances, but it misses the point of the class – for that level, at least – entirely. It’s another “mistake” though that many groups would make, probably especially kids. You want to play a character who can do cool things, at any level. So maybe this was another intentional move on the Duffer brothers’ part, showing not just the rules for D&D, but how people actually play. Mistake #3: The Dice Rolling Drama This one’s more about dramatic license. Throughout the series, we see characters making single dice rolls for incredibly complex situations, and the entire outcome hinges on that one roll. Real D&D involves a lot more dice rolling and a lot more back-and-forth between players and the DM. Combat isn't usually resolved with a single dramatic roll – it's a series of attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws, and tactical decisions. The show makes it look like D&D is just "roll a d20 and see what happens," when the reality, as we all know, is much more nuanced. The most egregious example is in Season 1 when Will's fate seems to hinge entirely on a single d20 roll. While dramatic moments like this can happen in D&D, they're usually the culmination of a longer sequence of events, not the entire encounter. Of course, filming four kids rolling dozens of dice over and over doesn’t make for great visual episodes, I assume. This one is really more to point out that anyone who isn’t familiar with D&D may be a bit surprised walking into a real gaming session at how many dice really do get rolled. On platforms like Reddit, the D&D community's reaction to these inaccuracies has been... interesting. Players have been discussing these since the show premiered. One user pointed out in a popular thread: "I love that Stranger Things brought D&D to the mainstream, but I wish they'd gotten a consultant who actually understood the game mechanics. It's like they researched D&D by reading about it rather than playing it." Another user noted: "The show gets the emotional core of D&D right – the friendship, the collaborative storytelling, the escapism. But the mechanical details are so wrong that it's distracting for anyone who actually plays." Now, do these mistakes matter? I would argue they don't – Stranger Things is a TV show, not a D&D tutorial. People may come into the hobby with incorrect assumptions on how things work. But, if more people are getting into the hobby, then that's positive. And D&D – or let’s at least say tabletop roleplay games – have experienced unprecedented growth partly thanks to Stranger Things, and that's amazing for our community. So here's what I want to know from you: is there anything else fun or silly that I missed from Stranger Thing’s D&D inaccuracies? I’m sure there has to be more than just these three, so please hit me up in the comments and let me know what you’ve found! And that wraps up our dive into Stranger Things, for today. Remember, this comes from a place of love – both for the show and for D&D. If you enjoyed this quick video, make sure to hit that like button and subscribe for more D&D content. Whether you're fighting demogorgons in the Upside Down or just trying to survive your first dungeon crawl, keep those dice rolling!
Dragonlance

DragonLance Legends coming to Amazon in February

By Jacob Tegtman • December 17, 2025
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=257fKzW8yzA Transcription Before there was Game of Thrones, Baldur’s Gate, and Critical Role.… there was Dragonlance .  A fantasy saga that defined an entire generation of D&D players — epic wars, tragic heroes, and dragons that actually felt like dragons. But if you aren’t familiar, what is Dragonlance — and why are we still talking about it in 2026? Well to answer that last question, the new “Legends Edition” which is the second Trilogy of Dragonlance is coming to Amazon in February. This is a big deal because getting new copies of the original Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy, and now this second “Legends” Trilogy was becoming very difficult. I’m hoping these new prints rekindle the spark of one of the greatest D&D settings and novel series of all time, and introduce even more people to its magic. Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG, your home for D&D history, lore deep-dives, and the stories that shaped the game we play today. If you love tabletop RPGs, classic settings, and learning why D&D looks and plays the way it does today, you’re in the right place. So, let’s talk about one of my favorite fantasy settings – and fantasy book series of all times – Dragonlance . Dragonlance started as a bold idea from Tracy Hickman and Laura Hickman , later developed with Margaret Weis at TSR. To answer the burning question you may be having, right off the bat – yes, the Dragonlance adventures came before the book series. At the time, most D&D adventures were simple and modular. You’d kick in a dungeon door, fight some monsters, grab treasure, and move on. Dragonlance asked a very different question. What if Dungeons & Dragons could tell one long, epic story? Instead of disconnected adventures, the Dragonlance team wanted a campaign with a clear beginning, middle, and end. A single, continent-spanning war. A story that unfolded over time, not just session to session. To make that work, players wouldn’t create random characters. They’d play pre-generated heroes, each designed to fit directly into the narrative, with personal arcs baked into the plot. That idea became the original Dragonlance AD&D module series — eventually twelve linked adventures telling the story of the War of the Lance. On paper, it was revolutionary. At the table… it was complicated. The problem is simple. And honestly, you can probably pause the video here and tell me the problem, yourself, based on your own D&D games. It’s basically this: D&D games, and it’s