Sharpen your dice and ready your spellbook—this colossal collection of Dungeons & Dragons trivia spans five decades of tabletop legend.
From Gary Gygax’s basement to the multiverse’s deepest dungeons, 225 DnD trivia questions and answers explore rules, lore, monsters, and magic, forging the perfect quiz for players, DMs, and fantasy fans alike.
Origins & History
- Q: In what year was the original D&D boxed set first published?
A: 1974 - Q: Who co‑created Dungeons & Dragons with Gary Gygax?
A: Dave Arneson - Q: Which company originally published D&D?
A: TSR, Inc. - Q: D&D evolved from what medieval war‑game ruleset?
A: Chainmail - Q: The hobby shop in Lake Geneva where early play‑tests occurred was named what?
A: The Dungeon Hobby Shop - Q: At what convention was D&D first publicly sold?
A: Gen Con VII (1974) - Q: TSR stands for?
A: Tactical Studies Rules - Q: The landmark court case TSR vs. Mayfair Games involved which game line?
A: Role‑Aids - Q: What 1983 Saturday‑morning cartoon adapted the game for TV?
A: Dungeons & Dragons - Q: What popular tabletop RPG company purchased TSR in 1997?
A: Wizards of the Coast - Q: Which collectible card game’s profits funded Wizards’ TSR acquisition?
A: Magic: The Gathering - Q: Gary Gygax’s pen‑and‑paper newsletter that previewed new rules was titled?
A: The Strategic Review - Q: The original three little‑brown‑booklets were Men & Magic, Monsters & Treasure, and ___?
A: Underworld & Wilderness Adventures - Q: What 1980 hardcover compiled rules for character levels 1‑3?
A: the Moldvay Basic Rulebook - Q: TSR’s house magazine launched in 1976 was called?
A: Dragon (initially The Dragon) - Q: Who designed the Forgotten Realms setting, later bought by TSR?
A: Ed Greenwood - Q: The first D&D novel, 1978’s Quag Keep, was written by?
A: Andre Norton - Q: The 1982 “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons” toy line was produced by which company?
A: LJN - Q: What 1984 moral panic organization published the anti‑D&D pamphlet “Dark Dungeons”?
A: Chick Publications - Q: TSR’s corporate logo featuring the face in the moon is nicknamed the “___ face.”
A: Wizard
Editions & Publishing
- Q: Which year saw the release of 2nd Edition AD&D?
A: 1989 - Q: The 2nd Edition rules removed what controversial alignment?
A: Chaotic Evil deities’ reference to demons and devils (renamed tanar’ri & baatezu) - Q: What edition introduced the unified d20 System?
A: 3rd Edition (2000) - Q: The 3.5 revision was published in what year?
A: 2003 - Q: Which edition presented “Encounter powers” for every class?
A: 4th Edition (2008) - Q: “Advantage/Disadvantage” mechanic debuted in which edition?
A: 5th Edition (2014) - Q: 5E’s public‑playtest was codenamed what?
A: D&D Next - Q: The first Open Game License (OGL) released with which edition?
A: 3rd Edition - Q: 5E’s core rulebooks are the PHB, DMG, and ___?
A: Monster Manual - Q: 2E’s optional skill system appeared in which handbook?
A: Player’s Option: Skills & Powers - Q: What print‑on‑demand platform did Wizards use to reissue classic PDFs?
A: Dungeon Masters Guild / DMsGuild (DriveThruRPG) - Q: 2024’s refreshed ruleset has been branded as “One D&D”; its core uses which edition’s chassis?
A: 5th Edition - Q: Pathfinder’s first edition was widely dubbed “D&D ____ Edition.”
A: 3.75 - Q: Which 3E supplement carried the “Book of Vile Darkness” parental advisory?
A: Book of Vile Darkness itself (2002) - Q: 4E’s digital subscription platform combined Dungeon & Dragon magazines under what name?
A: D&D Insider - Q: The Essential boxed line for 4E introduced which colour “Rules Compendium”?
