D&D Companion
Player's Handbook 2026 — Notion
Player's Handbook 2026 > Chapter 2: Creating a Character > CREATE YOUR CHARACTER
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Here are the steps to make a character; each step is explored in detail in this chapter:
1. Choose a Class. Every adventurer is a member of a class. A class broadly describes a character's vocation, special talents, and favored tactics.
1. Determine Origin. A character's origin includes two elements: background and species. How did the character spend the years leading up to a life of adventure? Who are the character’s ancestors? You can also choose your character's languages.
1. Determine Ability Scores. Much of what your character does in the game depends on the character’s six abilities.
1. Choose an Alignment. Alignment is a shorthand for your character's moral compass.
1. Fill in Details. Using the choices you've made, fill in the remaining details on your character sheet.
On the character sheet on the following pages, many spaces are labeled with a number that corresponds with one of those steps.
1. Choose a Class. Every adventurer is a member of a class. A class broadly describes a character's vocation, special talents, and favored tactics.
1. Determine Origin. A character's origin includes two elements: background and species. How did the character spend the years leading up to a life of adventure? Who are the character’s ancestors? You can also choose your character's languages.
1. Determine Ability Scores. Much of what your character does in the game depends on the character’s six abilities.
1. Choose an Alignment. Alignment is a shorthand for your character's moral compass.
1. Fill in Details. Using the choices you've made, fill in the remaining details on your character sheet.
On the character sheet on the following pages, many spaces are labeled with a number that corresponds with one of those steps.
Player's Handbook 2026 > Chapter 1: Playing the Game > Player or DM? > Being a Player
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If you want to be one of the protagonists in your group's adventures, consider being a player. Here’s what players do:
• Make a Character. Your character is your alter ego in the fantasy world of the game. After you read this chapter, use the rules in chapter 2 to create your character.
• Team Up. Your character joins the other players’ characters to form an adventuring party. These adventurers are allies who face challenges and fantastical situations together. Each character brings distinctive capabilities, which ideally complement those of the other characters.
• Venture Forth. Your character’s group explores locations and events presented by the DM. You can respond to them in any way you can imagine, guided by the rules in this book. Although the DM controls all the monsters you encounter, the DM isn't your adversary. The DM guides your party’s journey as your characters become more powerful.
• Make a Character. Your character is your alter ego in the fantasy world of the game. After you read this chapter, use the rules in chapter 2 to create your character.
• Team Up. Your character joins the other players’ characters to form an adventuring party. These adventurers are allies who face challenges and fantastical situations together. Each character brings distinctive capabilities, which ideally complement those of the other characters.
• Venture Forth. Your character’s group explores locations and events presented by the DM. You can respond to them in any way you can imagine, guided by the rules in this book. Although the DM controls all the monsters you encounter, the DM isn't your adversary. The DM guides your party’s journey as your characters become more powerful.
Player's Handbook 2026 > Chapter 2: Creating a Character > GET READY
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Before you dive into character creation, there are a few things to do to get ready, as explained below.
Player's Handbook 2026 > Chapter 2: Creating a Character
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YOU CAN MAKE A CHARACTER FOR DUNGEONS & DRAGONS using the building blocks in this book. Your character is a combination of game statistics, roleplaying hooks, and your imagination. You choose a class (such as Fighter or Wizard), a background (such as Sailor or Acolyte), and a species (such as Human or Elf). You also invent the personality and appearance of your character. Once completed, your character serves as your avatar in the D&D multiverse.
Player's Handbook 2026 > Chapter 2: Creating a Character > GET READY > CHOOSE A CHARACTER SHEET
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You'll record the main details of your character on a character sheet. Throughout this chapter, we use the term “character sheet” to mean whatever you use to track your character's details, whether it's a printed character sheet (like the one shown on the following pages), a digital character sheet like the one on D&D Beyond, or plain paper. Choose whichever style of sheet works for you, and then embark on creating a character!
Player's Handbook 2026 > Chapter 2: Creating a Character > STEP 2: DETERMINE ORIGIN
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Determining your character's origin involves choosing a background, a species, and two languages. A character's background represents the place and occupation that were most formative for the character. The combination of background, species, and languages provides fertile soil for your imagination as you ponder your character's earliest days.
Player's Handbook 2026 > Chapter 2: Creating a Character > A BALANCED PARTY > HOLD THAT THOUGHT
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You'll fill in more details about your class later. Choosing your class is the most important decision you make in creating a character, and it informs many of the decisions you make in later steps. You'll return to your class's description in chapter 3 several more times before you're done.
Player's Handbook 2026 > Chapter 4: Character Origins > Character Backgrounds
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Your character's background is a collection of characteristics that represent the place and occupation that were most formative before your character embarked on a life of adventure.
Each background includes a brief narrative of what your character's past might have been like. Alter the details of this narrative however you like.
Each background includes a brief narrative of what your character's past might have been like. Alter the details of this narrative however you like.
Player's Handbook 2026 > Chapter 4: Character Origins > Origin Components
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Each part of your character's origin reflects facets of your character, their life, and the circumstances that started them on the path to adventure.
If you choose a background or a species from an older book, see the sidebar “Backgrounds and Species from Older Books” in chapter 2 for how to use them with the options here.
