Update: D&DBeyond announced via social media that they are further altering the decision that they made. Their new update specifies that players who have purchased the 2014 Player's Handbook will maintain all 2014 character options, spells, and magical items and that players who have access to both 2014 and 2024 editions of the Player's Handbook will be able to select from either source.
On the update post D&DBeyond cites that it was their excitement around the 2024 Core Rulebooks that they wanted to make these changes but it was through hearing feedback that they wanted to allow players to be "free to choose your own way to play."
Players who have active character sheets will not see them change in any way, this will mean if you do want to update your 2014 character to a 2024 character including spells you'll need to remove the old version of the spell and add the new version of the spell. There will be some relabeling/renaming across the spell sheet for terms that have been updated like Race to Species, Inspiration to Heroic Inspiration, and Cast Spell to Magic.
You can read the full update here, with the original story below.
Update: A post was created on the D&DBeyond forums last night adding further clarification to the changelog clearing up a number of misconceptions regarding their changelog.
For Magic Spells and Items only the 2024 counterpart will be accessible when adding spells to your character sheet. Outside of your character sheet you'll still have full access to all of your previously purchased content and content available in the SRD through the D&DBeyond Compendium.
For Magic Items it was clarified that only two Magic Items are impacted by the 2024 update, Potion of Healing and Spell Scroll, which have minor changes in text. Just like spells the 2014 version of all Magic Items will still be accessible through the D&DBeyond compendium
Yesterday afternoon the Changelog for D&DBeyond was updated to highlight what changes would be taking place with the launch of the Dungeons & Dragons 5e 2024 Core Rulebooks, such as the Player Handbook releasing in September. One aspect that has caught everyone's eye is the section on 2014 Spells and Magic Items which stated that Magic Items and Spells that have a 2024 counterpart would replace their 2014 version.
In the changelog it is suggested that if a player wants to use the 2014 version of a spell or magic item that they use D&DBeyond's Homebrew Tool to create those versions and add them to your character in that way.
D&DBeyond's homebrew functionality at it's most base functionality, creating Homebrew items for you alone to use, is a free feature.
If you are a subscriber at the Hero or Master Tier it offers additional functionality. As a Hero subscriber you can access all published homebrew material of other users, and as a Master Tier you have the same homebrew access but you can also share items in your Homebrew collection with members of your campaign. This is a way to create magical items or spells and allow your characters to simply add them to their character sheet.
How Different Are Spells In Dungeons & Dragons 5e 2024?
Reviewing these changes I was interested to understand what kinds of differences there are between Spells from 2014 and Spells from 2024 so I spot-checked a number of spells that are commonly used. I've listed the Spell names and any differences below.
- Acid Splash
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Mechanical Difference: The 2014 Acid Splash can only target 1-2 creatures, the 2024 Acid Splash targets all creatures in a 5-foot-radius Sphere
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Arcane Lock
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Mechanical Change: The 2014 Arcane Lock can be suppressed by Knock for 10 minutes and when affected by the spell the DC to pick the lock increases by 10, the 2024 Arcane Lock states "This lock can't be unlocked by any nonmagical means" but does not specify the effect of Knock
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Faerie Fire
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The description is different, but there is no mechanical change
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Fireball
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Mechanical Change: The 2014 edition specifies that "The fire spreads around corners", the 2024 version does not
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Goodberry
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Somewhat Mechanical Change: The 2014 edition states that "up to ten berries appear..." whereas the 2024 version states outright that "ten berries appear in your hand"
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Mechanical Change: In 2014 edition it takes an Action to eat a berry, in 2024 it takes a Bonus Action to eat a berry
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Heroes Feast
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Mechanic Change: Heroes Feast can be cast by a Bard in 2024
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Mechanical Change: In 2014 edition the spell gives the effects of being "cured of all diseases and poison, becomes immune to poison and being frightened, and makes all Wisdom saving throws with Advantage", the 2024 edition instead gives you "resistance to Poison damage, and Immunity to Frightened and Poisoned condition."
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Inflict Wounds
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Major Mechanical Change: In 2014 this is triggered by a melee spell attack that on success deals 3d10 Necrotic damage, in 2024 this is a Constitution saving throw that on success deals 2d10 Necrotic damage
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Invisibility
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No mechanical change, but some text difference
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Mass Cure Wounds
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Mechanical Change: In 2014 it is specified that Mass Cure Wounds has "no effect on undead or constructs", that restriction is not specified in the 2024 book
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Otto's Irresistible Dance
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Text Change: The text for the 2024 edition of the spell is quite different, but the mechanics are mostly the same
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Mechanical Change: In the 2024 edition of the spell the target is additionally charmed for the duration of the spell
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Pass Without A Trace
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Component Change: In 2014 ashes from a burned leafe of mistletoe and a sprig of spruce is required, in 2024 only the ashes are needed
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Text Change: In 2014 there is specification that affected creatures "can't be tracked except by magical means", in 2024 there is no explicit mention other than the affected creatures "leave no tracks"
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Power Word Kill
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Mechanical Change: In 2014 if the target has more than 100 HP the spell has no effect, in 2024 if the target has more than 100 HP the target takes 12d12 Psychic damage.
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Revivify
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Availability Change: In 2024 this is available for Druid and Ranger
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Spirit Guardians
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Component Change: In 2014 it uses a holy symbol, in 2024 it uses a prayer scroll
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From the above we're able to see that even from a spot check there are a lot of tweaks that spells have taken on from the 2014 to the 2024 release of Dungeons & Dragons 5e.
We have reached out to Wizards of the Coast for a comment on why the 2014 edition of a spell would be removed instead of being labeled as legacy, as well as how many spells have been altered from their 2014 rendition.