players – are unpredictable. Dungeons & Dragons thrives on player choice, improvisation, and chaos. Dragonlance, on the other hand, needed players to be in very specific places, doing very specific things, at specific times. If the party ignored a hook, skipped a location, or made an unexpected choice, the entire story could fall apart. So the modules relied heavily on railroading — nudging, and sometimes outright forcing, players back onto the intended path. That tension made Dragonlance awkward to run as a campaign. The story was strong, but the format worked against the strengths of tabletop roleplaying. And that’s when Dragonlance found the form it was truly built for. To promote the modules, TSR (that is, the company founded by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye, to publish D&D) decided to release a trilogy of tie-in novels. That decision came late, the original author didn’t work out, and Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman ended up writing the first book themselves — in roughly three months. The result was Dragons of Autumn Twilight, released in 1984. Which, even talking about almost brings a tear to my eye – the book was just that impactful to me in my teenage years. TSR expected modest sales. But instead, the book was a massive hit. For many readers, this wasn’t just their first Dragonlance novel — it was their first D&D novel. It introduced the idea that a D&D party could be the heart of a fantasy epic, with flawed characters, emotional arcs, and long-term consequences. This is basically why Dragonlance matters to D&D history. And not just a little bit. It matters – a LOT. Dragonlance proved that Dungeons & Dragons wasn’t just a game system — it was actually its own entire storytelling engine. If you haven’t read the novel series, I have some amazing news for you, shortly. But at its core, Dragonlance is about one idea: hope in darkness. The world of Krynn is broken. The gods are distant. War is everywhere. People are scared, tired, and cynical. But, the world of Dragonlance isn’t saved by a single chosen hero. Instead, this novel series tells you that the world can be saved when ordinary people choose to do the right thing, even when it’s hard, and even when it feels pointless. That philosophy shaped the tone of the setting. Dragonlance was darker than most TSR-era worlds, but it was never hopeless. Friendship mattered. Faith mattered. Sacrifice mattered. Umm, a lot. Those themes became incredibly influential, especially for party-focused storytelling in D&D campaigns. Dragonlance also changed how dragons were treated in D&D. Before this, dragons were often just very powerful monsters. Dangerous, sure — but still just another encounter. Dragonlance made dragons rare, mythical, and world-shaping. What becomes the mystical return of dragons isn’t just a side quest in this setting. It’s THE central event that changes the balance of power across the entire world. That idea — that dragons should feel legendary, and not just routine — stuck, and it still shapes how dragons are presented in modern D&D. After the success of the original trilogy, Weis and Hickman followed it with Dragonlance Legends, which is what I’ll be getting to more about in just a few minutes. Instead of escalating to an even bigger war, Legends zoomed in. It focused on the twins from the first trilogy: Raistlin and Caramon Majere, and on the topics of ambition, responsibility, and the cost of power. It introduced time travel – which to be honest, I don’t love – personal tragedy, and consequences that felt intimate. This trilogy, too, was a massive success, even hitting the New York Times bestseller list — a first for TSR. For a brief moment, Dragonlance wasn’t just a D&D setting. It actually became the face of D&D storytelling. But Dragonlance’s greatest strength eventually became its weakness. The setting was tightly bound to one story and one cast of characters. Once the War of the Lance was resolved, the world of Krynn felt… finished. New stories struggled to find the same weight. Bigger threats felt repetitive. New heroes had a hard time stepping out of the shadow of the originals. Unlike the Forgotten Realms, Krynn never felt like a neutral playground. It felt like a world where the most important story had already happened. And slowly, Dragonlance faded from the spotlight. Dragonlance went quiet after 2010. But in February 2026, we’re getting a new hardcover release of Dragonlance Legends — collecting the full trilogy with new behind-the-scenes material from Weis and Hickman. It’s not a full revival of the setting. It’s a reminder of an important moment in D&D history, when the game experimented with storytelling in a way that permanently changed how we think about campaigns. This trilogy about the twins: Raistlin and Caramon – is coming after the Chronicles trilogy was rereleased (I believe) just this last year – I got my copy from Margaret Weis at GenCon. These books haven’t been in print for some time. So, if you like what you’ve been hearing about Dragonlance, or you – like me – are a longtime fan, you may want to pick these up. You can get the original Chronicles Trilogy on Amazon now, and the second Trilogy – Legends – is coming out this February. Dragonlance asked a question that D&D is still trying to answer: Is this game about total freedom… or about telling powerful stories? Most tables today try to balance both. And whether you loved Dragonlance or bounced hard off its railroads, its influence is still baked into how D&D is played, written, and remembered. So I want to know — have you read Dragonlance, or played in a campaign set in Krynn? Would you run a Dragonlance campaign today, or does it feel too tied to its story? Let me know in the comments, like the video if you enjoyed it,subscribe for more D&D deep dives, and I’ll see you next time.
