D&D 2024 Rules Change Potions More Than You Think

Potion rules for Dungeons & Dragons have changed with the new 2024 Player’s Handbook, giving players a few more rules to follow in certain aspects of this game mechanic. Potions are a helpful way for players to solve problems, deal combat damage, and heal their characters or party members. What has become an essential aspect of the tabletop game now has a slightly different approach that will both benefit players and add a little more fun to campaigns. With a lot of rule changes in the 2024 Player’s Handbook, this new approach to potions may provide one of the best benefits.

Previously, in the fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons, one rule regarding the consumption of potions during combat was almost loathed by players. Parties needed to be smart about when to use their potions due to this one rule, place big decisions on whether potions should be used or not in high-tension moments. The newest change to DnD‘s potion rules changed that, making using potions in combat a little less stressful for players.

Bonus Actions Aren’t Just For Health Potions In 2024

Any Potion Can Be Used Through Bonus Actions

In the 2024 Player’s Handbook, rules on potion consumption during combat have changed so that using any potion now requires a bonus action and not a full action. Previously, only healing potions were allowed to be used through a bonus action. The use of potions during combat was more difficult with having to use a full action, where players needed to consider their situation if using up an action would be worth the potion effects.

This allows for more interesting things to happen during single turns after the initiative is rolled. For example, a player could use a Potion of Invisibility before using their movement to sneak up on an opponent and attack with the full action for the turn. These advantages not only give players more room for creativity while working together to fight enemies, but also let Dungeon Masters to stir up more strategies to surprise their players.

Mixing Potions In D&D’s 2024 Rules Comes With Risks

Players Now Need To Roll Whenever Mixing Potions

Players might find themselves in a situation where two potions are needed for something in the campaign, or previous potion effects are still active when requiring another potion. If this is the case, potions can be mixed by either having a character drink the two or simply mixing them together outside a character’s body like in a single bottle. Mixing potions can be an interesting factor in mixing up a battle or coming up with a creative solution to a problem, but it comes with high risks that players may want to consider.

The new handbook reintroduces a previously optional rule as one that is now required when players decide to mix any potions together. Every time it is done in any way, whether in or out of combat, players need to roll a d100 to get the results of how the effects of the two potions are going to work. This applies to any and all potions, including a Potion of Healing or any other potions that do not have a duration.

How Potion Miscibility Works In D&D’s 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide

Mixing Potions Can Be Either High Rewards Or Consequences

In 5e’s original Dungeon Master’s Guide, there is a variant rule regarding the mixing of potions where the effects created refer to a table that follows the rolling of a d100. Depending on the role, there can be positive or negative outcomes for players. Some outcomes can result in damage from an explosion while others can highly benefit with doubled effects or duration. With the 2024 Player’s Handbook,this previously optional rule is now required when potions are mixed. All this will probably stay for the rule changes in the upcoming 2024 DM’s Guide.

The following table shows the rules regarding potion mixing:

With higher chances for the effects to work normally or in the player’s favor, it may be worth the risk of losing effects or a damaging explosion. Rolling a perfect 100 may also be tied with its advantages or even come with a disadvantage, which depends on the potion’s effects and situation. Even with the risks involved, making this variant rule a now definite rule in the 2024 Player’s Handbook can make for more interesting interactions with players’ potions.

The latest Dungeons & Dragons handbook has mixed up the way potions can be used with its 2024 rules changes. With bonus actions now being used instead of full actions during combat, the use of any potion in tight situations is a little more forgiving and encouraged. The inclusion of required results of mixed potion effects can also make for interesting gameplay, with high risks and high rewards. The use of potions by players is pushed more than ever before by the changes made in the 2024 Player’s Handbook.