Why Lost Mine of Phandelver Is Still the Best D&D Starter Adventure

Jack Davison
2 days ago
2 min read

If you’ve been thinking about jumping into Dungeons & Dragons, chances are you’ve heard of Lost Mine of Phandelver. And if you haven’t? You’re missing one of the best entry points the game has to offer.

At Potshot’s, we talk to a lot of people online who are just starting out with D&D—and one question comes up over and over:“Where do I start?”

The answer? Lost Mine of Phandelver.And now it’s been expanded into something even better.

A Classic Intro to D&D

Originally released in the 5th Edition Starter Set, Lost Mine of Phandelver is basically the perfect first adventure. It’s got:

A smooth learning curve – Whether you’re new to DMing or playing, it guides you through without being hand-holdy.
Classic fantasy tropes – Goblins, mysterious maps, lost treasure. It's familiar in the best way.
Freedom to explore – It sets up a strong main story while letting your group wander, improvise, and do their own thing.

You don’t need prior knowledge of D&D’s worlds or lore—just a character sheet and some dice.

From Starter to Full Campaign

In 2023, Wizards of the Coast released Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk, a full campaign built on the foundations of Lost Mine of Phandelver. It starts the same way: escort mission, goblin ambush, the town of Phandalin. But it doesn’t stop there.

You’ll go deeper—literally and narratively—into a storyline that introduces cosmic horror, mind flayers, and a growing corruption tied to an ancient obelisk.

It’s still great for new groups, but it now carries players all the way to level 12, with epic-scale twists that feel earned after starting out in a humble mining town.

Why It’s Worth Picking Up

If you're:

A brand-new DM looking for structure without stress
A group who wants to level up and keep the same story going
A returning player curious about the obelisk storyline popping up across other modules

Then this is the box to grab.

The original adventure still holds up, and the new content turns it into a full campaign that feels like classic fantasy with a twist of weird.

Final Thoughts

We might be an online-only store, but we’re big believers in helping people discover their next adventure. Whether you’re just opening your first rulebook or looking to level up your party into madness and mind flayers, Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk is the perfect place to start.

We’ve got it stocked online along with dice, minis, paints, and accessories to help you bring your table to life—wherever that table might be.

Your adventure begins in Phandalin. Let’s make it a good one.