One-Shot Wonders holiday adventure pack blog image

D&D Beyond's Holiday One-Shot Wonders Adventure Pack

By Jacob Tegtman • December 15, 2025
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kh5bY2opoA Transcription The holidays just got more magical… and a little chaotic! Today we’re unwrapping the brand-new One-Shot Wonders: Holiday Adventure Pack on D&D Beyond, perfect for your next winter game night — whether you’re running one session or surprising your group with some festive mayhem! This pack delivers not just one, but five holiday themed adventures that you can run in about 3 hours each — from silly toy factory break-ins to battling puddling gremlins and more!” So what exactly is in this Holiday Adventure Pack? The pack includes five standalone adventures, each designed for a specific level range, from early Level 1–2 play all the way up to Level 11–12. Each adventure is built to be completed in a single three-hour session, with minimal prep required and optional guidance for scaling difficulty up or down depending on your party. Included are also five fully illustrated battlemaps, featuring festive locations like a toy factory, an ice castle, and a grand holiday banquet hall. These maps are compatible with D&D Beyond’s Maps VTT, making them easy to drop into both in-person and online games. Additionally, you can have fun with three brand-new monsters: the Great Fir Drake, Pudding Gremlins, and the Snow Sphinx. Sometimes I feel these kind of holiday-themed monsters add charm to end-of-year games, and other times, I think it’s a bit of stretch to add them because they can feel a bit gimmick-y. But these ones, I like. Each creature comes with full stat blocks, original art, and lore, giving DMs memorable seasonal threats that still feel mechanically distinct and interesting to run. One thing I really like are the four new playable species, including a Frosty-inspired Snowborn, a humanoid reindeer known as the Tarandus, the tree-like Hederan, and the fox-folk Canisar. These species are fully integrated into D&D Beyond’s character builder, making them easy to use for one-shots or even longer campaigns. The reindeer-people kind of freak me out a bit, but I’d play a snowborn. Rounding things out are twelve new magic items inspired by the Twelve Days of Christmas. These items lean into festive flavor while still offering practical in-game utility, making them fun rewards that won’t feel out of place at the table. If you’re like – well – most of us, getting everyone together during the holidays is tricky. That makes one-shots like these a pretty decent solution — fast, fun, and filled with seasonal character. And, often chaos! At $14.99 for the whole pack, it’s only about $3 per ready-to-run adventure , and that includes a lot of bonuses with the special holiday races, monsters, and 12-days of Christmas items. Overall, not a bad value for some D&D holiday cheer. So there you have it — a festive, fun, and flexible way to bring your group together this winter. Whether you’re gifting this pack to your DM or grabbing it to run your own seasonal session, the Holiday Adventure Pack on D&D Beyond is a great way to keep your table rolling into the new year. I’ve got a link to D&D Beyond in the video description for you, below, in case you want to pick it up! That’s it for today! Hit LIKE if you want more holiday game ideas, SUBSCRIBE for D&D news and tools, and let me know in the comments — which adventure would you run first?
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