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Ensuring you have all you need before your adventure intoDungeons & Dragons, the starting Equipment Pack is a minor but handy choice you’ll make when building your character. After all, every good adventurer has a few rations and extra clothes on hand for camping in the great outdoors when your adventure takes you camping.
But there are so many equipment packs to choose from; which one is right for your character? When it comes to picking an equipment pack, if you want to make sure you have everything you need for your journey, we’ve got you covered.
Updated on May 13, 2025 by Alexis Campbell:We’ve updated this list to account for changes in the 2024 Player’s Handbook for Dungeons & Dragons 5E. Whether you’re looking for the difference between a dungeoneers pack and an explorer’s pack or what changes these packs got from the 2024 PHB, we cover it all here.
What Are Equipment Packs?
At the beginning of any adventure, you typically getyour choice of Equipment Pack to start with.This is a backpackfilled with various suppliesthat should be helpful in your adventure.
Typically, you will see that your Class gives you achoice between a few types of Equipment Packs.You only getone choice, but you could potentially buy other packsfrom in-game stores at a DM’s discretion.
Some packs will feature things like tools, butalmost all packs include:
How important these things are largely depends on the type of campaign you’re playing and how immersive your DM wishes to be. Although you may carry rations, many DM’s choose not to take food and water into account when playing.
If you’re unsure which Equipment Pack you want, you shouldconsult your DMabout the type of campaign you’re playing. If that doesn’t help, consider the type of person your character is to help make that decision.
Explanation
Dungeoneer’s Pack
Itis a good staple choicefor its tools, torches, and the ever-useful climbing pitons. Generally, consider it superior to the Explorer’s pack if you don’t plan on sleeping outdoors all the time.
Diplomat’s/Scholar’s/Entertainer’s Packs
They’re a bit more nuanced and campaign-dependent, but with the right amount of creativity, they can provide both use and entertainment.Perfect for those who like roleplaymore than combat.
Burglar’s Pack
It’sa no-brainer option for the Rogue. The sheer amount of tools within will prove very useful in removing any pesky obstacles - such astreasure chests(who really locks away their valuables in this day and age?!) - in your way.
The general rule of thumb is tokeep in mind the number of toolsyour class-specific pack provides andhow often you think you’ll use them.
Make a list, if you must, of which tools and perks hold priority for you, and pick the pack that best fits those needs.
Before choosing your Equipment Pack, you may also want to check the equipment you receive from your Background. Keeping this in mind may help you decide or be aware of where your equipment may overlap.
Equipment Pack Changes In Revised Fifth Edition: 2025
While you may choose between two equipment packs for most classes in the original version of 5th Edition,the 2025 handbook limits each class to a single Equipment Pack.
However, while you are no longer allowed to choose between equipment packs directly,you will have to choose between:
There is no limitation on what you can purchasewith that gold, meaning you may still have a chance to buy a different equipment pack of your choice.
You may not spend that gold at the start of a campaign unless youspeak with your DM firstabout shopping options, the use of gold, and what items are available for purchase.
All Equipment Packs
There areseven official Equipment Packsandone unofficialfrom the Blood Hunter’s Handbook. Some Equipment Packs areonly available to select classes.
All official packs can be found onpage 151 of the Player’s Handbookfor 5th Edition.
50GP
16GP
39GP
12GP
40GP
Explorer’s Pack
Barbarian, Blood Hunter, Cleric, Druid, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Sorcerer, Wizard
10GP
19GP
