Dungeons & Dragons SRD 5.2 Is Officially Live

The new System Reference Document (SRD) for Dungeons & Dragons' revised 5th Edition is officially live. The new SRD was officially released and is available for download on D&D Beyond. A FAQ detailing changes from the previous SRD was also released.

The SRD provides a version of D&D's rules that can be used and referenced in third-party material and form a framework for publishing material compatible for D&D's latest edition. The newest version of the SRD contains a mix of species, backgrounds, subclasses, and feats from the 2024 Player's Handbook, along with statblocks from the 2025 Monster Manual.

One other interesting note is that the new SRD purges references to creatures and characters classified as D&D IP. The previous SRD released under a Creative Commons license contained reference to Strahd and Orcus, both of which were removed in the new SRD. Additionally, the SRD renames the Deck of Many Things as "Mysterious Deck" and the Orb of Dragonkind as "Dragon Orb" to allow for both to be used in third-party material while not infringing upon D&D IP.

 

[Zaukrie]

Just for clarity, you can create a product that reference both SRDs, correct?

That's what it says in the release, yes?

 

[Morrus]

Just for clarity, you can create a product that reference both SRDs, correct?

And any other SRD in the Creative Commons. And indeed, anything else in the Creative Commons.

 

[Remathilis]

Interesting they have decided aasimar are IP because it was previously OGC from the 3e SRD. That's why Pathfinder was able to use them.

 

[LaTia J]

Also, little tidbit: the FAQ is being updated shortly because we forgot to include some things we added

 

[Morrus]

Interesting they have decided aasimar are IP because it was previously OGC from the 3e SRD.

And it still is.

 

[Nikosandros]

Is it possible to publish a product using both material released under the OGL and CC?

Edit: Just a general question, I'm not asking for legal advice.

 

[Reynard]

And it still is.

I think @Morrus is making a important point to remember here: the new SRD does NOT replace the old SRD(s). There is no reason to scrub your content of things missing from either (for 5E). Just cite both.

 

[Dire Bare]

Interesting they have decided aasimar are IP because it was previously OGL from the 3e SRD. That's why Pathfinder was able to use them.

Aasimar is D&D IP, because it's a made-up word by WotC designers to describe D&D's take on mortals with celestial parentage. Lots of stuff that is considered protected IP was included in previous SRDs that have been removed in the new SRD, as has been discussed upthread.

WotC is learning. They probably shouldn't have included words like aasimar, Orcus, and Strahd in previous SRDs, and are course-correcting now.

Can you still use those words from the 3.0/3.5 SRDs if you are using the OGL? Yes.

Can you still use the words from the 5.1 SRD if you are using the OGL or the CC? Yes.

But, there was a level of confusion. I can use the name "Strahd" . . . but can I use the character and his backstory? Removing these IP references from the new SRD doesn't retroactively remove them from earlier SRDs, but does make WotC's intent more clear.

Overall, it's a good move, IMO.

 

[Morrus]

Is it possible to publish a product using both material released under the OGL and CC?

Trickier.

 

[Reynard]

Is it possible to publish a product using both material released under the OGL and CC?

Edit: Just a general question, I'm not asking for legal advice.

Probably not because the OGL requires you release the product into the OGL. CC does not.