Gifts for D&D Players, DMs and Tabletop Gamers
- 20 gift ideas
- From under $25 to under $100
- 10 niche picks
Good gifts for D&D players depend on whether they play or run the game. Players enjoy dice sets, a dice tower and a 2024 Player's Handbook, while Dungeon Masters use a DM screen, a wet-erase battle mat and an initiative tracker. Board gamers can try HeroQuest or Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion.
Quick picks
- Best for the whole table: A pound of dice for the whole table Spare dice for everyone, and a pile to dig through. Idea 1
- Best stocking stuffer: Folding dice trays for every player Small, packs flat and every player gets a rolling space. Idea 4
- Best for DMs: The 2024 Dungeon Master's Screen Hides the DM's notes and keeps rules tables in view. Idea 11
- Best for players: The 2024 Player's Handbook A personal copy of the core character book. Idea 6
- Best splurge: HeroQuest for nights without a DM A dungeon crawler for when the DM needs a week off. Idea 19
Buying for a tabletop player starts with one question: do they play a character or run the game as Dungeon Master? Players want dice and personal books, while DMs want screens, maps and rulebooks. We sorted these 20 ideas by what each person actually uses at the table, and added board games for nights without a DM.
The 2024 rulebooks are new editions, so check which version the group plays before you buy. For other game ideas, see our Gifts for Gamers guide.
Ideas 1 to 5
Dice, trays and rolling gear
Dice are the most personal part of a player's kit, and a table can always use more.
1. A pound of dice for the whole table
A bag of assorted polyhedral dice gives a D&D table spares, which suits a group where someone always borrows a d20 or loses a d4 under the sofa. Digging through a pile to pick the set that feels lucky is half the fun, and new players can start their own collection. The listing carries a small-parts warning and is not for children under 3.
Tip: Share the pile at the table so new players can pick their first set.
2. A metal dice set with a case
A player's main dice are personal, and heavy metal dice make every roll feel important, which suits the player who already owns a plastic set and wants something with weight. A case keeps the seven dice together in a bag. Metal can dent tables and carry a lot of noise, so roll on a tray or a mat.
Tip: Pair it with a dice tray so the metal does not scratch the table.
3. A dice tower and tray
A dice tower settles arguments about tilted dice and keeps rolls off the map and the snacks, so it suits a table that argues about whether a roll counts. Dice drop through the tower and land in a tray below, which also catches the noise of heavy sets. This one folds together as a tray, storage box and tower in a single box.
Tip: Check the tray is big enough for chunky metal or oversized dice.
4. Folding dice trays for every player
Folding hexagon trays give each player a rolling space of their own and pack flat in a bag, so they suit a group that plays at a crowded kitchen table or in a game store. A four-pack covers a typical party of players plus the Dungeon Master. They also stop dice from skittering across the map.
Tip: Count the players at the table, then add one tray for the DM.
5. A big dice bag with pockets
Dice collections grow quickly, and a large drawstring bag with inner pockets keeps sets apart so a player can find the right d20 mid-fight. It suits the player whose dice are loose in a cup or a tin. The listing says it holds more than 300 dice, which leaves room for years of additions.
Tip: Check the pocket layout against how many sets they own.
Ideas 6 to 10
Rulebooks, starter sets and setting books
Check which edition the group plays before you buy a rulebook.
6. The 2024 Player's Handbook
The Player's Handbook is the core book every player uses to build a character, and a personal copy beats sharing the table's single book. This 2024 edition suits a player who is moving over from the earlier rules or starting fresh. The listing age label says 14 and up. Check that the rest of the group is playing the 2024 rules before you buy.
Tip: Confirm with their DM that the group is using the 2024 rules.
7. The 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide
The Dungeon Master's Guide is the core book for running games under the 2024 rules, a solid pick for a new or returning DM who is building a campaign. It holds the advice and tools for running a table, rather than the character rules. Pair it with the Player's Handbook and the Monster Manual if they own none of the core books.
Tip: Check which core books they already own, so you do not double up.
8. The 2024 Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the creature book a Dungeon Master reaches for every session, here updated for the 2024 rules, which suits a DM who needs fresh opponents for the next fight. It is built for the person running the game, so players will not need it. Check whether their DM has the older edition first.
Tip: Ask which edition their current monster book is.
9. The Heroes of the Borderlands starter set
A starter set is made to bring new players and first-time Dungeon Masters to the table, so it suits a group of friends who keep saying they will try D&D. It is the current starter set from Wizards of the Coast. It also helps a family or a friend group start without buying every core rulebook, and it can be played right away.
Tip: Gift it to a group, not one person, so there is a table ready to play.
10. Critical Role's Tal'Dorei setting book
Critical Role's official setting book suits a player or DM who watches the show and wants to play in its world. It describes the Tal'Dorei continent for use at the table, by Matthew Mercer and the Critical Role team. It works for a DM who wants a ready-made setting for a campaign.
Tip: Ask whether they play in the 2024 rules or an earlier edition.
Ideas 11 to 16
Gear for the Dungeon Master
The person running the game carries the most prep, so these items save time.
