April 22, 2025, is a monumental date for Dungeons and Dragons homebrew creators—and not just because of a new ruleset. Wizards of the Coast is officially releasing the System Reference Document (SRD) 5.2, which marks a transformative moment for third-party content creation in the world’s most iconic tabletop RPG.
Calling all creators!
A clear path to publish your TRPG materials with the new ruleset is coming April 22 under a Creative Commons license.
Learn more: https://t.co/n6W1pQIkUB pic.twitter.com/fUczYDhVd1
— Dungeons & Dragons (@Wizards_DnD) April 16, 2025
What Is SRD 5.2?
The System Reference Document (SRD) is a legal framework that outlines the open content rules for D&D. SRD 5.2 is based on the updated 2024 core rulebooks—the Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual. It includes a vast array of updated game mechanics such as:
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Revamped classes and subclasses
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New species and feats
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Weapon mastery properties
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Enhanced exploration mechanics
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An updated rules glossary
While SRD 5.2 doesn’t include everything from the official books or D&D Beyond’s free Basic Rules, it covers the lion’s share of the updated system.
Why April 22 Is a Game-Changer
On April 22, the SRD 5.2 becomes publicly available under a Creative Commons license, meaning anyone can use it to create, publish, and sell homebrew content. This includes adventures, supplements, monsters, character options, and more—all using the 2024 D&D ruleset.
Even more importantly, once released, Wizards of the Coast cannot revoke or restrict previous versions of the SRD, ensuring long-term protection and creative freedom for independent creators and publishers.
All 2024 Core Rulebooks Are Now Out
With the recent release of the revised Monster Manual, Wizards has officially published all three 2024 core books. From this point forward, all official content will be written with these updated rules in mind, although they remain backward compatible with the 2014 edition.
SRD 5.2 bridges the gap between these rulebooks and third-party creators, giving them access to the newest mechanics and terminology—and the legal freedom to build with them.
What This Means for the Homebrew Community
If you’re a creator, here’s why this release matters:
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You’re now protected under Creative Commons—your content is safe and legally supported.
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You can sell your creations without fear of DMCA takedowns or license revocation.
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You get access to the latest mechanics, empowering you to build content that matches the modern D&D design philosophy.
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The door is open for more innovation, from indie publishers, Kickstarters, and even new VTT (virtual tabletop) integrations.
How to Take Advantage
To prepare for the SRD 5.2 release, creators should:
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Review the 2024 rulebooks or summaries to understand new features
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Start converting or designing content using the new templates
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Join community discussions on Reddit, Discord, and forums to stay up-to-date
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Set up publishing pipelines on platforms like DriveThruRPG, Itch.io, or Patreon
April 22 isn’t just another date—it’s a new chapter for D&D homebrew creators. With SRD 5.2, the floodgates are open for a generation of bold, innovative, and legally protected content that will shape the future of tabletop gaming.