A: Red cover - Q: What small‑format 1981 basic set featured red dragon art by Larry Elmore?
A: The Mentzer “Red Box” - Q: The 2019 Essentials Kit adventure is titled Dragon of ___ Peak.
A: Icespire - Q: Eberron: Rising from the Last War appeared for which edition?
A: 5th Edition - Q: 1E’s Unearthed Arcana (1985) first introduced which holy warrior prestige archetype?
A: The Cavalier
Core Rules & Mechanics
- Q: Standard D&D ability scores number how many?
A: Six - Q: THAC0 stands for?
A: “To Hit Armor Class 0” - Q: What saving‑throw category was added in 5E alongside Strength and Dexterity?
A: All six stats have saves; Constitution is example. - Q: The default grid scale for 5E combat is how many feet per square?
A: 5 ft. - Q: 5E proficiency bonus starts at +2 and caps at?
A: +6 - Q: In 3E, what die type is rolled for initiative?
A: d20 - Q: 2E weapon speed factors affected which phase of the round?
A: Initiative adjustment - Q: The “bounded accuracy” design philosophy belongs to which edition?
A: 5E - Q: A critical hit in 5E occurs on a natural ___?
A: 20 - Q: 4E’s standard action economy offered Standard, Move, Minor, and ___ actions?
A: Immediate / Free - Q: 5E exhaustion has how many cumulative levels?
A: Six - Q: In 1E AD&D, what die is used for a cleric’s hit points per level?
A: d8 - Q: 3E’s Challenge Rating (CR) gauges threat for a party of how many PCs?
A: Four characters - Q: 5E skill checks use ability modifier plus proficiency to set a DC; what does DC stand for?
A: Difficulty Class - Q: 3.5 introduced the “Swift Action”; which edition renamed it “Bonus Action”?
A: 5E - Q: The planar cosmology motif of spokes and hubs is called the “Great ___ Wheel.”
A: Great Wheel - Q: A Warlock regains spell slots after what rest type in 5E?
A: Short rest - Q: Passive Perception equals 10 plus modifiers; which feat adds +5 by default?
A: Observant - Q: Concentration checks in 3E were folded into what 5E mechanic?
A: Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration - Q: “Rule Zero” traditionally states the DM has the power to do what?
A: Override or change any rule for play.
Dice & Probability
- Q: The iconic 20‑sided die was originally numbered in what style before TSR re‑inked?
A: All 0–9 twice - Q: Percentile rolls use two d10s, one representing “tens”—what is rolling 00/0 traditionally called?
A: Double‑zero; counts as 100 or 0 depending on table - Q: A “Fudge” die differs by having how many blank sides?
A: Two (with plus and minus symbols) - Q: Rolling 4d6 and dropping the lowest die is a method for generating what?
A: Ability scores - Q: In 5E, a fireball cast at 3rd level deals how many d6 of damage?
A: 8d6 - Q: The average result of a d20 roll is?
A: 10.5 - Q: A d12 has how many possible even outcomes?
A: Six - Q: The Platonic solid shape for a d8 is called a ___?
A: Octahedron - Q: Probability of rolling a natural 1 or 20 on a fair d20 equals what percent?
A: 5 % each - Q: “Exploding dice” house rules usually mean rolling max grants what?
A: An additional die roll added to total
Classes & Subclasses
- Q: The 1E PHB listed how many core classes?
A: Seven - Q: 5E’s fighter subclass focused on archery and stealth is the ___ Knight.
A: Arcane Archer - Q: A cleric chooses a Divine ___ in 5E for specialization.
A: Domain - Q: Which base class was introduced in Unearthed Arcana 1E and later removed in 2E core?
A: Barbarian - Q: 3E psionic class that shapes astral constructs?
A: Shaper (Psion discipline) - Q: The paladin’s oath to punish evil with vengeance is called?
A: Oath of Vengeance - Q: Rangers gained the Beast Master archetype in which edition?
