In 1983, Count Strahd von Zarovich emerged, later to become a central villain in the 2016 “Curse of Strahd” Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) campaign book, delighting fans with the horrors of Ravenloft. In an all-new book of nightmares, Ravenloft: The Horrors Within, players will go beyond the horrific nightmares they have experienced to now wield the dark powers themselves. Releasing June 16th, the game lets players not only survive what Ravenloft has to offer but also embrace it.
Ravenloft: The Horrors Within will be the first major release for the setting of Ravenloft since 2021 with Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, a 2021 Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition) campaign sourcebook. Some of the team behind this Ravenloft expansion includes: Wes Schneider (Principal Game Designer), AJ Hanneld (Senior Creative Lead), Mackenzie De Armas (Senior Game Designer), and Greg Bilsland (Executive Producer).
This 288-page book is more than just the setting of our beloved Ravenloft. It delves into magic-infused fantasy horror, where the genre knows no bounds. There are elements of cosmic horror, grotesque, and cryptids, to name a few. With more than 15 Domains of Dread, Darklords, monstrosities, and new player options, this book becomes an instant highlight for horror and D&D fans. Like many Dungeons & Dragons sourcebooks, Ravenloft: The Horrors Within has options that can branch out beyond the books themselves.
“Tonight, your party’s greatest nightmare… is the one you create.”
The Book of Nightmares
Taking a peek at the Subclasses of this book, players will notice that they draw powers from the world around them. Two of the new subclasses include Reanimator Artificer and Hollow Warden.
Reanimator Artificer: Perfect for fans of Frankenstein! Most Grotesque artificer. This artificer is the most grotesque of the bunch, equipped with an undead companion that can be reconstructed, reborn, and customized using the class’s abilities. In the official Dungeons & Dragons actual-play series, Dungeon Masters, Neil Newbon portrays a rock gnome with this subclass.
Hollow Warden: Become the monster that you hunt. Hollow Warden is a Ranger subclass imbued with monstrous qualities, drawing power from eldritch beings.
The design for Ravenloft: Horrors Within diverges from Van Richten’s approach, aiming to explore not only the essence of horror but the gameplay within this setting. Players are encouraged to step away from the classic black-and-white portrayal of terror and create their own slice of horror that suits them. Additionally, throughout the book, the visuals play with lighting to create a moody, spooky aesthetic that conveys enough emotion to inspire players and set the stage for their own stories.
“Depending on what you and your party’s interests are, you can dial it to Mordent, which is a Disney’s Haunted Mansion spooky-vibe or up to Borca, which is body-horror, disturbing, John Carpenter’s “The Thing” gross.”
– AJ Hanneld (Senior Creative Lead)
The Nightmare Expands
Ravenloft: The Horrors Within drew inspiration from a variety of sources, including Fraternity of Shadows, The Kargatane, and Stephen King’s iconic horror book covers. The expansion features classic creatures, including the Dullahan, Mordenkainen’s monster, and mechanical abyssal beasts, enriching the array of horrors within.
The world of Dungeons & Dragons’ Ravenloft has become so iconic that it is extending beyond the tabletop experience. The nightmare expands with a Hot Topic release of Strahd t-shirts and dice.
The Ravenloft: Horrors Within includes:
- 16 Domains of Dread, including the new cosmic horror domain Innsmouth.
- 17 Darklords for your party to face or flee from, equipped with challenging stat blocks.
- 7 subclasses (including the new Reanimator and Hollow Warden), 4 species, 4 backgrounds, 2 Origin feats, and 9 Dark Gifts for building tortured protagonists.
- 10 genres of horror from gothic to dark fantasy.
- A bestiary of 41 monstrosities and 10 domain denizens for your party to encounter.
- 47 maps and 28 digital quickplay maps for Maps VTT.
- Digital Pre-order Bonus: the Mists of Ravenloft Digital Dice Set, Dungeon Masters: Ravenloft Play-Along Pack, and D&D Encounters: Shadows of Sithicus mini-adventure.
Ravenloft: The Horrors Within is available for preorder now on the D&D Beyond Marketplace for Digital and Physical formats.
Be sure to also pre-order the Ravenloft: The Horrors Within Tarokka Deck to add more immersion to your adventures!