11. The 2024 Dungeon Master's Screen
The official screen hides the DM's notes and rolls and keeps rules tables in view, which suits any DM running the 2024 edition and wanting a quicker table. Players cannot see the DM's dice, so the suspense stays intact. It is a low-cost gift that gets used every session once a campaign is running.
Tip: Check that they play the 2024 rules, not an older edition.
12. A wet-erase battle mat
A reversible grid mat lets the DM draw any room on the spot with wet-erase markers, which suits a DM who improvises and does not want to print maps. Squares work for most rooms and hexes for travel, and miniatures or tokens sit right on it. It rolls out in seconds and wipes clean between fights.
Tip: Add wet-erase markers, since the mat does not come with them.
13. A magnetic initiative tracker
A magnetic tracker shows turn order at a glance, which keeps combat moving for a DM who juggles a big fight with a dozen creatures. Initiative is the order in which everyone acts, and a visible list saves the question of whose turn it is. It is branded for Pathfinder but works for tracking turns in any game.
Tip: It is Pathfinder-branded but works for any game that tracks turns.
14. Official city dungeon tiles
Cardboard tiles let a DM lay out streets and buildings for miniatures in minutes, which suits a campaign that spends a lot of time in towns and cities. They are official Wizards of the Coast tiles, so they match the look of the books. Tiles suit the DM who wants a physical map without drawing one each session.
Tip: Store them flat in a folder so the edges do not bend.
15. The Monsters Know What They're Doing
Keith Ammann's book explains how each monster would really fight, which helps a DM run smarter and scarier combats without more prep. It suits a DM who has run a few sessions and wants fights to feel less like a list of hit points. It focuses on tactics rather than rules, so it adds to the core books rather than replacing them.
Tip: Pair it with a Monster Manual for the stats it discusses.
16. Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master
Mike Shea's short guide shows DMs how to prep less and still run good sessions, which suits a Dungeon Master with a busy week and a game on Saturday. It is a practical read that cuts prep down to what a table needs. Give it to the DM who is tired and still wants the game to go on.
Tip: Slip it in with a battle mat for a small DM gift set.
Ideas 17 to 18
Miniatures and painting
17. Ready-to-paint official miniatures
WizKids' Nolzur's line gives a player a figure that matches their character, and painting it becomes a hobby of its own. It suits a player who wants their hero on the table instead of a token, or a DM who needs fighters for a fight. The listing label says 14 and up, and the figures come unpainted, so add paint and a brush.
Tip: Buy brushes and a primer too, since the figures come unpainted.
18. A miniature painting starter set
The Army Painter's Speedpaint shades as it dries, so a beginner can finish a table-ready mini in one sitting, which suits a player curious about painting minis but wary of the learning curve. It pairs naturally with the unpainted figures above. Ask first, because painting is a hobby on its own and not every player wants it.
Tip: Add a couple of brushes and an unpainted figure to start.
Ideas 19 to 20
Board games for tabletop gamers
For groups that want a night off from the usual campaign.
19. HeroQuest for nights without a DM
Avalon Hill's revival of the classic dungeon crawler is a board game the group can play when the DM needs a week off. One player takes the villain role and the others explore dungeons together, so it suits a tabletop group that likes minis and quests but wants a ready-made adventure. The listing says 2 to 5 players, ages 14 and up.
Tip: Check the player count matches the size of their usual group.
20. Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
This is a campaign board game with tactical card combat that feels like a dungeon run without a DM, and the compact entry point to Gloomhaven. It suits board gamers who like strategy and want an adventure they can play alone or with up to three friends. The listing says ages 14 and up.
Tip: It plays from one to four, so it works for solo evenings too.
Frequently asked questions
What are good gifts for D&D players?
Dice are the safest start: a metal set, a pound of assorted dice or a tray and tower. Rulebooks suit players and DMs who play the 2024 rules, and miniatures or painting sets suit people who like the craft side. Check the edition and ask whether they are a player or a DM.
What do you get a Dungeon Master for a gift?
A DM screen, a battle mat, an initiative tracker or a book such as The Monsters Know What They're Doing helps with running the game. A Monster Manual or Dungeon Master's Guide suits a DM who does not own them. A low-prep guide suits a DM with a busy week.
Which D&D books should I buy as a gift?
The core books are the Player's Handbook, the Dungeon Master's Guide and the Monster Manual, now in 2024 editions. Check which edition the group plays before buying, because the books differ. For a new group, the starter set is the easier way in.
What is a good gift for someone starting D&D?
A starter set is made for new players and first-time DMs, and a bag of assorted dice gives the table spares. Add a Player's Handbook if they want to build their own character. Our Gifts for Gamers guide covers other ideas for the gamer in your life.
What are good gifts for board game and tabletop gamers?
Try campaign board games such as HeroQuest or Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion, which both list ages 14 and up. Dice towers and trays suit anyone who rolls dice, and a battle mat suits anyone who runs games. Check the player count against their group.
What are good small D&D gifts under $25?
Dice trays, a big dice bag, a DM screen, city dungeon tiles, a book such as The Monsters Know What They're Doing or ready-to-paint miniatures all sit in the lower price range. They suit a stocking or a gift exchange. Check the price on the page when you buy.