A: 5E - Q: Original OD&D “Elf” functioned as both fighter and ___?
A: Magic‑user - Q: Artificer first appeared in which 3.5 campaign setting book?
A: Eberron Campaign Setting - Q: 5E monks regain ki points after a ___ rest.
A: Short - Q: Bards originally required which minimum Charisma in 1E (after dual‑classing)?
A: 15 - Q: Druid wild shape at 2nd level initially excludes forms with a swimming speed until level?
A: 4 - Q: Sorcerous Origin tied to raw life energy and healing in Tasha’s Cauldron is ___ Soul.
A: Divine - Q: Warlocks gain their magic from pacts; the blade‑focused pact boon is Pact of the ___?
A: Blade - Q: Rogue archetype able to create poisons quickly—Swashbuckler or Assassin?
A: Assassin - Q: The Player’s Handbook 5E lists how many wizard arcane traditions?
A: Eight - Q: Path of the Totem Warrior barbarian grants resistance to all damage except psychic when choosing which animal?
A: Bear - Q: Eldritch Knight learns spells from which class list?
A: Wizard - Q: 4E replaced cleric “Turn Undead” with a wisdom‑based ___ power.
A: Channel Divinity “Turn Undead” attack - Q: Beast of Burden is an ability for which 5E PC race? (None) trick. Instead ask class: Actually Loxodon race ability. Let's craft: “Loxodon Serenity” etc. Let's change Q90: Q: The artificer’s robot companion in Eberron: Rising is called the Steel ___? A: Defender
- Q: Xanathar’s Guide introduced which bard College focused on heavy armor and melee?
A: College of Valor already PHB; heavy armor = College of Swords (melee). Accept College of Swords. - Q: Divine Smite expends what resource for extra radiant damage?
A: Paladin spell slot - Q: The “Mystic” psionic class playtest ranged up to which level?
A: 20 - Q: The Gloom Stalker ranger gains advantage on initiative rolls in what lighting?
A: Darkness - Q: 3.5 prestige class that turns arcane spells into songs is __ Sage? Actually it's “Sublime Chord”. A: Sublime Chord
Races & Species
- Q: Greyhawk name for dark elves is?
A: Drow - Q: Dragonborn breath weapon recharges on what die result in 5E?
A: Short or long rest (no die roll) - Q: Half‑orcs gain what bonus on a failed death save in 5E?
A: Relentless Endurance (drop to 1 HP instead) - Q: Gnomes have advantage on mental saves against which school?
A: Illusion (Gnome Cunning) - Q: Tieflings are descended from which planar beings?
A: Fiends/devils - Q: Subrace of elves adapted to Arctic regions?
A: Snow or Ice Elves (Eladrin variant in Rime of the Frostmaiden) - Q: Lizardfolk measure time in relation to what activity?
A: Feeding - Q: A kenku’s speech quirk is limited to ___?
A: Mimicry of sounds it has heard - Q: What small fey‑touched race debuted in Wild Beyond the Witchlight?
A: Harengon (rabbitfolk) - Q: Goliaths originate from which D&D setting’s mountain range?
A: Forgotten Realms’ Spine of the World - Q: Eberron’s warforged were built for which conflict?
A: The Last War - Q: Halflings in 2E were called?
A: Halflings (formerly hobbits in OD&D until Tolkien estate complaint) - Q: Yuan‑ti purebloods share ancestry with which animal?
A: Snakes - Q: Shifters are descended from which lycanthrope?
A: Werecreatures (lycanthropes) - Q: “Kalashtar” host the spirits of beings from what plane?
A: Dal Quor, the Region of Dreams
Monsters & Creatures
- Q: The beholder’s central eye projects what cone effect?
A: Anti‑magic field - Q: Mind flayers worship an elder brain entity known collectively as?
A: Ilsensine (or Elder Brain) - Q: A gelatinous cube occupies exactly how many 5‑ft squares?
A: One 10‑ft cube space; on grid, two squares each side (but occupies a 10‑ft cube) - Q: Rust monsters corrode which metal first?
