Wizards of the Coast has officially released the essential rules of the revamped 2024 edition of Dungeons & Dragons under a Creative Commons license. This move opens the door for creators to legally incorporate these foundational rules into their own published D&D content.
In an earlier announcement, the publisher had stated that once the new versions of the three core D&D rulebooks were launched, the System Reference Document (SRD)—which distills the game’s fundamental mechanics—would be made accessible through the Creative Commons. That promise has now been fulfilled.
This shift holds considerable significance. Previously, the SRD for the 5th edition of D&D was available under the Open Gaming License (OGL), a framework that allowed others to develop and sell compatible material. However, the OGL’s terms were subject to change. When a potential restriction to this license was leaked, it sparked widespread backlash from the tabletop gaming community. The release of SRD version 5.2 under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY-4.0) ensures that the material cannot be revoked or restricted in the future. Creators now only need to provide a single line of attribution rather than replicating long sections of licensing text, as required by the OGL.
Expanded Content in SRD 5.2
The newly published SRD 5.2 offers more content than its predecessor. Notable additions include multiple feats (rather than just one), new weapon mastery rules introduced in the 2024 update, and an expanded list of magic and combat elements. This includes 20 new spells, 15 magical items, and species options for characters such as goliaths and orcs.
Also featured are a wider variety of monsters. For example, the updated Monster Manual now includes a mechanic where trolls can continue to fight using severed limbs—this rule is now part of the SRD. Other new entries include Bugbear Stalkers, Vampire Familiars, Swarms of Crawling Claws, and more.
Content Excluded from the Creative Commons Release
Despite the extensive material made available, certain elements remain excluded. These omissions include trademarked monsters such as illithids and beholders, the artificer class, rules for bastions, and playable options like aasimars. According to Wizards of the Coast, these exclusions are due to considerations involving intellectual property, licensing policies, and brand identity protection. The company clarified these decisions in a public FAQ.
The full SRD document spans 361 pages. For those more interested in learning how to play rather than creating custom content, Wizards of the Coast has also released updated Basic Rules on D&D Beyond. This provides an accessible starting point for new players, including those drawn to tabletop gameplay after spending hours exploring titles like Baldur’s Gate 3.
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