What it is
Lost Mine of Phandelver is the adventure included in the Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition Starter Set. It is designed for characters from level 1 to level 5 and is one of the most commonly recommended first adventures for new groups and new Dungeon Masters.
Spoiler note: this guide describes major story elements. If you are a player, stop reading here and let your DM run it.
Premise
The party is hired by the dwarf Gundren Rockseeker to escort a wagon of supplies from Neverwinter to the frontier town of Phandalin, on the Sword Coast in the Forgotten Realms. Along the road, the party discovers that Gundren and his companion have been captured by goblins. The adventure follows their efforts to rescue them and to uncover a larger plot over a lost mine called Wave Echo Cave and the magical Forge of Spells.
Chapter overview
- Goblin Arrows. The party is ambushed on the road and follows a trail to a goblin hideout. This chapter introduces combat, exploration and a simple dungeon.
- Phandalin. The party arrives in the town and can pursue several quests and rumors. The Redbrand ruffians are causing trouble, and the party can investigate and confront them.
- The Spider’s Web. The party explores the wider region, with several optional locations and leads, such as a goblin stronghold, a ruined town and other sites.
- Wave Echo Cave. The party enters the lost mine, faces its dangers and confronts the villain behind the plot.
Chapter two and three give players freedom to choose what to tackle in what order, which makes this a good introduction to non-linear play.
Key characters and locations
- Gundren Rockseeker: the dwarf who hires the party.
- Sildar Hallwinter: a human ally who travels with Gundren.
- Phandalin: the frontier town that serves as the party’s base.
- The Redbrands: a gang of ruffians operating in Phandalin.
- The Black Spider: a drow villain who is the main antagonist.
- Wave Echo Cave: the lost mine and the final dungeon.
Why it works for beginners
- Clear starting hook and goal.
- Simple early combat that teaches basic mechanics.
- A town hub with multiple quests and a choice of what to pursue next.
- A satisfying escalation from goblins to a larger conspiracy.
- Ready-made maps and stat blocks. A small party of new players can learn the rules as they go.
Common problems and fixes
- Weak hooks for character backstories. Add personal ties, such as a character who knows Gundren or has family in Phandalin.
- Opening with a lot of travel. If the group wants to get to the action, summarize the road and start with the ambush.
- Too much going on in the middle chapters. Offer players two or three leads at a time instead of every location at once.
- A thin final villain. Many DMs add foreshadowing, clues or short scenes to make the villain feel present earlier.
- Combat balance. Some encounters can be dangerous for small or fragile parties. Be ready to adjust enemy numbers or tactics if the fight is going badly.
Tips for running it
- Read through the whole adventure before you start, even though it is short.
- Take notes on NPCs and decisions. See our D&D note taking tips and apps.
- Hold a session 0, especially if players are new. Our guide to creating a D&D campaign explains what to cover.
- Let the party pick a name for itself. See D&D party name ideas.
- Gather simple tools like a map, dice and tokens. Our list of DM tools can help.
Where it fits next
After level 5, many groups continue with another published adventure or write their own story using the same characters. See our picks for the best D&D 5e modules, or browse free D&D adventures for short follow-ups.