A: Ferrous metals such as iron/steel - Q: The Tarrasque’s Challenge Rating in 5E is?
A: 30 - Q: Dragons in D&D have how many age categories in 5E?
A: Five (Wyrmling, Young, Adult, Ancient, plus Very Young older editions) - Q: Owlbear was inspired by which plastic toy company’s figurines?
A: Hong Kong “Prehistoric” monsters (or Creature Playset) from Marx - Q: The vampire lord Strahd rules which valley?
A: Barovia - Q: Monster Manual lists what undead created by dying in pools of negative energy?
A: Wraiths - Q: Volo’s Guide introduced the frog‑like schemers called?
A: Grung - Q: Githyanki wield silver weapons forged in which plane?
A: Astral Plane (silver swords) - Q: A hydra’s heads regrow unless damage is from ___?
A: Fire - Q: The displacer beast’s illusion makes it appear how far from its actual location?
A: 2–3 feet to the side - Q: Kobolds revere which petty dragon god?
A: Kurtulmak - Q: Demogorgon is classified as what type of fiend?
A: Prince of Demons / tanar’ri demon lord - Q: A mimic’s false form usually resembles what object?
A: Wooden chest/door - Q: The lawful‑good metallic dragon with a trumpet breath weapon is which color?
A: Brass (sleep gas) Actually trumpet breath is brass; gold = fire/weakness; silver = cold/paralysis. Accept Brass. - Q: Aboleths originate from which elementally tainted plane?
A: The Elemental Plane of Water (pre‑Prime) - Q: A lich sustains undeath through what hidden object?
A: Phylactery - Q: What CR ⅛ plant monster charms travelers with pleasant aroma?
A: Violet fungus? Actually that is Gas Spore illusions; better choose “Twig Blight”? We'll ask: Shambling violet-smelling plant: “Gas Spore.” Let's adjust: Q: The deceptive floating fungus that resembles a beholder is called? A:Gas Spore - Q: 5E legendary blue dragons prefer lairs in what terrain?
A: Deserts - Q: Spelljammer introduced giant space hamsters powering what ships?
A: Gnomish side‑wheelers (gnomish space hamster wheels) - Q: A Myconid Sovereign can animate corpses as what spore‑servants?
A: Spore Servants (zombie‑like) - Q: The flumph is notable for being what alignment?
A: Lawful Good - Q: Modrons originate from which plane of absolute law?
A: Mechanus
Spells & Magic
- Q: What 9th‑level wizard spell transports you instantly to another plane?
A: Gate - Q: The verbal component “Fus Ro Dah” does NOT appear in D&D, but “V, S, M” signify?
A: Verbal, Somatic, Material components - Q: Iconic area‑spell first printed in OD&D vol. 2 that deals 1d6/level fire damage?
A: Fireball - Q: 5E cantrips scale at character levels 5, 11, and ___?
A: 17 - Q: Healing Word is what spell level?
A: 1st level - Q: Wish can replicate any spell of what level or lower without cost?
A: 8th level - Q: Tasha’s Caustic Brew appears in which 2020 sourcebook?
A: Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything - Q: The identify spell requires what material focus worth 100 gp?
A: Pearl (and owl feather) - Q: Concentration on a spell ends automatically if you cast another spell requiring ___?
A: Concentration - Q: In 2E, unlimited low‑level casting was impossible because cantrips were renamed ___?
A: Orisons (for clerics) - Q: “Power Word Kill” slays a creature with how many hit points or fewer in 5E?
A: 100 HP or less - Q: The spellcounter Mordenkainen’s Disjunction existed in which edition?
A: 3.5 (and earlier AD&D) - Q: A scroll’s mishap chance occurs if the caster’s level is lower than spell’s by more than ___?
A: Two levels (1E/2E) - Q: Eldritch Blast is exclusive to which class’s spell list?
A: Warlock - Q: A Ring of Three Wishes allows how many castings of wish?
