What You Get at Each D&D Beyond Subscription Level
D&D Beyond offers three paid subscription tiers — Hero, Master, and Legendary — plus a free account with limited features. Each tier unlocks different content libraries, character creation tools, and campaign management features. The price and what you can access depends on which tier you choose, and you can change or cancel your subscription at any time.
The free tier lets you create one character, access basic rules, and join campaigns others have created. Paid tiers add more character slots, official sourcebooks, digital dice, and tools for dungeon masters running campaigns. If you play multiple characters or run your own campaign, a paid tier usually makes sense. If you only join games others run, the free tier may be enough.
Key Takeaways
- D&D Beyond's free tier includes one character slot and basic rules, but paid tiers unlock official sourcebooks and more character slots.
- Hero tier costs less than Master tier but gives you fewer sourcebooks and no campaign management tools for dungeon masters.
- Master and Legendary tiers include all official sourcebooks released to date, but Legendary adds additional perks like custom digital dice and priority support.
- You can switch between tiers or cancel at any time, and your subscription renews monthly unless you turn off auto-renewal.
- Content you unlock while subscribed stays in your account even if you downgrade, though you may lose access to some features.
Hero Tier: The Entry-Level Paid Option
Hero tier is the lowest-cost paid subscription and costs a set monthly amount. It gives you five character slots instead of one, access to the Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide, and the ability to use digital dice during play. You also get a small discount on marketplace purchases if D&D Beyond sells additional content.
Hero tier does not include all official sourcebooks — you get the core three books (Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual) but not expansion books like Xanathar's Guide to Everything or Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. If you want to build characters using options from those books, you either need to buy them separately or upgrade to Master or Legendary tier.
Master Tier: Full Sourcebook Access
Master tier includes all official D&D sourcebooks released through the current year. This means you get every character option, spell, magic item, and monster from books like Xanathar's Guide, Tasha's Cauldron, Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, and others. The exact list of included books changes as Wizards of the Coast releases new material, so check D&D Beyond's website to see which books are currently included.
Master tier also gives you unlimited character slots, campaign management tools for running your own games, and the ability to share homebrew content with your group. If you are a dungeon master or play in multiple campaigns with different characters, this tier removes the friction of managing slots and looking up rules across different books.
Legendary Tier: Premium Features and Priority Support
Legendary tier includes everything in Master tier — all sourcebooks, unlimited characters, campaign tools — plus additional perks. You get custom digital dice sets, a higher upload limit for custom images and homebrew content, and priority customer support if you run into technical issues. Legendary also includes a monthly stipend of D&D Beyond's virtual currency, which you can use to purchase additional content from the marketplace.
Legendary tier is the most expensive option and makes sense if you run campaigns regularly, create a lot of homebrew content, or want the fastest customer support response. If you only play as a character in other people's games, Master tier usually covers everything you need.
How to Change or Cancel Your Subscription
You can change your subscription tier or cancel at any time through your D&D Beyond account settings. Go to your account page, find the subscription section, and select the option to upgrade, downgrade, or cancel. Changes take effect at the start of your next billing cycle, not when ready.
If you cancel, you keep your account and any characters you created, but you lose access to features tied to your subscription tier. For example, if you downgrade from Master to Hero, you keep your characters but can only use sourcebooks included in Hero tier. Content you purchased separately stays in your account.
What Happens to Your Content When You Change Tiers
Characters you created while subscribed stay in your account even if you downgrade. However, if a character uses options from a sourcebook you no longer have access to, those options may show as locked or unavailable until you re-subscribe or buy that book separately.
Campaigns you created as a dungeon master also stay in your account, but some campaign management features may be limited on the free tier. If you downgrade from Master to free, you can still view and reference your campaigns, but you cannot add new players or use certain tools that require a paid subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use D&D Beyond for free, and what can I do?
Yes. The free tier lets you create one character, access the basic rules, and join campaigns that other players or dungeon masters have shared with you. You cannot run your own campaign or access sourcebooks beyond the free rules. If you only play in games others run, free is often enough.
Do I have to buy sourcebooks separately if I don't subscribe?
You can buy individual sourcebooks through D&D Beyond's marketplace without a subscription. However, buying multiple books this way costs more than a Master or Legendary subscription, which includes all books. If you plan to use options from three or more sourcebooks, a paid subscription is usually cheaper.
What's the difference between Master and Legendary?
Master and Legendary both include all sourcebooks and unlimited characters. Legendary adds custom dice, higher homebrew upload limits, a monthly currency stipend, and priority support. If you only need sourcebook access and campaign tools, Master is enough. Legendary is for people who create a lot of custom content or want faster support.
If I cancel my subscription, do I lose my characters?
No. Your characters stay in your account after you cancel. However, if they use options from sourcebooks you no longer have access to, those options may be locked. You can still view and reference your characters, and you can re-subscribe anytime to unlock them again.
Can I switch between tiers without losing anything?
Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade at any time, and your characters and campaigns stay with you. The change takes effect at your next billing date. If you downgrade, you may lose access to some features, but your data is not deleted.