Lost Mine of Phandelver & Phandelver and Below Resources

From the iconic D&D starter adventure to the cosmic horror sequel — complete resources for running Lost Mine of Phandelver and Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk (levels 1–12).

Complete DM Resources on DMsGuild →

Adventures Overview

Levels 1–5 Starter Adventure

Lost Mine of Phandelver (LMoP)

Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (2014), originally packaged in the D&D Starter Set

Setting: Phandalin and surroundings, Sword Coast, Forgotten Realms

Premise: A simple cargo-escort job quickly turns into a race to find Wave Echo Cave — a long-lost mine that was once a source of immense magical power. A shadowy villain known as the Black Spider is racing to claim it first.

Tone: Classic heroic fantasy; accessible and welcoming. Designed to be the ideal first D&D experience for players and DMs alike.

Why DMs Love It:

Clear structure with well-paced difficulty ramp
Memorable NPCs: Glasstaff, Nezznar the Black Spider, Sildar Hallwinter
Sandbox elements in Phandalin town
Iconic locations: Cragmaw Hideout, Tresendar Manor, Wave Echo Cave
Genuinely memorable twist with Glasstaff's identity reveal

Availability: Free to claim on D&D Beyond (legacy content) | Physical Starter Set available on secondary market ($13–20)

Claim Free on D&D Beyond →

Levels 1–12 Full Campaign Cosmic Horror

Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk (PaBTSO)

Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (September 19, 2023) | Author: Cameron Powell

Setting: Phandalin and the Underdark beneath it, Sword Coast, Forgotten Realms

Premise: A cult serving the Far Realm godlet Ilvaash is attempting to reassemble a shattered Netherese obelisk and use its power to transform the people of Phandalin into mind flayers. What begins as familiar adventuring in Phandalin descends literally underground — and eventually into the Far Realm itself.

Tone: Dark fantasy with cosmic horror. Body horror, psionic corruption, tentacled aberrations, and existential dread layered over the cozy starting town players already know. Lovecraftian influences are explicit.

Structure: 8 chapters + appendices, 224 pages hardcover

Chapters 1–4: Reworked LMoP content (levels 1–5)
Chapters 5–8: New Shattered Obelisk content (levels 5–12)

Key Features:

24 new creatures: Psionic goblins, Intellect Snare, Flesh Meld, Ashenwights, Aberrant Zealots
Dynamic world: Cult's ritual progresses while party adventures — NPCs mutate, environment changes
Memorable villain: Qunbraxel, illithid warlock outcast serving Ilvaash
Modern design: Updated encounter balance, nondeadly resolution options, character transformation mechanics
Phandalin map updated: 2023 design sensibilities with better NPC motivations

Pricing: $59.95 MSRP (hardcover or digital+physical bundle)

Buy on D&D Store →

How Lost Mine of Phandelver & Phandelver and Below Connect

Critical selling point: LMoP is both a prequel and the first act of PaBTSO.

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PaBTSO contains a revised LMoP as Chapters 1–4 (levels 1–5). Groups who start PaBTSO automatically experience a modernized Lost Mine of Phandelver.

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Already ran LMoP? Start PaBTSO at Chapter 5 (level 5), treating LMoP as the prologue. The Phandalin setting carries emotional weight — players arrive in a town they know and care about.

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Narrative bridge: Psionic goblins begin appearing during the LMoP section, foreshadowing the Far Realm threat before it becomes explicit. NPCs players know begin to mutate, making the horror deeply personal.

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Different focus: The Black Spider and Wave Echo Cave are not the focus in PaBTSO — new threats emerge, but the town and its residents serve as continuity anchors.

Levels 1–5

LMoP (standalone or PaBTSO Ch.1–4)

Levels 5–12

PaBTSO Chapters 5–8 (new content)

4–6 players

Recommended party size

Pricing & Where to Buy

Lost Mine of Phandelver

D&D Beyond Digital

Legacy content — free to claim

Free →

Physical Starter Set (Secondary Market)

eBay, Amazon

$13–20

Roll20 VTT

Virtual tabletop version

Check Roll20 →

Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

Physical Hardcover (Standard Cover)

224 pages, full color

$59.95

Digital + Physical Bundle

D&D Beyond digital + hardcover shipped

$59.95 Buy Now →

Alternate Art Cover (FLGS Exclusive)

Psychedelic/metal-inspired design

$59.95

Beadle & Grimm's Legendary Edition

Premium: 5 painted minis, 32 maps, encounter cards, handouts, DM screen

$355 View Details →

DM Prep Guides & Resources

Curated DM resources from DMsGuild to help you run both adventures smoothly.