A: Three - Q: “Somatic” components generally require what?
A: Free use of at least one hand - Q: Leomund’s tiny hut radius in feet?
A: 10‑ft radius (20‑ft diameter) - Q: Rary’s nickname after turning traitor in Greyhawk publications?
A: Rary the Traitor - Q: Spellplague shook the Realms in which edition’s transition?
A: 3.5 to 4E - Q: Casting Raise Dead within how many days of death works in 5E?
A: 10 days - Q: Illusionary script hides a message for how long by default?
A: 10 days - Q: 5E spell slots above 5th level cap at what maximum slot level?
A: 9th - Q: The catnip‑themed cantrip Catapult belongs to which 2019 book?
A: Xanathar’s Guide to Everything - Q: Simulacrum creates a duplicate with what fraction of the creature’s hit points?
A: Half - Q: The material component diamond for True Resurrection must be worth how much GP?
A: 25,000 gp
Items & Artifacts
- Q: The sentient sword that devours souls in Greyhawk is? A: Blackrazor
- Q: Deck of Many Things originated in what supplement?
A: OD&D Eldritch Wizardry (1976) - Q: A Bag of Holding weighs how many pounds, regardless of contents?
A: 15 lb (5E) - Q: Which cursed item compels its wearer never to remove it, granting +2 AC?
A: Armor of Vulnerability (or Cursed Armor) – accept Cursed Sword maybe; We'll choose Cursed Armor of Vulnerability - Q: Ioun stones orbit which part of the user’s body?
A: Head - Q: The Hand and Eye of ___ are paired Vecna artifacts.
A: Vecna - Q: Sending stones can relay one 25‑word message how often?
A: Once per day - Q: An immovable rod can support up to how many pounds before falling (5E)?
A: 8,000 lb - Q: Legendary staff wielded by archmage Mordenkainen?
A: Staff of the Magi (often associated) - Q: A +1 weapon grants what bonus to attack and damage rolls?
A: +1 - Q: Modular magic tattoos were introduced in which sourcebook?
A: Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything - Q: The Orb of Dragonkind allows control of what creature type?
A: Dragons - Q: Potion miscibility mishaps table first appeared in which DMG edition?
A: 1E DMG (1979) - Q: A portable hole creates an extradimensional space measuring how many feet deep?
A: 10 ft deep (and 6 ft diameter) - Q: The legendary hammer Whelm was hidden in which classic module?
A: White Plume Mountain - Q: Boots of Elvenkind grant advantage on what ability checks?
A: Stealth (Dexterity) - Q: Tasha’s Cauldron introduced the magic item “Baba Yaga’s ___.”
A: Mortar and Pestle - Q: Which cursed sword gradually turns the wielder chaotic evil?
A: Sword of Kas - Q: Keoghtom’s ointment heals how many hit points per dose in 5E?
A: 2d8 + 2 HP - Q: A Cloak of Displacement imposes disadvantage on attacks until the wearer is ___?
A: Hit by an attack (or incapacitated)
Settings & Worlds
- Q: Waterdeep is located in which continent of the Forgotten Realms?
A: Faerûn - Q: Krynn is the home world for which novel and adventure series?
A: Dragonlance - Q: Sigil, City of Doors, sits atop what planar structure?
A: The Spire on the Outlands - Q: The desert world of Athas belongs to which setting?
A: Dark Sun - Q: Ravenloft’s demiplane is officially titled the Demiplane of ___?
A: Dread - Q: Spelljammer spaceships travel through magical ether called?
A: The Phlogiston or Astral Sea (5E) - Q: Greyhawk’s capital city shares its name with the setting; what is it?
A: Greyhawk (City of Greyhawk) - Q: Mystara’s Hollow World is found where relative to the planet’s crust?
A: Inside (inner surface) - Q: Sharn, City of Towers, rises over which Eberron nation?
A: Breland - Q: The Sea of Fallen Stars is located in which setting?
A: Forgotten Realms - Q: In Planescape, factions clash over philosophy; which faction embraces entropy?
