Dungeons & Dragons: Best Starting Equipment For Every Class (2024)

Artificers have a high Dexterity score, meaning crossbows and daggers are a solid choice. Cantrips will be your main offense early on. As you level up, you can imbue your weapons with powerful magic.

Like other magical classes, the Artificer is restricted to light and medium armour. Scale amour or half plate are your best options, with the latter just edging out the contest.

A shield is also a good idea. Some artificers sell the crossbow that comes with their starting kit to fund their first shield.

Artificers choose a set from the list of Artisan Tools. Many of these are useful for an artificer. Go for whatever sounds most fun. You can choose two additional sets of standard tools. Thieves' tools are a solid choice.

Greatswords, greataxes, or any two-handed melee weapon with bonuses will get the most from your high Strength.

Unarmoured Defense means your armour class equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Constitution modifier when unarmoured. Some barbarians pair this with a shield, while others opt for half-plate armour.

As a front-line fighter, expect damage early on. Grab some healing items as soon as possible. Potions of healing are your best bet.

Spells are the bard's main feature, but any finesse weapon works with your high Dexterity. A crossbow is a good choice for a ranged weapon.

Bards are proficient with light armour. Studded leather is among your best options.

Bards are limited to light armour, so anything that boosts your armour class (AC) is welcome. The Ring of Protection is a solid early choice.

The mace is the classic choice for clerics. At higher levels, cantrips will become your ranged offense. At the beginning, choose either a crossbow or a javelin.

Most clerics start with scale mail. Chain mail might be a better option if you get heavy armour proficiency from your divine domain.

Anything that increases spell damage or a chance to hit is a good idea. The Amulet of the Devout is a great magic item for clerics.

A druid's main weapons are often the fangs and claws of the animal forms they inhabit. A blunt weapon like a club or quarterstaff makes sense as a backup weapon.

Hide armour is good. Studded leather armour is better.

Druids can use scrolls, so consider some of those. Anything that grants bonuses to your healing, control, or offensive abilities is welcome. The Staff of the Woodlands gives bonuses to hit and damage.

As a fighter by vocation, you're proficient with a wide variety of weapons. Depending on your build, choose something with a +1 that complements your Strength or Dexterity.

Half plate is your best choice for a Dexterity build (as long as you don't plan on much stealth). Full plate is the best armour for Strength-based warriors, but the free starting chainmail works fine.

Anything granting a bonus to your primary attribute or increasing your AC is a good idea. A Belt of Strength is a popular magical item with fighters, allowing their Strength to exceed 20.

When a monk uses a weapon, it deals either that weapon's base damage or the monk's martial arts damage - whichever is higher. A spear (1d8 damage) is probably your best option until your Unarmed Strikes hit 1d10 at Level 17.

Monks eschew armour, relying instead on Unarmoured Defense.

Anything to boost AC or offer any different type of damage resistance is welcome. A Cloak of Protection offers some extra resistance early on.

Polearms are great for paladins (especially if you take the Polearm Master feat). Greatswords, longswords, mauls, and warhammers are good two-handed options, and a rapier is a solid choice for a finesse build.

Full plate is the best option for almost every paladin. Studded leather makes sense for a finesse build.

Paladins can use scrolls, so get some emergency healing scrolls early.

Longbows are archery rangers' best option while rapiers are the best melee option. Shortswords make sense for two-weapon fighting rangers.

Studded leather offers decent protection without compromising your stealth,

Anything granting bonuses to hit is a welcome addition to your ranger build. Arrows of Slaying are special arrows that deal damage to specific enemies. They're convenient in the early game.

Light crossbows are a rogue's go-to ranged weapon. Daggers, shortswords, and rapiers are all good choices for a melee rogue.

Rogues are restricted to leather armour, making studded leather armour your best choice.

Initially, anything that improves your standard rogue abilities, such as disarming traps and picking locks, is a good idea. Gloves of Thievery or a Ring of Invisibility will help your roguish career.

A light crossbow will do more damage than your offensive spells until you hit Level five.

Sorcerers start without any armour proficiency (except for mountain dwarves). Casting Shield and Mage Armour are the best ways to boost AC early on.

Early game; anything that boosts AC or improves your chance to hit is welcome. Like many other classes, sorcerers benefit from having a Cloak of Protection early on.

Blade Pact Warlocks use weapons. The rest stick to dealing damage with the warlock's powerful cantrips.

Eldritch Blast does 1d10 damage from the get-go. Whip and shield make a good combo while you level up. You don't need to be in an enemy's range to reach them with the whip.

Warlocks can cast spells in Light Armour, so studded leather is your best choice.

Warlocks are powerful but don't get many spell slots. Anything that addresses this is a good addition to your early warlock build. AC boosts are always welcome. Once again, a Cloak of Protection is a welcome addition.

A light crossbow will do more damage than your Firebolt until you level up.

Wizards don't generally start with any armour proficiency, making Mage Armour and Shield your best option.

Anything that can improve your AC or Constitution is a good idea for a Wizard. A Cloak of Protection is great. A Ring of Spell Storing is also a solid choice if you can find one.