DM Guide Both Adventures

Lost Mine of Phandelver – Phandelver and Below DM's Resources

Comprehensive DM prep guide and maps by Eventyr Games covering both LMoP and PaBTSO.

View on DMsGuild →

Bundle Chapters 1–4

Lost Mine of Phandelver Chapter 1–4 DM Resources Pack BUNDLE

Complete bundle of DM resources for all four chapters of Lost Mine of Phandelver.

View on DMsGuild →

Browse All

Phandelver & Below DMsGuild Category

Browse all community-created resources for Phandelver and Below on DMsGuild.

Browse DMsGuild →

Supplements & Enhancements

Expand your campaign with prologue adventures, loot systems, and custom mechanics.

Prologue

THE HIGH ROAD – Prologue to the Lost Mine of Phandelver

Supplemental prologue adventure that introduces characters and sets up the main LMoP story.

View on DMsGuild →

Loot System

MONSTER LOOT & HARVESTING – Lost Mine of Phandelver

Monster loot and harvesting system for every creature in Lost Mine of Phandelver — gives players something to find beyond gold.

View on DMsGuild →

Handouts & Player Resources

Printable handouts, maps, and player-facing materials to enhance immersion.

Handouts

Lost Mine of Phandelver Handout Bundle – Printable Assets

Printable handouts and assets for Lost Mine of Phandelver sessions — maps, letters, and visual aids.

View on DMsGuild →

Special Editions & Collector Content

Premium Edition $355 USD

Beadle & Grimm's Legendary Edition

The flagship premium edition for Phandelver and Below. Full adventure split into DM-friendly booklets, plus premium components:

✓ 5 WizKids painted miniatures
✓ 32 battle maps including canvas poster map of Phandalin
✓ 60 encounter cards for all new monsters
✓ 43 magic item cards
✓ 19 in-world player handouts
✓ 4 bonus adventure encounters
✓ Unique DM screen with Phandalin-specific reference info
✓ Vegan leather map folio with magnetic clasp

View Legendary Edition →

Note: May be sold out at official retailer. Check secondary market (Noble Knight, etc.).

Alternate Art Cover (FLGS Exclusive)

Psychedelic/metal-inspired alternate cover featuring mind flayers exploding out of the shattered obelisk. Available through local game stores at standard $59.95 price.

Community Reception & Reviews

Lost Mine of Phandelver

Reception: Overwhelmingly Positive

Considered one of the best starter adventures in D&D history. Praised as "the single best introductory adventure D&D has ever had — and the competition isn't even close" (Geek to Geek Media).

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Credited with introducing an entire generation to 5e — millions of tables ran it as their first campaign

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ENnie Gold Winning Adventure (Best Production Value, Best Family Game)

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Praised for balanced difficulty ramp, memorable NPCs, sandbox freedom in Phandalin

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Minor criticism: Act 3 (Wave Echo Cave) can feel like a railroad; some DMs rewrite the final act

Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

Reception: Mixed-to-Divisive

Praised for ambition and second-half content; criticized for tonal whiplash between cozy LMoP and cosmic horror sequel.

Positive Themes:

✓ Stunning production quality
✓ Nostalgia payoff for returning players
✓ Genuinely memorable horror moments
✓ Great monster design (24 new creatures)
✓ Updated encounter balance

Critical Themes:

⚠ First half (LMoP remake) largely unchanged — disappointing to some
⚠ Tonal shift from cozy to cosmic horror can feel abrupt
⚠ Released same year as Baldur's Gate 3 (mind flayer comparisons)
⚠ Structural issues noted by some reviewers (The Alexandrian)

Bottom line: Best for DMs who want a full 1–12 campaign in a beloved setting with horror flair. Less ideal for players seeking a pure LMoP remake.