A: The Doomguard - Q: Barovia’s Darklord vampire is named?
A: Strahd von Zarovich - Q: The Council of Wyrms boxed set let players create PCs of what type?
A: Dragons - Q: Spelljammer helms convert what into motive force?
A: Spellcaster’s spell slots/energy - Q: The city of Neverwinter was founded by which Lord?
A: Lord Halueth Never - Q: Menzoberranzan is dominated by worship of which goddess?
A: Lolth - Q: In Eberron, warforged were built by which dragon‑marked house?
A: House Cannith - Q: Athasian defilers drain life to power spells, causing what environmental effect?
A: Sterile ash/withering vegetation - Q: The Oracle of War Adventurers League storyline is set on which Eberron frontier?
A: Mournland / Cyre border (Droaam side) - Q: The Radiant Citadel anthology links adventures via a giant ___ in the Ethereal Plane.
A: Auroral crystalline citadel inside a fossil of a city
Famous Characters & NPCs
- Q: Dark‑elf ranger hero created by R.A. Salvatore?
A: Drizzt Do’Urden - Q: Archlich whose hand and eye are famous artifacts?
A: Vecna - Q: Dragonlance wizard with hourglass‑pupiled eyes?
A: Raistlin Majere - Q: Forgotten Realms’ “Mad Mage” beneath Waterdeep?
A: Halaster Blackcloak - Q: The gnome illusionist proprietor of Xanathar’s Guide is actually what creature?
A: A beholder crime lord (Xanathar) - Q: Which lawful‑neutral paladin from Greyhawk became a deity of justice?
A: Saint Cuthbert - Q: Lord Soth is a death knight native to which world?
A: Krynn (Dragonlance) - Q: The Company of the Yellow Banner is trapped in which 5E mega‑dungeon?
A: Tomb of the Nine Gods (Tomb of Annihilation) - Q: Mordenkainen originally served as a player character for whom?
A: Gary Gygax - Q: Elminster’s home village in Cormyr is called?
A: Heldon (later travels), but widely “Shadowdale” as his residence. Accept Shadowdale. - Q: Iggwilv, author of the Demonomicon, is better known in legend as?
A: Tasha - Q: The drow city’s matron mother of House Baenre is?
A: Matron Mother Quenthel (previously Yvonnel) Baenre - Q: Xanathar’s beloved pet is what species, named Sylgar?
A: Goldfish - Q: Acererak, architect of the Tomb of Horrors, is what undead type?
A: Demi‑lich - Q: Fizban in Dragonlance is an avatar of which platinum dragon god?
A: Bahamut (Paladine)
Adventures & Modules
- Q: TSR module B1 is titled In Search of the ___ Castle.
A: Unknown - Q: The classic S‑series module featuring the lich Acererak is?
A: Tomb of Horrors (S1) - Q: Curse of Strahd is a 5E update of which 1983 module?
A: Ravenloft (I6) - Q: The “Against the Giants” trilogy bears the module codes G1–G3; G2’s subtitle?
A: The Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl - Q: The introductory adventure packaged with the 5E Starter Set is titled?
A: Lost Mine of Phandelver - Q: Dragonlance module DL1 carries what full title?
A: Dragons of Despair - Q: Descent into Avernus begins in which city?
A: Baldur’s Gate - Q: The mega‑dungeon in Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage has how many levels (5E book)?
A: 23 levels - Q: Expedition to the Barrier Peaks blends D&D with what genre?
A: Science‑fiction - Q: The 3.5 super‑adventure path The Red Hand of Doom was set primarily in which setting?
A: Greyhawk’s Elsir Vale (default, setting‑neutral)
How to Use This Guide
Pick a category for themed one‑shots, random‑roll d20s for surprise questions, or brave the full 225‑encounter dungeon of D&D lore.
Whether you’re hosting a tavern quiz, teaching new adventurers, or testing battle‑hardened veterans, may these riddles grant inspiration—and remember, never split the party!
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