If you choose a background or a species from an older book, see the sidebar “Backgrounds and Species from Older Books” in chapter 2 for how to use them with the options here.
Player's Handbook 2026 > Chapter 2: Creating a Character > STEP 2: DETERMINE ORIGIN > CHOOSE A BACKGROUND
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Choose your character's background, and write it on your character sheet. You can choose any of the backgrounds detailed in chapter 4, and your DM might offer additional backgrounds as options.
The background you choose influences step 3, when you determine your character's ability scores. If you're having trouble choosing, the Ability Scores and Backgrounds table shows which backgrounds benefit which ability scores. Look for your class's primary ability there.
The background you choose influences step 3, when you determine your character's ability scores. If you're having trouble choosing, the Ability Scores and Backgrounds table shows which backgrounds benefit which ability scores. Look for your class's primary ability there.
Player's Handbook 2026 > Chapter 2: Creating a Character > STEP 2: DETERMINE ORIGIN > CHOOSE A SPECIES
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Choose a species for your character. The following species options are detailed in chapter 4: Aasimar, Dragonborn, Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Goliath, Halfling, Human, Orc, and Tiefling. Once you've chosen a species, write it on your character sheet. Then record your species’ traits.
Your character's size and Speed are determined by the character's species; record these in the appropriate places on your character sheet as well (you may write just the first letter of your size).
Your character's size and Speed are determined by the character's species; record these in the appropriate places on your character sheet as well (you may write just the first letter of your size).
Player's Handbook 2026 > Chapter 2: Creating a Character > STEP 2: DETERMINE ORIGIN > Record Your Feat
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A background gives you a feat, which grants your character particular capabilities. Feats are detailed in chapter 5. Write the feat on your character sheet.
Player's Handbook 2026 > CREDITS > USING THIS BOOK
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Here's what you'll find in this book:
Chapter 1: Playing the Game. The first chapter explains the fundamentals of the game, with examples to help you understand how to play. Chapter 2: Creating a Character. Chapter 2 walks you through the steps of character creation. Chapter 3: Character Classes. Characters’ capabilities are largely determined by class, such as Fighter or Wizard. Chapter 3 offers twelve classes to choose from, along with forty-eight subclasses. Chapter 4: Character Origins. Background and species are key elements in defining a character's origin, which further shapes the character's abilities beyond the choice of class. Background and species options are presented in chapter 4. Chapter 5: Feats. The feats in chapter 5 are special features that characters gain as part of their background and class. Chapter 6: Equipment. Armor, weapons, and adventuring gear are found in chapter 6. Chapter 7: Spells. This chapter contains descriptions of the spells that spellcasters can cast. Appendix A: The Multiverse. Here you'll find an overview of the magical multiverse where D&D adventures take place. Appendix B: Creature Stat Blocks. This appendix brims with game information for creatures that certain characters can befriend or transform into. Appendix C: Rules Glossary. The game's main rules terminology is summarized in this appendix, making it an invaluable reference during play.
Chapter 1: Playing the Game. The first chapter explains the fundamentals of the game, with examples to help you understand how to play. Chapter 2: Creating a Character. Chapter 2 walks you through the steps of character creation. Chapter 3: Character Classes. Characters’ capabilities are largely determined by class, such as Fighter or Wizard. Chapter 3 offers twelve classes to choose from, along with forty-eight subclasses. Chapter 4: Character Origins. Background and species are key elements in defining a character's origin, which further shapes the character's abilities beyond the choice of class. Background and species options are presented in chapter 4. Chapter 5: Feats. The feats in chapter 5 are special features that characters gain as part of their background and class. Chapter 6: Equipment. Armor, weapons, and adventuring gear are found in chapter 6. Chapter 7: Spells. This chapter contains descriptions of the spells that spellcasters can cast. Appendix A: The Multiverse. Here you'll find an overview of the magical multiverse where D&D adventures take place. Appendix B: Creature Stat Blocks. This appendix brims with game information for creatures that certain characters can befriend or transform into. Appendix C: Rules Glossary. The game's main rules terminology is summarized in this appendix, making it an invaluable reference during play.
Player's Handbook 2026 > Chapter 2: Creating a Character > GET READY > TALK WITH YOUR DM
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Start by talking with your Dungeon Master about the type of D&D game they plan to run. If the DM draws inspiration from Greek myth, for example, you might choose a different direction for your character than if the DM is planning for swashbuckling on the high seas. Think about the kind of adventurer you want to play in this game. If you don’t know where to begin, look at the character illustrations in this book for inspiration.
Player's Handbook 2026 > Chapter 2: Creating a Character > A BALANCED PARTY > Write Your Level
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Write your character's level on your character sheet. Typically, a character starts at level 1 and advances in level by adventuring and gaining Experience Points (XP).
• Write Your XP. Also record your Experience Points. A level 1 character has 0 XP.
• Starting at a Higher Level. Your DM might start you at a higher level. If you start at level 3 or higher, write your chosen subclass on your character sheet. See the “Starting at Higher Levels” section later in the chapter for more information.
• Write Your XP. Also record your Experience Points. A level 1 character has 0 XP.
• Starting at a Higher Level. Your DM might start you at a higher level. If you start at level 3 or higher, write your chosen subclass on your character sheet. See the “Starting at Higher Levels” section later in the chapter for more information.